Trackhouse Racing‘s 2025 season has been a rollercoaster, with mixed outcomes defining their performance. While Shane van Gisbergen secured four road course victories and made the NASCAR Cup playoffs—though he was eliminated after the first round—the playoff fate of Ross Chastain remains precarious as he approaches Sunday’s race on the Charlotte Roval. Chastain’s playoff chances depend heavily on his ability to score points and finish better than several competitors, highlighting the crucial role of team dynamics in his advancement.
Challenges Facing Ross Chastain in Advancing to the Next Playoff Round
Ross Chastain, who earned a win this season and managed to reach the playoffs, currently sits 13 points below the cutoff line to advance to the Round of Eight semifinals, which begin next week in Las Vegas. He must outperform drivers like William Byron, Chase Briscoe, and especially Joey Logano, who sits 13 points above the cutoff. Additionally, Chastain needs to keep ahead of those below the cutoff line—Bubba Wallace, Tyler Reddick, and Austin Cindric—all facing near must-win situations this weekend.
Another pressing issue for Trackhouse is Daniel Suarez, the third driver on the team, who is racing in his final five events with them. Suarez, hailing from Mexico, is experiencing one of his worst Cup seasons, lagging behind in points and performance, which fails to provide support for Chastain’s playoff pursuit. Suarez hasn’t scored a victory this year, has only managed two top-five and six top-ten finishes, and has led just 33 laps overall.
Uncertainty surrounds Suarez’s future beyond this season, with no official announcement yet on his next move, leaving room for speculation that he might step down to the Xfinity or Craftsman Truck Series after this campaign.
Steve Letarte’s Perspective on Chastain’s Playoff Scenario
During this week’s NASCAR After The Race show, analyst Steve Letarte voiced concerns about Chastain’s road course performance and the overall impact of his teammates on his playoff chances. Letarte stressed that the absence of strong, high-speed teammates weakens Chastain’s position. He pointed out,
“For the [No. 1] of Ross Chastain, I’ll be honest, I think the lack of high-speed teammates hurts,”
explaining that Shane van Gisbergen sets the standard on road courses and has been showing improvement.
However, Letarte also highlighted the limitations Suarez’s struggles place on Chastain,
“When you get lost and you can’t see the forest through the trees, you need something to lean on,”
adding,
“And I’m just not sure that Ross Chastain has that [in terms of support from Suarez]. I think he’s kind of the one guy fighting against a lot of multi-car organizations.”
Given Chastain’s history on the Charlotte Roval, his chances of securing a win—which would guarantee his progression to the next round—appear slim. Out of six previous starts there, he only once finished in the top ten. Meanwhile, van Gisbergen is expected to be a strong contender, but his success won’t directly improve Chastain’s points situation. Suarez offers little assistance, given his current performance struggles.
How Chastain Must Take Control to Secure Advancement
With limited external support, Chastain’s playoff future largely depends on his own efforts and strategy during Sunday’s race. Letarte emphasized the need for Chastain to pressure rivals like Joey Logano throughout the race, especially during qualifying and the early stages. He said,
“If I’m the No. 1 team, I am making Joey Logano outrun us,”
and explained the importance of forcing Logano to protect his slim points lead starting in qualifying, creating tension in his race strategy.
Letarte cautioned against reckless driving in a desperate bid to win, urging Chastain to avoid mistakes that would allow Logano to relax. He elaborated,
“Ross is very confident in his identity. He’s very confident in the speed of his race cars, even when they’re not there. He knows what he has. He doesn’t try to make more than what it is. He gets every ounce of it. He will squeeze that watermelon until there’s not a seed left in it. And that’s what he just has to do with the No. 1 car. Don’t go off track, don’t get caught up in somebody else’s mess. Blue collar, grind your way. And if it’s not enough, it’s not enough.”
Upcoming Changes in Trackhouse Racing’s Driver Lineup
Looking ahead, both Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen will continue with Trackhouse Racing next season, but Daniel Suarez’s departure opens the door for an exciting new addition. Connor Zilisch, a dominant force in the Xfinity Series, will replace Suarez in the No. 99 car. This announcement gained further weight as Randall Burnett revealed he will leave his role as Kyle Busch’s crew chief at Richard Childress Racing to assume the same position for Zilisch at Trackhouse.
Zilisch, a native of Mooresville, North Carolina, has exhibited superstar potential in the Xfinity Series this season. He currently leads the points standings and has posted nine wins, 17 top-five finishes, and 19 top-ten results in just the first 26 of 33 races, making him a promising prospect for the future of the Cup Series and Trackhouse Racing.
The dynamic within Trackhouse Racing for the final races of the 2025 season and into next year is poised for significant developments. Chastain will fight hard to keep his playoff hopes alive at Charlotte, despite team challenges, while the anticipation around Zilisch’s arrival signals a new phase for the organization’s competitive trajectory.
