Shane van Gisbergen shatters Project 91 optimism, exposes major hurdles
Trackhouse co-owner Justin Marks has publicly pushed for a 2026 revival of Project 91, but recent comments from Shane van Gisbergen have cast fresh doubt on how soon — or how smoothly — that return could come. Launched as a part-time No. 91 Chevrolet program to bring top global racers into NASCAR, Project 91 produced headline moments — Kimi Räikkönen’s Watkins Glen appearance and van Gisbergen’s shock win on the Chicago street course — that proved the concept’s potential. Yet van Gisbergen’s offhand remark on the Dinner with Racers podcast, suggesting stars like Will Power “can’t” easily fit into the program, highlighted the logistical realities behind the scenes: scheduling conflicts, manufacturer and sponsor alignment, and limited team bandwidth while Trackhouse runs its three full-time Cup entries. With Red Bull as a major backer, priority for seats could also tilt toward Red Bull-affiliated drivers, adding another layer to the selection calculus.
Marks insists Project 91 isn’t dead — he’s optimistic and says the plan is being carefully curated — but the project’s viability comes down to more than enthusiasm. Targeting the right races, securing aligned sponsorship, and fitting marquee drivers’ calendars around full-time commitments are all essential. The program’s part-time nature means each entry must make business sense for Trackhouse, the sponsor and the manufacturer; excitement alone won’t carry a Cup car to the grid. Van Gisbergen’s candid line that promising drivers “can’t” simply be slotted in served as a reminder that assembling this kind of cross-series venture requires precise timing and resources.
Meanwhile, van Gisbergen himself is pushing forward in NASCAR, especially on ovals. While his rookie Cup season was dominated by road and street success — five road-course wins and seven victories overall — his steady oval improvement has become an important subplot. Van Gisbergen has been studying Kyle Larson’s oval craft, praising Larson’s ability to switch lines and find clean air. That work has paid off: incremental gains at tracks like Michigan and Darlington led to his first oval top-10 at Kansas in September, and solid 14th-place runs at Charlotte and Richmond underscored measurable progress. The Kiwi’s focus now is on converting those lessons into consistent oval performance as he enters 2026 with more experience, data, and clear targets for growth.
In short, Project 91 remains a live possibility but faces tangible hurdles that van Gisbergen’s comments have laid bare: sponsorship priorities, manufacturer considerations and the complexity of slotting international stars into a packed racing calendar. At the same time, van Gisbergen’s own trajectory in NASCAR — evolving from road-course ace to an improving oval racer influenced by the likes of Larson — shows that individual progress and the program’s future will both depend on smart timing and strategic alignment.
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