Blake Harris signs with Trackhouse Racing, expected to join No. 97 in 2027

NXTbets Pro | Published On: November 8, 2026

Harris departure

Hendrick Motorsports crew chief Blake Harris is heading to Trackhouse Racing and is expected to join Shane van Gisbergen’s No. 97 team, a move that will send him out from Alex Bowman’s pit box after this weekend’s race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Trackhouse has not officially announced the hire, but the deal marks a clear change for a crew chief who has spent the bulk of his recent Cup Series work with Bowman. Harris has served as Bowman’s crew chief since the start of the season and has overseen 172 Cup Series races with him. The pairing produced a signature result when Bowman and Harris won the Chicago Street Course race together. That victory gave the team a highlight inside a partnership that has stretched across a long run of races and race weekends. It also leaves Hendrick with a major personnel change to manage as the current stretch closes. Harris brings experience from a high-profile run at Hendrick and gives Trackhouse another seasoned voice as it continues to shape its competition lineup. For now, the move is expected rather than official, but the path is clear. Harris is on track to leave Hendrick and start the next phase of his career with Trackhouse.

Bowman response

Bowman said the split with Harris did not come from a personal breakdown, and he said the friendship between them remains intact. The Hendrick Motorsports driver also said he has not been involved in choosing Harris’ replacement. That leaves the search in the hands of the organization as it tries to line up the right fit for the crew chief role. Bowman laid out the job description in plain terms. He wants a strong, decisive leader who can make quick calls during a race and sort through Hendrick’s data and tools under pressure. That is the profile of a crew chief who can stay calm when the race shifts and react fast when the strategy changes. Bowman also said the next crew chief could remain with the car beyond his planned final full-time Cup season. He added that Connor Zilisch is set to take over after that. The comments gave a direct look at how Bowman sees the transition. The change is business, not personal. The next hire has to bring authority, speed and trust, and Bowman said the team will need that kind of presence as it moves into its next phase.

Trackhouse plans

Trackhouse owner Justin Marks said the organization is making bigger changes in its competition department as it tries to challenge NASCAR’s top teams. Harris fits that approach. He arrives with proven experience from Hendrick and with a recent record that includes the Chicago Street Course win with Bowman. Hendrick has not confirmed a replacement crew chief for Bowman. The uncertainty keeps two important pieces in motion. One is Harris’ expected role with van Gisbergen’s No. 97 group. The other is Bowman’s support structure, which still needs to be filled. Stephen Doran currently serves as crew chief for the No. 97 team, so Trackhouse must decide how its leadership will line up if Harris joins the organization. Adam Wall is among the candidates to replace Harris, which points to an active search behind the scenes. Marks’ comments framed the broader goal. Trackhouse wants to close the gap to the front of the sport, and it is willing to move personnel to do it. Harris’ arrival would be part of that push, with the team reshaping its competition side while sorting out who will lead each car moving forward.