Trackhouse Racing Overview
Trackhouse Racing is an American motorsports organization established in 2020 by former NASCAR Cup Series driver Justin Marks. Based in Concord, North Carolina, the team competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series and MotoGP, with part-time participation in the IMSA SportsCar Championship. The team fields Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 cars in NASCAR and operates as a satellite team of Aprilia in MotoGP, reflecting an unusual multi-discipline approach within modern motorsports.
Trackhouse Racing is owned by Justin Marks and Avenue Sports Fund, with Marks also serving as the team’s principal. Known for its innovative approach and commitment to STEM education, the organization has rapidly become a competitive presence in stock car and motorcycle racing, distinguishing itself through a willingness to invest in young talent and international drivers.
Founding and Organizational Origins
After Leavine Family Racing announced the sale of its assets in summer 2020, Justin Marks placed a bid on the sale, although those assets were eventually sold to Spire Motorsports. On August 14, 2020, Marks confirmed the creation of his own team, Trackhouse, and revealed that former Dale Earnhardt Incorporated executive Ty Norris had been brought on to help run the organization. At that time, Marks had yet to strike a formal alliance with any manufacturer or team, but already had one potential sponsor lined up.
From his ownership of a go-kart track and other family business ventures, Marks had the financial resources to launch a team without outside partners. He aimed to be an unconventional team owner, with plans to use the team ownership platform as an advocate for STEM education. On October 7, 2020, the team announced a full-time drive in 2021 with Daniel Suárez as driver. The team leased a charter from Spire Motorsports to guarantee entry into every 2021 race and aligned with Richard Childress Racing as an engine provider, operating from RCR’s campus in Welcome, North Carolina.
Growth Into NASCAR Cup Series Competition
Trackhouse entered the NASCAR Cup Series in 2021 with a single Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, the No. 99, driven by Daniel Suárez. Marks selected the 99 to pay tribute to Carl Edwards, who had used that number for most of his Cup Series career with Roush-Fenway Racing. Former JR Motorsports crew chief Travis Mack was named crew chief of the No. 99 in November 2020, providing experienced leadership for the new operation.
On June 10, 2021, Marks publicly discussed the possibility of expanding the team to a two-car operation in 2022. On June 30, 2021, Trackhouse announced its purchase of the NASCAR operations of Chip Ganassi Racing, including the charters for the No. 1 and No. 42 teams, formally establishing a two-car lineup for 2022. On August 3, 2021, the team announced that Ross Chastain would drive the No. 1 in 2022, completing the first phase of organizational growth.
Trackhouse Racing Competitive Journey
Trackhouse Racing has progressed from a single-car Cup Series entrant in 2021 to a three-car Cup operation with parallel programs in MotoGP and IMSA. Along the way, the team has recorded 14 NASCAR Cup Series victories, introduced international drivers through its Project91 initiative, and expanded into Grand Prix motorcycle racing by acquiring RNF Racing’s MotoGP entry slot in late 2023.
Early Seasons and Development (2020-2021)
The team’s foundation year focused on building infrastructure, securing sponsorship, and fielding a competitive single-car entry. The No. 99 Chevrolet debuted at the 2021 Daytona 500 with Daniel Suárez behind the wheel. Suárez scored the team’s first top-five with a fourth-place finish at the Bristol dirt race, and with a total of four top-ten finishes, he closed the 2021 season 25th in points. This period established the team’s identity as a new but credible presence on the Cup Series grid.
During the same year, the team was partially owned by Grammy Award-winning rapper Armando Christian “Pitbull” Pérez, marking an early and unusual connection between motorsports and entertainment. The team’s first full-time operation in 2021 laid the groundwork for the significant expansion that would follow in 2022.
Breakthrough in NASCAR (2022-2023)
Trackhouse’s first Cup Series victory came in 2022 when Ross Chastain won at Circuit of the Americas, followed a month later by a second win at Talladega. Chastain advanced to the Championship 4 that season after the now-famous “Hail Melon” move at Martinsville, where he drove along the outside wall at full throttle to overtake Denny Hamlin. He finished third at the Phoenix finale and second in the final points standings, the best season result in team history to that point.
Daniel Suárez became the first Mexican-born driver to win a Cup Series race when he triumphed at Sonoma in 2022, capping a career-best tenth-place finish in points. In 2023, Suárez won the NASCAR Open for the second time, while Chastain scored wins at Nashville and the Phoenix finale. On May 18, 2023, the team announced that New Zealander Shane van Gisbergen would make his NASCAR debut at the inaugural Grant Park 220 at the Chicago Street Course, where he won in his first Cup start.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2024-Present)
The modern Trackhouse program has expanded into a three-car NASCAR Cup operation alongside entries in MotoGP and IMSA. The organization currently fields three full-time Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 cars: the No. 1 for Ross Chastain, the No. 88 for Connor Zilisch, and the No. 97 for Shane van Gisbergen. On January 11, 2024, Trackhouse announced a multi-year deal with Connor Zilisch that includes competition in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, ARCA Menards Series, CARS Tour, Trans-Am Series, and IMSA in 2024 and 2025.
On August 24, 2024, Trackhouse announced it had secured a third charter from Stewart-Haas Racing, which was shutting down following the 2024 season, with Shane van Gisbergen driving the No. 88 entry in 2025. In MotoGP, Trackhouse operates as a satellite team of Aprilia, with Davide Brivio, one of the most successful MotoGP team managers, joining as team principal for its inaugural 2024 season. Trackhouse made its IMSA SportsCar Championship debut at the 2025 24 Hours of Daytona with a Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R in the GTD Pro class.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
Trackhouse Racing’s core identity centers on unconventional thinking, international talent development, and cross-discipline racing. The team’s Project91 entry, established in 2022, was created specifically to put international drivers behind the wheel in the Cup Series, and the philosophy of integrating global talent has carried into its MotoGP and IMSA programs. The team’s commitment to STEM education and its willingness to invest in developmental drivers such as Connor Zilisch reflect a long-term approach to competitiveness.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
Major milestones include Ross Chastain’s first Cup win for the team at COTA in 2022, the “Hail Melon” Martinsville move, Daniel Suárez’s Sonoma victory, Shane van Gisbergen’s debut Cup win at the Chicago Street Course in 2023, the entry into MotoGP in 2024, and the IMSA debut at the 2025 24 Hours of Daytona. On September 17, 2024, it was reported that Ty Norris had left the team, while on February 14, 2025, Pitbull announced that his partnership and ownership status with the organization had been terminated effective immediately.
Trackhouse Racing Achievements and Results
Trackhouse Racing’s verified accomplishments include 14 NASCAR Cup Series victories, a NASCAR Cup Series pole position count of six, and competition across 180 Cup Series races, 42 MotoGP races, and 1 IMSA race. The team has yet to record a Drivers’ Championship in any of the series in which it competes.
NASCAR Cup Series Achievements
Trackhouse’s first Cup Series win came at COTA in 2022 with Ross Chastain, followed shortly by a second win at Talladega. Daniel Suárez added Sonoma as a landmark win later that season, and the team has steadily added victories through 2023, 2024, and 2025, with drivers such as Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen contributing to the total. The team’s Cup operation has become a regular playoff presence, with Chastain’s run to the Championship 4 in 2022 standing as a high point.
Conference Achievements
While Trackhouse competes in a national NASCAR Cup Series format rather than a traditional conference structure, the team’s results have included strong playoff showings. Ross Chastain’s advancement to the Championship 4 in 2022 and his third-place finish at the Phoenix finale that year represent the team’s deepest postseason run to date.
Divisional Achievements
Trackhouse Racing’s results reflect consistent competitiveness within the Cup Series standings. Daniel Suárez’s career-best tenth-place finish in 2022 and Ross Chastain’s runner-up result that same year stand as the team’s strongest divisional-level outcomes, with regular playoff qualification cementing the team’s standing among established Cup Series operations.
Series Achievements
Beyond NASCAR, Trackhouse Racing took over RNF Racing’s entry slot in MotoGP in 2023, beginning competition in 2024 as a satellite team of Aprilia. The organization has also entered the IMSA SportsCar Championship, debuting at the 2025 24 Hours of Daytona with a Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R in the GTD Pro class, finishing ninth. On January 9, 2023, a consortium consisting of Trackhouse, DEJ Management, Jeff Burton Autosports, Inc., and Kevin Harvick Incorporated purchased the CARS Tour, further expanding the team’s series footprint.