A team owner back in race mode
Trackhouse Racing owner Justin Marks will make an unexpected return to NASCAR competition later this month, stepping back into the cockpit for the inaugural Craftsman Truck Series race at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego.
According to Rory Robinson’s report for the Express, Marks will drive the No. 77 Chevrolet Silverado for Spire Motorsports in the Navy 250 on June 19.
It will be his first NASCAR start since 2023 and a rare outing for a team owner better known in recent years for building Trackhouse into one of the sport’s most ambitious organisations.
Marks will be backed by longtime partner Jockey, which is marking its 150th anniversary. The company’s support, and the race’s military setting, have given the entry added significance.
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“It’s a unique opportunity to drive in the inaugural Truck Series race at San Diego Naval Base,” Marks said.
He added that he still enjoys getting behind the wheel from time to time and was grateful to do so with Spire and Jockey.
NASCAR makes history in San Diego
The Navy 250 will open NASCAR’s first race weekend in San Diego, bringing a national series event to the city for the first time.
The race will be held on a temporary street circuit built on the grounds of Naval Base Coronado. It is part of a wider weekend that also includes the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and the NASCAR Cup Series.
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The Truck Series race is scheduled for Friday, June 19, at 7 p.m. ET. It will run for 50 laps over 170 miles.
The weekend will continue on Saturday with the United Rentals Driven to Serve 250, before the Cup Series closes the event on Sunday with the Anduril 250 Race at the Base.
The move to San Diego follows NASCAR’s decision to shift away from Chicago and place one of its marquee street-race weekends on a military base.
A familiar partnership with Spire
Marks’ entry also reflects the long relationship between Trackhouse and Spire Motorsports.
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Spire played a role in Trackhouse’s early Cup Series years by leasing a charter to the newly formed team in 2021, helping guarantee Daniel Suarez a place in every race. The two organisations have since remained connected through partnerships and driver moves.
Suarez, once central to Trackhouse’s rise, is now with Spire for the 2026 season. He is expected to be part of the Cup Series field in San Diego, alongside Spire teammates Michael McDowell and Carson Hocevar.
Trackhouse drivers Ross Chastain, Connor Zilisch and Shane van Gisbergen are also expected to compete during the weekend, giving the event a strong link to both teams.
Marks brings experience to a new stage
Although Marks is now best known as a team owner, his own racing record is substantial.
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He has made 39 starts in the Craftsman Truck Series since 2007, earning four top-10 finishes and two pole positions. His best Truck Series results were eighth-place finishes at Homestead in 2007 and Dover in 2008.
Marks also has an Xfinity Series victory to his name, winning at Mid-Ohio in 2016. Across 36 starts in that series, he has recorded seven top-10 finishes.
His return gives the San Diego weekend another storyline. It is not just a new venue for NASCAR, but a chance for one of the sport’s most influential modern team owners to remind fans that he was a driver before he became an architect of Trackhouse’s rise.
“There is a lot of excitement surrounding the upcoming race weekend,” Marks said, “and it’s an honor to be part of it.”
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