Trackhouse Racing is making sweeping changes as it prepares for Shane Van Gisbergen’s playoffs debut, signaling a new era for the team. Owner Justin Marks is overhauling the organization ahead of the 2026 NASCAR season to ensure higher performance and better championship prospects.
The team‘s reorganization follows a departure from mediocrity, with Daniel Suarez’s exit and key executive changes reflecting Marks’ goal to build an elite Cup Series contender rather than settle for incremental progress.
Reasons Behind Trackhouse Racing’s Radical Team Transformation
The team’s full-scale restructuring draws inspiration from similar moves by Spire Motorsports during 2024-25, when they redefined their lineup and leadership to improve competitiveness. Trackhouse Racing’s decision to part ways with Daniel Suarez is in line with this aggressive approach.
Suarez, who was pivotal in launching the team’s Cup Series presence in 2021, concluded his tenure without meeting the expectations set by the team’s leadership, securing only two victories across five seasons. His performance increasingly contrasted with his teammates’, particularly Ross Chastain and Shane Van Gisbergen.
Chastain has been a consistent winner for Trackhouse, earning key victories like this year’s Coca-Cola 600. Meanwhile, rookie Shane Van Gisbergen has reshaped team dynamics with four wins in 2025 alone, already setting a new standard for newcomers by achieving the most wins ever recorded by a rookie in a single season. Van Gisbergen’s imminent playoffs debut marks a critical moment for the team’s competitive aspirations.
In addition to Chastain and Van Gisbergen, young talent Connor Zilisch has joined the roster. The 19-year-old phenom leads the points in his debut Xfinity season with six wins, making him the winningest driver of 2025 so far. Zilisch’s rapid rise further emphasizes the team’s shift towards nurturing championship-capable drivers, highlighting why Suarez no longer fit within their vision.
Departure of Key Executives Adds to Trackhouse’s Organizational Shift
Beyond driver changes, Trackhouse Racing also saw departures within its management. Competition director Tony Lunders and shop floor operations director Gary Putnam have left the organization as part of the broader restructuring.
NASCAR journalist Bob Pockrass confirmed these changes, noting that Todd Meredith, recently appointed president of racing operations, will replace Lunders’ role. Meredith’s promotion consolidates leadership roles as the team realigns for forthcoming challenges.
“Trackhouse Racing confirms that competition director Tony Lunders is no longer with the organization. Todd Meredith, who was hired in July as president of racing operations, will take over that role.”
— Bob Pockrass, NASCAR Journalist
No replacement has been named yet for Putnam, whose NASCAR experience is notable, including his time as car chief during Jamie McMurray’s 2010 Daytona 500 win. The precise reasons for these executive departures have not been disclosed publicly.
Implications of the Overhaul for Trackhouse Racing’s NASCAR Prospects
As the 2025-26 season approaches, the full extent of Trackhouse Racing’s transformation continues to unfold. The vacancies left by Suarez and others raise questions about the team’s next driver choices, including whether Connor Zilisch will be elevated to the Cup Series or if the team will seek external talent to complement its current lineup.
These significant changes reinforce Trackhouse’s commitment to rising as a dominant force within NASCAR’s highest level. With a lineup featuring proven winners like Ross Chastain, an emerging star in Shane Van Gisbergen making his playoffs debut, and the promising newcomer Zilisch, Trackhouse Racing is positioning itself to be a formidable competitor.
The restructured management alongside a high-performing driver roster signals that the team is determined to compete for championships and solidify its place among NASCAR’s elite organizations in the near future.
