Recent NASCAR media reports widely suggested that Shane van Gisbergen and his Trackhouse Racing teammate Ross Chastain were heading toward the end of their respective deals. However, the driver has firmly shut down those claims by revealing that his current agreement extends well beyond the near future.
Speaking directly to reporters ahead of the action at Homestead-Miami, the international star cleared the air regarding his employment status within the organization. He insisted that the ongoing paddock rumors do not align with the reality of his multi-year paperwork signed with the team.
"I still have two more years left at Trackhouse, so I'm not really thinking like that," van Gisbergen stated when addressing the swirling speculations.
Amidst the contract clarification, the #97 Chevrolet squad faces an imminent shakeup regarding its technical leadership. Speculation points toward current crew chief Stephen Doran departing for a new role elsewhere, with Blake Harris anticipated to step into the role. While dodging direct confirmation of the staffing shift, van Gisbergen's remarks strongly hinted that the transition is indeed underway behind the scenes.
Doran is heavily linked to a move toward Spire Motorsports to oversee operations for Michael McDowell. When asked about his expectations for a crew chief, van Gisbergen emphasized the necessity of collaborative momentum and continuous advancement within the engineering group.
"You just want someone who's pushing the team forward and brings something good," he explained. "I feel like we've made good strides this year and it would be good to get some momentum going. We started the year pretty average as a team. The middle of the year was average and I feel like we've really turned it around the last couple of months. Hopefully that keeps going."
Furthermore, the driver noted that he played no direct role in the team's internal hiring decisions, preferring to adapt to whatever operational structure management implements.
Reflecting on his partnership with Doran thus far, van Gisbergen praised the collective growth they achieved together during a demanding campaign in the American stock car racing scene.
"We've had a pretty good run," van Gisbergen reflected. "It's been awesome. I feel like he's done really well. He's pretty new as well. Not quite a rookie, he had one more year than me. I feel like we've grown together a lot. I feel like he's a really good person, an asset for Trackhouse, for sure. At the start of the year we were average and I think we've done well getting closer to the #1 car in particular. Ross was really good. He's a really good benchmark and I feel like we've been able to match him and be with him most of the year. Stoked for that, but I still have a lot to learn. He's still better at a lot of things than I am. Hopefully just keep growing and keep getting closer to him."
Read Also
YouTuber populer Cleetus McFarland resmi umumkan turun penuh di ARCA Menards Series 2026 bersama RCR. Baca analisis mendalam di sini!
Simak kisah unik NASCAR nyaris beri black flag massal di Talladega akibat aksi hemat BBM ekstrem. Baca analisis selengkapnya di sini sekarang!
Simak alasan di balik perpisahan Brad Keselowski dari RFK Racing dan rencana karier 2027 di sini. Baca analisis mendalam selengkapnya!
Continue with Google
Discussion (0)
Join the Discussion!
Sign in easily to start commenting, replying, and interacting with other readers.
Latest Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!