For a team barely four years old, Trackhouse Racing has made a name for itself, and it’s all thanks to Justin Marks. Following his NASCAR success, Justin Marks tried his luck in MotoGP in 2024. However, for Marks, establishing footholds in two premier motorsports isn’t enough; a third is on the horizon.

The booming popularity of Formula 1 in the United States has not gone unnoticed by Justin Marks. The Trackhouse Racing owner has promised the team’s involvement in F1 in the coming years.

Justin Marks has creative plans for F1 entry

Ever since Liberty Media took over Formula 1 in 2017, the sport saw a huge bump in viewership in America. Although it wasn’t anywhere near NASCAR numbers, Liberty knew of the sport’s potential in the US. Inspired by their F1 success, Liberty Media bought MotoGP, establishing its complete dominance over two of the highest levels of the sport. For Justin Marks, it might be time to follow suit.

Speaking to Kevin Harvick on the ‘Happy Hour’ show, Justin Marks dropped the first hints at his Formula 1 plans. Jumping into the sport won’t be as easy as one might think. Take Michael Andretti’s attempt. His father was renowned in the sport. The Andretti name had a lot of credit in the motorsport world. Yet, their application was denied. While the matter remains highly debated with the US Department of Justice getting involved, Andretti’s $200 million investment in facilities faces the risk of turning redundant. Learning from Andretti’s failures, Justin Marks must be looking to adopt a steadier approach.

He said, “I think Formula One is interesting, but it’s a bit of a saturation of commercial partners right now. You know, these teams are being invested in by big multi-billion dollar private equity companies. It doesn’t mean that we’re not having conversations. It doesn’t mean that we’re not, you know, talking to people and seeing where there’s where there might be some opportunity. But I would say Formula One is in Trackhouse’s future. It’s going to be in probably some really creative partnership way more than, you know, team ownership or team investment or anything like that. That’s the way I sort of look at Formula One today. 

As Justin Marks explained, Trackhouse Racing is currently exploring different angles. Considering their MotoGP entry, acquiring an existing team struggling to compete may be the ideal option. However, most F1 teams are owned by historic companies with roots in motorsport or other industries. Simply applying as an additional entry to the F1 grid may result in rejection, as seen with Andretti’s failed bid earlier this year. Additionally, rumors emerged earlier this year suggesting that two F1 teams, Visa Cash App RB and Alpine, were up for sale. Although these rumors were quickly dismissed, Justin Marks hinted during Happy Hour that he may have been involved.

However, Justin Marks’ words are merely a promise of an F1 future. Given the current landscape, F1 teams seem unwilling to sell, particularly with valuations reaching billions of dollars. Meanwhile, with the Formula 1 dream on the horizon, Justin Marks is focusing on conquering the MotoGP world. The success of this project is crucial for Trackhouse Racing.

Trackhouse Racing’s big plans for MotoGP

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Although Formula 1 is on Justin Marks’ radar for future plans, his immediate focus remains on the MotoGP project. Trackhouse Racing is no stranger to achieving swift success. Within its first four years in NASCAR, the team competitively vied with powerhouses Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, and Team Penske for wins. Similarly, the team has an aggressive plan in place for MotoGP. Moreover, Justin Marks has a clear business strategy in place.

Justin Marks recognizes Trackhouse Racing’s marketability. From bringing F1 legend Kimi Raikkonen to the NASCAR Cup Series to introducing Connor Zilisch to the world, the team has consistently captured NASCAR fans’ attention. Amidst F1’s rapid growth in America, Marks believes it’s the ideal time to invest in MotoGP, which is at a critical crossroads.

And there is some merit to his idea. While NASCAR’s viewership seems to have fallen in recent years, MotoGP enjoys the benefits of a global viewer base. With Trackhouse Racing joining the fray, it’s only bound to get better with the American audience jumping in. Combine this with Liberty Media’s way of reaching the American audience and Marks’ investment may just pay off in a few years.

In order to do this, Justin Marks and Trackhouse Racing must repeat their NASCAR success. Wins and exciting races are what will drive up popularity among fans. The coming years will be crucial in determining how the project pans out. It also lines up perfectly with F1’s new regulations, a time when new entries into the sport may be accepted. Based on the MotoGP success, an F1 plan may just be on the cards.