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Daytona Beach, FL – With the NASCAR Cup Series regular season culminating at Daytona International Speedway, Trackhouse Racing has enacted a significant pit crew shake-up for its No. 97 Chevrolet, driven by Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen. In a strategic move aimed at bolstering his playoff aspirations, nearly every member of van Gisbergen’s over-the-wall crew has been replaced, with only the fueler remaining from the previous lineup.
The bulk of the new pit crew members will transition from the No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet, piloted by veteran A.J. Allmendinger. This organizational alignment stems from Trackhouse Racing’s operational structure, which sees them leasing and sourcing pit crew personnel for Kaulig Racing’s entries. This established connection facilitated the seamless integration of experienced crew members who have previously worked with van Gisbergen, and who have demonstrated strong recent performance.
Van Gisbergen currently occupies a precarious position on the playoff bubble, sitting 31 points ahead of Ryan Preece as the series heads into its final regular season event. The timing of this crew change underscores the critical nature of the upcoming race and the team’s determination to secure a spot in the postseason.
The decision to make such extensive changes to the pit crew comes after a string of performances that have highlighted the need for improvement in this crucial aspect of NASCAR racing. A notable incident occurred at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, where a slow pit stop at the conclusion of Stage 1 saw van Gisbergen drop outside the top ten. Despite efforts to recover, he ultimately finished the race in 20th position, a result that significantly impacted his points standing.
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While Trackhouse Racing has previously made pit crew adjustments, such as replacing the jackman for Ross Chastain at the start of last year’s playoffs, a wholesale change affecting almost the entire crew is a particularly noteworthy development. This signifies the high stakes involved for van Gisbergen and the team as they approach the playoff cutoff.
Should van Gisbergen successfully qualify for the playoffs, he would represent the sole Trackhouse Racing driver in the championship hunt. While his 31-point advantage in the driver standings provides a degree of comfort, the situation is considerably tighter in the owner standings. The No. 60 RFK Racing Ford, driven by Preece, is only six points behind the No. 97 car. This close margin is partly attributed to an intentional wrecking penalty applied to Preece after the Texas race, which, despite its severity, did not materially affect RFK Racing’s owner points position due to a strategic application of the penalty.
In separate but related personnel news within the Trackhouse organization, William Byron’s No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet will also feature two new crew members for the upcoming weekend. This adjustment is a consequence of suspensions handed down to Byron’s regular jackman and rear tire changer following a wheel disconnection incident in the previous race. The replacement crew members for Byron’s car will be drawn from Alex Bowman’s No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team.
Shane van Gisbergen, a three-time Supercars champion from New Zealand, has made a significant impact in his rookie NASCAR Cup Series season. His transition to American stock car racing has been closely watched, and his performances have demonstrated flashes of brilliance, particularly his historic victory at Chicago Street Course in his debut. However, consistency, often reliant on flawless pit road execution, has been a key area for development.
The pit crew is an integral part of a NASCAR team’s success, with stops typically lasting between 12 and 15 seconds. The efficiency and speed of the pit crew can often be the difference between a race win and a mid-pack finish, especially on tracks where track position is paramount, such as Daytona. The ability of the new pit crew members to integrate quickly and perform under the immense pressure of a playoff-contention race will be critical for van Gisbergen.
The No. 97 team’s performance in the upcoming Daytona race will be scrutinized not only for van Gisbergen’s potential playoff berth but also for the effectiveness of the revamped pit crew. The team’s strategic decision to implement such a substantial change at this critical juncture underscores Trackhouse Racing’s commitment to maximizing its chances in the championship chase. The coming weekend at Daytona will serve as a crucial test for both the driver and his newly assembled pit crew as they aim to secure their place in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
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