Ross Chastain’s 2026 Season to Begin with Crew Chief Change: Brandon McSwain Takes the Helm
As the smoke from the Championship 4 showdown at Phoenix to cap the 2025 Cup Series season slowly fades into the background, Trackhouse Racing is wasting no time with preparations for the new season, and it begins with the addition of Brandon McSwain.
After years of fine-tuning cars and crunching data as an engineer at Hendrick Motorsports, McSwain is stepping into the spotlight as Ross Chastain’s new crew chief for the 2026 season.This isn’t just another personnel move.
This is a calculated gamble by Trackhouse Racing to push Chastain and the No. 1 Chevrolet to the next level. After five seasons together, Phil Surgen is stepping away from the pit box, leaving behind six wins and a Championship 4 appearance in 2022. Those are big shoes to fill, and McSwain knows it.
The Hendrick Connection: Why This Move Makes Sense
Brandon McSwain comes from one of NASCAR’s most successful organizations. At Hendrick Motorsports, he wasn’t just another face in the engineering department. He was part of the machine that keeps the No. 24 competitive week after week. Working alongside some of the sharpest minds in the sport, McSwain learned what it takes to win at NASCAR’s highest level.
As if the lingering smoke from Championship 4 wasn’t enough, Trackhouse Racing has introduced yet another shakeup to the NASCAR world: Brandon McSwain. After years of fine-tuning cars and crunching data as an engineer at Hendrick Motorsports, McSwain is stepping into the spotlight as Ross Chastain’s new crew chief for the 2026 season.
But being an engineer and being a crew chief? Those are two completely different animals. As an engineer, you focus on the numbers, the setups, the technical side that makes the car fast. As a crew chief, you’re managing people, making split-second decisions under pressure, and being the voice your driver trusts when everything’s on the line.
McSwain has had limited experience as a crew chief, with some part-time stints in Xfinity and Trucks, but nothing like what he’s about to face with a Cup Series team that expects to win races and compete for championships.
What Adding McSwain Means for Ross Chastain
For Ross Chastain, this change represents both opportunity and risk. Surgen and Chastain built something special together, including that unforgettable Coca-Cola 600 victory earlier this season. There was chemistry there, an understanding that developed over years of working together through the highs and lows of NASCAR competition.
Now, Chastain has to start over. He’ll be working with someone who’s never called the shots for a full Cup Series season, someone who’s still learning what it means to manage a race from the pit box. But sometimes, a fresh perspective is exactly what a driver needs to break through to the next level.
Chastain is entering his fifth full-time Cup Series campaign, and at 32 years old, he’s in his prime. He’s proven he can win races, six of them so far, and he’s shown he can handle the pressure of playoff racing. What he hasn’t done yet is put together a complete championship-caliber season. Maybe McSwain is the missing piece.
The Pressure of Expectations
Trackhouse Racing isn’t just hoping for improvement; they’re expecting it. This organization has grown rapidly since Justin Marks founded it, and it has established itself as a legitimate contender in a short time. With Connor Zilisch joining the team as a rookie and bringing his own crew chief, Randall Burnett, the pressure is on for the established teams to deliver.
Brandon McSwain walks into this role knowing that anything less than race wins and playoff contention will be considered a step backward. Trackhouse didn’t hire him to maintain the status quo. They hired him to help Chastain take that next step toward championship contention.
The Florida native has the technical background to understand what makes these Next Gen cars tick. He’s seen how Hendrick Motorsports operates at the highest level, and he’s been part of that winning culture. But translating that knowledge into results as a crew chief? That’s the challenge that will define his career.
A Fresh Start for Both Sides
There’s something to be said for new beginnings. Sometimes, a driver and crew chief partnership runs its course, not because of any failures, but because both sides need something different to reach their potential. Surgen will continue with Trackhouse in a different role, so his experience isn’t lost to the organization.
Meanwhile, Brandon McSwain gets his shot to prove he can lead a Cup Series team to victory.The timing feels right. Chastain has the experience and skill to guide a first-time crew chief through the learning process.
McSwain has the technical knowledge and fresh perspective that could unlock something new in Chastain’s driving. It’s a partnership built on potential rather than proven results, but sometimes that’s exactly what you need to break through barriers.
The Road Ahead
When the engines fire at Bowman Gray Stadium for the Cook Out Clash in February 2026, Brandon McSwain will be making his debut as a full-time Cup Series crew chief. The spotlight will be brighter than anything he’s experienced as an engineer. The decisions will come faster, the stakes will be higher, and the margin for error will be smaller.
But that’s what makes this sport so compelling. It’s about taking chances, betting on potential, and trusting that the combination of talent, preparation, and determination will lead to success. McSwain has the foundation from his time at Hendrick.
Final Thoughts
Chastain has the speed and experience to compete at the highest level. Together, he and McSwain are writing the first chapter of what could be a championship story. The garage is watching. The fans are waiting. And Brandon McSwain is ready to prove that sometimes, the best crew chiefs are the ones you never saw coming.
