Ever since Trackhouse Racing came into existence in 2021, it has harbored a mentality for success. Justin Marks, the owner of Trackhouse, has roped in the right people accordingly. His 2025 Cup Series grid is quite special in this regard – joining old-timers Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez is three-time Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen! But wait, this piece is not about the legendary Kiwi speedster 0 but about his newly ordained crew chief, Stephen Doran.

Who is Stephen Doran?

During the 2025 press conference at the Daytona International Speedway media center, Trackhouse Racing rolled out some dazzling updates. Shane van Gisbergen’s full-time Cup Series ride—the No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1—and also his crew chief were announced. Stephen Doran served as the crew chief for the No. 71 Spire Motorsports entry with contracted Trackhouse Racing driver Zane Smith in 2024. Justin Marks announced that Doran would serve as the crew chief for SVG’s No. 88 in 2025.

Ahead of his Daytona effort, Shane van Gisbergen praised his new crew members, giving a special mention to Stephen Doran. “It’s been amazing working with Stephen (Doran) and the 88 team they have put together. The vibe in the Trackhouse shop is incredible. It’s really cool to be a part of Trackhouse now.”

But before Stephen Doran bonded with SVG, he had a storied history in NASCAR.

How did Stephen Doran make his headway as a crew chief in the world of NASCAR?

Currently 38 years old, Stephen Doran has been in the sport for almost two decades. The Pennsylvania native kicked off his NASCAR career in 2006 at Petty Enterprises. Then after working under the legendary Richard Petty’s umbrella for almost 8 years, Doran moved over to another NASCAR Hall of Famer’s team.

He joined three-time Cup Series champion Tony Stewart’s team, Stewart-Haas Racing, in 2014. There, he worked as Kevin Harvick’s lead engineer between 2014 and 2023. So he was among the people who pushed Harvick to clinch his spectacular 2014 Cup Series championship.

In 2024, Stephen Doran came aboard the No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet team, guiding rookie racer Zane Smith. Doran helped Smith secure two top-fives and 4 top-ten finishes across the Cup Series season, including a special runner-up finish at Nashville Superspeedway.

Doran praised Smith for his effort in the quintuple overtime race: “We just tried to keep him informed on the status of everybody in front of him. Just knowing who was close to running out, who to look out for on the restarts, not to run into when they run out, and it all worked out almost perfectly.”

Trending

1

NASCAR Star Drops Life-Changing Announcement as Racing Community Melts Over Welcome Surprise

2

3x Daytona 500 Champ Left in Tears Accompanying Tony Stewart’s Rival Into the Motorsport Hall of Fame

3

Richard Petty’s Son Betrays the King’s NASCAR Legacy With Humble Dale Earnhardt Claim

4

Kyle Larson Uncovers Welcome $18 Million Surprise Amidst NASCAR’s Michael Jordan Lawsuit Tussle

5

NASCAR’s Potential $7.7 Billion Blunder Highlighted by Xfinity Series Major Drop After Phoenix

Will Stephen Doran’s partnership be fruitful for Shane Van Gisbergen at Trackhouse Racing?

Shane van Gisbergen was already an ace the very first time he stepped foot in NASCAR. The New Zealander scored a NASCAR Cup Series win in his debut event, the 2023 Grant Park 165 at the Chicago Street Course. Subsequently, in 2024, he picked up three Xfinity Series road course victories in Portland, Sonoma, and Chicago again under Kaulig Racing’s banner. So what can the Kiwi not achieve?

With Stephen Doran’s vast two decades’ worth of experience in the Cup Series, SVG might be on the right path. When Jeff Dickerson hired Doran as the crew chief for Zane Smith, he was taking a big leap of faith.

That was Doran’s first role as a crew chief – but Dickerson had no doubts: “Stephen is an accomplished racer who earned this position through practical knowledge, hard work and success. He’s been a part of championship-caliber teams in the past and we’re confident that he’ll play a significant role in helping Spire Motorsports.” We expect to see the same level of luster in Trackhouse Racing as well.

What does the year hold for Supercars champion Shane Van Gisbergen?

Maybe the season started off on a poor note for the Kiwi racer. Shane van Gisbergen’s excitement soared ahead of Daytona, but unfortunately, he fell prey to a string of wrecks across races. SVG finished outside the top 30 in both Daytona and Phoenix. At Circuit of the Americas – where people were expecting him to shine given that it was a road course – he bizarrely lost pace and finished 6th. Yet SVG’s pace at Atlanta was remarkable, with Stephen Doran’s help. The veteran racer was known to have a weak spot in ovals or superspeedways, but his improvement was visible.

During the Ambetter Health 400, SVG occupied the front row until getting caught in a wreck – and that was enough to impress Denny Hamlin. “I thought he just did a phenomenal job. Just with the little experience that he has doing that, he was holding a pretty damn steady line. I was behind him quite a bit. Self-admittedly, I’m a little worried. It’s like ‘Oh gosh!’ He’s getting crammed on both sides. This is typically where people kind of panic and make mistakes when you haven’t done this for a long time. I just think that he is rapidly gaining some really good experience and really getting quite a bit better on ovals quicker than what I was anticipating.”

Evidently, Shane van Gisbergen is slowly progressing and overcoming his weaknesses. Stephen Doran, the No. 88 crew chief, is right there to guide him.