Trackhouse Racing, despite being only four years old, is making significant waves in the world of motorsports. The team made its debut in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2021, initially fielding a single car after securing a charter on lease from Spire Motorsports. They recruited Spanish driver Daniel Suarez to drive the #99 car. Demonstrating rapid growth, the organization quickly expanded to a two-car team by signing Ross Chastain for the 2022 season. Chastain’s first year with Trackhouse was remarkable, as he not only adapted to the team but also advanced to the championship four.
In the same year, Trackhouse owner Justin Marks launched an innovative initiative called ‘Project 91’. This program aims to feature star drivers from various racing backgrounds in one-off entries within NASCAR. A notable highlight of this initiative was the inclusion of Formula One driver Kimi Räikkönen, who made his Cup debut at Watkins Glen in 2022. But Trackhouse’s ambitions extend beyond just cars; the team also made its entrance into MotoGP this year. Furthermore, they plan to expand their Cup Series lineup to three cars for the 2025 season. Amidst all these developments, Justin Marks has recently shared exciting news about the team’s future expansion plans.
Trackhouse has signed Shane van Gisbergen to join the team as a full-time driver for the upcoming Cup season. Van Gisbergen’s involvement began through the ‘Project 91’ initiative, where the three-time Supercar champion made a striking debut at the 2023 Chicago street course and clinched victory. Following this impressive entry, he secured a full-time ride in the Xfinity Series after Trackhouse loaned him to Kaulig Racing. He is now on track for his first championship after achieving three wins during the season. This growth trajectory for SVG serves as a testament to the success of Marks’ innovative vision.
Reflecting on his ambitious plans, Marks recently revealed details during an appearance on the ‘Happy Hour’ podcast. He emphasized the importance of engaging fans and creating newsworthy moments, stating, “I put a lot of value in doing things in a way that captures the interest of fans and it’s newsworthy. It’s something they haven’t seen before. That’s why it was important to me to start Project 91 to bring Kimi Raikkonen in and to put Shane Van Gisbergen in the car. There’s more of that coming, which is just putting things out on the racetrack that are just exciting and people haven’t really seen it before.” This leaves fans wondering who Trackhouse might bring in next.
Marks also hinted at another exciting prospect: the possibility of Trackhouse competing in the Rolex 24, one of the most prestigious endurance races in the world. He expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “I think I would love to put a Trackhouse in the Rolex 24. I think now that we’ve got sort of a group of athletes to be able to fill out a car. I think that’s a very real possibility.” His personal connection to the Daytona 24-hour race is significant; he has participated in it multiple times and even won the race in the GT class in 2009.
Reflecting on his experience, Marks shared, “The 24-hour Daytona, I think, is the greatest race in the world. I am a little biased just because I competed in it a number of years. I think I have raced in it 15 or 16 times. My first time in the 24 hours Daytona was in 2001, and I went to the Driver’s meeting and sat between Dale Earnhardt and Allan McNish.” This nostalgic moment has cemented the race’s significance in his career and fuels his ambition for future expansions.
Additionally, Marks has expressed interest in venturing into the IndyCar Series, particularly in competing at the Indianapolis 500. He noted, “It’s not been a secret that the Indianapolis 500 is a race that I think is important for the Trackhouse brand to be at. We are working on that right now.” While Shane van Gisbergen seems like a fitting candidate to drive at the Indy 500, Marks has other strategies in mind, preferring to collaborate with an existing team rather than starting a new one from scratch.
He elaborated, “We have a very unique promotional marketing program built out for doing something like that, so we just have to find the right partner. I’m not going to go buy a car and start an Indy car team. So it’s got to be the right partner. But yeah, those are the types of things that will move the needle for Trackhouse.”
Marks has also hinted at the potential for Trackhouse to explore opportunities in Formula One. While the team may not be the first NASCAR organization to enter F1—Stewart-Haas Racing co-owner Gene Haas already operates a team in the sport—Marks appears to have a different approach. He noted, “I think Formula One is interesting, but it’s a bit of a saturation of commercial partners right now. You know, these teams are being invested in by big multi-billion dollar private equity companies. It doesn’t mean that we’re not having conversations. It doesn’t mean that we’re not, you know, talking to people and seeing where there might be some opportunity.”
As Trackhouse Racing continues to chart its ambitious path forward, fans are left to wonder which avenue the team should explore first. With their innovative strategies and expansion plans, the future looks bright for Trackhouse, and it will be fascinating to see where they go next.
TRACKHOUSE TAKEOVER: Justin Marks Reveals Epic Expansion Plans and the Stars Behind SVG & Kimi
