Former NASCAR driver Justin Marks is starting a new Cup Series team called Trackhouse that is planning to start as soon as ’21 and will have a unique cause-marketing focus around promoting STEM education, Marks revealed to THE DAILY. Sources said Marks was a bidder for the Leavine Family Racing team assets that were eventually sold instead to Spire Motorsports. Marks said he is planning to go racing next year and is currently in talks with different teams to try to acquire a charter and strike an alliance to buy cars and share technology. Marks’ vision is to build a team that “is going to be able to serve America’s minorities and underrepresented youth population” with a mobile experiential STEM program that will travel to different public schools and other community groups in markets around the country. Marks, a 39-year-old entrepreneur who owns the GoPro Motorplex near Charlotte, said his family foundation is going to use investment capital to fund 50% of the operational budget of the team in the first year, and he’s looking for sponsors to fund the rest — although he says he has a unique offer because sponsors will get 100% of the promotional assets since he will not be promoting his personal brand or businesses. Marks says he already has a “nationwide family entertainment business” that is coming aboard as a sponsor.
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A core component of this business plan is to create an opportunity for us to give back to the youth in America that need an opportunity to succeed. This sport creates the perfect formula for taking STEM into the communities and creating positive change. https://t.co/ZUNED3M6uH
— Justin Marks (@JustinMarksDG) August 14, 2020