Red Bull's return to Nascar has boosted Kiwi driver Shane van Gisbergen's US career

The sports energy drink company, which hasn't been involved in the stock car series since 2011, has entered into a major partnership with Trackhouse Racing ... with van Gisbergen the big beneficiary.

Red Bull, known for its involvement in Formula One, is backing the three-time Supercars champion for five Cup races this season ... his first fulltime in the Cup Series.

It's not the first time it'll be working with the Giz ... it sponsored his old Supercars team.

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