Justin Marks is liking the narrative surrounding Trackhouse Racing after the NASCAR Cup Series weekend at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway.
The team owner has spent the last several weeks under a microscope as he’s dealt with fallout regarding the controversial racing style exhibited by Ross Chastain, who pilots Trackhouse’s No. 1 Chevrolet.
“The conversation has been — ‘Hey, let’s not waste opportunities we have to win because winning is so hard and we need to win right now and we don’t want to be losing opportunities,’” Marks said. “I’ve not sat down with Ross (Chastain) and said, ‘Hey do this, do that, slow down.’”
But beyond the various dialogues, the team has struggled to perform on the track.
During the four-race stretch leading up to Nashville, Chastain’s best result was 10th at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway. His additional three finishes were outside the top 20.
“We’ve had a tough couple of weeks, just performance and execution-wise,” Marks said. “But us at Trackhouse, we’re huge fans of his (Chastain’s) talent — his drive, determination, passion and his possibility.”
On Sunday, the Florida native took the reins, led 99 of 300 laps at the 1.33-mile superspeedway and collected his first Cup Series victory in 42 races. As Nashville is the birthplace of Trackhouse Racing, the win was doubly sweet.
“It’s incredible, the thought that we won here. It’s mind-boggling,” Chastain said.
It was the 30-year-old’s first triumph on a true oval track. His prior two wins took place at Circuit of The Americas’ road course in Texas and Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.
“It’s an oval, a circle track. It’s lift, slide, hit the gas and brake, turn the wheel,” Chastain said. “My boys and girls on the No. 1 team have been pushing me on that. They take you serious when you win on an oval track.”
The fashion in which Chastain prevailed over Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin on Sunday night also felt like a turning point in regard to the No. 1’s on-track reputation — kind of.
“I had a shot at Martin (Truex Jr.) for a few laps. He got by me. He actually waved and gave me the peace sign when he cleared me early in stage three. OK, he’s not mad at me,” Chastain said. “They put up a fight, but they let me race them.”
The trio traded air blocks, but Truex and Hamlin allowed the race to take its natural course, with Chastain ultimately stealing the lead. He finished .867 seconds ahead of Truex at the checkered flag, with Hamlin third.
“To go up against my heroes like that, to beat (Truex Jr.) tonight, drive by him and the No. 11, was definitely a statement,” Chastain said.
Though he felt safe with his points position prior to winning in Nashville, Chastain is relieved to have punched his ticket to the playoffs. After finishing second in the Cup Series standings last season, he’s chomping at the bit for another shot at the championship.
“For us, it’s a journey to get there, but it’s ultimately all about getting into the playoffs,” Chastain said.
He’ll have the opportunity to back up his Nashville triumph on Sunday evening during the inaugural running of the Chicago Street Race, which will be the first street course race for the NASCAR Cup Series.
Trackhouse Racing will field three cars in Chicago, with Australian Supercar ace Shane van Gisbergen joining regular drivers Chastain and Daniel Suarez.
Team owner Marks will also return to the cockpit for Saturday’s Xfinity Series race through the Chicago streets.
He will pilot the No. 10 Chevrolet for Kaulig Racing — the same entry A.J. Allmendinger drove to victory last weekend in Nashville.
“I do think it will be somewhat of an asset to Trackhouse on Sunday next week because I’ll be able to do the race and communicate with these guys about how the surface changed, how the race went, things that I saw, things that I experienced,” Marks said.
Marks, who still races part-time in the Trans-Am Series, is no stranger to the Xfinity Series. Marks has made 35 career starts in the series and claimed his lone victory driving for Chip Ganassi Racing at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in 2016.
“Me walking away from what was basically kind of full-time professional racing was to do this Trackhouse project,” Marks said. “I never really had an interest in coming back to the Xfinity Series or the Cup Series to do any racing. But street racing is pretty much my favorite type of racing that there is.
“To have this opportunity to race this first one on a street course was just something I wanted to put on my résumé.”