Due to Trackhouse Racing facing travel difficulties this week en route to Mexico City, the team is understaffed. For practice sessions, the garage will consequently have fewer personnel than usual. Both Shane van Gisbergen and Daniel Suárez view this weekend as their chance to secure victory and advance towards their goals.
NASCAR
Will they falter before the game starts when the ball is still stationary and the green flag hasn’t been waved yet?
Yesterday, two departures failed to lift off from North Carolina. This forced NASCAR athletes and crewmembers to hunt down different means of reaching the venue. The situation was disruptive enough that organizers needed to adjust the timetable for both today and tomorrow accordingly.
Bob Pockrass from FOX Sports
I caught up with Stephen Doran, the crew chief for the No. 88 squad and Shane van Gisbergen. According to him, challenges lie ahead.
Absolutely, we’ll be prepared,” Doran confirmed for Pockrass. “We’re operating with minimal staff; just three or four people per car. However, yes, everything will run smoothly.
Doran disclosed the arrangement for the rest of the Trackhouse Racing team as well. A portion will arrive today, with the remainder planning to fly in tomorrow instead. This schedule is quite tight.
“Most of the others will arrive tonight,” Doran stated. “Some of the engineers are remaining behind to conduct rehearsals at the workshop, and they’ll join us tomorrow by flight.”
Thankfully, NASCAR had the
foreseeing the need to adjust the timetable
Securing these vehicles for optimal performance with just a small crew present will be challenging. However, they will benefit from input provided by the engineering team based in North Carolina.
Yeah, changing the schedule really benefited us,” the crew chief stated. “But now we need to catch up.
The technical inspection will take place tomorrow. NASCAR is allotting 75 minutes of practice time for Cup Series teams. This gives us hope. Nevertheless, those with complete crew support will undoubtedly hold an edge. Fortunately, Stephen Doran has included an SVG in his vehicle, which offers quite a significant benefit.
Trackhouse Racing aims to benefit from opportunities in Mexico City
The upcoming race holds significant importance for Trackhouse Racing. Although Ross Chastain has secured one victory earlier in the season, another win would not be unwelcome. His performances have been notably robust at road courses with the Next Gen vehicle. Last year, he claimed the pole position at Watkins Glen. It’s worth noting that his inaugural triumph was achieved at Circuit of The Americas (COTA).
For Shane Van Gisbergen and Daniel Suarez, this weekend holds significant importance. Van Gisbergen hasn’t mastered the oval tracks sufficiently to contend for victories there yet. Thus,
He needs to ensure it occurs.
At these road courses, if he aims to secure his spot in the playoffs, he needs to perform well.
Certainly, Suárez is returning to his homeland. He previously competed on this circuit during his time in the NASCAR Mexico Series, specifically on the oval tracks. Winning the first-ever Cup Series race in Mexico City would represent a significant achievement for him. Personally, it might stand as the most crucial race of his career.
Trackhouse Racing views this as a chance for either of their two drivers who aren’t named Ross Chastain to secure a victory. Imagine the joy if Suárez manages to clinch it. Given the reduced staff sizes working today, it seems like Trackhouse might start at a slight disadvantage compared to rivals fielding complete teams.
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Trackhouse Racing operating with a minimal team due to travel problems during Mexico City practice sessions.
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