Shane van Gisbergen and No. 88 Crew Secure All-Star Open Pole

Shane van Gisbergen and the No. 88 Trackhouse Racing team captured the pole position for the All-Star Open event at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The qualifying session took place on May 16, 2025, putting van Gisbergen at the head of the field to start the big race.

This strong showing sets up van Gisbergen and his crew with the best shot as they fight for a spot in the main All-Star Race. Van Gisbergen, a New Zealander and three-time Supercars champion, joined the NASCAR scene in 2023.

He made headlines by winning his first Cup Series race at the Chicago Street Course. In 2024, van Gisbergen has been racing full-time in the Xfinity Series, tallying three wins so far this season.

Now, with another highlight in his resume, he’s shown his skill and speed in qualifying at North Wilkesboro. The No. 88 car is a well-known number in NASCAR history. It’s been driven by legends such as Dale Earnhardt Jr., Darrell Waltrip, and Dale Jarrett. For more on NASCAR’s storied history, visit NASCAR’s official heritage page.

For 2025, Trackhouse Racing secured the No. 88 entry just for van Gisbergen, making him the latest name to add to this list. Trackhouse’s move to three full-time Cup entries is a major step for the team, expanding from their existing No. 1 and No. 99 cars driven by Ross Chastain and Daniel Suárez.

Stephen Doran will move up from the No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet to be van Gisbergen’s crew chief on the No. 88 next year. Doran began his NASCAR career in 2006. He served as a lead engineer for Kevin Harvick at Stewart-Haas Racing and now gets a fresh role working alongside van Gisbergen in the Cup Series.

The team has not announced sponsors for the No. 88 car yet, but more updates are set to arrive before the 2025 season. North Wilkesboro Speedway has returned as a key site for NASCAR’s All-Star events. Learn more about the track’s revival from North Wilkesboro Speedway’s official site.

This year’s All-Star Open came before the main All-Star Race, where starters compete for one of the final spots in the show. Ty Gibbs and Bubba Wallace earned their way into the All-Star Race by finishing first and second in the Open, while Noah Gragson secured the final transfer through the fan vote.

Rain washed out qualifying heats, so lineups were set based on the earlier qualifying results. Van Gisbergen’s front-row start at North Wilkesboro is another boost to his fast-growing NASCAR career. For deeper insights into racing strategies, check out SAE International’s motorsports resources.

After a breakthrough in road courses and successful outings in Xfinity competition, he now displays his talent on short tracks as well. Fans will be watching to see if van Gisbergen can convert his pole run into a win and claim a spot on the All-Star Race grid.

The All-Star Open and main event are broadcast live, bringing extra attention to this historic speedway and its returning stars. As the season unfolds, van Gisbergen and the No. 88 team look to keep building their legacy in NASCAR’s top series. For a different kind of racing excitement, check out the Brittany Force redemption at Route 66 in drag racing.

Additionally, the Tricky Tipster’s insights from the NHRA Route 66 event offer a great perspective on recent drag racing action.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.