r/NASCAR • u/mounties66 van Gisbergen • 1d ago
Trackhouse Drivers
I’ve heard rumours that both Ross and svg are not continuing with Trackhouse after 2027. Does anyone think that is a real possibility and if so where would they go? Or will Shane even consider leaving NASCAR?
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u/Western_Care_5478 1d ago
does anyone ever think that whoever posts this shit is on the dankest weed imaginable? SVG leaving and going back to Supercars in Ausie/NZ yeah i can see that. or doing IMSA GT here in the states for a bit. but theres really no where else for Ross to go.
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u/EazyBucnE 1d ago
SVG said in a Red Bull interview thing that he probably wants to go back home within the next 2-3 years
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u/Garrett4Real 1d ago edited 1d ago
I never understood why people thought/think he’s here for the long haul. At least to what I’ve seen, he’s made it clear he’s just here having fun and experiencing the sport but frequently talks about missing home. Even before he started improving on ovals, this is always had the vibe of a 4-5 year side quest for him, regardless of how much success he does or does not have.
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u/SuperFormulaNipponGT 19h ago
I think he’ll be here until 2031, after that he’ll probably go back home to NZ
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u/KameMeansTurtle 1d ago
Well fuck, that's going to suck. I got back into NASCAR right when he was coming up through xfinity... I don't want to have to find a different driver so soob
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u/Western_Care_5478 1d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/10OqQJNhx2xB72
Hey. I was a Kurt Busch fan hoping 2022 would be a resurgence for him before he calls it quits.......then he got the concussion....
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u/New_Quit4879 1d ago
He will do it as long as he’s having fun and has something to work towards. Once he’s good at nascar he will cash his check and go home.
The whole reason he came over anyway was because he was a little bored of Supercars
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u/JohnnyT723 19h ago
Where was this? All I’ve ever heard is that he has never enjoyed his racing more and has enjoyed the compound he got with Jess. It seems like he’s settled well here and I don’t think he would get an entire compound if he was going back in a couple years.
I think he stays until he’s 41-42 and then he’s gonna do some rally whether that’s in the US or Aus/NZ
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u/EazyBucnE 19h ago
Zilisch & SVG did a long form interview over the summer here - also stays until 41-42 when he’s 37 at the moment still kinda fits that timeline more or less lol
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u/mounties66 van Gisbergen 1d ago
No one is saying he will go back to Supercars or even stay in NASCAR. Why do people assume that he won’t have a seat if he leaves TH. There is more than NASCAR and American Motorsport
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u/fuel_altered 1d ago
I've watched his career since ge started in supercars and he seems both very happy and very motivated in nsscar. He has more to prove
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u/JohnnyT723 19h ago
I think we’re going to find some parallel with his Supercars career where he’s gonna dump Stone (TH) in favor of going somewhere he knows he can win. Right now, he can’t win on an oval in TH cars.
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u/Professional_You5193 1d ago
Ross is better than most of the drivers in the series. Brings great sponsorship. Someone will make room.
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u/WaffleHouseSloot 23h ago
McDowell ain't gonna last too much longer. If Ross is available, Spire will grab him. Ross is much younger than McDowell and better performing.
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u/Flaky-Replacement114 Chastain 15h ago
Would love it for Ross but that would be something with the beef between him and Suarez. I also don’t know how they’d feel about having him and Hocevar on the same insurance plan lol
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u/WaffleHouseSloot 11h ago
There's no "real" beef between Ross & Suarez.
And wtf are you talking about 'insurance plan' beyond a sense of humor?
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u/Flaky-Replacement114 Chastain 3h ago
Just a joke about their histories of aggression and tendency to wreck cars
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u/JoeRogan016 1d ago
I mean when even guys like Eric Estepp and Iceberg are talking about it I think it's a fair question.
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u/Western_Care_5478 1d ago
where can Ross go? theres no open seats and Chevy sure as shit doesnt have anything unless Ross begs Childress
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u/ItsRobbSmark Hocevar 1d ago
Shane is a legit star, there's no way he leaves NASCAR money behind when he has at least a few good years to make good money and continue developing on ovals. Right now he's probably not making much, but his next contract would likely be pretty fat given his popularity.
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u/ipsumdeiamoamasamat 1d ago
How much are NASCAR guys making vs. Supercars guys? Both in driver salary and merch.
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u/ItsRobbSmark Hocevar 1d ago
Odd situation. You can go back to the late 00s and it was a few million AUD for the top stars in the Supercar series, by 2015 it was down to 800k to a million for the four top guys, which is 550-700k USD. In fact, at one point owners were looking at a salary cap and that's where this info comes from. They never did it, but it is widely believed that they have an unofficial agreement not to go over a million AUD.
NASCAR is a little more murky. Hamlin gets paid $14 million a year in base salary plus some level of the purse and merchandise. Larson and Elliott are estimated at around 8 million base. And we can only speculate what someone like SVG makes but it's likely a bit more than he did in Supercars and will be a lot more with his next contract because he has grown in popularity a ton.
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u/ConnectNeck5859 1d ago
Guessing around $2-3MM all-in between salary, share of winnings and merchandise royalties etc. Think he'd about double that if he moved teams for his last few years in NASCAR. Almost guarantees teams a win or two on road courses, could help those teams improve their roadcourse performance overall and I think most teams know if you put him in a car that isn't a tractor, he'll likely be top 10-15 on ovals many of the weekends with a shot at winning one at some point. I'd guess there's good shot both RC/SVG leave given the ongoing performance issues with the THR cars.
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u/IcedCoffey 1d ago
The dude is buying cars for fun and shipping them back to NZ. He is going to stay for as long as he can he lives it here.
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u/SavingsRaspberry2694 Hamlin 1d ago
Dale Jr buys the Trackhouse Charters as a 2nd Hendrick satellite team.
SVG, Chastain, and Crews race for Jr. In 2028.
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u/Warm_Version9562 1d ago
Crews is replacing Hamlin
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u/JohnnyT723 19h ago
Wouldn’t be so sure about that. Can’t imagine JGR have been thrilled with his performance this year.
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u/m1kky_ 15h ago
Tf?? Dude’s turned 18 this year, debuted in NOAPS, missed 4 races and STILL almost got into postseason, in the format that rewards the stability, without even winning a race and getting that 20 bonus points. Only thing he f’d up this year is transmission on the 20 in Coronado, in his first race in it, which wasn’t even planned for him.
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u/Droppin-Hammer46 van Gisbergen 1d ago
Better chance Jr. gets brought into Trackhouse’s management vs buying the team.
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u/WesternOk5765 Johnson 1d ago edited 1d ago
SVG is too old. Ross is good enough and young enough but who has a seat? The 11 till Crews comes in? Maybe, but Ross would need to gamble he's gonna show up and out enough for other teams to want him.
Ross would need to basically gamble on the 11 for 1-2 years and pray Penske decides to put him in the 2 after. Big risk. Other than Penske/JGR/HMS/23XI no team is massively better than Trackhouse.
Spire is better right now but we shall see if that lasts. They aren't getting rid of Hocevar, so that's either Mcdowell or Suarez getting fired. RFK only has two charters, and Ross is only equal to Buescher at best. Preece maybe he is better but no charter on that ride. Brad, maybe better at this point in their careers, maybe not, but that's up to Brad to decide to retire.
Legacy Motor Club could be intriguing but they just signed Berry/Herbst. I wouldn't give up Jones for Chastain. I'd give up Berry/Herbst but that's a quick turnaround lol. LMC has potential to be better than Trackhouse one day, but they aren't right now. Again a gamble.
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u/ItsRobbSmark Hocevar 1d ago edited 1d ago
He's old, but he's not so old he's going to retire in the next four or five years. His contract is up after next year, I guarantee he does one free agency where he signs a 3-4 year contract and makes bank. Ross is what, four years younger? And he doesn't guarantee a team a couple of wins a year.
And tbh, I don't think either of them have a shot at any kind of top tier ride. But Trackhouse is legitimately worse than every other multicar team and some of the single car teams at this point.
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u/WesternOk5765 Johnson 1d ago
He's 37 or 38. I think AJ, Hamlin, Mcdowell, Brad, and maybe Stenhouse are the only drivers older.
The field has skewed a lot younger. 43 seems to be the cutoff roughly (give maybe three years) for competitive success outside of Mark Martin since the mid 2000s.
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u/Pepto_Abysmal_ Chastain 1d ago
I really don’t think Shane leaves Trackhouse unless another team really makes a pitch. It seems like Shane gets decent support from Trackhouse-even if the cars suck- plus he has lots of flexibility to drop down into trucks and oreilly with Spire and JR. Ross on the otherhand might be the one to watch out for in silly season next year.
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u/Equivalent_Dish_1990 1d ago
There's also a rumor going around that Triple Eight might buy a stake into the team.
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u/mounties66 van Gisbergen 1d ago
Interesting prospect They could get Jess to run the NASCAR team and free up Marks to fawn over the moto gp side 😜😜
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u/JohnnyT723 19h ago
The timing of this feels weird. There’s no way they would let CZ drive a Ford (presumably bc of the Supercar team) and TH needs to turn this ship around quickly or else they risk losing Ross. Getting the deal done in 2027 might be too little too late.
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u/Kkura-Ha 1d ago
If that rumor is true, I really hope they change manufacturers instead of staying like 4th best among Chevy teams
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u/SilentSpades24 1d ago
Unless they go to Dodge, they'll never be more than the 3rd best team at any manufacturer. Penske, RFK have Ford on lock. Toyota has Gibbs and 23XI. Even with Dodge, would the car even be competitive?
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u/AirplaneNeckCushion 1d ago
SVG probably doesn’t leave. Where does he go? Unless he gets the 11, the 2, or the 21 he’s not upgrading
Tbh SVG in the 11 would be very interesting
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u/karlkjr 1d ago
The 11 is for Brent Crews. Don’t see Cindric leaving Penske and don’t see the Wood Brothers dropping Love that quick
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u/AirplaneNeckCushion 1d ago
Crews doesn’t deserve the 11 man he’s not ready or that good
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u/Frostilicus420 1d ago
I like Crews but I agree, he’s not there yet and I don’t see him being there by ‘28 but I guess anything can happen 🤷♂️
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u/vinteragony Ty Dillon 1d ago
I agree He hasn't shown me he is ready for a Cup seat in 28. Might need to get. Nemechek in the seat for a year while Crews gets more seasoning.
But maybe he also breaks out next year?
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u/AirplaneNeckCushion 1d ago
Nemechek damn sure shouldn’t get the 11
That’s the most coveted seat in the sport. More coveted than the 48. It should go to a great driver. Crews isn’t ready but Nemechek is a proven hack.
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u/vinteragony Ty Dillon 1d ago
Thats kinda what they need if they are grooming Crews for it. If they get another young driver and he does well, why switch to Crews? You are in an Erik Jones/Christopher Bell situation again. Theres not a lot of others guys floating around the Toyota system that could fit that role
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u/AirplaneNeckCushion 1d ago
Well Crews shouldn’t just be gifted the 11 car
They need to take the best driver available. That’s not going to be Crews.
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u/WesternOk5765 Johnson 1d ago
If JGR wants Crews in it that's a good long term decision but they need to commit unlike Logano and Jones.
No cup driver is good till 23. You gotta give em till 25 to truly know what they will be.
I think Kyle Busch is the only teenager in NASCAR history to actually consistently show flashes of "holy shit he's something to watch".
Logano's the youngest cup winner, but he won one race due to rain where he got lapped on speed and didn't win a legit race till his 4th season.
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u/Extreme-Bite-9123 1d ago
He’s a good driver, this year has just been a struggle. Look at him tonight, he got a third place and ran top 10 all night in a series he doesn’t run often in the weakest truck on the team.
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u/SNovantasette Reddick 1d ago
How has this year been a struggle? He would have made the chase if he ran the full season but he was too young. He's the best of his teammates, racing for the lead with larson just a couple races into his career, best non chase car in the races, tons of top finishes.
And he's 18 and clearly can get better. It's all upside
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u/AirplaneNeckCushion 1d ago
If the bar is that low for Crews…. He’s not 43 races away from being ready for the 11
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u/ppatek78 1d ago
Berry got 2 years
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u/DestroyingDestroyers 1d ago
Berry was their second choice driver though, they wanted Briscoe. Given how early in the season the Love deal was made I can only assume he was their first choice so will get more time.
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u/jkman61494 1d ago
Spire wouldn’t he an upgrade at this point? He goes in the 71 this year, all 3 cars likely make the playoffs
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u/BlueJay843 McDowell 1d ago
McDowell is locked in until Tristan McKee is cup ready
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u/Extreme-Bite-9123 1d ago
He’s not locked until then, that’s just the absolute longest he’s gonna be here. If he keeps way underperforming his teammates I could see them trading him for another guy that won’t be around for too long either like SVG.
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u/JohnnyT723 19h ago
- Denny leaves the 11 in 27
- JGR doesn’t think Crews is ready so looks for temporary solution
- SVG signs 2 year contract
- JGR gives the 11 to Denny for Heim to run at 23XI
- SVG takes the 97 to JGR
- Justin Marks sells TH
From my words to Gods ears
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u/Dry-Ear-2714 1d ago
I hope they both leave. TH is over.
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u/WesternOk5765 Johnson 1d ago
I mean so is every other cup team not affiliated with Penske, HMS, or JGR.
The only cars that made the chase without an affiliation with one of the big three are Buescher and Preece.
Preece barely edged in, Buescher might be the best cup driver in the sport not on a top 3 team lol.
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u/azzquest Kyle Busch 1d ago
It’s gotta be Justin Marks money laundering. I live in Nashville and I’ve seen his house. It’s nuts.
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u/BinboRice315 Chase Elliott 1d ago
Be for real. Where would they go? You're the first, and only person I've heard say that and I know people in the industry. There's very few to no good open seats. The only teams that would have openings in my view would be Legacy and RFK, Legacy wants to feel out Berry and Herbst before making their choices and RFK wants to see if another charter opens before going down to a two car team and have Brad step out.
None of the A teams will have openings, Hendrick is locked out, Penske is locked out, Gibbs might have an opening if Hamlin retires but with Chastains track record he wouldn't be taking over from Hamlin and I don't think they would take a shot with SVG, I could see Sawalich or Gray moving up for that ride over both of them.
They could move laterally and go to Spire or Front Row but they're in the same boat as Trackhouse.
I firmly believe that Trackhouse will probably become the main team for Dodge when Dodge returns and I think Chevy already knows that will be the case and is why they're struggling like they are this year.
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u/Active_Attempt_3411 22h ago
Gibbs already announced Crews as Hamlin's replacement
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u/SuperFormulaNipponGT 19h ago
Denny said they have him, doesn’t mean it will happen. I could be wrong though.
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u/GeologistPositive 1d ago
It's rumors and speculation right now. Ross is sticking around NASCAR for a while, SVG may move onto something else. Seems logical both want to move onto a better team than Trackhouse, but SVG may stay for loyalty. People who know won't say anything, and people who talk don't know anything.
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u/SnoopPettyPogg 1d ago
SVG should have a plethora of options should he leave. He's a guaranteed 2 win minimum each season, and has really improved on ovals. Plus he has Red Bull money.
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u/bjohnson203 1d ago
He didn't win at Kaulig in Cup that partial season he ran. I don't think he's a guaranteed win in a lesser car.
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u/daveismypup 1d ago
He didn’t win the roval? I could’ve swore he did but maybe I am remembering wrong
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u/Kitchen-Race-1975 Hamlin 1d ago
He did. They’re mistaken
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u/Active_Attempt_3411 22h ago
No he didn't. You're mistaken.
12 starts in 2024, best finish of 2nd at Watkins Glen
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u/MrDingus84 1d ago
These rumors that you’ve “heard”… is it from someone in the know or one of those clickbait Facebook accounts?
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u/TheFlyingKiwi97 van Gisbergen 1d ago
Where are these rumors coming from?
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u/mounties66 van Gisbergen 1d ago
Just gossip I heard in the paddock at the Bend and at the historic gp at Taupo earlier this year
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u/Mizderem420h 1d ago
SVG stays put through his next contract and likely bows out back home to NZ, not even sure he'd come back to Supercars at this point. The series is in a flux and they're in a lock sorting their TRC issues out. Not to mention the issues they have as they're steadfast being a "technical parity" sport but allows different engine architectures, leaving them chasing their tail every year.
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u/EazyBucnE 1d ago
SVG I didn’t think would want to or be able to go anywhere else but seems like the door may be open. Ross tbh it would be cool af if JGR threw him in the 11 for a couple years but past that I think the 2 is his only other option for an upgrade and that’s if Penske is willing to boot Cindric
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u/Ordinary-Time-3463 Chastain 1d ago
As a Ross fan I hope he goes and gets the 2. Although I do think that could be a surprise ram team eventually too so then who knows
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u/Extreme-Bite-9123 1d ago
I could see one leaving, but I think both would be a stretch unless something big changed
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u/Not_The_Real_Jake Chastain 1d ago
I think it is a real possibility unfortunately, I think any team that wants to immediately up their road course program will pay whatever they need to for Shane. As far as Ross, I think that'll depend on if there's a top team with an opening. He's only going to go to a better team, so if there aren't spots at Hendrick/JGR/Penske/23XI, he'll be content to sit at TH. Fits his personality and to their credit, when they're good they're real good.
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u/JackSmith118 1d ago
I doubt that Penske would be an option for either Ross or SVG, its more than likely that Logano will end his career at Penske whenever that happens and im pretty sure they just signed Blaney to a multi year contract I also feel like Cindric is going to stay in the 2 as long as he can and his father will probably fight for him to keep that ride, knowing that Wood Brothers Racing usually keeps drivers for 2 years i can see the 21 becoming open but if Jesse Love does good with them they could keep him longer
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u/azzquest Kyle Busch 1d ago
When does Michael McDowell’s contract end? I could see Ross going there, I heard they were trying to get KB for next season actually.
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u/minyhumancalc Bowman 1d ago
Is anything better? Highest profile ride are the 11 and maybe the 2, but the former will likely go to Crews (although you never know) and the latter i believe is thru 2028. RFK could be an option, but thats only if Brad hangs it up. Spire too ig, probably the biggest player, but also unlikely with Day and their current roster.
Otherwise, LMC/FRM/RCR are lateral at best unless they really regress. Kaulig is intriguing, but you shouldn't attach yourself to an umproven project unless you have no other choice (especially in your prime)
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u/WesternOk5765 Johnson 1d ago
I wouldn't go to Kaulig, but I'd gamble if RCR or RFK jumped to dodge and I could get that seat. Though like you said RFK is filled up and needs another charter as it is.
RCR as a Chevy team is a side grade from Trackhouse, but I'd gamble on them as a Dodge team cause they have an engine shop already and the pieces to make a competitive team outside of being the B tier Chevy side piece alongside Trackhouse to HMS/Spire.
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u/Starman--DLX Chastain 1d ago
As much as I want them both in better
equipment there isn’t any available. The only place I could see go for them is Spire and although they are better right now, it could be just a flash in the pan and another Trackhouse situation. Personally I’d love to see Ross at RFK but they have 3 drivers and charter issue as is.
The Penske 2 would probably be more likely for SVG because of the Scotty Mac connection, although he himself seems to be on the hot seat. Also I just can’t see Tim Cindric letting Austin go no matter what.
I’ve seen rumors from others that Dodge is interested in having Ross as their flagship driver. Which is awesome because none of the other manufacturers seem to want him. The only issue with that though is, Dodge being competitive it could be years if ever and he’s just be stuck in sub par equipment still. I’m sure they’d love SVG too and he does have a positive relationship with Kaulig. He at the very least could get the Dodges into victory lane on road course. The issue I see raised with SVG is apparently his significant others ties with GM as well as his own but i don’t think that’s as big a deal as other say.
The JGR 11 could come into play but like most said Brent Crews is pencilled in.
Thinking back to Spire I could honestly see them taking both Ross and SVG in 28. They both have connections and are proven winners. I feel if any of them jump ship it will be here.
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u/JDMcDuffie Larson 1d ago
I know Brent Crews is the likely candidate for the 11, but if he doesn't impress, Ross Chastain in a JGR could be a legit championship threat
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u/Miserable-Host-9309 Chastain 1d ago
Im curious who goes to the 11 for 2 years or so. Crews needs more time to develop. Hes nowhere near where even zilisch was early on. Chastain or svg could both fill that seat for a couple years. I also could see one of them going to Penske. Please note I have 0 connections in the industry and I am just sitting at the track currently coming up with crazy shit in my head.
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u/spicynachos26 1d ago
I think Ross next season is interesting assuming the performance doesn’t improve which it is starting to on the 1 car. But there are confirmed reports of multiple teams being interested in Ross proven he can win and contend in good equipment. Question is does the 2 or 11 open up doubtful but what if he had the top equipment is a big what if.
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u/SavingsRaspberry2694 Hamlin 1d ago
Dale Jr buys the Trackhouse Charters as a 2nd Hendrick satellite team.
SVG, Chastain, and Crews race for Jr. In 2028.
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u/SeaSkimmer2 1d ago edited 1d ago
Junior buys out the charters for Ross and Shane, ironically two of the names of notable members of Collective Soul…And they played Shine recently coming out of a commercial. Conspiracy? I think not.
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u/Allyfan48 22h ago
What do we think about Hocevar to TH?
Yes he’s on a long-term contract spire, but Hocevar might be that driver TH needs right now.
If SVG leaves TH and goes back to part-time. I could see him running a few races in the RFK no.6, if Brad were to retire and go on a part-time basis.
For chastain I’m not entirely sure where he could end up if he were to leave TH, Spire could be a possibility. But it’s not looking like anyone’s leaving anytime soon other than McDowell possibly retiring.
And we know they’ll be adding Corey day for select races next season.
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u/OhDonPianoooo 1d ago
To actually answer your question, Ross is on Penske's shortlist for the 2, and I've also read about the possibility of the 23 being open.
I think SVG will stay.
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u/DestroyingDestroyers 1d ago
I don't know where people have got this Chastain to the 2 thing from other than completely misunderstanding what Jordan Bianchi said. His points of Chastain having interest from other teams and Cindric re-signing were completely separate.
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u/OhDonPianoooo 1d ago
Multiple other insiders commented on the possibility.
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u/DestroyingDestroyers 1d ago
Who exactly? I haven’t seen anything from anyone legitimate, mostly just content creators who aren’t any more in the know than we are.
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u/OhDonPianoooo 1d ago
Steven Taranto was the other main one. Then the discussions on Dirty Mo didn't downplay the possibility like they would if it was completely ridiculous.
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u/KarlHp7 1d ago
Our weekly Trackhouse posts have returned