KENTUCKIANA MOTORSPORTS PRESENTED BY LUCAS OIL
Nearly a decade ago Justin Marks got his first NASCAR Cup start on the road course in Sonoma. Over the years he's raced in ARCA, the Rolex Sports Car Series, and both the NASCAR Trucks and Xfinity Series. During this time he became part owner of GoPro Motorplex, a go kart track just outside of RACE CITY USA (Mooresville, NC). The veteran driver never became a household name as a racer. But the tough competitor wasted no time using his business success in carting to get involved as a car owner. In 2015, he did just that as a K & N Pro Series team owner, and he did the same in the World of Outlaws. Marks was just getting started.
In 2020, Justin Marks stepped up to the NASCAR Cup Series with Trackhouse Racing, and placed his first car in competition the following year. In the summer of 2021 Marks made his boldest move yet: He bought the entire NASCAR operation owned by the legendary, Chip Ganassi. Marks announced that Armando Christian Pérez, also known worldwide as Pitbull, would be a part-owner of the team. Like Marks, the American singer and songwriter is a smart businessman and no doubt saw the value of getting involved in the best professional stock car racing series in the world. At this time, Marks wasted no time. He clearly announced, mediocracy was not in his vocabulary.
Early in the 2022 season, both Trackhouse Racing drivers Ross Chastain (#1) Daniel Suárez (#99) have raced hard, just like their boss. No one expected early wins especially with the new generation NASCAR Cup car. Still, both drivers have put in the hours, and the effort. Mark's fighting spirit paid off on Sunday March 27. All day long, Ross Chastain stayed near the front at the huge Circuit of the America's Road Course in Texas. On the last lap in overtime, Chastain and a friend (And former teammate), A. J. Allmendinger, battled, banged, and beat up on each other. Some fans claimed Chastain was too bold, and too aggressive. Not Marks. Not Pitbull. Not Chastain. Finally, after 121 Cup starts, Chastain won his first NASCAR Cup Race! It was his sixth start for Trackhouse Racing. And it happened two days after Justin Marks celebrated his 41st birthday. The team is now playoff bound. Don't be surprised if Chastain's teammate, Daniel Suarez doesn't take the checkered flag, or make the playoffs this year. If Marks has his way, it will happen.
Locally, racing has cranked up at the Sportsdrome Speedway. Weather moved the schedule to Sunday (From Saturday), but Mike Gibson and the small flat short track are off and running in 2022! This Saturday and Sunday, the Salem Speedway (About 45 minutes from downtown Louisville and the bridges) has scheduled its opening with a special Spring Fling! On April 10th, Twin Cities Raceway is set to open its season at the track in North Vernon, Indiana, about an hour north of Louisville off Interstate 65. If you like tough small track racing be sure to visit the 'Bull Ring" in Junction City, Kentucky. Ponderosa Speedway opens its 2022 season with a fierce Friday night schedule, April 15th. Other tracks to watch, that have already opened, include the Ohio Valley Raceway (Drag racing), and in Bowling Green, Kentucky, the Beech Bend Raceway.
We appreciate out sponsors and encourage you to support them: Lucas Oil, PNC Bank, Sportsdrome Speedway (Celebrating 75 years of Racing!) locally owned Bright Pest Control and Bright Retail in Louisville, (Offering Do-It-Yourself Professional Pest Products with a retail store), and Knox Ford in Radcliff (KY). KMS supporters also include: VoiceTel Kentucky (Offering telephone service for $30.00 a line, and that includes all taxes and fees), Temco Roofing, Andriots Paint, Flooring, & Blinds, ICA Dumpsters, Kentucky Raceway Ministries, St. Matthews Cycling, Nimlok Kentucky, Dynamic Healthcare, and Lyndon Mower Repair. We also thank our media friends in all series, especially NASCAR and with NASCAR Media for helping us bring the sport to fans in our area!
For more, see the Kentuckianamotorsports.com Home Page!
