Trackhouse Racing is gearing up for another high-profile start to the NASCAR season as the exhibition Clash returns to Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The Trackhouse Racing NASCAR update focuses on new partnerships, significant team adjustments, and the anticipation surrounding three competitive entries aiming for top honors in this pre-season showcase.
This year’s Clash brings together drivers on a tight quarter-mile track, all seeking one of 23 coveted spots in the main event following heat races and last chance qualifiers. In 2025, all Trackhouse Racing teams made the main lineup, demonstrating the team’s strategic strength and readiness for the unique challenges posed by this historic venue.
Returning Drivers and Expanded Sponsorships for 2026
Ross Chastain leads the No. 1 Chevrolet entry for Trackhouse Racing, setting his sights on another strong performance at the 200-lap pre-season exhibition. In the previous year’s event, Chastain worked his way up from a 17th starting position to finish sixth, making notable progress throughout the race. For 2026, Chastain brings the Choice Privileges brand back as his primary sponsor, marking the partnership’s third consecutive season providing exclusive NASCAR experiences and merchandise to rewards members. The collaboration was already on display earlier in 2025 at Martinsville Speedway.
Major Team Changes: New Crew Chiefs and Team Roles
Significant changes to the No. 1 team highlight this Trackhouse Racing NASCAR update, as Brandon McSwain steps in as the new crew chief. This is the first time Chastain will not be working under Phil Surgen, his long-time collaborator. The shift follows decisions by Surgen and other key mechanics and engineers, such as Josh Heidkamp, to move away from road assignments, creating chances for fresh faces within the organization. McSwain, originally from Auburndale, Florida, brings credentials from JR Motorsports and Hendrick Motorsports, as well as a prior stint as a lead race engineer for William Byron.
Reflecting on the transition, Chastain shared his history with McSwain and how the new crew chief was chosen:
“I worked with Brandon at Shiggy’s (Hattori Racing Enterprises) back in 2014, and unfortunately, Shiggy’s passing is kind of what reconnected us. We’ve lived about a mile apart from each other for a few years. I went to his wedding back in 2014 down in Florida and I’ve seen his kids grow up. I asked him if I could come over to his house and I wanted his wife, Jaci (Jack-ee), there too. I wanted her to be in the room when I asked if he would be interested in potentially being my crew chief. They have two young kids at home, and I wanted to make sure Jaci signed off on it. He’s been traveling several years as an engineer but being a crew chief is a different role with different demands. They both thought about it and he came back to me and said he would be interested. So, I tossed his name in the hat and let Todd Meredith, Phil Surgen and the greater group at Trackhouse take it from there. They landed on Brandon and I’m thrilled to have him as my crew chief this year.”
— Ross Chastain, Driver
Chastain first heard McSwain’s voice on the radio during official testing at North Wilkesboro Speedway earlier this year, marking the start of their working relationship in a race environment.
Chastain’s View on Racing at Bowman Gray
Looking forward to racing at Bowman Gray, Chastain expressed enthusiasm for competing so close to home and at a venue rich in NASCAR heritage. Sitting with Jim France during last year’s event, Chastain reflected on decades of racing tradition at the track:
“You know, getting that opportunity less than an hour from the house right up the road in Winston-Salem, a place that the France family has been promoting and presenting races, putting on races for decades, is awesome. Last year sitting with Jim France and listening to him talk about as a kid coming up with his family from Daytona to put on races there is just so cool. To think about all the greats that have raced in all the different classes is incredible and lately the modifieds have made that place so popular. I’m looking forward to racing and applying what we’ve learned over the course of a year since we last raced there. A Chevy won there last year and I’d like to be the Chevy that wins this year.”
— Ross Chastain, Driver
Chastain also highlighted the team changes impacting his car:
“A couple guys wanted to come off the road, most notably Phil Surgen, who had been my crew chief the last few years. Josh Heidkamp, one of our mechanics, wanted to come off of the road as did some of the engineers. That’s given a lot of opportunity to guys on the team that were raising their hands wanting to step up into different roles. Once we got Brandon McSwain signed up as crew chief, I kind of wiped my hands clean and told him, go get your people. Go get the engineers that you want and whatever else you think you need.”
— Ross Chastain, Driver
Connor Zilisch Makes His Clash Debut With Trackhouse
Connor Zilisch is set to attempt his first NASCAR Clash start at Bowman Gray, representing another evolution in the Trackhouse Racing lineup. This event marks Zilisch’s initial exposure to short track competition within the Cup Series, a significant milestone for the young driver. The historic quarter-mile track lies just an hour north of the Trackhouse Racing headquarters.
Zilisch will be led by new crew chief Randall Burnett, a Missouri native joining Trackhouse after success at Richard Childress Racing with drivers Tyler Reddick and Kyle Busch. Burnett’s background includes six Cup race wins in 2022-2023 and the 2019 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship with Reddick.
Zilisch enters the Clash shortly after a narrow finish at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, where he and co-drivers Jack Aitken, Earl Bamber, and Frederik Vesti missed out on victory by just over a second—a testament to his competitive instincts ahead of his short track debut.
Asked about his mindset for the upcoming event, Zilisch described the unique challenges of Bowman Gray:
“The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium is going to be interesting for sure. I’ve been to races there as fan but racing a Cup car is going to be crazy. I’ve had some laps in the SIM to prepare for this weekend. It’s a tough little track and certainly a challenge to get off the corners without getting too loose. Bowman Gray is like no other track that we race at all year. Racing there is going to be intense, but I think it will be fun, too.”
— Connor Zilisch, Driver
Shane van Gisbergen Continues to Build His Legacy
In his second appearance at the NASCAR Cup Series Clash, Shane van Gisbergen is set to carry the No. 97 for Trackhouse Racing in recognition of his family’s racing history and his own impressive career. Van Gisbergen, who started tenth and finished ninth in last year’s Clash, sees deep personal meaning in the number, which he explains:
“It’s a number I’ve raced with all my life – I started racing with it at a young age. It’s really cool that Justin Marks and Trackhouse let me race a number that means so much to me and my family. It’s a really good change. I’m stoked to be able to carry the 97 this year!”
— Shane van Gisbergen, Driver
This number was first worn by his father, Robert van Gisbergen, and became legendary in Australian Supercars through van Gisbergen’s achievements: 80 victories, 3 championships, and more than 150 podium finishes since 2013. Last year in NASCAR, he earned three wins and three poles during his O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Rookie campaign.
Van Gisbergen will once again pilot a Trackhouse Chevrolet adorned with the squad’s well-known colors, while both he and teammate Zilisch will field complementary livery designs for this exhibition event.
Stephen Doran returns as crew chief atop the No. 97 team’s pit box, building on a successful partnership that saw them dominate in Mexico City in June 2025 with a commanding win at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, leading 60 of 100 laps. This triumph was significant both as van Gisbergen’s first Cup victory and as a defining moment for Doran’s career as a crew chief.
For the 2026 season, van Gisbergen remains focused on growth and development, particularly on oval tracks, as he explains:
“Definitely time and to still keep an open mind, keep learning. I think I’m still making huge gains in certain areas. But certainly, keep learning something new every week, especially at the tracks I’m not strong at, keep trying to improve. I’m nowhere near my ceiling yet, I don’t think.”
— Shane van Gisbergen, Driver
Looking Ahead: Anticipation Builds for the 2026 Exhibition
With three competitive entries featuring seasoned drivers, fresh faces in crew chief roles, and major brand partnerships, Trackhouse Racing enters the 2026 NASCAR Clash at Bowman Gray with considerable momentum. Chastain’s experienced leadership, Zilisch’s eagerness for short track action, and van Gisbergen’s quest to honor his family legacy are set to define a season opener full of high expectations and elevated energy.
The organization’s adaptability, as seen through changes in engineering staff and a commitment to bringing in new talent like Brandon McSwain and Randall Burnett, highlights Trackhouse Racing’s drive to innovate and compete at the highest level. As the field prepares to tackle the tight confines of Bowman Gray, all eyes are on Trackhouse Racing—poised to capitalize on lessons learned and push for new milestones in NASCAR’s fiercely competitive Cup Series.
Fans and industry insiders alike will be watching closely as the 2026 exhibition unfolds, with Trackhouse Racing’s adjustments and ambitions offering a preview of what may be one of the most riveting seasons yet for the team.
