“Tomorrow’s a new day. We’ve got to go prepare…keep the big picture as clear as possible.” These were the words that Justin Marks rolled out to Ross Chastain as motivation last month. Due to a speeding penalty and a missed Turn 7, the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing driver was knocked out of the playoffs in the Charlotte Roval. Yet the yearlong efforts on the part of Chastain resonated in the background.

And this persistent hard work makes Ross Chastain the crown jewel of the Trackhouse Racing team. Despite the multiple hurdles and challenges that the melon farmer faces, his boss knows that he can rely on Chastain. This sentiment sprang up in a beautiful message recently.

Ross Chastain reinstated for the fifth year

In a recently posted Instagram reel by TeamTrackhouse, Ross Chastain reads out a note written by Justin Marks. And Marks brought up all the achievements by Chastain that make him worthy of the No. 1 Chevrolet, which Chastain will drive again in 2026. “You delivered the first win in Trackhouse history and the first driver to win the Coke 600 from the rear in a backup car. And of course, the first to pull off that wall ride in Martinsville. Of all the firsts you’ve brought to this company, there’s no better number to stay on the side of your car next year than the No. 1.”

Ross Chastain has picked up 6 trophies in the No. 1 so far, the latest coming at the 2025 Coca-Cola 600. And he continues to pay tribute to all the great racers who have donned the same number. They include Billy Wade, Donnie Allison, and Jamie McMurray – all of whom have four total wins. Allison earned his trophies in 61 starts in the #1 car between 1976 and 1982. Then Wade won consecutive races in 1964. Marks hailed Chastain also, “Dear Ross, you brought nothing but honor to the No. 1 car and joined a line of greats who’ve driven it.” 

Ross Chastain has cracked the playoffs thrice in his career. He came closest to the championship in 2022 when Chastain finished runner-up in points. That was when he executed the infamous ‘Hail Melon’ wall ride in Martinsville to lock himself into the Championship 4. In 2025, he came painstakingly close to cracking the Round of 8 until Joey Logano knocked him out. Yet Marks is hopeful for 2026: “Now let’s go and make another first, and bring home that first championship. Let’s go, No. 1. Always, and forever.”

Besides hyping up Ross Chastain, Justin Marks is super enthusiastic about a newcomer in his team. Connor Zilisch, the Xfinity Series rookie who picked up 10 trophies in 2025, will drive the No. 99 Chevy for Trackhouse. And Marks cannot wait: “The talent that is on its way up is as good as it’s ever been, and he’s just a true outlier. The way he’s been able to attack his rookie season, win at tracks he’s never been to before, but it’s also the stuff you can’t really see on TV. It’s his attitude, it’s his intelligence, how he approaches it and all that.”

Meanwhile, the third driver on Justin Marks’ Cup Series roster also has a unique development.

A most familiar number

The No. 97 was the most famous on one driver’s hood. That was Kurt Busch, the 2004 Cup Series champion. But since the 2005 finale at Homestead-Miami, the number has made only 9 appearances in NASCAR’s premier tier. The drivers who wielded the number included Jeff Fuller, Kevin Conway, Timmy Hill, Bill Elliott, Tanner Berryhill, and David Starr. Now, however, Shane van Gisbergen is set to drive the No. 97 Chevrolet in 2026. Interestingly, he had great success with the same number in Australian Supercars, where he won 80 races and three championships.

Aside from Kurt Busch, just two drivers have won a race with the No. 97 car, which dates back to 1950. Bill Amick won at Capitol Speedway in 1957. Then, Parnelli Jones won at both California State Fairgrounds in 1958 and Ascot Stadium in 1959. A total of 72 other drivers made a combined 465 starts using the No. 97, but none of them managed to find victory lane. With SVG’s track record of five consecutive road course victories in 2025, Justin Marks is sure to overturn the No. 97’s drab streaks.

With 2026 right around the corner, let’s wait and see what Trackhouse Racing has in store for us. We expect only brilliant performances on the racetracks!