Watkins Glen win 'a shot in the arm', but Trackhouse still has work to do - Marks

Trackhouse Racing will enjoy a well-deserved moment in the sun this week after Shane van Gisbergen’s victory at Watkins Glen. But one Sunday, on a track expected to play well for the organization, does not mean the ship is on the right track going forward.

“It’s been easy to see that we’ve certainly been behind this year,” said team owner Justin Marks. “We’ve been working harder behind the scenes at this race team than we have ever in the history of this company right now, because frankly, the way we started this season is unacceptable to us. It’s not up to the standards that we set for ourselves. 

“So, there’s just a lot of work that’s been happening.”

Van Gisbergen is responsible for six of the Trackhouse's last seven wins dating back through the 2025 season. All of them have come on road courses. Ross Chastain, who scored the other victory, did so in May of last year in the Coca-Cola 600.

Otherwise, it has been tough sledding for a team that came out in its sophomore season and put a driver in the championship race. Van Gisbergen is the only Trackhouse Racing driver currently sitting in a Chase position. Combined, the three of them, with the addition of rookie Connor Zilisch, have five top-10 finishes.

“I saw it start to change at Texas,” Marks said. “All three of our cars had speed at Texas. I think if (Chastain) doesn’t speed on the last pit stop, he finishes about fifth or sixth. Connor and Shane, both points in the race had to come from 30th and drive back up into the top 15, top 16. That was good. This, obviously, we have three incredible road racers here, and one that’s sort of the best ever to do it.”

Zilisch finished 20th after starting fifth. He was undone by a flat tire in the final laps while running second, as van Gisbergen was charging behind him. The rookie had averaged an eighth-place running position all afternoon and could have had a career result.

And then Chastain seemed done in by a lack of track position on pit strategy. Chastain, who also started inside the top five, won the first stage and then fell out of the picture for the rest of the afternoon before finishing in 27th position.

Van Gisbergen started on the pole and led a race-high 74 laps. It was his second consecutive win at Watkins Glen.

“It’s nice medicine at a time when we need a little shot in the arm,” Marks continued. “But as far as translation, it really comes down to preparation and process, and no matter how good your race car drivers are, you have to prepare for these races on road courses just as well as you prepare anywhere else. I think for us, it just puts a little air in the room while we work through engineering the resurgence of our team. 

“But I think we’re starting to move in the right direction. Things can change very quickly in this sport. It seemed like in week four, Toyota was going to win 36 races this year, and already that’s starting to change a little bit. So, this might be end of the tunnel, we just have to keep our heads down. Enjoy today, but just get right back to the grind tomorrow."