Trackhouse Racing is setting the stage for a transformative year, unveiling major team and personnel changes for the 2026 NASCAR season as the organization continues to expand its winning legacy. Centered around the Trackhouse Racing 2026 changes, these updates involve shifts in crew chief leadership and car numbers, aiming to build upon recent successes in NASCAR’s top series.
New Crew Chief for Ross Chastain and No. 1 Chevrolet Team
Ross Chastain will remain behind the wheel of the No. 1 Chevrolet, a position he has held since 2022. The team has announced the arrival of Brandon McSwain, previously with Hendrick Motorsports, as the new crew chief for Chastain and his team. McSwain, who brings experience from a tenure at JR Motorsports and a recent role as lead race engineer for William Byron’s No. 24 team, steps in following a change for Chastain’s long-time crew chief, Phil Surgen, who has transitioned to a different position within Trackhouse Racing.
“I’m thrilled to have Brandon McSwain as my crew chief next year,”
said Ross Chastain, Driver.
“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.”
— Ross Chastain, Driver
Brandon McSwain, a Florida native and graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, brings a mechanical engineering background and 16 Cup Series victories as an engineer. His move into the crew chief role represents a major career milestone.
“Becoming a crew chief and working with Trackhouse and Ross is a huge opportunity in my career,”
said Brandon McSwain, Crew Chief.
“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.”
— Brandon McSwain, Crew Chief
Shane van Gisbergen Embraces No. 97 for Second Cup Season
Shane van Gisbergen enters his second full season in the Cup Series, now piloting the No. 97 car – a number deeply significant to his family and racing roots. The No. 97 was used by his father, Robert van Gisbergen, and later became synonymous with Shane’s influential years in Australian Supercars, where he notched 80 wins, 3 championships, and 152 podiums. Van Gisbergen carried the number into his 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series rookie campaign, earning three wins and three pole positions, further cementing its legacy.
“It’s awesome to carry a car number that is so special to me,”
said Shane van Gisbergen, 2025 Cup Series Rookie of the Year.
“When Justin offered me the opportunity to change to the No. 97, it was pretty special. It’s a number that means a lot to my family and me. 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.”
— Shane van Gisbergen, 2025 Cup Series Rookie of the Year
Stephen Doran continues as crew chief for Van Gisbergen and the No. 97 team into 2026. Doran guided Van Gisbergen to five wins in his rookie Cup season, including high-profile victories at Mexico City, the Chicago Street Race, Sonoma Raceway in California, Watkins Glen International in New York, and the Charlotte Roval, a record for a rookie campaign.
“The 2025 season was pretty special but I’m already starting to look ahead to 2026 and see where we can improve and build off our past success,”
said Stephen Doran, Crew Chief.
“Shane is one of the best road course drivers NASCAR has ever seen and it’s an honor to be part of it. Just being able to build from the very beginning with Shane and adapt to his driving style and learn off each other, it’s special. I’m really looking forward to accomplishing more together next season.”
— Stephen Doran, Crew Chief
Connor Zilisch Debuts in Cup Series, Guided by Randall Burnett
Starting his rookie year in the Cup Series in the No. 88 car, Connor Zilisch steps up after a standout stint with JR Motorsports in the Xfinity Series. Zilisch clinched 10 wins and the 2025 Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year honor in the No. 88 entry, a number renowned in NASCAR history through its association with figures like Shane van Gisbergen, Dale Jarrett, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Experienced Cup Series crew chief Randall Burnett, with a background including six Cup victories and 253 races called, will lead Zilisch for the 2026 campaign.
“It’s cool for me to carry on the legacy of the 88 number,”
said Connor Zilisch, Driver.
“That number has quickly become important to me and the history of that number in the sport with Shane, Dale Jr., Dale Jarrett, and everyone who has run the 88. I certainly have big shoes to fill but hopefully I’ll be able to carry that on. I’m really excited to be working with Randall in 2026. We have already started working on how we’re going to approach next season. I feel like we are starting to build that relationship which is very important. I’m looking forward to learning a lot from Randall and his experience in this sport.”
— Connor Zilisch, Driver
Randall Burnett, a Missouri native with an engineering degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, is recognized for leading Tyler Reddick to the 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship. He welcomes the challenge of nurturing Zilisch’s transition to the Cup level.
“Connor is a talented young driver and has been successful in other racing series,”
said Randall Burnett, Crew Chief.
“To be the guy who will guide him in his first full Cup season and doing it at Trackhouse is a privilege. He’s very energetic and dedicated to being a successful driver.”
— Randall Burnett, Crew Chief
Trackhouse Racing’s Growth and Strategic Reset for 2026
The 2026 season marks the second year Trackhouse Racing fields three full-time Cup Series entries. In five years, the organization, owned by Justin Marks, has celebrated 14 victories, 57 finishes in the top five, and 113 top-ten appearances. The team has also made the NASCAR Playoffs for four successive seasons, demonstrating rapid growth and competitive presence.
Team leadership views this as a pivotal opportunity to usher in a new era. Phil Surgen steps away from his trackside crew chief role, Todd Meredith joins the organization, and the redefined driver-crew chief pairings aim to build momentum.
“There was an opportunity for the 2026 season to kind of reset everything with our driver lineup changing, Phil Surgen expressing desire to come off the road, and Todd Meredith joining the team,”
said Justin Marks, Team Owner.
“We looked at the organization as whole and see the 2026 season as the next iteration of Trackhouse. Ross, Shane and Connor are all excited about who they’re working with next year, the cars they’re driving, and our partners have been very supportive of the changes as well. This is another big step in creating the Trackhouse legacy.”
— Justin Marks, Team Owner
What Lies Ahead: Debut of New Pairings at Iconic Venue
The revamped rosters and car numbers will debut at the NASCAR Cup Series exhibition event on February 1 at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The organizational shakeup at Trackhouse Racing underscores the team’s intent to sustain its upward trajectory, harnessing the talents of a dynamic driver lineup and accomplished crew chiefs. As the 2026 season approaches, anticipation rises for the impacts these Trackhouse Racing 2026 changes will bring to both the team and the broader NASCAR landscape.
