Ross Chastain has admitted to becoming more vocal inside Trackhouse Racing about
the team’s struggles with car performance. The No. 1 driver shared that the team will
not accept its current level of speed.
Trackhouse entered 2026 with young NASCAR prodigy Connor Zilisch, longtime driver
Chastain and road course specialist Shane van Gisbergen (SVG). But results have not
matched those expectations across much of the season.
Chastain has spent much of the season struggling to find consistent pace and has one
top-5 finish so far. In the recent episode of Racin’ with the Boys, which was shot ahead
of the NASCAR Cup race at lowa, the 33-year-old opened up about his concerns
about Trackhouse’s performance.
“I’m pulling the fire alarm. It’s been pulled, and the sirens are going off
in our meetings. We talk amongst the crew chiefs and other drivers and
engineers … And it’s not something, really, that I’ve ever done in my career
where I’ve gotten vocal inside of our four walls,” Ross said (1:17:00
onward).
“We’ve cycled to this spot on the grid, but it’s not okay. We’re not
complacent, we’re not staying here. And that comes from ownership, that
comes from drivers the other two are saying, in their own words, but
we’re in unison that we’re not staying here. Shane’s two road course wins
are not what Trackhouse is going to be known for every year.”
SVG has managed to progress and get better on ovals this year. He also scored two
wins for Trackhouse at Watkins Glen and Sonoma.
Meanwhile, the team is set to lose Connor Zilisch to Hendrick Motorsports in 2028
after his contract with Trackhouse ends. Chastain and SVG’s contracts will also expire
after the 2027 NASCAR Cup season.
“What do you need? What are you feeling?” –
Trackhouse boss responds to Ross Chastain’s
frustration
During the same episode, Ross Chastain expanded on the issues with the Trackhouse
Chevy’s inconsistent handling through corners.
“Our cars are like they’re sliding the back, then they’re sliding the front.
So it’s just they’re very inconsistent. They’re not steady through the corner
at all,” Ross Chastain said.
Meanwhile, Trackhouse owner Justin Marks explained how he responds to drivers’
issues.
“If he’s frustrated and he’s pulling the fire alarm, I’m like, ‘Okay, what do
you need? What are you feeling? What are you frustrated about? Like let’s
figure out, let’s just be solution oriented here.’ And that’s just the work that
has to be done,” Marks said.
lowa Speedway gave the team a needed sign of progress. Chastain qualified ninth and
finished seventh, leading 40 laps, while Zilisch finished 11th, giving Trackhouse two
cars inside the top 11.
