NASCAR Xfinity Series full-timer Shane Van Gisbergen is adding a pair of NASCAR Cup Series events to his schedule at the tail-end of the 2024 season, courtesy of sponsorship from Acceptance Insurance.
The company will adorn Kaulig Racing’s No. 16 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in back-to-back events at Darlington Raceway (September 1) and Atlanta Motor Speedway (September 8), as part of a collaboration with Trackhouse Racing.
“I am so thankful for Acceptance Insurance to come on board and support my Cup Series experience,” said Van Gisbergen. “Acceptance is a growing brand, like me in NASCAR. I look forward to representing and working with them and making them known to every NASCAR fan. Doing both Cup and Xfinity races with Kaulig Racing is going to keep everyone busy but I didn’t come to America to sit and watch racing. I came to race.”
Both Darlington and Atlanta have been two of the 35-year-old Xfinity Series rookie’s favorite racetracks to visit since moving to the United States to pursue a full-time NASCAR career.
“I was told when I came to the States that Darlington was the toughest track on the circuit, and I can’t dispute that, but I immediately fell in love with the place,” he said. “It is just so much fun to drive and I am keen to drive a Cup car there. As for Atlanta, we finished third there in only my second Xfinity series start, so that was kind of crazy. I have so much more experience now and I just love getting to the track each week.”
While Acceptance Insurance is a new-to-NASCAR partner, the company has been a trusted name in car insurance for more than half a century. Specializing in providing customized policies for drivers with imperfect records, Acceptance Insurance is dedicated to helping people save money while finding coverage that fits their needs and budget. In addition to affordable auto insurance, Acceptance offers a range of products including renters’ insurance and other comprehensive coverage options.
“We’re thrilled to broaden our partnership to include Shane van Gisbergen,” said Cesar Soriano, Chief Executive Officer of Acceptance Insurance, part of the largest auto insurance and personal lines distribution company in the United States. “This collaboration offers us a fantastic opportunity to connect with thousands of racing enthusiasts and welcome them to our stores, where they can meet SVG in person and experience our brand firsthand.”
With the addition of Darlington and Atlanta, Van Gisbergen will now compete in seven of the final 12 NASCAR Cup Series events, contesting races at Daytona, Darlington, Atlanta, Watkins Glen, Talladega, Las Vegas, and Martinsville.
Those extra events will be run while Van Gisbergen competes for the NASCAR Xfinity Series title, after having a series-leading three victories at Portland, Sonoma, and the Chicago Street Course, locking him into the Playoffs.
“This season has been a lot of learning for me, but I’ve enjoyed every moment of it. It’s super fun to be competing for a NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship and getting a shot at racing in the Cup series against the best of the best,” said Van Gisbergen. “To me the road courses are a regular race, but the ovals are a challenge, one I am hoping to conquer soon. I’m looking forward to this second half of the season.”
So far this season, the three-time Supercars champion has logged NASCAR Cup Series starts at Circuit of The Americas (COTA), Talladega, Charlotte, and Chicago, scoring a best finish of 20th at COTA.
