Trackhouse Racing NASCAR drivers have called on their fan base for support as voting opens for the prestigious NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award, with four races left in the current season. Ross Chastain, Shane van Gisbergen, and Daniel Suárez each hope to secure the accolade through dedicated fan votes during the Las Vegas race weekend, aiming to rally their supporters from the United States, New Zealand, and Mexico, respectively.
Fans can participate by selecting their chosen Trackhouse Racing NASCAR driver—Chastain, van Gisbergen, or Suárez—through the designated online ballot. Voting rules permit up to five submissions daily per person, restricted to unique email addresses. This campaign comes at a critical time in the season as momentum, pride, and fan engagement peak.
Ross Chastain Continues Strong Performance at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Ross Chastain returns to Las Vegas Motor Speedway with impressive previous results in the No. 1 Chevrolet, sponsored by Tootsie’s. Chastain’s partnership with Tootsie’s began in 2022 and has seen the driver earn six victories in the No. 1 car—surpassing the previous record held by Jamie McMurray. Notably, Chastain secured a runner-up finish at the track in October 2022.
Since joining Trackhouse Racing, Chastain has averaged a finish of 5.42 at Las Vegas, boasting five top-five and six top-10 finishes at the 1.5-mile oval. His last visit in March saw him start from 19th place and fight back to finish fifth, having led 14 laps during the race. Despite a challenging end to his playoff hopes at the Charlotte ROVAL, Chastain remains committed to securing victories in the remaining events.
Chastain, guided by crew chief Phil Surgen—his partner since 2021—remains a formidable contender at Las Vegas. He is set to make public appearances at the track, signing autographs for fans at the Trackhouse Racing merchandise hauler and the Nevada Highway Safety Booth in the Fan Zone over the race weekend.
Chastain Reacts to Playoff Elimination and Looks Ahead to Las Vegas
Though Chastain narrowly missed advancing to the Playoffs Round of 8 after a 21st-place finish at Charlotte, he emphasized the progress and resilience of his team. Reflecting on not making the next round, Chastain stated:
It’s so disappointing to not make it to the Round of 8 because we worked so hard to put ourselves in the position to make the Playoffs this season. For the chance at a championship to go away by a few points at Charlotte, just isn’t ideal. The good news is we still get to compete for wins and our cars are getting better so even though we aren’t fighting for a championship, we are still competing for wins.
—Ross Chastain, Driver
He also shared his approach to the upcoming Las Vegas race:
We’ve come really close to winning at Las Vegas a few times. We just need that extra little bit to get it done. For whatever reason, it has been a really good track for me since I’ve been at Trackhouse. Phil Surgen knows what I need there to get the maximum performance out of the car at that particular track. It would be awesome to get the Tootsie’s car in victory lane at Las Vegas for Steve and his group.
—Ross Chastain, Driver
Shane van Gisbergen Brings Momentum and Heritage to Las Vegas Appearance
Shane van Gisbergen arrives in Las Vegas on the heels of a historic season. His fifth victory at the Charlotte ROVAL not only tied him with Denny Hamlin for the most wins this year but also cemented his status as the Sunoco Rookie with the most Cup Series wins in a season. Van Gisbergen’s NASCAR debut was marked by victories in inaugural races, including Mexico City’s Cup Series debut and the PROJECT91 Chicago Street Race in 2023.
His performance on ovals has also improved; after starting his season finishing in the 30s, he has recently recorded top-10 finishes on tracks like Kansas Speedway. Van Gisbergen carries this momentum into Las Vegas, a track that shares similarities with Kansas and where he looks to build his oval racing expertise further. Fans can meet van Gisbergen on Sunday morning at the Trackhouse Racing merchandise hauler in the Fan Zone.
This weekend, van Gisbergen’s No. 88 Jockey Chevrolet will feature special livery celebrating his New Zealand heritage, complete with designs of the silver fern, the map of New Zealand, and the Southern Cross. The unique paint scheme aligns with the longstanding partnership between Jockey and both van Gisbergen and Trackhouse Racing, aiming to connect fans from his home country to the NASCAR stage.
Van Gisbergen Discusses Vegas, Improvement, and Meaning of Unique Paint Scheme
Looking at his track adaptation, van Gisbergen reflected on the challenges and progress across road courses and ovals:
I think it’s two sort of stories. The road courses obviously have been amazing, and then the ovals — I started the year in the 30s, genuinely, which is very average, but I feel like we’ve grounded out, now we’re a 15th to 10th place car on most weeks. I think all tracks are difficult. Las Vegas this weekend, going there and having to hold it wide open at 190, it’s a crazy feeling and something I’m not comfortable with. It’s so fast when you hook into those corners there. Then when you do it in the race around other cars, that’s where I’m learning trying to get comfortable, know where to place the car in the air and try and understand what’s happening. It’s just taking time.
—Shane van Gisbergen, Driver
On his unique New Zealand-themed car, van Gisbergen said:
It’s an awesome paint scheme, so special to have some influence on the design. It’s super cool to be able to show some of my kiwi heritage on the track this weekend in Las Vegas. To be able to have the Southern Cross, Silver Fern and the colors of New Zealand on my car – I was speechless when I first saw it. Just really special to me and I’m excited to be carrying huge momentum with my team into the weekend.
—Shane van Gisbergen, Driver
When asked about handling expectations as a favorite on road courses, he commented:
I don’t think it’s a guarantee in this series. But I think it’s a nice feeling. I don’t feel any more pressure, but it’s nice people think so high of us now. It’s a cool feeling that everyone knows the 88’s going to be pretty good on road course weekends. I like that. You certainly feel a pretty good atmosphere in the shop on a road course week. My teammates are strong on road courses, as well. I don’t think it puts any more pressure or expectation from outside. I guess from other drivers and media, maybe. But I find it’s a nice feeling to have.
—Shane van Gisbergen, Driver
Jockey’s Lasting Partnership and Community Focus in Racing
Jockey stands out as both a longtime sponsor and the Official Apparel Partner of Trackhouse Racing. The brand has a decade-spanning history in New Zealand and remains a household name worldwide, with products now available in more than 140 countries. Their relationship with van Gisbergen highlights not only the company’s global reach but also its commitment to community and quality, underpinning the unique brand energies displayed at events like Las Vegas.
Farmers, Jockey’s longtime retail partner in New Zealand, celebrates this collaboration by providing fans with immersive brand experiences, notably promoting the Las Vegas paint scheme across product pages and the Jockey website for New Zealand audiences.
Stephen Doran, van Gisbergen’s crew chief, celebrated his fifth win as a Cup Series crew chief during the recent Charlotte ROVAL victory, strengthening the team’s competitive record. The duo’s collaboration continues to shape van Gisbergen’s transition from V8 Supercars to a winning presence in NASCAR.
Recently, van Gisbergen and Trackhouse Racing announced a multi-year contract extension, securing his place with the team for seasons to come, furthering the promise of sustained success and strong international representation for NASCAR.
Daniel Suárez Showcases Heritage and Consistency at Las Vegas
Daniel Suárez returns to Las Vegas Motor Speedway with a special Day of the Dead-themed helmet, paying tribute to his Mexican roots. This race weekend aligns with National Hispanic Heritage Month, a celebration highlighted by a unique Freeway Insurance paint scheme on Suárez’s No. 99 car to honor Hispanic and Latino American contributions.
Historically, Suárez has demonstrated consistency at Las Vegas, securing four top-10 and two top-five finishes over 16 starts. He came close to victory at the track in March, finishing second after leading 12 laps, and followed up with a third-place finish last October. At the recent Charlotte ROVAL, Suárez managed a seventh-place result after strategic calls from crew chief Matt Swiderski placed him firmly in the top five for much of the race.
The Monterrey-born driver made history as the first Mexican to win a NASCAR Cup Series race and recently became a dual citizen of Mexico and the United States. His marriage to Julia Piquet and their subsequent travels have contributed richly to his personal and public narrative, while his consistent performances—even returning to Mexico to win with JR Motorsports in the Xfinity Series—have established international storylines throughout the NASCAR season.
Suárez Discusses Near-Wins and Importance of Recent Form
Suárez expressed confidence in his team’s preparations and strategies for Las Vegas, referencing his nearly victorious performance earlier this year:
We did everything right earlier this season at Las Vegas. The Freeway Insurance team did a great job on pit road and Matt (Swiderdski, crew chief) did a great job on strategy. We struggled a little bit on the short runs but I’m confident we will be better this weekend. Running well this past weekend at the ROVAL was a boost for all of us.
—Daniel Suárez, Driver
On the significance of his recent ROVAL finish, Suárez shared:
Running well this past weekend at the ROVAL was a big deal for everyone on the No. 99 team for sure. Everyone at Trackhouse has been working so hard all season and it was great to have a good day. It’s important to have momentum entering Las Vegas this weekend where we’ve proven that we can run up front.
—Daniel Suárez, Driver
Trackhouse Racing’s Evolving Future and Fan Engagement
Looking ahead, Trackhouse Racing recently announced a forthcoming change, as Daniel Suárez and the organization mutually agreed to conclude their partnership after the 2025 season. Suárez will explore new opportunities while Trackhouse prepares to welcome Xfinity Series driver Connor Zilisch to their Cup Series lineup in 2026, with Randall Burnett named as his crew chief.
This transition signals both a respect for Suárez’s contributions and a forward-looking approach as the team expands its vision. The announcement comes at a time when fan interaction and support are at an all-time high, with drivers’ personalities, backgrounds, and remarkable diversity drawing attention from NASCAR fans across the Americas and the Pacific.
The Significance of Fan Votes and What Lies Ahead
With the Most Popular Driver Award voting underway, the Trackhouse Racing NASCAR drivers—Chastain, van Gisbergen, and Suárez—embody the sport’s passion, energy, and international diversity. Their stories at Las Vegas Motor Speedway highlight not only fierce competition but also their efforts to connect with supporters and shape NASCAR’s global landscape.
As the season reaches its closing stages, the outcome of the fan vote remains uncertain. Chastain’s Melon Nation, van Gisbergen’s Kiwi supporters, and Suárez’s devoted followers all have a chance to tip the vote in their favorite’s favor. The results will reflect not just on-track performance but also the powerful connection between teams, drivers, and their diverse communities. Trackhouse Racing’s evolving narrative, combined with Las Vegas’ electric atmosphere, ensures the excitement will continue right through to the final checkered flag of the season.
