After Breaking Promise Made to Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Boss Justin Marks Could Lose SVG to Bigger NASCAR Sharks

In a stunning turn of events, the Australian Supercars champ, Shane Van Gisbergen, left the NASCAR world in awe as he clinched victory in the Chicago Street Race. With the determination of a three-time Australian Supercars champion, he outshined every competitor in the final laps, expertly overtaking Justin Haley with just five laps remaining to secure a triumphant win. However, as bigger teams are vying to get SVG on board, there is stirring speculation that Justin Marks might have to bid him farewell.

Shane Van Gisbergen and Ross Chastain’s remarkable debuts have proven that their futures in the sport have the potential to intensify with each passing moment. But the concern for Justin Marks remains: whether SVG will be leaving or continue competing for Trackhouse Racing.

Is Justin Marks’ team strolling on thin ice?

After achieving resounding success with Project 91 and attracting drivers from various motorsport disciplines, Justin Marks, the owner of Trackhouse Racing, found himself in the spotlight, particularly after Shane Van Gisbergen’s spectacular triumph at the Chicago racetrack.

However, in a surprising twist, Marks later expressed a shift in focus toward full-time Cup Series drivers and cars, and stated, “It starts to really kind of drain—not drain, but take resources from the 1 [Ross Chastain] and the 99 [Daniel Suárez] car, which is what we’re really focused on at Trackhouse, getting both of those cars in the championship, being able to make a championship run.”

The Kiwi Champion has already declared his return to the Indianapolis track for the Cup Series. Following his successful debut in Chicago, he is perhaps switching to NASCAR as a full-time driver in 2024 and has reportedly received numerous offers for a full-time Cup Series position, according to V8 Sleuth. If SVG joins Justin Marks full-time, there are possibilities that lead to a breach of the agreements between Trackhouse Racing and both Ross Chastain and Daniel Suárez.

As the NASCAR community waits to witness his performance on the Indianapolis road course, some view this as a testing ground for his potential transition to NASCAR as a full-time driver. On another front, while the Number 97 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 driver has a contract with Triple Eight Race Engineering until 2024, uncertainties loom over his long-term stay in the Supercars Championship as well.

Is Whincup already keeping an eye out for SVG’s replacement?

Shane Van Gisbergen undeniably stands as one of the Supercars Championship’s most accomplished drivers. His sensational victory in Chicago has paved the way for a plethora of opportunities should he choose to venture into the NASCAR Cup Series as a full-time driver.

This very prospect has made Jamie Whincup, the esteemed team principal of Triple Eight Racing Engineering, exercise caution and take proactive measures in seeking a potential replacement for SVG. Ahead of the news of SVG receiving offers from major NASCAR Cup Series teams, Whincup finds himself in a thoughtful position.

As per V8 Sleuth, he wisely stated, “I’d be stupid not to think that Shane might want to go early. He might come to me at some stage and go ‘Hey mate, I want to go out early, so of course I’ve got to come up with a plan if that’s the case. I’m not sure what that’s going to look like, but Fernando Alonso (41) is going pretty good at the moment, so maybe I’ll throw my helmet back on again.”

Whincup admits that while he wouldn’t relish the prospect of replacing SVG, he recognizes the importance of letting him pursue new horizons while providing a deserving rookie driver with an opportunity. Furthermore, with SVG himself confirming his participation with Trackhouse Racing at Indianapolis, it becomes abundantly clear that numerous teams would eagerly welcome him aboard their ranks.

As the racing world buzzes with anticipation, Jamie Whincup’s strategic foresight and willingness to embrace new possibilities showcase his remarkable leadership in navigating the ever-evolving landscape of motorsports. The wheels of change are set in motion, and all eyes are now on the dynamic road ahead that SVG aims to conquer.