Justin Marks opens up about the “flip side” of Trackhouse Racing’s “most difficult year”

Trackhouse Racing team owner, Justin Marks shared a candid assessment of the three-car outfit's 2025 season. He admitted that the team lacked pace, but praised Shane van Gisbergen for making it the winningest season in team history.

Trackhouse Racing has been a mixed bag this year. While SVG won five races in all, his poor form in the ovals continued, despite a slight bump in performance in the final few races. Nonetheless, his road course prowess earned him the Rookie of the Year honours.

Ross Chastain, on the other hand, only led 82 laps this year compared to more than 300 a season ago. His crown jewel win at Charlotte marks one of the few bright spots this season, as he finished in the top-10 standings.

Daniel Suarez's No.99 team recorded an average finish of 25.9, the lowest among the trio. The Mexican driver lost his seat midway through the season, but has found a replacement in Spire Motorsports.

NASCAR reporter Adam Stern shared an excerpt of Marks' recent quote that read:

"Probably as a whole, it’s been the most difficult year that we’ve had, just general speed and performance. But on the flip side of that, we won more races this year than we ever have as a business, big thanks to what Shane has done on road courses this year."

Trackhouse Racing will expreience new blood next season with the highly regard Connor Zilisch. The team recently announced that he'll reprise the No.88 he ran in the Xfinity Series, while van Gisbergen will vacate the number and helm the No.97 instead.

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Trackhouse Racing team owner highlights Connor Zilisch's potential

Justin Marks recently prasied Trackhouse Racing's latest addition, Connor Zilisch. The team owner believes the young prodigy will go a long way in the sport.

“The talent that is on its way up is as good as it’s ever been, and he’s just a true outlier. The way he’s been able to attack his rookie season, win at tracks he’s never been to before, but it’s also the stuff you can’t really see on TV. It’s his attitude, it’s his intelligence, how he approaches it and all that, his confidence, he will not be intimidated,” he said via Sports Business Journal. “I think he’s got all of the ingredients and tools necessary to be a huge star in this sport," he added.

Connor Zilisch fell short of the Xfinity Series title despite winning ten races this year. He was overcome by a rapid Jesse Love, who entered the finale with a single win to his name.

Zilisch ultimately finished second with 20 top-5s, eight poles, more than a 1000 laps led, and an average finish of 8. Notably, the 19-year-old came back from two serious injuries to deliver his record-setting season.

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Edited by Vignesh Kanna