In the aftermath of Sunday’s race at Martinsville, fans and analysts alike started buzzing about Ross Chastain’s moves on the track. With so much on the line, could it be that Trackhouse Racing was working behind the scenes to help a fellow Chevrolet driver secure a playoff advantage? The rumors were hard to ignore. In fact, they grew so loud that Trackhouse Racing’s co-owner Justin Marks felt compelled to set the record straight.

Marks didn’t shy away from the tough questions when he spoke out, addressing the theories about unfair racing. He gave a detailed rundown of those final laps, pointing out every critical move, and he didn’t hold back on what he thought of the rumors. But did he convince everyone that Trackhouse Racing was just playing fair?

What does Trackhouse Racing have to say about assisting the Chevy?

Trackhouse Racing co-owner Justin Marks recently spoke out during an interview with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, denying any intentional effort to help Hendrick Motorsports (HMS) and Chevrolet’s playoff hopes during the tense closing laps of Sunday’s race at Martinsville. Rumors swirled about Ross Chastain’s late-race moves and whether they intended to support HMS driver William Byron’s chances, but Marks insists there was no prearranged plan.

Reflecting on the complex sequence, Marks explained, “Well, I think that, you know, there’s just—I mean, there’s a lot at stake. There’s a lot on the line here. And so we’re, you know, we’re looking at every, every move, every drop, every, you know, wheel input, every communication on the radio.” He added that while it’s easy for fans and analysts to interpret these moments as part of a strategy, he believes they’re just doing their best in real-time, reading the situation and reacting. “We know what we saw,” Marks said.

He described the tight scenario that had William Byron clinging to his position while Chastain was fighting his way around. “At the end of that race, the 24 then, by one point, he’s fighting with everything he’s got. He can’t lose a spot. The bottom’s plugged up with the 3, and, you know, the 1’s trying to roll the outside… He ran to the back of the 24 sort of up there, you know, trying to figure out, you know, what to do there.” Marks elaborated on the difficulty of simply “rolling the outside,” at Martinsville, especially when everyone is fighting to the end.

When asked outright if there was any coordinated effort to block for Byron, Marks was direct: “I’m not driving the car; I will tell you that there’s no, there’s no plan to orchestrate anything like that. That would be, you know, the cars behind you, everything like that, and, you know, basically all the communication.” He stated that while fans might speculate on whether Chastain was playing interference, there wasn’t any plot or hidden communication among teams to help Byron’s race.

Reinforcing his point, Marks reflected on the idea of coordination in racing, “I don’t know how you pull that off if you try, you know, to orchestrate it between teams, rather than just being there on the table for everybody to see.” In the heat of the moment, with everyone fighting for every inch, it’s clear Marks believes Ross Chastain’s moves were just racing, not an orchestrated strategy. With Marks coming forward to clear out the situation, it turns out he has a thing for public speaking.

Trackhouse’s Justin Marks to headline speaker at 5th annual Race Industry Week

Justin Marks, founder and owner of Trackhouse Entertainment Group, is set to join an exciting lineup of speakers at the upcoming Race Industry Week from December 2–5. Marks is known for his bold vision in NASCAR and the broader motorsports world. He has carved out a unique place for Trackhouse Racing. The team draws attention with its fresh approach, diverse talent, and innovative strategies.

Marks’ journey from being a successful sports car and NASCAR driver to leading a rapidly growing racing empire has captivated fans and industry insiders alike, especially with milestones like partnering with Pitbull, acquiring Chip Ganassi Racing’s assets, and launching the groundbreaking PROJECT91 program.

Under Marks’ leadership, Trackhouse has consistently pushed the boundaries of what a modern NASCAR team can be, from recruiting international drivers like New Zealand’s Shane van Gisbergen and F1 champion Kimi Räikkönen, to winning fan-favorite awards like the 2022 Myers Brothers Award and the “Byrnsie Award” from Fox.

With that said, do you think that Ross Chastain was in the clear when it came to helping William Byron? Share your thoughts in the comments below.