Following the recent NASCAR Cup Series event at World Wide Technology Raceway, Trackhouse Racing has become the center of a growing controversy regarding their drivers’ post-race actions, adding intensity to the ongoing Trackhouse Racing NASCAR Gateway controversy. The focus is now on what consequences the team and drivers may face as NASCAR officially reviews the incident.
NASCAR Confronts Trackhouse Drivers Over Gateway Incident
After Sunday’s race, Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen drew criticism for their conduct while returning to the pits. The event, held at World Wide Technology Raceway in Gateway, put their playoff prospects at risk as NASCAR’s sanctioning body prepared to intervene and evaluate potential penalties for the team following the contentious finish of the Cup Series Championship race.
The incident began when Alex Bowman pointed out that the Trackhouse Racing drivers left the normal racing line, cutting through the grass instead of staying on the paved track surface. This tactic, involving a detour through rubber-filled marbles and onto dirt or grass, has been controversial in motorsports. Some drivers are believed to use it to accumulate extra debris, potentially increasing the car’s post-race weight before official inspection, a strategy that draws scrutiny from officials.
Macbook keeps freezing, so here is a grainier video of Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen going through the grass multiple times coming to pit road after the race. https://t.co/hwtRg1dLxB pic.twitter.com/p0j5wgGPYP
— John Newby (@JohnNewby_) September 7, 2025
Video footage circulated online showing both Chastain and Van Gisbergen traversing the grass repeatedly as they navigated toward pit road after the conclusion of the race. This visual evidence contributed to mounting questions about their intentions and compliance with post-race protocols.
Motorsports Tactics and Broader Context
Corey LaJoie, a veteran Cup Series driver and analyst, weighed in by suggesting that such tactics have historical precedent as teams look for ways to ensure favorable inspection outcomes. He remarked on social media:
They post all the playoff cars. Trying to pick up a couple pounds of grass, rocks, rubber to let you(r) car chief feel a little better when you roll across the scale.
— Corey LaJoie, Cup Series Driver and Analyst
Similar methods, it seems, are not unique to NASCAR. Brayton Laster, a full-time ARCA Menards Series driver, indicated that picking up extra material from the track is a familiar technique across various forms of racing:
In dirt racing, we often find the wettest part of the track on our way to scales post race to pick up a couple extra pounds of mud. Not sure if that’s what’s going on here,
— Brayton Laster, ARCA Menards Series Driver
These observations highlight the blurred lines between creative strategy and rule circumvention across professional motorsports.
NASCAR’s Official Response and Warning for Future Races
Recognizing the growing tension, Brad Moran, the NASCAR Cup Managing Director, spoke openly about the issue. He expressed the organization’s strict stance and intention to make the rules crystal clear to all competitors going forward:
We have rules that could put the teams in a real bad spot when we see that. So, we’ll make it pretty clear to them, moving forward, starting at Bristol, what that means,
— Brad Moran, NASCAR Cup Managing Director
The timing of this controversy could not be worse for Trackhouse Racing, as both Chastain and Van Gisbergen recently underwent post-race inspections as playoff contenders. Chastain finds himself 19 points above the elimination line, while Van Gisbergen is 15 points below, heightening the stakes as the playoff series continues.
Impact on Playoff Hopes and Drivers’ Recent Form
The Gateway race proved disappointing for both Trackhouse drivers, with Chastain finishing 24th and Van Gisbergen coming in 25th. Should NASCAR hand down penalties, their tenuous playoff positions could be in jeopardy, putting extra pressure on the team before the next high-stakes event.
Despite their current struggles, both drivers have shown strength during the regular season. Van Gisbergen, who transitioned from New Zealand to NASCAR, made a remarkable Cup Series debut, capturing four victories in 2025. However, his performance waned in the closing weeks, leaving him outside the crucial top 12. Chastain started the year strongly with six top-ten finishes in his first 13 races, including a victory at the Coca-Cola 600, yet his momentum faded, resulting in a winless streak and only three additional top-eight finishes.
What This Means for the Season Ahead
As NASCAR moves to define its expectations for post-race conduct starting at Bristol, Trackhouse Racing faces uncertainty and heightened scrutiny. The Trackhouse Racing NASCAR Gateway controversy serves as a stark reminder of how quickly playoff fortunes can shift under the weight of regulatory oversight and how each decision—both on and off the track—can determine the trajectory of a season. The coming weeks will reveal the full implications of NASCAR’s clampdown for Trackhouse, its drivers, and the broader competitive landscape.
