What elevates a driver to a higher status in NASCAR? Is it just their wins or their championships? The numbers matter, but there are some parts of the sport that fans remember more fondly, especially in American sports. That’s where the Panini Prism comes in. High-value trading cards featuring some of the biggest names in NASCAR? Fans fell in love instantly, and the cards showcased some of the biggest talents in the sport. Names like Kevin Harvick and Richard Petty became the cover for their boxes. Cut to 2025 and it’s a different driver taking their spot.
The spotlight has now fallen on one new face: Shane Van Gisbergen.
New Zealand’s racing prodigy is making waves
New Zealand’s 34-year-old talent, who had already gained international fame in touring car racing, stunned everyone in NASCAR with his performance for the 2023 Cup Series. Van Gisbergen won his first NASCAR Cup race at the most prestigious Chicago Street Race where he took an astonishing victory from the word go. He has been doing pretty well since, proving himself to be a big player in the sport’s continued development.
It was only a matter of time before Gisbergen earned such an elite level of prestige. His feature on the “Panini Prism” cover marks a much-needed milestone in his life but also for the sport as a whole. This is bound to imply more and more international talent embracing NASCAR, as it continues to expand its horizon beyond the borders of the U.S.
This is in a broader international trend of driver talent rising through the ranks in motorsport. In recent times, drivers coming from Mexico and Brazil, apart from Australia, have been growing in prominence and visibility in championships such as Formula 1 and IndyCar. This indicates the fans have now become global yet also a pool of talent even deeper, starting to transcend national borders to compete at the elite level.
.@ShaneVG97 is the featured driver on @PaniniAmerica‘s new box of NASCAR trading cards heading into the 2025 season. pic.twitter.com/nlmDKrDTpq
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) February 1, 2025
To many old-school NASCAR fans, the absence of Richard Petty and Kevin Harvick on the cover of “Panini Prism” feels like the ending of an era. Richard Petty, the legendary driver nicknamed “The King” due to his world record-winning career, has been the face of this sport for decades. Their absence from the cover represents another chapter of change for the sport as it introduces a new wave of drivers to take over the torch.
While these icons may no longer be front and center in “Panini Prism”, their impact on the sport remains undeniable. Petty and Harvick have paved the way for newcomers like Van Gisbergen, showing that NASCAR’s legacy is one of constant evolution, adapting to the changing tides of racing culture and the global stage. As interest in the race grows globally, it will become interesting to view how the contributions of international abilities will change going forward and the future stars all over the globe that will mold the next class of NASCARs.
Shane van Gisbergen brings the Red Bull perk
Red Bull is returning to NASCAR in a big way with a major partnership with Trackhouse Racing, opening a new chapter for the energy drink giant in the sport. It will be the primary sponsor for Shane Van Gisbergen (SVG) in five Cup Series races and also support his teammate, Connor Zilisch, for the upcoming race at the Circuit of The Americas (COTA). This collaboration brings a renewed sense of excitement, combining Trackhouse Racing’s rising stature with Red Bull’s powerful brand presence, a move that promises to capture the attention of motorsport fans worldwide.
Justin Marks, founder and owner of Trackhouse Racing, said it was “an incredible chapter in the history of Trackhouse Racing.” He feels that Red Bull is not only a global leader in its sector but also an organization that understands racing and sharing memories. “It’s an honor for us to embark on a partnership with such an iconic company,” Marks continued. He thinks this mix will dramatically push the profile of NASCAR, create new fans, and expand further for the sport. The link of Red Bull with such an energetic racing team as Trackhouse is bold for the two parties.
This partnership has not come easy for SVG which says a lot about his potential as a NASCAR hopeful. The Kiwi driver has a basis for trust from Red Bull, judging from successes he bagged under the brand, for instance, the three Supercars championships. With Red Bull now backing his efforts once again, a lot can be said that SVG would make the impact that will last for quite a while in NASCAR.
Whether he is destined to be the next big name in the sport or not is something yet to be known. But it is evident now that Trackhouse Racing and Red Bull have groomed SVG and set the perfect stage for showcasing his talent across the globe, thus further increasing new followers of the sport.
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