Concord, NC (AP) – Since its inception in 2021, Truckhouse Racing has celebrated nine victories in the Cup Series.
The highlight of the week is undoubtedly the Sunday night race.
Ross Chastain made history by becoming the first driver to win a race from his official starting position, emulating Bobby Allison’s feat of passing William Byron six times 56 years ago. Capture a Coca-Cola 600 This win marks Justin’s first Crown Jewel triumph as a team owner.
In a time when major wins seemed monopolized by Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, and Team Penske, the smaller teams are finally finding their stride with significant victories.
“It’s starting to hit me that we’ve won the Coca-Cola 600,” Chastain expressed. “I’m not sure what this victory means for the team and me just yet, but I’m thrilled to find out.”
For Chastain, this victory also signifies a return to the NASCAR playoffs after missing out last year.
Conversely, Marks is hopeful this is just the beginning of greater achievements to come.
Truckhouse Racing currently has three full-time drivers in the Cup Series: Chastain, Daniel Suarez, and newcomer Shane Vangiss Bargain. They’re also evaluating a fourth driver, developmental prospect Connor Gilish, who made his debut at the Coca-Cola 600.
Marks mentioned that he often spends his waking hours contemplating ways to narrow the gap between his team and the likes of Hendrick, Gibbs, and Penske in the racing industry.
And Sunday night marked a significant advancement.
“If we wanted to take the easy route, we could claim, ‘Well, they have more money and more manpower.’ While that’s certainly a factor, resources do play a critical role,” Marks stated. “Looking back at 2022, we had 20 different winners. Those well-resourced teams can rebound quickly, which accelerates their learning and development curve.”
Marks believes that NASCAR’s new Nextgen car, which fosters greater parity across the series, will aid smaller teams.
“We probably wouldn’t have started Truckhouse and entered the Cup Series if this new car hadn’t been introduced; it created opportunities to bridge the gap,” Marks noted.
He also highlighted that one of the first things he learned about NASCAR is that it’s fundamentally an HR business, where motivated, team-oriented members are invaluable.
“We’re exploring ways to enhance our aerodynamics, engineering practices, and to accelerate our development curve in these areas,” Marks said. “Competing with the likes of Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, and Team Penske is an ongoing journey.”
However, the analysis could wait for at least one night.
It was time to celebrate.
More than two hours after the victory at Charlotte Motor Speedway, raucous cheers erupted from loyal fans as the driver took time to soak it all in. He celebrated by throwing watermelons, transitioning from his race car to the track and mingling with the crowd.
Marks believes Chastain’s positive attitude is a tremendous asset for the organization.
“We started from the back, and Ross was incredibly confident,” Marks recalled. “After taking a hit, Ross exited the care center with a smile, knowing we would find our speed. He truly is one of the top drivers in the Cup Series.”
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Source: apnews.com