Ross Chastain claims new Trackhouse drivers Shane van Gisbergen and Zane Smith are already pushing him to ‘step it up’

Ross Chastain claims new Trackhouse drivers Shane van Gisbergen and Zane Smith are already pushing him to ‘step it up’

Daniel Suarez, Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen [In circle] (Via IMAGO)

The 2024 NASCAR season will mark a major change at Trackhouse Racing. The Justin Marks–Pitbull-owned team has made massive strides this season and has multiple operations to look after next year as part of their expansion. This includes two development drivers and a new Moto GP team they have invested in.

Trackhouse signed two new drivers in 2023, with the primary objective of expanding their team. Three-time Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen, who won the inaugural Chicago Street race with them on his debut, and Zane Smith. SVG will drive full-time in the Xfinity Series with Kaulig Racing, while Smith was loaned to Spire Motorsport to drive their third entry.

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Ross Chastain, the undisputed first-choice driver of the team, has given his opinion on how the arrival of new talents affected him. He admitted that with Smith already starting to work at Trackhouse Race Shop, the developmental drivers are pushing him to up his game at the gym, as fitness has now become much more important than ever in NASCAR.

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It’s going to be good. Zane’s already right in the gym with us and in the trenches. They’re [Zane Smith and Shane van Gisbergen] both pushing me to step it up a bit.
Chastain said via PRN’s Garage Pass.

Ross Chastain’s teammate Daniel Suarez’s Cup seat is in danger going into the 2024 season

Daniel Suarez is the driver who started it all for Trackhouse Racing, and he has been an impressive performer since 2021. But he hasn’t been able to match the level of performance produced by his teammate Ross Chastain, who only joined the team in 2022.

NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Practice & Qualifying Aug 19, 2023; Watkins Glen, New York, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Da
Daniel Suarez and Ross Chastain (Via IMAGO)

Chastain has won three races in the last two seasons compared to Suarez’s two. He made it to the playoffs both years, with a championship-4 entry in 2022, while Suarez’s winless run cost him a playoff berth this season.

With the arrival of the two new star drivers, Suarez has found himself in a situation where he has to prove himself. Justin Marks has an easy replacement for the Mexican in the development driver duo, and there is no doubt that the team will consider doing it if Suarez underperforms yet again.

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