Trackhouse Racing needed that breakthrough win. Justin Marks’ team has won nine Cup Series races since 2021, but none of them have been as significant as Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600. The odds were stacked against them, especially after Ross Chastain crashed in practice and began the crown jewel event in 40th place. At a time when NASCAR’s highest level is largely being dominated by Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, and Team Penske, the triumph meant the world to the little guys.
It wasn’t just about Chastain’s win either, but Shane van Gisbergen’s dramatic resurgence. Has Trackhouse finally turned a corner after years of hard work? Denny Hamlin certainly seems to think so, if his recent comments on the Actions Detrimental podcast is anything to go by.
Denny Hamlin gives credit where it’s due
Trackhouse Racing’s ambition is unquestionable. The team has three full-time drivers in the Cup Series, Ross Chastain, Daniel Suárez, and Shane van Gisbergen, while developmental driver Connor Zilisch, who is widely considered a ‘generational talent’, also got a start at the Coca-Cola 600. While the 18-year-old finished 23rd at ‘America’s Home for Racing’, Shane van Gisbergen ended up 14th, and Chastain went from rock-bottom to first at the Coke 600.
Impressed by Trackhouse Racing’s improvement, Denny Hamlin issued a warning sign to others ahead of the race in Nashville. Sharing his thoughts on the Actions Detrimental podcast, the veteran said, “We need to give credit to Trackhouse this weekend. We’ve been pretty hard on them, their lack of speed, lack of everything to start the year. But they absolutely showed up.” Hamlin went on to say, “It wasn’t just him (Chastain), it was Shane as well. Shane has run 30th in most races and he got a great finish in 14th.”
Starting in 30th place, Shane van Gisbergen also had his work cut out for him at Charlotte Motor Speedway. While the Kiwi has cemented his reputation as a proficient road course racer, being able to climb the grid on a quad-oval track as the laps ticked on to finish 14th highlights just how well the No. 88 Chevy performed. The same can be said about Ross Chastain, with Hamlin even saying, “They had the real speed” at the intermediate track.
NASCAR, Motorsport, USA South Point 400-Cup Practice & Qualifying Oct 19, 2024 Las Vegas, Nevada, USA NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin 11 during qualifying for the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Las Vegas Las Vegas Motor Speedway Nevada USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xGaryxA.xVasquezx 20241019_gav_sv5_038
Going from 40th to 1st is no easy feat. Richard Petty was the last driver who replicated such a run, which was back in 1971 at Richmond Raceway. Denny Hamlin is keen to see if similar speed can be replicated at Nashville Superspeedway next week, even though the track is not as fast and the race length is considerably shorter. But the veteran said, “You could say, is it just a Charlotte thing or a car speed thing that they found? We’ll know that this weekend.”
Justin Marks hails Next-Gen cars for closing the gap
It was never going to be easy. When Trackhouse Racing entered the Cup Series scene in 2020, the team had clear ambitions already set in stone. Competing against NASCAR’s heavyweights was always going to be an uphill task, but one that Justin Marks and Pitbull were willing to meet head-on, investing considerable money and resources to make the team a force to be reckoned with. Five years have passed since then, and while the progress has been anything but linear, the team has made great strides on the track.
With the Next-Gen cars using single-source suppliers, smaller teams are finding it easier to compete against Joe Gibbs Racing, Team Penske, and Hendrick Motorsports. Giving credit where it’s due, Justin Marks said, “I would not have started Trackhouse and raced in the Cup Series if they didn’t go to this race car because that provides an opportunity to close the gap.”
However, despite the evident boost in speed, as seen at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the team owner isn’t resting on his laurels just yet. Highlighting where there is room for improvement, the team owner said, “We’re looking at things like developing a more robust aero department, looking at the way we structure our engineering, looking at those things to make sure we get back on the development curve with those three.”
NASCAR has always been a sport defined by fine margins, and making gains on the track requires consistent research and innovation. Trackhouse Racing is leaving no stone unturned in that regard, and their consistent efforts are finally paying off with on-track results. Could Chastain potentially break Team Penske’s dominance and lift the Bill France Cup later this year? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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