Trackhouse Racing Overview
Trackhouse Racing is an American motorsports organization established in 2020, competing full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series and MotoGP, with additional part-time participation in the IMSA SportsCar Championship. The team is based in Concord, North Carolina, and is owned by Trackhouse Entertainment Group, a venture of founder Justin Marks and the Avenue Sports Fund. Fielding Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 cars in NASCAR and operating as a satellite team of Aprilia in MotoGP, Trackhouse Racing has quickly become a competitive presence in American and international motorsports. Known for its innovative approach, international driver development, and commitment to STEM education, the team is led by principal Justin Marks and has expanded across multiple racing disciplines in just a few years.
Founding and Organizational Origins
Trackhouse Racing was created in 2020 by Justin Marks, a former NASCAR Cup Series driver and former World of Outlaws and K&N Pro Series East team owner. After the Leavine Family Racing assets were put up for sale that summer, Marks initially placed a bid on the team, although LFR eventually sold to Spire Motorsports. Drawing on personal resources from his ownership of a go-kart track and other family business ventures, Marks secured the funding to launch his own operation. On August 14, 2020, he confirmed the creation of Trackhouse and announced that former Dale Earnhardt Incorporated executive Ty Norris had been brought on to help run the new team.
At its founding, Trackhouse had not yet struck a formal alliance with any manufacturer or team, but Marks had already lined up one potential sponsor. He also set out to be an unconventional team owner, intending to use the team ownership platform as an advocate for STEM education. The team’s first headquarters was located on the Richard Childress Racing campus in Welcome, North Carolina, while the modern operations are based in Concord, North Carolina. The organization’s structure under the parent company Trackhouse Entertainment Group allowed it to expand quickly into new racing series and strategic partnerships.
Growth Into NASCAR Cup Series Competition
Trackhouse made its NASCAR Cup Series debut at the 2021 Daytona 500 with Daniel Suárez behind the wheel of the No. 99 car. The team leased a charter from Spire Motorsports to guarantee a starting spot in every 2021 race and aligned with Richard Childress Racing as its engine provider. Marks chose the No. 99 to pay tribute to Carl Edwards, who had used the number for most of his Cup Series career. Former JR Motorsports crew chief Travis Mack was announced as the No. 99’s crew chief in November 2020.
On June 30, 2021, Trackhouse announced the purchase of Chip Ganassi Racing’s NASCAR operations, including the charters for the No. 1 and No. 42 teams, expanding the operation to two full-time cars in 2022. Ross Chastain was announced as the driver of the No. 1 on August 3, 2021. The team later signed a multi-year deal with 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Zane Smith, who was expected to drive a third entry in 2025, although he was ultimately released from his contract. On January 11, 2024, Trackhouse announced a multi-year developmental deal with Connor Zilisch covering the NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, ARCA Menards Series, CARS Tour, Trans-Am Series, and IMSA in 2024 and 2025.
Trackhouse Racing Competitive Journey
Trackhouse has rapidly grown from a single-car NASCAR operation in 2021 into a multi-series international racing organization. In NASCAR, the team has expanded from the No. 99 to three full-time Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 cars, including the No. 1, No. 88, and No. 97. The organization also operates a part-time No. 91 entry under the Project91 banner, designed to place international drivers in Cup Series races. Beyond stock cars, Trackhouse expanded into MotoGP in 2024 and debuted in IMSA in 2025, signaling a long-term vision of multi-discipline racing under one corporate umbrella.
Early Seasons and Development (2020–2021)
Trackhouse’s first competitive season in 2021 was a learning year for the new organization. Suárez scored the team’s first top-five with a fourth-place finish at the Bristol dirt race and recorded a total of four top-ten finishes across the year. The team finished 25th in the owners’ points standings, building the foundation for future growth.
During this period, the team secured key sponsorship commitments and finalized its operational structure with Richard Childress Racing as its engine partner. Marks continued to recruit experienced personnel from across the industry, building a foundation of talent that would later expand to multiple cars and series.
Breakthrough in NASCAR Cup Series (2022–2024)
The 2022 season marked Trackhouse’s first major breakthrough in the NASCAR Cup Series. Ross Chastain scored the organization’s first victory at the Circuit of the Americas and added a second win at Talladega later that spring. Chastain’s aggressive driving style produced one of the most memorable moments in recent NASCAR history with the "Hail Melon" move at Martinsville, where he drove along the outside wall at full throttle to overtake Denny Hamlin, securing a spot in the Championship 4 and finishing a career-best second in the final points standings. Daniel Suárez added to the team’s success at Sonoma, becoming the first Mexican-born driver to win a Cup Series race, and finished a career-best tenth in the points standings.
In 2023, Trackhouse continued to compete at the front of the field. Chastain won at Nashville and closed the season with a victory at Phoenix, finishing ninth in the standings. Suárez missed the playoffs but remained a consistent presence in the top twenty. The team also launched Project91 in 2022, designed to bring international drivers into the Cup Series. Kimi Räikkönen piloted the No. 91 at Watkins Glen in 2022 and returned to the car at COTA in 2023. On May 18, 2023, Trackhouse 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 the race and became the first driver in the modern era of NASCAR to win his debut event.
The 2024 season brought further growth. Suárez earned his second career Cup Series victory with a dramatic three-wide photo finish at Atlanta. Chastain missed the playoffs in the regular season but won during the Round of 12 at Kansas. On August 24, 2024, Trackhouse announced it had secured a third charter from Stewart–Haas Racing and signed van Gisbergen to drive the No. 88 in 2025. The team also strengthened its roster with a developmental contract for Connor Zilisch.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2025–Present)
The 2025 season represented Trackhouse’s most ambitious multi-series year. On December 5, 2023, Trackhouse Entertainment Group announced it would take over RNF Racing’s entry spot in MotoGP, after RNF breached participation agreements, and the team debuted in MotoGP at the 2024 Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar as a satellite team of Aprilia. Davide Brivio, one of the most successful MotoGP team managers with Yamaha and Suzuki, joined as team principal for the inaugural MotoGP season. On September 17, 2024, it was reported that Ty Norris had left the team to join Kaulig Racing. On January 6, 2025, the team announced that Brazilian IndyCar driver Hélio Castroneves would drive the No. 91 in the 2025 Daytona 500 under NASCAR’s "Open Exemption Provisional" rule, guaranteeing a starting position.
On January 23, 2025, it was announced that Connor Zilisch would make his Cup Series debut at Austin in the No. 87, with additional starts scheduled through his sponsor Red Bull. Zilisch won the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Watkins Glen that weekend, only for the team to withdraw the No. 87 from the Cup race after he suffered a broken collarbone in a fall while celebrating. On July 1, 2025, it was announced that Suárez and Trackhouse had mutually agreed to part ways after the 2025 season. On November 7, 2025, Connor Zilisch was announced as the new full-time driver of the No. 88, while Shane van Gisbergen was reunited with his signature No. 97 for 2026. In IMSA, Trackhouse made its debut at the 2025 24 Hours of Daytona with a Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R in the GTD Pro class, finishing ninth.
Internationally, Trackhouse continued to expand its MotoGP presence. On June 5, 2026, SuperFile was announced as the team’s title sponsor for the remainder of the MotoGP season. On February 14, 2025, rapper Armando Christian "Pitbull" Pérez, a former partial owner, announced on X that his partnership and ownership status with the organization had been terminated effective immediately. On June 3, 2026, it was announced that former Formula 1 and current FIA World Endurance Championship driver Kevin Magnussen would drive the No. 91 in the inaugural race at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
Trackhouse Racing has positioned itself as an unconventional, internationally focused team. The organization emphasizes driver development across multiple series, embraces international racing talent from Supercars, IndyCar, and Formula 1, and pairs its NASCAR and MotoGP programs under a single entertainment-driven brand. Through Project91, the team regularly introduces world-class drivers to the Cup Series, while its STEM education advocacy and modern branding reflect founder Justin Marks’s vision of using motorsports as a broader cultural platform.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
Key moments in Trackhouse’s history include Ross Chastain’s first Cup Series win at the Circuit of the Americas in 2022, the famous "Hail Melon" move at Martinsville that same year, Daniel Suárez’s historic win at Sonoma as the first Mexican-born Cup Series winner, and Shane van Gisbergen’s debut victory at the Chicago Street Course in 2023. The acquisition of Chip Ganassi Racing’s NASCAR operations, the purchase of a third charter from Stewart–Haas Racing, the launch of Project91, the entry into MotoGP as an Aprilia satellite team, and the IMSA debut at Daytona round out a list of defining organizational milestones.
Trackhouse Racing Achievements and Results
Trackhouse Racing has compiled 15 NASCAR Cup Series victories, one MotoGP win, and one IMSA pole position through its most recent competitive seasons. The team has yet to win a Drivers’ Championship, but its rapid growth across multiple international series places it among the most successful expansion teams in recent motorsports history.
NASCAR Cup Series Achievements
In the NASCAR Cup Series, Trackhouse has recorded 15 wins and eight pole positions across 198 races. The team’s first victory came at the Circuit of the Americas in 2022 with Ross Chastain. Major highlights include Chastain’s back-to-back 2022 wins at COTA and Talladega, his Martinsville "Hail Melon" moment, Daniel Suárez’s Sonoma victory in 2022, Suárez’s Atlanta win in 2024, Chastain’s victories at Nashville and Phoenix in 2023, Chastain’s Kansas win in 2024, Chastain’s 2025 Coca-Cola 600 victory, and Shane van Gisbergen’s three road course wins in 2025, including the Charlotte Roval where he earned a fifth consecutive road course victory.
Conference Achievements
Trackhouse’s conference-level results have been strongest in the West and road course-heavy segments of the NASCAR schedule. The team’s success at COTA, Sonoma, the Chicago Street Course, the Charlotte Roval, Watkins Glen, and the Indianapolis Road Course reflects a clear competitive edge on natural road and street circuits, where international road racing talent and precision driving thrive.
Divisional Achievements
Across the Cup Series divisions and manufacturer standings, Trackhouse has been a consistent front-running Chevrolet operation since 2022. The team has regularly placed both the No. 1 and No. 99 cars inside the playoff field and has produced multiple drivers capable of contending for race wins on any given weekend, signaling long-term strength within the General Motors camp.
Series Achievements
Beyond NASCAR, Trackhouse made its MotoGP debut at the 2024 Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar as a satellite team of Aprilia and has competed in 51 MotoGP races with one victory. The organization also fields developmental efforts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, ARCA Menards Series, CARS Tour, Trans-Am Series, and IMSA, where it debuted at the 2025 24 Hours of Daytona in the GTD Pro class with a Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, qualifying on pole and 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, expanding the team’s footprint into touring series management.
