NASCAR: The team gaining the most from the Next Gen Car

The stated goal of NASCAR’s Next Gen car was to level the playing field of competition, and midpack teams are looking to take advantage of this change.

No team in the NASCAR Cup Series garage has improved from 2021 to 2022 with the Next Gen car more than Trackhouse Racing Team, which expanded from one cars to two ahead of the new season.

The team co-owned by former NASCAR driver Justin Marks and international music superstar Pitbull made their debut in 2021 with Daniel Suarez behind the wheel of the #99 Chevrolet.

Suarez had some memorable moments last season, particularly in the Bristol Motor Speedway dirt race when he led 58 laps and finished in fourth place.

But down the stretch, the #99 team struggled. Suarez finished the season in 25th place in the championship standings with just one top five finish and three other top 10 finishes.

But after acquiring Chip Ganassi Racing over the offseason, Trackhouse Racing Team have emerged in 2022 with contending speed and strong runs.

Through seven races, Suarez and the #99 team have two top five finishes, already doubling last year’s total, and an additional top 10 result. Suarez battled for the lead late at Auto Club Speedway before defending champion Kyle Larson secured the win, and he also led laps at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

His new teammate, Ross Chastain, has been even more impressive in the #1 Chevrolet. After two rough races to open the season, Chastain scored four consecutive top three finishes. He has already led 156 laps, which is more than his total for all of 2021 when he was still with Chip Ganassi Racing.

Both of the team’s cars unloaded with race-winning speed at Circuit of the Americas. Suarez, who started on the front row, led the first 15 laps en route to a stage one win before mechanical issues hurt his finish and he had to settle for 24th place.

https://twitter.com/TeamTrackhouse/status/1508939148350136334?s=20&t=61ljmsYIveC-m4qo-uNLqQ

Chastain went on to lead 31 laps, securing his and the team’s first Cup Series win in a thrilling and controversial finish.

It is very possible that the Cup Series will have more than 16 winners in the regular season, as seven winners have already emerged in seven races and there are still 19 races to go.

But Chastain will be locked into the playoffs if that does not happen. This would mark Trackhouse Racing Team’s first playoff appearance, a milestone for the new team.

Chastain and Suarez now sit in sixth and 14th place the point standings, respectively, and the #1 Chevrolet and #99 Chevrolet are primed to compete for spots on the playoff grid.

The million-dollar question is this: can Trackhouse Racing Team keep up their early season pace, or will they fall victim to a summer slump like they did in 2021?