by Patrick Zier | Oct 7, 2025 |
Trackhouse is in trouble. Once a bright light on the NASCAR Cup scene, Justin Marks’ team has grabbed onto the coat tails of Shane van Gisbergen and is hanging on for dear life.
Van Gisbergen won again Sunday on Charlotte’s roval, his fifth straight win on a road or street course this season. A native New Zealander with a road racing background over there, van Gisbergen has crushed Cup competitors since signing with Marks this year – but only on road courses.
Kyle Larson, second to van Gisbergen Sunday, summed it up in July while speaking to SpeedCafe.com before the race at Sonoma. “He’s so good and it’s rare that you see somebody stand out and distance themselves from the competition as much as he is,” Larson said.
“He’s way, way better than us at the road course stuff,” Larson continued. “He’s got his own technique; well, not his own because the rest of the world does it the same way – right-foot braking, clutching and all that stuff.”
NASCAR drivers, Larson said, use a different method, braking with the left foot. “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” Larson continued. “Like there’s zero chance I can learn to do that and even if I did, like there’s zero chance that it would be better than what I’m doing left-foot braking.”
While van Gisbergen is a 700 pound gorilla on road courses, he has real problems running ovals, which make up the vast majority of NASCAR races. In large measure, that’s because he has no prior experience on ovals, but it may also be that Marks’ team has lost the handle on the NextGen car.
When the NextGen car was first introduced in 2022, Trackhouse was on top of it, running extremely well with Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez as its drivers. Chastain was especially good, able to run with the best in the business.
That, though, was likely due to the fact that the car was new to everybody, and the elite teams – Gibbs, Hendrick and Penske – hadn’t had time to work on it.
Once they figured it out, the bright light that had been shining on Trackhouse began to flicker and dim, and now, except for van Gisbergen’s road race magic, there isn’t much to look at.
Using the OldGuySport competition index, which is much better than NASCAR’s point system at measuring how well a team is performing, we can see the decline.
In 2022 Chastain racked up 410 points and one win, fifth best in the competition index standings, and Suarez added 169 and another victory, giving Trackhouse 579 points.
In 2023 Chastain scored 385 points, again good for fifth place, with two wins and Suarez added just 57, giving Trackhouse a total of 442. And in 2024 Chastain dropped to 183, again with a win, while Suarez added 67, a total of 250 points.
And if you take van Gisbergen out of the equation, it’s getting worse this year. Going into Sunday’s race at Las Vegas, Chastain has 104 points and a win while Suarez, who is leaving the team after this season, has contributed just 43, giving Trackhouse a total of 147.
Marks’ hope is that van Gisbergen will pick up the pace on ovals, but given how poorly Chastain is running it’s obvious that Trackhouse has fallen behind on the car, and that combined with van Gisbergen’s inexperience is a double whammy.
And even if Trackhouse improves its setups, there’s no guarantee van Gisbergen will get better. As Larson noted, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” and van Gisbergen is already 36 and has not shown anything to indicate he is any farther along on ovals now than he was at the beginning of the season.
“It’s kind of interesting to look at our year because in many ways there are a lot of things we felt like we had to do a lot better with this race team and I was just talking about just getting more week-in, week-out speed, unloading with more speed every seven days,” Marks said according to NASCAR’s website.
“That’s been a theme inside the building, that we just have to get better. We have to understand these cars better. We have to unload better on Saturdays and qualify better and all of that,” Marks said.
“You kind of take the fact that we feel like we’re missing something and we have to grow and learn and get better,” Marks said. “This is the winningest season in the history of the company,” he continued.
“I lot of that has to do with incredible 88 team (van Gisbergen’s five road course wins). Shane is a world-class race car driver, but it’s not just Shane, it takes everybody.
“From the guys that are building suspension and brakes and putting these cars together in the shop to Stephen’s group (van Gisbergen’s crew chief Stephen Doran) that comes out here and executes on race weekend, it’s a very, very high level of professional execution,” Marks commented.
“That’s really what we try to do, make the most of every opportunity that we’ve got, and we did that a number of times this year, which is something that everybody in the company is just incredibly proud of,” Marks declared.
The problem is Marks sounds the whole operation is functioning at a high level when in fact that only place they’re doing well is on the road courses, and the only reason they’re doing well on the road courses is because of van Gisbergen.
So, maybe Trackhouse isn’t down and out – yet – but they’re definitely down, and the referee is starting the count.
PLAYOFF PICTURE
OldGuySport picks prior to the start of the playoffs: First eight out – Shane van Gisbergen, Josh Berry, Austin Dillon, Austin Cindric, Tyler Reddick, Joey Logano, Ross Chastain, Chase Elliott. Actual first eight out – van Gisbergen, Berry, Dillon, Cindric, Reddick, Chastain, Alex Bowman, Bubba Wallace. OGS record: 6-2, .750.
OGS picks prior to the start of the playoffs for final four out: Bowman, Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Wallace. Last four out to be determined in next three races.
NASCAR NOTES
Three most likely winners at Las Vegas: 1-Denny Hamlin, 2-Chase Briscoe, 3-Larson. First race winner at Las Vegas: Berry. Top five at Las Vegas in first race: 1-Berry, 2-Daniel Suarez, 3-Ryan Preece, 4-William Byron, 5-Chastain.
Last week’s OGS Charlotte roval picks: 1-van Gisbergen, 2-Bell, 3-Briscoe.
Charlotte roval winner: van Gisbergen. OGS record after 27 races, 12-14, .462 (no Pocono pick).
OGS competition index top 10 after 27 races: 1-Hamlin 600 points, 2-Briscoe 478, 3-Bell 443, 4-Larson 428, 5-Ryan Blaney 409, 6-van Gisbergen 368, 7-Byron 356, 8-Elliott 244, 9-Wallace 185, Logano 185.
OGS competition index top 10 on intermediate tracks (tracks most similar to Las Vegas) 1-Hamlin 369, 2-Briscoe 297, 3-Larson 238, 4-Blaney 220, 5-Byron 186, 6-Wallace 141, 7-Bell 107, 8-Elliott 103, 9-Chastain 102, 10-Logano 89.
by Patrick Zier | Oct 3, 2025 |
Mario Cristobal can tell you about Florida State-Miami, can take you back to a time when this was more than an inter-state rivalry, when this was a game of national significance, a game that impacted all of college football almost every year. He can tell you about it because he was there.
Cristobal, now the ‘Canes coach, was on the 1989 Miami team that won the national championship with an 11-1 record. That year, the No.2 ranked ‘Canes lost to the No.9 ranked ‘Noles, 24-10, their only defeat of the season. FSU would go on to finish with 10 straight wins, but two losses at the beginning of the year cost it any chance at a national title.
And Cristobal also played for the ’91 Canes in what was not only one of the biggest games in the history of the series, but arguably one of the biggest games in the history of the sport.
In that one, FSU went in ranked No.1 and Miami No.2, with the ‘Canes winning, 17-16, after FSU missed a 34-yard field goal wide right with time running out.
That was the first of three straight games which FSU lost because it missed field goals wide right, with the victory propelling Miami to a 12-0 record and another national title. FSU would finish 10-2 and win the Cotton Bowl.
In recent years though, the game has fallen out of the national limelight, lost its luster as one or both teams struggled to remain relevant. But there are signs of a revival.
Cristobal bleeds orange and green, is old school with a modern approach and determined to bring Miami back to prominence. He currently has the ‘Canes undefeated and riding high, ranked No. 3 in the nation and, with Clemson’s collapse, the new favorite to win the ACC championship and a berth in the College Football Playoffs.
If he can get by Florida State. The ‘Noles, after a gruesome 2024 season in which they went 2-10 following their 13-1 record in 2023, are showing new signs of life.
They stunned Alabama 31-17 to open the season and ripped up inferior competition in their next two games, but lost to Virginia, 48-36, in double overtime their last time out. That dropped them to No. 18 in the AP rankings.
“This week we have a great opportunity in one of the best rivalry games in all of sports, not just college football, all of sports,” FSU Coach Mike Norvell commented this week according to FSU’s football website.
“We’re coming off a disappointing result, one of those games that, you know, you can take 20, 30 plays and if anything goes different, your final result is going to be changed,” Norvell said.
“It wouldn’t have changed the areas of improvement we’re going to have to correct, though, because obviously, there’s some things that showed up that are unacceptable to what we expect out of ourselves and how we want to play and how we want to finish,” Norvell commented.
“I’ve seen this team perform at a very high level and I know what we’re capable of,” Norvell continued, “and I have full expectations that’s what we’ll see this Saturday (against Miami),” Norvell declared.
“We’re getting ready for a very talented, physical, well-coached football team that’s playing at a high level,” Miami’s Cristobal remarked according to Miami’s athletic website. “Statistically, they’re in the top 10 (nationally) in just about every meaningful category,” Cristobal added.
There is no doubt FSU has put up some impressive stats, especially on offense. The ‘Noles lead the nation in scoring, averaging 53 points per game, and also in total offense with a 600 yards per game average.
There is some doubt, though, about how meaningful the stats are since FSU ran up big numbers in its games against East Texas A&M, a 77-3 win, and Kent State, a 66-10 victory.
Kent State didn’t win a game last year and was picked to finish last this year in the Mid-America Conference, which is a notch below FSU in the Group of Five, and East Texas A&M is a struggling member of the Southland Conference, a notch below Kent State in the Football Championship Series (FCS).
Still, FSU’s rebound and Miami’s continued resurgence have made the Miami-FSU series respectable again and once more, people are talking about the game.
Cristobal is aware of that and understands the pressures that are building up around it. It may not be like 1989 or 1991, but there is a new feeling of anticipation as these two teams get ready to meet.
Which means both Cristobal and Norvell have to keep their players grounded. “There’s not a single bit of noise, not a single bit of hype, not a single member of the audience on TV or in the stands that’s going to be able to make a play one way or the other,” Cristobal declared.
“The outcome will be determined by those who are on the field, and we’re focused on making sure we do our job to the best of our ability,” he added. So is Norvell. This is big, and they know it. FSU-Miami is back.
PAT’S PICKS
Miami over FSU: It’s in Tallahassee, and Tommy Castellanos has ignited the Seminoles. They have a good chance to grab this one. But Miami has some solid wins and the ‘Canes are more consistent.
Florida over Texas: It’s save your season time for the Gators. Thought here is that they haven’t given up and see this as a great opportunity to right the ship. Texas has a few cupcake wins and Arch Manning hasn’t settled in at quarterback.
USF over Charlotte: USF isn’t invincible but the Bulls won’t lose to Charlotte. Maybe at North Texas next week, but not to Charlotte.
Kansas over UCF: You’re not in the American anymore.
Last week, 1-1, for the season, 12-6, .667.
by Patrick Zier | Oct 2, 2025 |
It’s the last race of the season, in the days before NASCAR had a playoff. You’re leading, but you have no chance at a championship. Behind you is a teammate who, if he can get by you, can win it all, but he’s not good enough to pass. Do you ease up and let him by?
“That’s a stupid question,” a slightly irritated Bobby Labonte, then driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, replied. Hendrick Motorsports’ Jeff Gordon was more practical. “You do what’s best for the team,” Gordon said. “Winning the championship is more important than you winning the race.”
Robert Yates, owner of Robert Yates Racing and one of the greatest engine builders and nicest guys in NASCAR history, smiled mischievously. “I hope my driver would make the right decision,” he said coyly.
There is a lot to digest here. From a team standpoint, what Gordon suggests is the most practical route to go. Obviously, refusing to give ground and denying your team a title that you have no chance of winning seems somewhat selfish.
On the other hand, what about the integrity of the sport? Back in the day, when Labonte, Gordon and Yates were expressing their opinions, multi-car teams were just starting to emerge. Hendrick was the only three-car team. JGR had two cars, as did Yates. Team Penske had only one.
But as the teams continued to grow; at one point, NASCAR allowed as many as five cars to run for a single organization, taking one for the team and how those drivers raced each other became a bigger problem.
That came to the fore again this week after competitive situations on the track threw JGR into complete turmoil during the last two playoff races at New Hampshire and Kansas.
At New Hampshire, JGR’s Ty Gibbs, Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell were battling for 11th place. Hamlin and Gibbs were both trying to pick up extra playoff points while Gibbs is not in the playoffs. Yet Gibbs refused to let Hamlin and Bell make an easy pass.
Eventually, Hamlin slipped trying to get around Gibbs and knocked him into the wall and out of the race. Hamlin said he hadn’t meant to hit Gibbs, but felt Gibbs should have moved over to let the JGR playoff cars by.
While this was for 11th place, what if Gibbs has the fastest car in the final race at Phoenix With Hamlin, who could win the championship with a victory, right behind him and Chase Elliott, another contender, right behind Hamlin?
Should Gibbs give up his chance to win and let Hamlin, a team car, by and then block Elliott? It’s a little different then the Labonte-Gordon-Yates scenario, but not much. And again, what does that say about the integrity of NASCAR racing?
The incident at Kansas is even worse. Hamlin lost the back of his car and slid into Wallace, who was about to win the race. That allowed Chase Elliott to slip by underneath them and punch his ticket to the round of eight.
What makes this so egregious is the fact that Hamlin drives for JGR and is a part owner, along with Michael Jordan, of Wallace’s Toyota. No one should be allowed to drive for one team and own part of another.
It would be like allowing Jordan Love to play for the Green Bay Packers while being a part owner of the Minnesota Vikings. No other sport would tolerate this, and NASCAR shouldn’t either. If you want to own a team and continue competing, then you should drive for the team you own.
NASCAR could clean all this up with a few rule changes, eliminating the playoffs and rewarding drivers who race to win instead of giving them points for simply finishing, but it doesn’t seem inclined to make sweeping changes. That’s too bad, because sweeping changes are what’s needed if it wants to have real integrity.
NASCAR NOTES
Three most likely winners at Charlotte Roval: 1-Shane van Gisbergen, 2-Christopher Bell, 3-Chase Briscoe. Last year’s winner at the Roval: Kyle Larson. Top five at the Roval last year: 1-Larson, 2-Bell, 3-William Byron, 4-Austin Cindric, 5-Chase Elliott.
Last week’s Kansas picks: 1-Denny Hamlin, 2-Briscoe, 3-Larson. Kansas winner: Elliott. Old Guy Sport season record after 26 races (no Pocono pick): 11-14, .440.
OGS competition index top 10 after 26 races: 1-Denny Hamlin 600 points, 2-Briscoe 478, 3-Bell 413, 4-Ryan Blaney 408, 5-Larson 376, 6-Byron 356, 7-van Gisbergen 295, 8-Elliott 244, 9-Joey Logano 185, Bubba Wallace 185.
OGS competition index top 10 on road courses (tracks similar to Charlotte Roval) after five races: 1-van Gisbergen 295 points, 2-Bell 145, 3-Elliott 80, 4-Tyler Reddick 65, 5-Byron 60, 6-Briscoe 59, 7-Ty Gibbs 51, 8-Michael McDowell 48, 9-Kyle Busch 38, 10-Chris Buescher 32.
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