The path from taking success in the Supercars ranks in Australia and New Zealand and turning it into a winning NASCAR® career was paved in the mid-2000s by Australian driver Marcos Ambrose. A two-time Supercars champion, Ambrose turned to NASCAR® in 2006 and went on to win two NASCAR Cup Series® and five NASCAR Xfinity Series® events over the course of seven seasons.
Native New Zealander Shane van Gisbergen is taking the same path from Supercars to NASCAR® and has been successful at it, with a win in his first NASCAR Cup Series®start in 2023. Now, in 2024, SVG will be paying tribute to Ambrose with a special paint scheme in the NASCAR Xfinity Series® race at Darlington Raceway. During the Darlington Throwback weekend, van Gisbergen’s No. 97 Quad Lock Chevrolet will be inspired by the look of the memorable cars that Ambrose drove in his NASCAR Cup Series® career.