A quick glance at the statistics does not show which team is the best through the first month.
Both drivers have never won a race. The one ranked 14th is the leader, while the other 22nd.
Trackhouse Racing is still moving closer to victory for Daniel Suarez and Ross Chastain.
Two races ago, Chastain led 83 laps — more laps than in all 117 career starts. He has also finished third and second in both of his last two outings. Suarez finished fourth in California and ninth at Phoenix last Sunday, and the Mexican driver feels more at home with his team than ever before.
Trackhouse Racing, which is owned by Justin Marks, Pitbull, arrives at Atlanta Motor Speedway in search of its first Cup Series win.
Chastain stated, “We are not an underdog.” We don’t have the winning legacy and it’s huge right now. We won a stage and are proud of it. The plan and the preparation that we are putting in is to reach that point.
Trackhouse was founded by Marks, a former driver who hired Suarez to develop a business model that would appeal to Mexico’s spending market and Suarez’ fervent fanbase of “Daniel’s Amigos.” Marks also brought Pitbull in to add some crossover appeal to the Hispanic motorsports crowd.
Although the first season was not great, Suarez felt that he had finally found his home.
In 2016, Suarez won Xfinity Series champion driving for Joe Gibbs Racing. He was also promoted to Cup after Carl Edwards’ abrupt retirement. Suarez was with Gibbs for two seasons before being released to sign a bigger driver. The same happened in 2019, when Stewart-Haas Racing dropped Suarez after a disappointing season.
Then Suarez signed for Gaunt Brothers Racing in 2020. The team did not make it to the Daytona 500, and things went downhill after that. Suarez placed 31st in final standings with an 18th best season finish.
Sometimes life is a rollercoaster. Suarez stated that although I was part in some really, really great teams, there was always something missing. “Not only with me, but something was missing. I don’t know what it was.
“It was definitely the hardest year of my career and life, 2020.” He said that he began to travel where he wanted to go over time. Trackhouse Racing is competitive again and it certainly feels good.
Suarez stressed that the turnaround took time and Chastain, an eighth generation watermelon farmer from Florida, was no different. He has always sought a big break.
Suarez believed they could create a competitive team together with Travis Mack, the crew chief, and Jose Blasco-Figueroa, the engineer.
“Do you think that I had all the answers in the beginning last year when Trackhouse was founded?” No, the truth is. Do you think Trackhouse would give me the tools I needed to find what I needed? Yes,” Suarez said. “I believe that the team I have now is the best I’ve ever had in Cup. Everything. Engineers, crew chiefs, pit crew, like complete team.”
Chastain was first noticed washing a car by the CEO of a potential sponsorship. He was so impressed by Chastain’s work ethic, he promised to sponsor a complete Xfinity Series schedule with Chip Ganassi Racing. It was impossible to believe that it could be true.
DC Solar was raided before Chastain got his start. Instead, he bounced around with Kaulig Racing and a few other Cup teams. Ganassi in 2021 finally gave Chastain his Cup promo and the team liked him. Marks was not far behind.
Marks was unable to buy the charters that he needed to guarantee a spot on the field each week so he called Ganassi to ask about selling his team. Trackhouse accepted Ganassi’s offer and absorbed a large number of Ganassi employees. Chastain was also added in a second Chevrolet. The Trackhouse moved into Ganassi shop last October.
Chastain is finding his groove with Trackhouse and is enjoying a lot of support from his Ganassi colleagues. Chastain has been most impressed by Marks’ leadership. Chastain received job security through a contract extension, and Mike Metcalf was there to give Chastain his self-help book “It Takes what It Takes: How To Think Neutrally and Take Control of Your Life.”
Chastain learned from the book how to manage his life, race weekend and new team.
Chastain states, “It’s unlike any I’ve seen to where Justin has brought in and how the mentality in this shop.” It’s the people that are the most important thing. It’s the same people so I don’t know if it makes sense but I can tell you that there is a shift in culture here and Justin has instilled this building and motivated people. And this year, I have never witnessed such a shift in my attitude. Fast cars certainly help, but it’s been a game-changer.”
