The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs reach a pivotal moment at Bristol Motor Speedway as Trackhouse Racing faces a critical test with the round’s elimination looming. The Trackhouse Racing 2025 Bristol Playoff Preview centers on the efforts of Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen, as both drivers confront urgent challenges to secure their spot in the next playoff round this Saturday night in Tennessee.
Ross Chastain enters the 500-lap race positioned 11th in the playoff standings, giving him a 19-point buffer above the cutoff, while teammate Shane van Gisbergen faces a 15-point deficit from the 12th and final transfer spot, sitting 14th among 16 remaining championship hopefuls. Both need strong performances to continue their postseason pursuit. NASCAR will continue its format of eliminating four drivers after every three-race segment, narrowing the championship contenders to four for a title-decider at Phoenix Raceway on November 2.
Ross Chastain: Maintaining Momentum Amid Pressure
Chastain comes to Bristol motivated to defend his playoff berth, despite recent setbacks including a 24th-place result at World Wide Technology Raceway after an untimely caution trapped him deep in the field. His playoff buffer is slim, but positive recent Bristol showings bolster his confidence; he recorded two consecutive top-10 finishes at the Tennessee short track, including a 10th-place run last year and a sixth-place result in 2022. As he makes his 11th Bristol Cup Series start, Chastain is determined to leverage his experience on the high banks and hopes to avoid misfortunes that could threaten his playoff journey.
The Moose Fraternity will back Chastain this weekend, continuing a partnership that recently saw an extension through the 2027 season—marking the seventh and eighth years of collaboration between Chastain, Moose, and Trackhouse. This weekend will also feature Chastain piloting the familiar Moose Fraternity No. 1 Chevrolet for the third and final time this season, with previous livery appearances resulting in both promising finishes and tough breaks.
“The Moose Fraternity has been a great partner to me dating back before my Trackhouse Racing days. It’s not often in racing that you can have a relationship with a partner for as many years as I have had with the Moose. They obviously see value in the motorsports program and it gives me the opportunity to meet their guests each weekend, visit their lodges, visit Mooseheart and Moosehaven and seeing the impact they have in the community. I’m thankful they’ve decided to continue to support me and the No. 1 team at Trackhouse for years to come.”
—Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Driver
An autograph session at the Trackhouse Racing merchandise hauler and appearances at multiple Bristol Fan Zone and Food City locations will see Chastain engaging with fans ahead of Saturday’s intense race. Chastain and his crew chief Phil Surgen, who have been paired since 2021, represent one of the longest-running driver-crew chief partnerships in the Cup Series—an advantage in high-pressure scenarios like Bristol’s cutoff race. The duo’s six wins together in the famed No. 1 car lead all drivers who have piloted that number.
“Obviously, we aren’t heading into Bristol with as much of a points cushion as we hoped for. Being 19 points above the cutline is better than being no points or below the line. I’m going into Bristol preparing just like I prepare every week, just as if I’ve won the last two races. I can’t try any harder. We are going to put our best foot forward and hope for the best result at Bristol and that it is good enough to get us to the next round.”
—Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Driver
Shane van Gisbergen: Climbing Back as Playoff Pressure Builds
Shane van Gisbergen has quickly established himself as a force in his debut Cup season, amassing record wins as a Sunoco Rookie. Despite his rookie-status success, including five victories and a streak of historic firsts—like three straight road course wins from pole and top honors in two inaugural races—he faces a stern test at Bristol. Lying 14th in the standings, van Gisbergen must climb 15 points to break into the top 12 and keep his championship hopes alive.
Last weekend at St. Louis was emblematic of the volatility newcomers can face; after qualifying 18th, van Gisbergen’s No. 88 Chevy was set back by a mid-race spin and a late speeding penalty, eventually finishing 25th. His earlier Bristol outing was cut short after on-track contact sent him into the wall and left him with a 38th-place result.
As van Gisbergen tackles Bristol’s distinctive half-mile oval for just the second time, he’ll rely on the experience gained through a season of rapid adjustment to American ovals and a strong partnership with crew chief Stephen Doran, whose leadership has delivered four Cup wins with van Gisbergen in 2025. Off track, van Gisbergen continues to build his stateside reputation, engaging fans at Trackhouse Racing’s merchandise trailer, and recently announced a multi-year contract extension, securing his future with Trackhouse beyond 2025.
“Well, Bristol is a cool track. I really struggled there in the spring and it’s a tough track for someone like me. It will be important to have a clean, well-executed race, try and get stage points and be up there all night. It’s going to be a battle.”
—Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Driver
“It’s been good. I just wish, obviously, that we could’ve gotten better results the last two races. It’s going to be tough this weekend to get through, but the reality is we aren’t there yet on ovals. It’s coming, but we are just forcing it too quickly at the moment.”
—Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Driver
Van Gisbergen will drive the No. 88 Wendy’s Breakfast Baconator Chevrolet at Bristol, showcasing one of the team’s prominent sponsors. His status as the only non-U.S. driver with at least four Cup wins, and as a two-time winner in inaugural events, cements his growing prominence in the NASCAR field. The Auckland native’s fast adaptation to the Cup Series continues to draw attention as he looks to deliver another breakthrough moment under Bristol’s bright lights.
Daniel Suárez: Fighting Through Adversity Amid Looming Change
Teammate Daniel Suárez heads to Bristol motivated to reverse misfortune after recent streaks of bad luck that have seen him collected in crashes at Darlington and St. Louis, despite a run of top-10s at Watkins Glen, Richmond, and Daytona earlier. Suárez, driving the No. 99, has enjoyed some past success at Bristol with two top-10s on the challenging concrete—including a notable sixth-place in 2017 and a strong run on dirt with a fourth-place finish in 2021, which marked Trackhouse Racing’s first top-five ever.
The Mexican-born driver recently celebrated personal milestones, marrying Julia Piquet and gaining dual citizenship, and was the subject of headlines for his impressive drive at NASCAR’s first event in Mexico City, where a charge from last to first in the Xfinity race electrified the crowd. The Bristol night race brings extra motivation for Suárez, known for embracing the spectacle and energy unique to the event.
“I cant wait to get there. The last two weeks we have been a victim of other drivers mistakes and that isn’t much fun. We deserve better because we have been bringing faster race cars to the track.”
—Daniel Suárez, Trackhouse Racing Driver
As Bristol allows each competitor to select an introduction song, Suárez chose Don Omar’s “Danza Kuduro”, while his focus remains firmly on chasing a coveted win. The race also marks a transitional moment as Trackhouse and Suárez recently announced they will part ways at the end of the season, making way for Connor Zilisch to join the Cup lineup in 2026.
“The night race is so much fun at Bristol. The crowd is into it and our cars at night are so much cooler. It’s a fantastic show. Everybody is running for points, or to advance into the next round of the playoffs or running for the victory, so there is a lot going on Saturday night. We just want a win. That’s our only strategy.”
—Daniel Suárez, Trackhouse Racing Driver
Saturday will see Suárez’s No. 99 carry the livery of Freeway Insurance, a longstanding Trackhouse partner. Meanwhile, his career continues to be defined by both resilience and landmark achievements, having scored victories at Sonoma and Atlanta and pole awards at Pocono, Kentucky, and Indianapolis Road Course.
Trackhouse Racing: Growing Legacy and Organizational Evolution
Justin Marks, founder and owner of Trackhouse Racing, leads the group through a period of expansion and transformation. Marks has guided the organization from its beginnings as a single-car effort with Suárez in 2021, to the acquisition of Chip Ganassi Racing’s assets, enabling Trackhouse to field multiple full-time teams starting in 2022. His business acumen and passion for motorsports also saw him co-found the Trackhouse Motorplex and invest in initiatives such as the championship-winning CARS Tour and a return to MotoGP as an official Aprilia partner, marking the first American MotoGP squad in more than a decade.
Following a significant minority investment from The Avenue Sports Fund, Trackhouse aims for added stability during its growth phase. Under Marks’ leadership, the organization has captured ten Cup Series wins since its inception and will field three full-time entries in 2025—a testament to its swift competitive rise and adaptive vision for the future. Marks’s personal history as a racer, including sports car wins and numerous NASCAR forays, informs his approach to team leadership and innovation in the sport.
Community, Partnerships, and Charitable Impact
Trackhouse Racing’s journey is shaped by lasting partnerships with entities like Moose Fraternity, who have supported Chastain on and off the track through charitable initiatives at Mooseheart and Moosehaven. The team’s relationship with major sponsors like Wendy’s and Freeway Insurance fuels both competition and community engagement, while also spotlighting the sport’s diverse network of businesses and philanthropic projects. Moose International sustains substantial programs for youth and seniors, underscoring the positive outcomes created by motorsport alliances.
Wendy’s, founded in 1969 by Dave Thomas, continues to maintain its reputation for quality and social responsibility, supporting initiatives like the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Freeway Insurance, meanwhile, delivers broad insurance solutions and highlights the role of longtime support in competitive motorsport environments.
The Road Ahead: What’s at Stake This Saturday in Bristol
As the green flag falls on Saturday night’s 500-lap spectacle, Trackhouse Racing’s trio faces one of the season’s defining contests. If Ross Chastain can hold his points advantage and Shane van Gisbergen can bridge his deficit, both drivers have a chance to keep Trackhouse’s playoff dream alive into the next round. For Daniel Suárez, Bristol represents another opportunity to seize a win and end recent misfortune on a high note—potentially marking one of his final significant moments with the organization.
The team’s performance at Bristol could have lasting implications, both in this year’s championship and in shaping Trackhouse’s path as it adapts to new drivers and sponsors. With a passionate fan base, meaningful partnerships, and a determined spirit, Trackhouse Racing’s 2025 Bristol Playoff Preview stands as a testament to resilience and high drama in NASCAR’s playoffs, as the organization looks to extend its championship chase through teamwork and perseverance.
