Watkins Glen provided a long-awaited sigh of relief for Trackhouse Racing during the 2026 season, as both Connor Zilisch and Shane van Gisbergen finally returned to the front row and ran inside the top five for most of the race. However, Justin Marks’ confident remarks about his team’s future plans have rubbed fans the wrong way.
For the past week, Trackhouse Racing has been at the center of rumors about a possible fourth entry at the San Diego NASCAR event. This planned entry was expected to be their Project 91 car, a program designed to bring elite motorsports professionals from around the world into NASCAR.
When reporters pressed Marks about the relevance of Project 91 and whether the rumors were true, he replied, “I would say, ‘Don’t forget about Project 91.’ That’s all I’ll say right now.” The statement came across as unusually bold for a team that has only recently shown a glimmer of competitive pace.
With the ‘win and in’ system eliminated, Trackhouse Racing finds itself in a precarious position. Shane van Gisbergen’s Watkins Glen victory barely pushed him into the top 16, just inside the playoff cutline. Meanwhile, Ross Chastain and Connor Zilisch are far from even qualifying for the Chase.
Marks himself has admitted the team has failed to provide Zilisch with a competitive car. Given that, many believe it would be unwise for the team to spread its resources even thinner. Critics argue Trackhouse should instead focus on researching better setups to improve performance for their current drivers. Zilisch, a rising Cup Series talent, may consider leaving if better machinery isn’t provided.
Even veteran Ross Chastain has struggled for pace, acknowledging a pattern where the car qualifies decently only to fade when it matters most. Given these factors, Trackhouse’s recent victory was largely the result of SVG’s exceptional road course skills—his ability to take corners without losing time like his rivals, preserving the team’s declining reputation.
So it’s no wonder fans show zero interest in the team’s expansion plans. Instead, they demand better racing action and more focus on the current lineup.
Fans Dismiss Trackhouse Racing’s San Diego Entry Plans
Social media reactions united around a single frustration: why plan a fourth car when the three you already have are underperforming?
One user wrote, “How about focusing on one project—‘Improve your current cars’—before another one-off? Scattered attention leads to less than mediocre results.” Another fan cut straight to the point: “Shut down Project 91 and fix the 1 and 88 cars first. Win races with your actual team before you go chasing headlines.”
The comparison often drawn with 23XI Racing only strengthens the criticism.