Trackhouse Racing

After Leavine Family Racing announced the sale of its assets in summer 2020, former NASCAR Cup Series driver and former World of Outlaws and K&N Pro Series East team owner Justin Marks placed a bid on the sale. LFR eventually sold their assets to Spire Motorsports.^[3] On August 14, 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 team.^[4] At that time, Marks had yet to strike a formal alliance with any manufacturer or team, but already had one potential sponsor lined up.^[5] He had also yet to purchase any equipment.^[6] From his ownership of a go-kart track and other family business ventures, Marks had the financial wherewithal to purchase a team without other means.^[3] Marks aimed to be an unconventional team owner, with plans to use his team ownership platform as an advocate for STEM education.^[7] On January 15, 2021, it was announced that Armando Christian Pérez, better known by his stage name Pitbull, had assumed an ownership role in the team.^[8] On May 30, motivational speaker and philanthropist Tony Robbins hinted at investing in the team.^[9] On June 10, Marks told Sirius XM NASCAR Radio that the team may expand to a two-car operation in 2022.^[10] On June 30, 2021, Trackhouse announced their purchase of the NASCAR operations of Chip Ganassi Racing and along with it, its two charters for the No. 1 and the No. 42 teams, therefore announcing the team will be two cars in 2022.

On January 9, 2023, a consortium consisting of Trackhouse, DEJ Management, Jeff Burton Autosports, Inc., and Kevin Harvick Incorporated purchased the CARS Tour.^[11][12]

On September 16, Trackhouse signed a multi-year deal with 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Zane Smith. As part of a partnership deal, Smith will drive Spire Motorsports' third team in 2024, and is expected to join Trackhouse full-time in a third team in 2025.^[13]

On January 11, 2024, Trackhouse announced that they would be hiring Connor Zilisch to a multi-year deal that includes him running in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, ARCA Menards Series, CARS Tour, Trans-Am Series, and IMSA in 2024 and 2025.^[14] On July 17, Avenue Sports Fund acquired a minority stake in Trackhouse Entertainment Group.^[15] On September 17, it was reported that Norris left the team and was headed to Kaulig Racing.^[16]

 

On August 3, 2021, the team announced that Ross Chastain would drive their second car, the No. 1, in 2022.^[17][18] Chastain began the 2022 season with a 40th place finish at the 2022 Daytona 500 and a 29th place finish at Fontana. He then rebounded with a third place finish at Las Vegas and two runner-up finishes at Phoenix and Atlanta. Chastain scored his first career cup win and Trackhouse's first ever win at COTA.^[19] A month later, he claimed his second victory at Talladega.^[20] At the 2022 NASCAR All-Star Race, Chastain finished 22nd after going airborne from colliding with Kyle Busch, taking Chase Elliott out in the process.^[21] At the Indianapolis road course, Chastain crossed the line second to Tyler Reddick, but was penalized and scored 27th place for crossing the access road during the final restart.^[22] Chastain made the Championship 4 after the "Hail Melon" move at Martinsville by driving along the outside wall at full throttle, slingshotting his way to overtake Denny Hamlin and finish fifth (Chastain would be credited a finish of fourth after Brad Keselowski was disqualified following post-race tech inspection due to his car failing to meet the minimum weight requirement).^[23] He finished third at the Phoenix finale and a career-best second place in the points standings.^[24]

Chastain started the 2023 season with a ninth-place finish at the 2023 Daytona 500. Shortly after finishing fifth at Kansas, Noah Gragson confronted him over a racing incident between them that resulted in Gragson hitting the outside wall. Gragson shoved Chastain, who retaliated with a punch to the face.^[25] Chastain scored his first win of the season at Nashville.^[26] On July 11, Anheuser-Busch announced it signed a multi-year sponsorship deal with the No. 1 starting in 2024, ending its ten-year partnership with the Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 at the end of the season.^[27] Chastain was eliminated from the Round of 12 at the conclusion of the Charlotte Roval race,^[28] but won the season finale at Phoenix and finished ninth in the points standings.^[29]

Chastain started the 2024 season with a 21st place finish at the 2024 Daytona 500. He was winless during the regular season and missed the playoffs after lower-ranked Harrison Burton and Chase Briscoe won races. Nevertheless, Chastain won during the Round of 12 at Kansas.^[30] Following the Martinsville playoff race, the No. 1 was docked 50 owner and driver points and Chastain and the team were each fined US$100,000 for race manipulation, when Chastain and fellow Chevrolet driver Austin Dillon formed a blockade to allow William Byron to make the Championship 4. In addition, Surgen was suspended for the Phoenix finale.^[31]

On August 24, 2024, Trackhouse announced that they had secured a third charter from Stewart–Haas Racing and Shane van Gisbergen would be driving the No. 88 entry for 2025.^[32][33]

 

On May 24, 2022, Trackhouse announced the creation of Project91, a part-time entry that aims to put international drivers behind the wheel in the Cup Series. The team was due to compete in at least one race during the 2022 season, with the driver and the race to be announced, before adding additional races in the 2023 season.^[34] Two days later, it was announced that 2007 Formula 1 World Champion Kimi Räikkönen would be driving the No. 91 car at Watkins Glen.^[35] Räikkönen finished 37th after crashing on the tire barrier past the bus-stop chicane on lap 45.^[36] In 2023, Räikkönen returned to the No. 91 at COTA, where he finished 29th.^[37]

On May 18, 2023, the team announced New Zealand driver Shane van Gisbergen would make his NASCAR debut at the inaugural Grant Park 220 at the Chicago Street Course.^[38] After qualifying in third place, van Gisbergen won the race, becoming the first driver in the modern era of NASCAR, and the first driver in 60 years, to win his debut race.^[39] On July 19, 2023, Trackhouse Racing announced van Gisbergen would make his second start of the 2023 season at the Indianapolis Road Course.^[40]

 

On October 7, 2020, the team announced a full-time drive in 2021 with Daniel Suárez as driver.^[41] Later, the team announced that it leased a charter from Spire Motorsports to guarantee itself an entry into every 2021 race.^[42] Trackhouse aligned with Richard Childress Racing as an engine provider for 2021 as well as operating on RCR's campus in Welcome, North Carolina.^[1] Marks chose the 99 as the team number to pay tribute to Carl Edwards who had used the number for most of his cup series career as he mostly raced for Roush-Fenway Racing.^[1] On November 13, former JR Motorsports crew chief Travis Mack was announced as the No. 99's crew chief.^[43] Suárez scored the team's first top-five with a fourth-place finish at the Bristol dirt race.^[44] With a total of four top-10 finishes, Suárez finished the 2021 season 25th in points.

In February 2022, Trackhouse announced that Freeway Insurance would be a primary sponsor for Suárez and the No. 99 car for five events during the 2022 season.^[45] Suárez began the 2022 season with an 18th place finish at the 2022 Daytona 500. He followed it up with a fourth place finish at Fontana. In addition, Suárez finished ninth at Phoenix and fourth at Atlanta. On May 22, Suárez won the NASCAR Open for the second time in his career, which earned him a place in the All-Star Race where he finished fifth. At Sonoma, he became the first Mexican-born driver to win a Cup Series race.^[46] Suárez was eliminated in the Round of 12 after finishing 36th at the Charlotte Roval.^[47] Suárez would finish career-best tenth in the points standings.

Suárez started the 2023 season with a seventh-place finish at the 2023 Daytona 500. On March 29, he was fined US$50,000 for intentionally bumping Alex Bowman on pit road following the conclusion of the COTA race.^[48] With no wins, three top-fives, and 10 top-10 finishes, Suárez missed the playoffs and finished 19th in the points standings.

Suárez started the 2024 season with a 34th place DNF at the 2024 Daytona 500. A week later, he beat Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch in a three-wide photo finish at Atlanta to score his second career Cup Series win.^[49]

In 2024, Trackhouse began signing developmental contracts with drivers. Below is a list of current drivers signed to the team, but are not driving with Trackhouse.

• Zane Smith – Signed in 2024, to a Cup Series contract and drove for Spire Motorsports.^[50] On August 23, Smith parted ways with Trackhouse.^[51]
• Shane van Gisbergen – Signed in 2024 to compete in the Cup Series and Xfinity Series with Kaulig Racing, the Craftsman Truck Series, ARCA Menards Series with Pinnacle Racing Group, and select late model races.^[52]
• Connor Zilisch – Signed on a multi-year deal to a contract in 2024 that would see him run races in the Xfinity Series with JR Motorsports, Craftsman Truck Series with Spire Motorsports, ARCA Menards Series, CARS Tour, Global MX-5 Cup with BSI Racing, and IMSA SportsCar Championship with Era Motorsport.^[53]

Trackhouse Entertainment Group announced on December 5, 2023, that it would take over RNF Racing's entry spot in the MotoGP class of Grand Prix motorcycle racing, after RNF breached participation agreements.^[54][2] The team competes under the name Trackhouse Racing, competing as an Aprilia independent team. Davide Brivio, one of the most successful MotoGP team managers with Yamaha and Suzuki, joined the project as team principal for its inaugural season.^[55]

Year	Class	Team name	Bike	Riders	Races	Wins	Podiums	Poles	F. laps	Points	Pos.
2024	MotoGP	Trackhouse Racing	Aprilia RS-GP	Raúl Fernández	20	0	0	0	0	66	16th
				Lorenzo Savadori	4	0	0	0	0	0	28th
				Miguel Oliveira	15	0	0	0	0	75	15th

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Season	Team	Bike	Tyre	No.	Rider	Race																				RC	Pts	TC	Pts	MC	Pts
						1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
2024	Trackhouse Racing	Aprilia RS-GP	M	25	Raúl Fernández	QAT Ret	POR Ret	AME 10	SPA 11	FRA 119	CAT 6	ITA 12	NED 8	GER 10	GBR Ret	AUT Ret	ARA 16	RSM 18	EMI 13	INA 10	JPN 15	AUS 106	THA Ret	MAL 16	SLD 18	16th	66	9th	141	3rd	302
				32	Lorenzo Savadori	QAT	POR	AME	SPA	FRA	CAT	ITA	NED	GER	GBR	AUT	ARA	RSM	EMI	INA	JPN Ret	AUS Ret	THA Ret	MAL 18	SLD	28th	0
				88	Miguel Oliveira	QAT 15	POR 9	AME 11	SPA 88	FRA Ret	CAT 10	ITA 14	NED 15	GER 62	GBR Ret	AUT 12	ARA Ret5	RSM 11	EMI 10	INA DNS	JPN	AUS	THA	MAL	SLD 12	15th	75

^* Season still in progress.

• Official website
• Trackhouse Racing owner statistics at Racing-Reference
• Official website for MotoGP team