Trackhouse Racing Stealthy Expansion: Trackhouse Racing’s founder, Justin Marks, secretly hoped to add three more racing cars by 2024. Shane van Gisbergen, the Chicago Street Course victor, inked a development pact with the team, revealing this long-standing plan. The key goal? To increase Project 91’s events and collaborate with other racing powerhouses to give van Gisbergen an oval racing experience.
A new star has emerged as Trackhouse’s narrative continues. Famous driver Zane Smith has driven for Ford for two years. A third automobile will be his in 2024. Smith will race in the NASCAR Cup Series for Spire Motorsports, which bought a charter from Live Fast Motorsports for $40 million. Trackhouse Racing will send professionals to Spire to work with Smith. This will benefit both sides.
Trackhouse Racing’s long-term growth plan begins with Zane Smith’s signing. Additionally, Spire Motorsports has established itself as a formidable competitor. Mark considers this dynamic group a “challenger team.”
Marks recently spoke at Bristol about the necessity of expansion. He remarked, “Expansion has been important to us since we started racing because we wanted to be the most competitive organization.” He has several growth plans, including their alliance with Spire. This alliance will transform into three full-time racecars in 2025 and beyond.
Spire currently runs two Cup Series cars, and their top driver, Corey LaJoie, has a multi-year contract. Carson Hocevar, a Craftsman Truck Series standout, is the favorite to succeed Ty Dillon as Spire’s No. 77 driver in 2024.
During a significant news announcement, Bill Anthony, President of Spire Motorsports, discussed their relationship and desire to promote the sport. Anthony’s optimistic statements demonstrate their belief in NASCAR’s future and their involvement in molding it. He praises Trackhouse’s rapid rise in a competitive field.
For 2024, Craftsman Truck Series winner Zane Smith had many options. Front Row Motorsports‘ Truck Series driver was likely to leave soon. Michael McDowell and Todd Gilliland, team drivers, had inked contracts for next year. After learning this, Smith went for better pastures.
Smith recalls a crucial conversation from a year ago in an emotional news conference. A close friend asked him about his racing objectives. He immediately promised Trackhouse his support. That pledge became a transaction a year later, fulfilling his lifetime dream. He vows he will leave no stone left to win. Smart Justin Marks gave him this chance.
Smith has six 2023 Cup starts under Front Row Motorsports. His best finish was 10th in the challenging Coca-Cola 600, indicating his motorsports success. Smith will skip the Xfinity Series, where he made 12 starts, and go straight to the Cup Series, where he aims to win Rookie of the Year. He has two Truck Series wins and set records. He’s fifth in the playoffs.
Live Fast Motorsports co-owners BJ McLeod and Matt Tifft changed their strategy after the license sale. Tifft made the 2022 Forbes 30 Under 30. The revised plan is to field a part-time open car in 2024. This contradicts their full-time promise.
In 2025, Spire may sell or hold their third charter. Trackhouse Racing will need to find a third charter if Spire stays. Spire may partner with Michael Andretti’s Andretti Autosport in a promising partnership. Strong contender Andretti Autosport is considering joining NASCAR in addition to the NTT IndyCar Series.
Andretti fan Gainbridge struck a multi-year partnership with Spire, and the ink is drying. This partnership includes 16 of the last 18 Cup races, and Marco Andretti’s Truck Series win at Mid-Ohio earlier this year.
Zane Smith is eager and realistic about his debut Cup Series season. In his first season, he will adjust and prepare for his full-time Trackhouse Racing career in 2025. Everyone in motorsports is eagerly awaiting a new star.
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Our Reader’s Queries
Who will drive for Trackhouse Racing in 2024?
Trackhouse Racing has announced that crew chief Matt Swiderski will be joining their team for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season. Swiderski will be taking charge of the No. 99 car with driver Daniel Suárez. In a crew-chief swap, Mack will be moving to Kaulig Racing. This move is expected to bring a fresh perspective to both teams and help them achieve their goals. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for these talented crews.
What is Project 91 at Trackhouse Racing?
In May 2022, Justin Marks, co-owner of Trackhouse Racing, unveiled Project 91. The initiative aims to broaden the team’s global presence by entering the No. 91 Chevrolet in the Cup Series for international racers on a part-time basis.
What team is Trackhouse Racing affiliated with?
In 2020, Marks established Trackhouse as a single-car team with Daniel Suarez as the driver. However, in 2021, the team received a significant boost after Pitbull’s support and the acquisition of Chip Ganassi Racing’s assets. As a result, Ross Chastain was added to the team’s roster.
Where will Zane Smith race in 2024?
Despite signing a long-term contract with Trackhouse Racing in the 2023 NASCAR season, Zane Smith’s driving future with the team remains uncertain. As a rookie, Smith will be taking the wheel of the No. 71 Cup car for Spire Motorsports in 2024, alongside fellow newcomers Carson Hocevar and Corey LaJoie.
