JOLIET, Ill. — Trackhouse Racing arrives at Chicagoland Speedway this weekend carrying momentum, momentum-building marketing activations and a mix of experience levels as NASCAR returns to the 1.5-mile oval for the first time since 2019.
Ross Chastain, Connor Zilisch and Shane van Gisbergen headline the organization’s three-car effort, each entering the weekend with a different storyline as the series revisits a track expected to feature a weathered, abrasive racing surface.
Chastain will pilot the No. 1 Chevrolet in a special Busch Light “Flavor Showdown” paint scheme, a split design highlighting lemon, orange and peach options as the brand invites fans to vote on a future flavor. The activation extends beyond the car, with an interactive fan experience at the track and voting continuing through July 7.
The 31-year-old Floridian has limited Cup Series experience at Chicagoland just two starts in 2018 and 2019 with a best finish of 26th. Still, Chastain said the aged track surface could create opportunity.
“We haven’t had a race there since 2019 … I expect it to be a very rough surface and for all of the bumps to be even more pronounced,” Chastain said. “Tire management is going to be key since the surface is going to be so abrasive.”
Chastain is coming off a 14th-place finish at Sonoma Raceway, where he battled handling issues but salvaged a Stage 2 top-five result.
Zilisch, meanwhile, enters the weekend riding a wave of confidence after scoring his first NASCAR Cup Series top-10 finish a seventh-place run at Sonoma. The 18-year-old will make his first Cup start at Chicagoland as part of his 22nd career start.
Driving the Red Bull-sponsored Chevrolet, Zilisch will also compete in Saturday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race, giving him valuable extra track time on a surface he expects to be dramatically different from its last appearance on the schedule.
“I’m expecting all the bumps and the characteristics of the track to be different than 2019,” Zilisch said. “Running the O’Reilly race is going to be beneficial for me to feel those things before I get on track in the Cup car.”
Zilisch has already built a reputation for success across NASCAR’s developmental ranks, including two wins this season with JR Motorsports. Chicagoland marks his final scheduled start for the organization this year.
Trackhouse’s weekend is further amplified by a new commercial partnership, as Red Bull launched a limited-edition NASCAR energy drink exclusively through Circle K locations. The release features Zilisch and van Gisbergen on special-edition cans, marking the first NASCAR-themed Red Bull product in 15 years.
Van Gisbergen arrives as the organization’s hottest driver following a dominant weekend sweep at Sonoma, where he won both the Cup Series and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races. The New Zealand native led a combined 140 laps across the two events and now has two Cup wins this season.
The victory also continued van Gisbergen’s dominance on road courses, giving him seven wins in his last nine such races and tying him with Tony Stewart for the most in NASCAR’s modern era. He sits 14th in the Cup standings, 36 points above the playoff cutline.
Now, the focus shifts to improving on intermediate ovals an area van Gisbergen identified as key to his playoff push.
“I just need to execute,” van Gisbergen said. “We need to get to the point where we can score stage points on an oval regularly and run in that top 10, top five.”
Chicagoland presents a new challenge for the driver, who will be making his first start at the track. He expects a physically demanding race in the Next Gen car.
“It looks really challenging, really bumpy,” van Gisbergen said. “It looks like a really cool racetrack. I’m looking forward to going somewhere new and having a long practice.”
His No. 97 Chevrolet will feature a special Chicago-inspired SuperFile livery created by local artist Lefty Out There, blending motorsports with the city’s culture through a bold artistic design.
Beyond competition, Trackhouse’s presence will extend across the Chicagoland weekend with fan engagement opportunities. Chastain, Zilisch and van Gisbergen are all scheduled for autograph sessions, while Zilisch will also appear at a Red Bull activation event. The weekend will also include the Busch Light Summer Music Series with a pre-race concert from country artist Mitchell Tenpenny.
Additionally, Trackhouse continues to capitalize on van Gisbergen’s recent success with promotional tie-ins, including “Trackhouse Tuesday” at Wendy’s, offering fans a discounted Junior Bacon Cheeseburger through the Wendy’s app.