Denny Hamlin Upset by Shane Van Gisbergen Succeeding Dale Jr’s Legacy at Cost of Cup Series Rookie’s Future

Trackhouse Racing is in serious business mode. In just the team’s fourth year in 2025, they will field three cars after purchasing a charter, adding to their two-car operation. They have acquired Shane Van Gisbergen from the Xfinity Series as the new driver for the No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. While this clearly shows the ambition of the Cup Series team, their ruthless side saw a talented driver receive the short end of the stick.

SvG’s arrival led to Trackhouse Racing confirming the departure of rookie Zane Smith at the end of the current season. Smith, who has been serving a loan spell at another ambitious team, Spire Motorsports this season, has shown glimpses of his potential, but will now be looking for a new ride in 2025. This whole situation has left Denny Hamlin feeling bad for Smith, though he remains hopeful for the 25-year-old driver.

Denny Hamlin feels for the tough situation Zane Smith is in

Trackhouse Racing signed a multi-year contract deal with Smith in 2023 and the racer hoped to settle down and focus on his performances. He was loaned to Spire Motorsports for a Cup Series ride in 2024 and it was hoped he would eventually return to his parent team as one of its three drivers. But at the same time, Trackhouse Racing committed to a driver development program for the Kiwi, Shane van Gisbergen and we now know what they had planned.

The Xfinity driver made the NASCAR world sit back and take notice when he won the Chicago Street Race last year, leading nine laps. It seems that this very performance tilted the scales in his favor when Trackhouse decided to add a new charter. For Smith, this will be a hard pill to swallow, especially given how he saw his long-term future at the team.

Denny Hamlin is also affected by the news. The no.11 for Joe Gibbs Racing has seen Zane Smith‘s abilities as a racer over the years. Expressing his views on Smith’s unfortunate departure on ‘Actions Detrimental’ for Dale Jr’s Dirty Mo Media, the 43-year-old said, “Man that you know this certainly puts a tough spot on Zane because you know he had a long-term future at Trackhouse. He foregoed other opportunities in Cup Series to take this opportunity with Trackhouse and then when you get let go you’ve then lost out on your other opportunities. And so not ideal for Zane Smith and certainly I would back Zane when it comes to what you know what the future might hold.”

This season, Smith gradually overcame a slow start to record two top-10 and one top-5 finish. This included an impressive second-place finish in Nashville and finishing seventh in Michigan on August 19. Smith has the tools at his disposal to continue his Cup Series run, but will the opportunity come soon enough?

Despite Smith’s uncertain future, Hamlin praised the youngster’s impeccable driving abilities. Highlighting the unexplored potential in his career, and assessing the future of Zane Smith, Hamlin further added, “I think he’s coming into his own. I think you’ve not seen the best Zane Smith yet you’re only starting to see now what he can do. I think he’s had some really great finishes. Again they were one of the teams that they were really bad at the beginning of the year. Terrible, terrible! And then they’ve turned the corner. They’re starting to get going.”

“Now Zane’s got to kind of regroup and where to go with his career from here. So I think he’s a good enough talent that he is going to get a good opportunity, a winning opportunity somewhere. I hope it’s in the cup.” Hamlin added.

Smith also lamented the decision but appeared hopeful. “Obviously, I am disappointed that I’ve been put in a tough spot. I am diligently exploring quality driving opportunities and hope to quickly wrap up my plans for next year,” he said in a release on 24 August.

Only time will tell whether Smith will get an opportunity in the Cup series. But with his departure now imminent, Shane Van Gisbergen will now drive the no.88 Chevrolet Camaro XL1 for Trackhouse Racing. The car holds historic significance in NASCAR racing, because of its long association primarily with NASCAR veteran Dale Earnhardt Jr. The former racer drove the no.88 for nine years in his professional career, securing as many wins in different races. Before him, the no.88 also had a connection with former NASCAR racers Dale Jarrett, Bobby Allison, and Buck Baker.

SvG will join Ross Chastain and Daniel Suárez as part of Trackhouse Racing’s 2025 lineup. For the New Zealander, this represents a significant jump. He raced full-time with Kaulig Racing in the Xfinity Series in 2024, after leaving the  Supercars Series in Australia. His win at the Chicago Street Race, not only underlined his potential but also Trackhouse Racing’s long-term vision.

It was in 2023 that the team founder and owner, Justin Marks convinced Van Gisbergen to take the wheel at PROJECT91 Chevrolet. The PROJECT91 was aimed at fielding a Cup Series entry for renowned international racing drivers to boost the team’s global appeal.

Making the announcement on Tuesday, Marks said, “Shane is the type of driver we had in mind when we created PROJECT91. He took advantage of his opportunity and that experience in Chicago launched a whole new chapter in an already successful story.”

SvG will be joined by Stephen Doran as the crew chief for the #88. Doran worked with Zane Smith on the No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet this year.

While SvG’s future is clear, what about Smith? There are several teams heavily linked with the youngster. Some of these teams had previous associations with Smith during the various stages of his career.

Which team will best suit the rising rookie?

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Zane Smith’s career had its fair share of twists and turns until now. This is the reason why his contract termination at Trackhouse Racing is not an irreversible dent in his career. However, the arrival of Michael McDowell’s arrival from Front Row Motorsports meant he replaced Zane Smith in the No. 71. It is unlikely, that they will turn Smith’s loan into a permanent deal. So which team can sign Smith?

Kaulig Racing is one such team, heavily linked with the driver of late. After their average performance in the 2024 season, Smith can go to Kaulig Racing as a replacement driver for the no.16. Front Row Motorsports, too, is not far behind. FMR has an imminent vacancy and previous ties with Smith dating back to his Craftsman Truck Series days. They are also expanding to a three-car operation which could create a window of opportunity.

However, which among these teams will ultimately go for the 25-year-old is a question for the future!

What are your thoughts on Denny Hamlin’s words towards Zane Smith? Do you think the youngster will end up having a decent team in the cup series next season? Tell us your thoughts in the comments down below.