The future looks bright for Trackhouse Racing. (Photo: Trackhouse Team Racing Facebook)
It is no secret that Trackhouse Racing has found early success in the 2022 season. And, after just two years in the Cup Series, the young team has exceeded expectations.
Team owner, Justin Marks, recognizes the quick growth his team has had, sharing, “What’s above my expectations is the time frame we’ve been able to do it. We’ve got winning caliber talent on the team in a lot of different positions.”
Marks also credits part of their success to the creation of the Gen 7 car. “This car, this new Next Gen car, has just provided us an opportunity to be in the mix pretty early for us. And it’s allowed our philosophy of management to get us competitive pretty quickly,” he said.
In his first season with the team, Ross Chastain has been able to capture two wins, noting, “I haven’t driven a car this year I didn’t think we could win in, and that’s wild to think.”
Ross Chastain (Photo: Sean Gardner | Getty Images) and Daniel Suárez (Photo: Luis Torres | The Podium Finish) celebrate in victory lane.
Every single week, Trackhouse Racing is producing race-winning cars for their drivers, which is not an easy feat. The team’s most recent winner, Daniel Suárez, recognizes how incredible this accomplishment is and discussed how unique this opportunity is to him.
“I’m very lucky to be a kid from Mexico racing here in the US. I feel very, very unique, very different. I love that to be very honest with you. I have always loved to be different and unique, and I feel like me being in this position is unbelievable,” he said.
Being the first driver on this unique team, Suárez has been able to see Trackhouse Racing progress into something truly special. “It was very special, Justin [Marks] and Ty [Norris], they’ve trusted in me since the very beginning, and we were able to build this together. It’s been an amazing journey and I can tell you the best is ahead,” he reflected.
So, what exactly is ahead for Trackhouse Racing?
Marks has big plans for the company as they continue to grow into the future.
One of those plans, as stated early on in Trackhouse Racing’s journey, was to move the team to Nashville. However, is that still the case?
“I would definitely say that Trackhouse is going to have a presence in Nashville,” Marks stated. “I think the fact that the company acquired Chip Ganassi Racing and that Chevrolet is a key partner of ours and they’ve invested in this big tech center in Charlotte… it just became prohibited to really pick the team up and move it to Nashville from North Carolina. It wouldn’t have allowed us to have the opportunity we have this year.”
Though the team does not plan to move their whole operation to Nashville, Marks reiterated that they are committed to having a presence in “The Music City” in some capacity.
“We have a couple of things in the works, but I don’t anticipate competitive operations of our Cup team ever being there. But the goal is for that to only be a small part in everything that we are doing.”
One of Trackhouse Racing’s most recent endeavors has been the announcement of “Project 91.”
The goal of “Project 91” is to expand the team’s international reach by placing world champions in a third Trackhouse car for select events.
Unfortunately, for these select events, fans should not expect Marks to hop behind the wheel of the No. 91.
“I would like to drive a Next Gen car,” said Marks. “I think it would be interesting to feel it. It just gives me more context when I’m talking to Ross and Daniel and some of the guys to feel the car a little bit. But, the days of me racing at that level are over.”
However, a driver we can expect behind the wheel is Formula One champion, Kimi Räikkönen.
Kimi Räikkönen joins Trackhouse Racing’s “Project 91.” (Photo: Trackhouse.com)
“I wasn’t looking to race again, but Justin came to my home in Switzerland and convinced me how serious he was about putting together a top-notch program,” said Räikkönen. “This will be fun, but it’s something I will take very seriously. I know how competitive the NASCAR Cup Series is and it will be a big challenge.”
Räikkönen will race “Project 91” in only one event this season at Watkins Glen on August 21.
With “Project 91” expanding the company’s operations to a third part-time car, it begs the question: Will Trackhouse Racing eventually seek a third charter?
“I don’t think Project 91 necessarily is purposed to serve as a precursor to a third full-time team for Trackhouse,” Marks said. “I just think it was an opportunity to create a piece of business within Trackhouse. It’s a brand extension of what we’re trying to do, do something out there that’s unique and different. It’s got a lot of value for partners and for Chevrolet in the sport. Bringing some world-class people from other disciplines to Cup. This car allows us to do that. This year, it’s just about the one race at Watkins Glen. Next year, my hope is to run all the road courses. Expansion to a third full-time team is definitely in the conversation, but it’s not something that we’re going to push quickly. When that time comes it’s going to be because we’ve got a partner that wants it.”
Certainly, there is a lot to look forward to with Trackhouse Racing’s future as the company continues to grow and expand its international reach. In the meantime, with both Trackhouse drivers locked into the playoffs, the team will focus its efforts on the Bill France Cup.
