"Might have found a new love" - Justin Marks delivers heartfelt message to Shane van Gisbergen for an ‘incredible’ New Zealand experience

NASCAR team owner Justin Marks enjoyed a thrilling rallying experience alongside driver Shane van Gisbergen. The 43-year-old traveled all the way to Gisbergen's home nation of New Zealand to go rallying.

Marks winded down his racing career to focus solely on team management duties. The St. Louis, Missouri native established Trackhouse Racing in 2020, a Cup Series team that has now expanded to three charters just in its fifth season.

While he continues to find success as a team owner, Marks still occasionally takes the wheels of a car to experience the thrill of high-speed driving. In a recent Instagram post, the 43-year-old shared glimpses of his off-road rallying experience in New Zealand. Marks also thanked the Kiwi driver Shane van Gisbergen for making the experience possible.

Reflecting on his first-ever rallying adventure, he wrote:

"Can't believe it took me until age 43 to go rallying for the first time. And in a right hand drive car to boot. What an experience. A deeply personal, philosophical form of Motorsport. A beautiful scenery, a clock, and bravery/technique. Might have found a new love. Thanks @svg97 and @rallydrivenz for the incredible experience."

Gisbergen, a former Australian V8 Supercars superstar and a product of Trackhouse's Project91, is set to pilot Marks' third Cup charter in 2025.

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Justin Marks' PROJECT91 initiative paves way for Brazilian megastar in Daytona 500

Project91, created by Justin Marks, offers elite international drivers an opportunity to compete in NASCAR. This initiative pushed Shane van Gisbergen into the spotlight after his debut victory at the NASCAR Cup Series Grant Park 220 Chicago Street Race on July 2, 2023. Launched in 2022, Project91 is aimed at expanding NASCAR's global appeal by allowing renowned racing talents to participate in the Cup Series.

Notable drivers under the Project91 program include F1 legend Kimi Räikkönen. The Finnish driver raced at Watkins Glen and Circuit of the Americas in 2022. Van Gisbergen also competed at the Indianapolis Road Course apart from the Chicago Street Race in 2023 through the same initiative.

Now, one of the greatest Brazilian drivers and an IndyCar icon, Helio Castroneves, is set to make his Daytona 500 debut courtesy of Project91. The 49-year-old veteran will pilot the No. 91 Chevrolet Camaro for Marks' Cup Series outfit.

Reacting to the announcement, Justin Marks expressed his excitement, stating (via Forbes):

"Hélio is one of the greatest drivers of all time and exactly the type of driver we want to bring to NASCAR. I think race fans around the world will be excited to see Hélio in NASCAR’s most prestigious race. It also exposes our sport to a global audience and allows them to see just how great of a series we have in NASCAR."

Helio Castroneves has won the iconic Indy 500 race four times in his career, in 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2021.