The battle for Trackhouse Racing’s spot in the NASCAR playoffs reaches a critical stage this Sunday, as the team heads to New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the start of Round 2. Drivers Ross Chastain, Shane van Gisbergen, and Daniel Suárez all have high ambitions, with the Trackhouse Racing NASCAR New Hampshire effort facing elimination stakes and opportunity in equal measure.
Playoff Pressure Intensifies for Trackhouse Team in Loudon
New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon marks the venue for the fourth race in NASCAR’s 10-event playoff series, opening the demanding second round. Ross Chastain arrives at this crucial 300-lap contest holding 11th place out of the 12 remaining playoff drivers. Just two points separate him from the cutoff that determines which competitors advance after the next three races—including those set for Kansas Speedway and the Charlotte Roval. NASCAR’s format dictates that four drivers will be cut from playoff contention every three races, whittling the field down to a final four who will contest the championship finale in Phoenix, Arizona, on November 2.
While Chastain battles for advancement, fellow Trackhouse Racing drivers Shane van Gisbergen and Daniel Suárez approach the New Hampshire weekend intent on capturing an iconic prize—a 25-pound live lobster awarded to the race winner. For them, victory at Loudon stands as a season highlight, regardless of playoff implications.
Ross Chastain’s Season at a Crossroads
Chastain’s return to New England is boosted by his history at the 1.058-mile track. This weekend, he drives the No. 1 Kubota Tractor Corporation Chevrolet for his seventh Cup Series start at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. His recent performances here have been strong, notching three top-10 finishes in his last four starts at the venue.
This event signals the first of two straight races where his car will feature the distinctive Kubota livery. Earlier this year, Kubota Tractor Corporation extended its sponsorship with Trackhouse Racing through 2027—an ongoing relationship since 2022, which also designates Kubota as the Official Tractor Company of Trackhouse Racing. As in recent years, the Kubota partnership includes an initiative supporting U.S. farmer veterans: for every top-10 finish earned by Chastain in the No. 1 Kubota Chevrolet during sponsored races, Kubota and Trackhouse commit a $10,000 donation to the Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC). Through the “Geared to Give” program, Kubota has donated over $1 million to the FVC since 2015, benefiting veterans through grants and machinery. Chastain’s top results in the last two seasons have produced $70,000 in such contributions, with his fifth-place finish at Las Vegas this year triggering the campaign’s first $10,000 donation of 2024.
Last week at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee, Chastain’s race was a rollercoaster. Despite battling back from a lap down and reaching 12th late in the race, a caution flag kept him from finishing higher, culminating in 19th. Nevertheless, that effort was enough to push him into Round 2 of the playoffs, entering Loudon two points below the all-important cutline.
Preparation for New Hampshire included a July tire test at the track, where Chastain completed over 700 laps across two days. He commented directly about this extensive prep:
I hope a lot (laughs). Two solid days of testing and over 700 laps. We went through a lot of things up there, some felt good, some did not. Trackhouse and Chevy have been digging through all of the data to see what they think is going to be best. As long as we helped Chevy, that’s the most important thing, but obviously I hope there was something we learned for the No. 1 car.
—Ross Chastain, Driver
The No. 1 team’s crew chief, Phil Surgen, brings both technical expertise and local roots to the event. Originally from Lake Elmore, Vermont, about 2.5 hours away, Surgen has deep ties to the region and a degree in mechanical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts. He describes his home track as Thunder Road in Barre, Vermont.
Chastain and Surgen have worked together since 2021, making theirs the third-longest active driver-crew chief pairing in the series. Their success is evident: with six Cup Series wins in the No. 1 car—more wins than any other driver-share for that entry number, surpassing Jamie McMurray’s previous record.
Chastain provided his outlook ahead of Round 2, reflecting both on recent challenges and the opportunities ahead at New Hampshire, Kansas, and the Roval in Charlotte:
I’m glad we survived and made the second round of the Playoffs. Obviously, I wish it was more than survival but I feel pretty good about this round. We have New Hampshire this weekend and we did the tire test there so hopefully we learned some things we can apply. Then we have Kansas (Speedway), which we won last year, so I think that bodes well for us. The Roval is probably going to be the wild card for me in this round but we’ll see how everything shakes out. I’m going to do the things I do to prep for the races and hope the results earn us enough points to get to the next round.
—Ross Chastain, Driver
Shane van Gisbergen Targets Success in Cup Series Debut at NHMS
This weekend holds special significance for Shane van Gisbergen as he makes his first NASCAR Cup Series start at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The Auckland, New Zealand native previously ran an Xfinity Series race at the venue in 2024, where an incident led to a 28th-place result after starting 18th.
Van Gisbergen pilots the No. 88 Jockey Chevrolet, featuring the distinctive Jockey Infinite Cool Underwear paint scheme, a playful and fan-favorite livery seen throughout the season. The car and branding serve as the latest innovation in Jockey’s longstanding involvement in American and New Zealand motorsports.
Although van Gisbergen was unable to advance out of the playoff’s first round—finishing 26th at Bristol with a pair of on-track spins—his rookie campaign has been one for the NASCAR history books. He now holds the Sunoco Rookie record for most Cup Series wins in a season with four, and he achieved five career wins faster than any driver since Dan Gurney in 1968. His historic NASCAR debut win came as part of Trackhouse Racing’s PROJECT91 at the Chicago Street Race in 2023, and he added inaugural NASCAR Cup victories in both Mexico City and on U.S. soil in 2024. On road courses, van Gisbergen has proven dominant, joining Jeff Gordon as the only driver in recent memory to win three consecutive road races from pole position.
He reflected honestly on his playoff exit and the season to date:
I knew it was going to be a long shot last weekend at (Bristol), but I’m still proud of what we have achieved this year. It’s been a huge privilege to be in the Playoffs but everyone knew the first round was going to be difficult. I just didn’t do a good enough job on the ovals. I know we’re strong on the road courses, but I just need to keep improving at the ovals.
—Shane van Gisbergen, Driver
For van Gisbergen, the unique Jockey scheme adds a fun note to his Cup Series debut at Loudon:
(Laughs) It’s a pretty cool scheme! Ross and Daniel told me this moment would come, so now it’s my time to drive in my undies this weekend. Thanks to Jockey for joining me in my first Cup Series start at New Hampshire. We will all have some fun with it and share the moment together.
—Shane van Gisbergen, Driver
Stephen Doran, now a four-time Cup Series winning crew chief, continues to oversee van Gisbergen’s No. 88 entry. After engineering a win in Mexico City and backing the campaign’s success on road courses, Doran plays a critical role in the rookie’s development. Looking ahead, the van Gisbergen–Trackhouse partnership is secure with a newly announced multi-year contract extension, promising continued appearances and competition beyond 2025 for both driver and team.
Daniel Suárez Eyes Redemption and Future Opportunities
While Daniel Suárez is not racing for a playoff berth this weekend, he chases his own milestones and seeks to end the season on a high. Suárez will sport the Choice Privileges paint scheme—a part of a broader collaboration between Trackhouse Racing and Choice Hotels International that has provided VIP fan experiences, garage access, and other benefits to loyalty program members.
Suárez’s Cup career numbers feature standout moments, including wins at Sonoma Raceway (2022) and Atlanta Motor Speedway (2024), paired with three pole positions across Pocono, Kentucky, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. His recent form includes a trio of top-10s and a celebrated international victory at the Xfinity Series event in Mexico City, where he drove from last to first in front of an enthusiastic home crowd—a first for any NASCAR road course event.
His resilience has been tested this season, with misfortune in the form of incidents involving other cars affecting his last three races. Looking ahead to New Hampshire and the final stretch of six races in the 2024 season, Suárez is determined to return to victory lane. He expressed his motivation and belief in the team’s ability to win again:
We’ve had our race ruined by other cars in the last three races, so I am looking forward to just getting a chance to race again. We have six races left in the season, and we see each of those races as a chance to get back to victory lane. That’s at the top of our ‘to-do’ list for the rest of the season.
—Daniel Suárez, Driver
He remains optimistic about the potential for more wins before the season concludes:
Yes, we have had some good cars lately. We know we can do it. A few weeks ago, we had three consecutive top-10 finishes. When you are running up there, you have a chance to win. We have the speed.
—Daniel Suárez, Driver
There has been significant change on the horizon for Suárez and Trackhouse Racing, as both parties jointly announced plans to part ways after the 2025 season. The decision opens the door to new ventures for the driver, while Xfinity racer Connor Zilisch is set to join the Trackhouse Cup Series roster in 2026.
Off the track, 2024 has been a year of milestones for Suárez: he became a dual citizen, taking the American Oath of Allegiance at a ceremony led by NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps, and recently married Julia Piquet, daughter of Formula One’s Nelson Piquet, in Brazil.
Sponsors and Community Impact: Kubota and Jockey
Kubota Tractor Corporation’s partnership with Trackhouse Racing has not only focused on racing success but has also championed farmer veterans through ongoing donations for top-10 finishes. The program has provided organizational support, grants, and equipment worth over $1 million since its inception, affirming Kubota’s role in empowering military veterans to pursue careers in agriculture. Kubota’s commitment extends across multiple seasons, backing Chastain and the entire Trackhouse roster through 2027.
The enduring involvement of Jockey with Trackhouse Racing and van Gisbergen likewise anchors the team’s presence both on and off the racetrack. In New Zealand since 1940 and a global leader in apparel since 1876, Jockey’s contribution reaches far beyond branding, linking community support, innovation, and fan engagement across continents.
What’s at Stake in New Hampshire and Beyond
The New Hampshire race at Loudon signals a pivotal moment in the playoff saga for Trackhouse Racing. Ross Chastain is fighting to keep his postseason hopes alive, relying on recent track testing and a history of solid performances at NHMS to edge above the cutline. Shane van Gisbergen seeks to add another signature moment to his impressive rookie campaign and cement his stateside racing legacy. Daniel Suárez, meanwhile, remains focused on capitalizing on the team’s speed and finishing the season with further wins before charting a new career course.
As the season barrels toward its Phoenix finale, Trackhouse Racing’s drivers, sponsors, and partners play out stories of resilience, innovation, and determination, keeping fans captivated and the outcome of the trackhouse racing NASCAR New Hampshire campaign hanging in the balance.
