NASCAR's Trackhouse Racing Breaks Silence on the Fate of Project 91
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NASCAR team Trackhouse Racing's owner, Justin Marks, has opened up about the future of Project 91, whose car was last used in the Daytona 500. While the team remains occupied with its current driver lineup, the future of the program has been uncertain.
Project 91 fields the No. 91 Chevrolet, an experiential initiative by Trackhouse to offer a Cup Series seat to potential talent. Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen made his way into NASCAR in 2022 at Watkins Glen through the same initiative. The following year saw him race at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin with Project 91.
Although Marks confirmed that the program was important for Trackhouse, it is currently not a priority, considering that the team needs to focus on ensuring the full-time cars are running at full steam. Marks, however, stressed that Project 91 was close to his heart and that it is an important initiative for NASCAR. He said:
"I mean, I love Project 91. It's near and dear to my heart. I think it's important for the sport. I think it's obviously been very creative to our business. We've been able to do big sponsorship deals that have come through Project 91. Obviously great talent, you know, through Project 91, so it's an important mechanism in the business.
Trackhouse Racing team owner Justin Marks (L) speaks to Shane Van Gisbergen, driver of the #88 Safety Culture Chevrolet, on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Viva Mexico 250 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez...
Trackhouse Racing team owner Justin Marks (L) speaks to Shane Van Gisbergen, driver of the #88 Safety Culture Chevrolet, on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Viva Mexico 250 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on June 15, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico. More"It is a draw on the company. It is tough. Daytona was really really tough this year to take four cars there, which is why with the races we're doing with Connor, we went to do Daytona, and then park it. I very much would like to keep that program alive."
Despite it being in a dormant state, Marks stated that Trackhouse has a strategy in place for Project 91.
"We've got a couple of fairly interesting opportunities. With everything that we're trying to do in the company to get us back into championship form, it's like No. 85 on the list right now. But it's not dead. There are conversations happening, there is a strategy around it."
Trackhouse made headlines at Watkins Glen International after Connor Zilisch suffered a hard fall from his car while celebrating his Xfinity race win. The impact led to a broken collarbone, resulting in Trackhouse withdrawing the No. 87 car from Sunday's Cup Series race. A statement from the team read:
"Trackhouse Racing has elected to withdraw the No. 87 Red Bull Chevrolet from tomorrow's NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International. We wish Connor a speedy recovery."
Zilisch posted a health update from the hospital. He wrote:
"Thank you everybody for reaching out today. I'm out of the hospital and getting better already. Thankfully, CT scans for my head are clear, I just have a broken collarbone. Thankful for all the medics for quick attention and grateful it wasn't any worse."
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