Change is in the air at Trackhouse Racing. And its two driver holdovers from the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season — Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen — aren’t exempt from the shift.
Along with a Friday announcement of the car number that incoming Trackhouse Racing driver and Daniel Suarez replacement Connor Zilisch will campaign in 2026, the organization revealed that everything won’t be the same for both Chastain and van Gisbergen.
Find out what’s in store for the two Trackhouse returnees, who combined for six Cup Series wins and both made the playoffs in 2025.
New Ross Chastain Crew Chief Comes From Hendrick Motorsports
Trackhouse Racing announced earlier this week that Ross Chastain will have a new crew chief in 2026. However, on Friday, the organization added a few more details about the man who’ll be atop Chastain’s pit box.
He’s Brandon McSwain, who spent the past several seasons as a race engineer at JR Motorsports and Hendrick Motorsports. Most recently, he worked as the lead race engineer for William Byron. The Hendrick driver has been a Championship 4 participant the past three seasons.
McSwain boasts 16 wins as a Cup Series race engineer.
“I’m thrilled to have Brandon McSwain as my crew chief next year,” Chastain, who made it to the Round of 12 this year, said in a team news release. “I worked with Brandon very early in my career. And he has a lot of talent and experience as a race engineer. He’s someone I’ve kept my eye on for a while in case the chance to work together ever came to fruition. And I’m looking forward to getting started.”
The feeling seems mutual.
“Becoming a crew chief and working with Trackhouse and Ross is a huge opportunity in my career,” said McSwain, a Florida native who graduated from UNC Charlotte with a mechanical engineering degree. “Ross is dedicated to the sport and puts a lot of time and effort into his craft. I’m looking forward to helping him continue his success while taking the next step in my career.
“I appreciate Ross believing in me and can’t wait to get started.”
Chastain’s crew chief for the past five seasons, Phil Surgen, isn’t leaving Trackhouse. He’s been reassigned within the organization. Still, after learning about the change at the crew chief position on his No. 1 car, Chastain saluted Surgen in a post on X. Check it out below.
Proud of everything we’ve accomplished over the past 5 years and nobody I’d rather have done it with. Thank you for helping me become a better race car driver and glad you’re still around the shop. Here’s to many more cold ones down the road. Cheers, buddy! 🍻 pic.twitter.com/iDdHEPLnlD
— Ross Chastain (@RossChastain) November 5, 2025
Shane Van Gisbergen Is Geeked Out About His New Car Number
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing’s road racer extraordinaire who piled up five wins in 2025 — all on non-ovals — will no longer carry the No. 88.
Instead, van Gisbergen will wheel a No. 97 Chevy for Trackhouse. This comes after the team announced in August it had inked the New Zealander to a multi-year contract extension.
Even though the No. 88 will now belong to van Gisbergen’s future teammate, 2026 Cup Series rookie Connor Zilisch, van Gisbergen is confident he can achieve just as much with his new digits.
In fact, they actually carry some sentimental value for him. So much so that van Gisbergen has the No. 97 in his personal handle (@shanevg97) for the social website now known as X.
“It’s a number that means a lot to my family and me,” said van Gisbergen, the 2025 Cup Series Rookie of the Year. “My dad used it in his racing career. So, when I started racing, I wanted to use it, too. And then, basically, I’ve used the No. 97 in everything since.
“I’ve had many special moments with that number. And it’s cool to get the opportunity to create even more in the Cup Series.”
It's more than just a car number. pic.twitter.com/kqEcZwP2Pw
— Trackhouse Racing (@TeamTrackhouse) November 7, 2025
