Nashville-Based Trackhouse Racing Buys Chip Ganassi Racing

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Nashville-based Trackhouse Racing’s Founder and Owner Justin Marks has announced that the company is buying Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) and will take over NASCAR operations starting in 2022.

Marks, along with Trackhouse Team President Ty Norris, and CGR CEO Chip Ganassi, shared the news about the acquisition at the NASCAR Hall of Fame on a live stream on Wednesday, June 30. According to the announcement, Trackhouse Racing will acquire all NASCAR equipment as well as the two charters from CGR. The changes will go into effect after the completion of the 2021 Cup Series season.

“This process took several weeks and I want to thank Chip for being so open and candid with me every step of the journey,” Marks said. “Chip has built an iconic motorsports empire and the Ganassi brand is globally recognized as a winner in the auto racing industry.”

The Trackhouse Racing Team was formed in October of 2020 and continues to grow as international pop star Pitbull was made a part-owner in the team just before February’s Daytona 500. Trackhouse currently has one Cup Series team with 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Daniel Suarez at the helm of the No. 99 Chevrolet. It was also revealed during the livestream that Suarez will continue with Trackhouse into the 2022 season with a second driver to be named at a later date. The Monterrey, Mexico native has three top-10 finishes this season and is ranked 18th overall. His most recent top 10 was a seventh-place run in NASCAR’s return to Nashville Superspeedway.

Chip Ganassi Racing has two drivers in the Cup Series this season with 2004 Cup champion Kurt Busch in the No. 1 Chevrolet and rookie Ross Chastain in the No. 42 Chevrolet. Busch ranks 14th in points while Chastain ranks 22nd.

“My NASCAR team was not for sale,” Ganassi shared. “Justin simply came to me with a great offer and an even better vision. As everyone knows, I care deeply for my employees so selling to someone like Justin, who is part of the CGR family, made the reality of selling much easier.”

CGR also has teams in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the NTT IndyCar Series, and Extreme E. The NASCAR operation was established in 1989 by Felix Sabates under the name Team SABCO. In 2001, Ganassi purchased a majority stake in the team to form Chip Ganassi Racing with Sabates.

Steven Boero
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