In recent years, Justin Marks has been more of a part-time racer as he’s focused on his businesses, like GoPro Motorplex. However, the 2018 season is shaping up to be his busiest season in a number of years. Marks will drive full-time for Michael Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian in the No. 93 Acura alongside Lawson Aschenbach. Outside of that, Marks has indicated that he hopes to compete in up to six NASCAR races in 2018.
The first of those of NASCAR races will be the Daytona 500 in a couple of weeks. ESPN.com’s Bob Pockrass has reported that the team that Marks will drive for has a charter, but that team’s identity has not announced as of yet.
Regardless of Marks’ team affiliation, 2018 will be his first career start in the Daytona 500 if his announcement comes to pass. In 2015, Marks attempted the 500 with RAB Racing with Brack Maggard. He failed to qualify in the No. 29 Toyota with American Born Moonshine sponsorship.
That will not be all of his NASCAR action in 2018.
“I’ll most likely do [the XFINITY Series] road races again for Chip [Ganassi] that I do every year,” Marks told Frontstretch. “There’s a new road course at Charlotte as well. I’m talking to teams about doing the Cup race at Sonoma and the Cup race [on Charlotte’s Roval].”
“I’ve got a good, healthy NASCAR schedule for this year,” Marks continued. “It could be as few as three [races], or as high as five or six. I’m very excited about that.”
Marks has three career starts in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. He has a pair of 30th-place finishes at Sonoma in 2015 and 2016. In 32 career XFINITY starts, Marks has one career win (Mid-Ohio, 2016), two top five and five top 10 finishes. All five top 10 have been on road courses. Marks also has four top 10 finishes in 37 career Camping World Truck Series starts.
Marks’ IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship schedule features a direct clash with Watkins Glen (he’ll be racing at Road America). However, the XFINITY races at Mid-Ohio, Road America and Charlotte, along with the Cup race at Sonoma are not in conflict with his sports car responsibilities.
In addition, Marks achieved a dream last year that he discussed with Frontstretch. Racing in the Trans-Am Series presented by Pirelli’s TA class. Marks acquired a chassis that Butch Leitzinger drove for Tom Gloy Racing in 2002 and completely revamped it. Marks does plan to field his Chevrolet Camaro TA car at some point in 2018, but is currently unsure of when that will be.
About the author
Phil Allaway has three primary roles at Frontstretch. He's the manager of the site's FREE e-mail newsletter that publishes Monday-Friday and occasionally on weekends. He keeps TV broadcasters honest with weekly editions of Couch Potato Tuesday and serves as the site's Sports Car racing editor.
Outside of Frontstretch, Phil is the press officer for Lebanon Valley Speedway in West Lebanon, N.Y. He covers all the action on the high-banked dirt track from regular DIRTcar Modified racing to occasional visits from touring series such as the Super DIRTcar Series.
A daily email update (Monday through Friday) providing racing news, commentary, features, and information from Frontstretch.com
We hate spam. Your email address will not be sold or shared with anyone else.