The Charlotte Roval playoff race on October 5 proved to be one of the most dramatic nights of the NASCAR Cup Series season. Shane van Gisbergen continued his remarkable run on road courses, taking yet another win. But for Trackhouse, this wasn’t enough. Ross Chastain faced one of the toughest moments of his career. Errors on pit road and a last-lap incident ultimately left him just four points shy of advancing in the playoffs. Beyond the points and finishes, the race delivered an emotional intensity in the playoffs, when Justin Marks was seen having a word with Chastain.

Trackhouse Racing, under Justin Marks, has consistently demonstrated resilience and long-term strategy. The new vision they have aims for both immediate results and sustained growth. The team is set for a big season next year with Connor Zilisch confirmed. This is why, when Marks and Chastain had their exchange, joining the dots was easy for fans to speculate if this was the end of the road for Ross Chastain.

Justin Marks reveals what he said to Ross Chastain

In the quiet moments after the race, Marks approached Chastain and delivered words that resonated with perhaps everyone. Reflecting on that exchange, Marks said, “Well, I told him thank you because if there’s any doubt, it’s how badly these drivers want it. I just thanked him for the hard work and the effort, giving everything he had, and being a part of this company.” This reflection had come after a bizarre late-stage maneuver. Chastain’s car, visibly turned, had given everything to remain in contention.

Marks emphasized that his support was rooted in conviction about Chastain’s role in the team. “I wouldn’t have anybody else driving that one car than Ross. It’s just an unfortunate thing,” he said. The comments reinforced the idea that Trackhouse Racing sees setbacks not as personal failures but as opportunities to demonstrate perseverance.

Marks further acknowledged the harsh reality of the playoff format. “There’s really only one happy driver at the end of every season. It’s a tough way to end the format. But we had a shot at the round of 12, which is good. It’s going to take him a while to get over it, but we race again in seven days in Vegas.”

The moment also cast light on the broader strategy within Trackhouse Racing. Marks contrasted Ross Chastain’s immediate challenges with the consistent rise of Shane van Gisbergen, praising his execution on road courses. When asked about SVG’s persistence in wanting to also perform on ovals, Marks revealed the Kiwi driver’s mentality behind repeated comments.

Marks on SVG’s oval performance

Shane van Gisbergen has dominated NASCAR’s road courses since joining Trackhouse Racing. But questions have persisted about his ability to perform on ovals and whether his success is limited only to road courses. This discussion intensified following Charlotte, where SVG’s focus on overall development has become as much a story as his wins.

Trackhouse Racing owner Justin Marks addressed these questions candidly, highlighting SVG’s mindset and approach. He emphasized that the team’s strategy around SVG is to maximize his current strengths, and the plan is to cultivate a well-rounded NASCAR driver capable of competing at the highest level across all tracks.

Marks praised SVG’s work ethic and commitment to improvement. He said, “He doesn’t want to be a one-trick pony. He doesn’t want to just bring the road courses and kind of throw them in there. On the ovals, he’s been working. He knows he can do this, so yeah, he’s working really hard to beat a well-rounded NASCAR driver, and he’s done a great job.” Marks even cited recent examples to further prove this point.

Shane van Gisbergen himself evaluated his oval craft, “I need to be better at all disciplines of what NASCAR Cup racing is…I really think we are getting better…My learning curve is pretty steep, and I feel like, as a driver, I’m getting more comfortable in understanding the car dynamics and setup every week. Feel like I’m always learning, as long as that doesn’t stop, I’ll keep getting better.”

With each oval, he’s showing that he’s getting there. His Kansas race saw him earn his first top-10 Cup finish on an oval. So, these things are proof that his oval skills are improving alongside his road course dominance. Marks also framed SVG’s rise as a historic moment for Trackhouse Racing, calling it “a very special moment in the history of our company” and “special for the sport.”