Change has become the defining theme for Trackhouse Racing this year, and now it’s Ross Chastain’s turn to face it. The 32-year-old driver holds deep respect for his longtime crew chief, Phil Surgen, once saying, “Phil goes under the radar … He’s been a journeyman of sorts, way longer than me. He’s been through teams and worked his way up from not being a crew chief.”

The duo has been paired for nearly 5 years, beginning at Chip Ganassi Racing in 2021 before moving to Trackhouse Racing the following year. But as the team evolves, even the strongest partnerships can reach a crossroads. And now, as the postseason takes over, Ross Chastain seems to have gotten a Christmas present early, and the NASCAR fans are more than ready.

Trackhouse Racing announces Ross Chastain’s new crew chief

Brandon McSwain is stepping out from behind the scenes and into the spotlight. After years spent engineering Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 24 Chevrolet to championship contention, the Florida native will finally take the helm as a full-time crew chief in 2026, teaming up with Ross Chastain and Trackhouse Racing’s No. 1 Chevrolet.

He will be taking over from Phil Surgen, who has been Chastain’s right-hand man since 2021.  Together, the pair built one of NASCAR’s most aggressive and unpredictable partnerships, earning six Cup Series wins, including this year’s crown jewel at the Coca-Cola 600. After nearly 200 races atop the pit box, Surgen will now move into a new role within Trackhouse, leaving some pretty big shoes for McSwain to fill.

For McSwain, this new chapter is a long time coming. He’s dabbled as an interim crew chief before, from Truck Series stints with Billy Boat Motorsports to part-time Xfinity gigs with JR Motorsports and Hendrick, but never had a full-time shot. That changes when engines fire at Bowman Gray Stadium next February.

With Daniel Suarez being swapped out for Connor Zilisch, management changes are underway, and up-and-coming Justin Marks isn’t taking his team lightly. Especially when Ross Chastain and Shane Van Gisbergen have been a force all year, but came up short in the playoffs.

Ross Chastain’s title hopes unraveled in the Round of 12 elimination race at the Charlotte ROVAL. Running just above the cut-off line, Chastain locked up in Turn 7, letting Denny Hamlin slip by, and in a moment of aggression, rammed into Hamlin. This allowed Joey Logano, who was further below the cut line, to pass by and steal the final transfer spot by four points.

An earlier pit road speeding penalty had already set him back, and after the race, Chastain took the blame, calling the result “not acceptable.” And now the Watermelon Man is more than determined to make a comeback next year, and McSwain is expected to help with that process.

The move also continues Trackhouse’s bold reshuffle for 2026, following the earlier announcement that Randall Burnett will lead Connor Zilisch in his rookie Cup season. After a heartbreaking finish to his Xfinity season, the 19-year-old is more than determined to prove himself in the Cup Series.

But coming back to Chastain‘s new crew chief, McSwain, stepping up from a car that has reached 3 straight Championship 4s, expectations will be sky high. But if his time at Hendrick proved anything, it’s that he knows how to build fast cars, and now, he’ll finally get the chance to call the shots himself. And the NASCAR fans can’t help but be excited for the No. 1 team.

NASCAR fans rally behind Trackhouse Racing’s decision

Following the announcement, Ross Chastain’s relationship with soon-to-be ex-crew chief Phil Surgen became the talk of the town. Taking to Reddit, the fans didn’t hold back on their opinions.  After three seasons together, the duo’s breakup sparked a mix of optimism and sarcasm online. One fan wrote, “This change should start of a more positive/better performance upswing for Ross. Glad Phil is still sticking around, though.” 

Another echoed the sentiment, adding, ” Phil is a good guy, glad he will still be around in some capacity.”  For many, Surgen’s move signals a necessary reset for a team that had shown flashes of brilliance but struggled with consistency when it mattered most. As one comment read, “We needed to make change on the 1 team, and this is a good start. Hoping 2026 is a better season! 🤞”

Others took a more critical tone, debating whether the shake-up was overdue and if other Trackhouse drivers needed a crew chief change. One fan quipped, “If you can’t find a top-prospect crew chief, give Phil to SVG. Yes, yes, I know he’s not a great crew chief, but he’s better than Doran.”  But not everyone was sentimental. A final comment summed up one netizen’s frustration perfectly: “ Sweet, now Phil can screw over all the teams at once! No more spoiling just Ross with his galaxy brain.” Whether the changes lead to a redemption or more chaos, Trackhouse’s 2026 season is already shaping up to be worth watching.