"It's not like the team was for sale" - When Chip Ganassi reflected on decision to sell NASCAR team to Justin Marks

Former NASCAR team owner Chip Ganassi once shared why he sold the team to Justin Marks in 2021. Ganassi said Marks simply called to buy his team even though it wasn't for sale.

Justin Marks is a former NASCAR driver who bought Chip Ganassi Racing in 2021. Following the acquisition, the team was rebranded to Trackhouse Racing, which Marks co-owns with American rapper Pitbull.

In an episode of the Dale Jr. Download last year, host Dale Earnhardt Jr. asked Ganassi whether NASCAR suspending him for violating a COVID-19 protocol influenced his decision to sell the team.

"It's not like the team was for sale. It wasn't for sale," Ganassi said. "I'm sitting there and he calls me up, and he said, 'Hey, I'd like to buy your team.'" [6:43]

The former NASCAR team owner initially wasn't interested. However, after giving some thought to it, he started considering selling the team to Marks considering it was the first time someone offered to buy it.

"But I started thinking about it, and then I remember thinking to myself, you know, I had that team for 20 years, and you know... up and down, and up and down, and up and down, and I just remember thinking to myself self, in 20 years, no one's ever called and said they wanted to buy it."

He added:

"I thought, 'Man I should look at this.' [...] I got to look at it if somebody wanted to buy it."

Chip Ganassi sold the team to Justin Marks in 2021, marking the end of a two-decade run in NASCAR.

Today, Trackhouse Racing is expanding its presence in the stock car racing league with the addition of a third car. Shane van Gisbergen joins Daniel Suarez and Ross Chastain starting in the 2025 season, driving the No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro sponsored by WeatherTech.

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Trackhouse owner Justin Marks shares thoughts on Dale Jr. endorsing the No. 88 for SVG

Earlier this year, Trackhouse owner Justin Marks shared how his team got Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s endorsement to use the No. 88. After talking to Dale Jr., the driver endorsed the No. 88's return, saying it wasn't his number though he was proud to see it in good hands.

For context, Earnhardt Jr. used the No. 88 racing number during his stay at Hendrick Motorsports (2008-2017). Considering the former NASCAR driver was the Most Popular Driver awardee 15 times, fans would almost always remember Dale Jr. with the 88.

Justin Marks said [via Peter Stratta on Youtube]:

"I called Carl Edwards in the end of 2020, I said we were starting this Cup team we want to run the #99 number. I want to tell you that we are doing this and obviously get your endorsement of it, get your support for it. We did the same with the #1 and we've done it with the #88 talking to the folks at Hendrick and to Dale Jr." [8:20]

He added:

"I was texting [Dale Jr.] an hour and a half ago and it's important for us to have the endorsement. A great exchange with Dale Jr. saying like, 'Look it's not my number, I mean, I added to the legacy of it. It was important to me personally but...' he was proud to see it in good hands and that's just something that's super super important to me and this company."

The No. 88 car will return to NASCAR next year with Shane van Gisbergen behind the wheel. SVG will make his full-time debut in the Cup Series in the Daytona 500 race in February 2025.