NASCAR team owner gets ‘bad news’ before Darlington
By Asher Fair
Justin Marks, the co-owner of Trackhouse Racing Team, got some “bad news” ahead of this Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway.
This weekend is the official annual NASCAR throwback weekend at Darlington Raceway, and the Goodyear 400, the 12th of 36 races on the 2022 Cup Series schedule, is scheduled to wrap things up on Sunday afternoon.
But before this 293-lap race around the four-turn, 1.366-mile (2.198-kilometer) egg-shaped oval in Darlington, South Carolina, Trackhouse Racing Team co-owner Justin Marks was set to get the opportunity to drive the “Skoal Bandit”.
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The “Bandit” was the car which Harry Gant drove to four consecutive victories in September 1991, starting with his Southern 500 win at Darlington Raceway.
Gant went on to win at Richmond Raceway, Dover Motor Speedway, and Martinsville Speedway.
Dale Earnhardt was the only other Cup Series race winner that month, wrapping up the month with a win at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Marks and Trackhouse Racing Team purchased the car from Andy Petree to play a role in the throwback weekend, with Marks, a former NASCAR driver himself, set to make laps in Gant’s #33 Oldsmobile before Sunday’s race.
Getting the Bandit ready for Throwback weekend at @TooToughToTame pic.twitter.com/mTgBwUfT7K
— Justin Marks (@JustinMarksTH) May 4, 2022
It’s important to @TeamTrackhouse to be good stewards of the history of @NASCAR - to that end, we purchased this car from Andy Petree. It is in fact THE car that Harry Gant won every race in September in 1991. And I’m going to make pre-race laps in it Sunday at @TooToughToTame https://t.co/A0jOrTrFuM
— Justin Marks (@JustinMarksTH) May 4, 2022
Harry Gants 1991 race car getting ready to head to @TooToughToTame to be driven by @JustinMarksTH pic.twitter.com/bkSnOLMvsa
— “Barney”. Dan Collins (@Barneytr2) May 4, 2022
However, Marks received “bad news” ahead of the race weekend.
Because of the tobacco branding and advertising on the #33 car, the car was not permitted to make pre-race laps with Marks behind the wheel on Sunday afternoon, leaving the 41-year-old St. Louis, Missouri native “gutted”.
Bad news folks: due to federal laws that prevent tobacco branding/advertising at professional sporting events, the Skoal Bandit will not make laps at Darlington Sunday. Pretty gutted…
— Justin Marks (@JustinMarksTH) May 6, 2022
Marks noted that other options were considered, but it was simply too late in the game to make any changes that would allow the car to take to “The Track Too Tough to Tame”.
However, he promised that he will give fans “something awesome to watch” with this very car later in the season.
Looked a lot of options here, late in the game to change the livery, need to respect those that would allow it to happen. I will say this:
— Justin Marks (@JustinMarksTH) May 6, 2022
At some point this year, I will give you all something awesome to watch with this car. https://t.co/qS3fE6eTFW
It just won’t happen at “The Lady in Black” — unless that “something” is put together for September’s playoff-opening Southern 500.
Trackhouse Racing Team, which entered the Cup Series last year as a one-car organization with Daniel Suarez behind the wheel of the #99 Chevrolet, expanded to two cars for 2022, adding the #1 Chevrolet for Ross Chastain after they acquired Chip Ganassi Racing.
The Marks and Pitbull-owned team have had a strong second year so far, with Chastain earning the first two victories of his Cup Series career and Suarez also showing good speed on a regular basis.
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Fox Sports 1 is set to broadcast the Goodyear 400 live from Darlington Raceway beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 8. Don’t miss your opportunity to start a free trial of FuboTV!