Justin Marks to race in the NASCAR Truck Series with Spire Motorsports at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego on Friday night.
Trackhouse Racing team owner Justin Marks will temporarily trade his executive cap for a helmet and firesuit this Friday to compete in the NASCAR Truck Series inaugural street race weekend at Naval Base Coronado.
Justin Marks in the NASCAR Truck Series
Marks will pilot the No. 77 Jockey Chevrolet Silverado for Spire Motorsports in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series opener in San Diego. The event will be Marks’ first competitive appearance in the Craftsman Truck Series since July 2022, when he drove for Niece Motorsports at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. It will also serve as his first national series start since competing in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at the Chicago Street Course in 2023.
The No. 77 Spire Motorsports entry has experienced a shifting driver lineup throughout the 2026 season. While Spire Motorsports has showcased winning speed in the Cup Series this year, indicated by Carson Hocevar’s first career win at Talladega, and Daniel Suárez’s recent victory at the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, the part-time No. 77 truck entry has yet to find its way into victory lane in 2026.
Road Racing Background for Marks
Marks brings a highly decorated road-racing background to the temporary San Diego layout. While he has logged 39 career Truck Series starts dating back to 2007 with a career-best finish of eighth, his deepest accolades lie in sports cars. Marks has captured eight victories in the Rolex Grand-Am Sports Car Series, including a prestigious class win at the 2009 Rolex 24 at Daytona.
Furthermore, his sole victory across NASCAR’s national divisions came dominantly on a damp Mid-Ohio road course in 2016 for Chip Ganassi Racing, where he led 43 of 75 laps.
While navigating a heavy truck through a narrow, military-base street course presents a unique set of challenges, Marks expressed his enthusiasm for the experimental event in an official press release from Spire Motorsports:
“It’s a unique opportunity to drive in the inaugural Truck Series race at San Diego Naval Base. I’ll enjoy getting behind the wheel every once in a while, and I’m thankful to do it with Spire’s help and with a longtime partner like Jockey. They are celebrating their 150th anniversary and are very supportive of our military which makes the endeavor even more special. There is a lot of excitement surrounding the upcoming race weekend and it’s an honor to be a part of it.”
While Marks spends the vast majority of his time managing a multi-car operation from the pit box, Naval Base Coronado offers a unique opportunity that is both entertaining and meaningful for him and the fans. However, his weekend got off to a rough start, as Marks will roll off from the rear of the field tonight after crashing in practice and will start 32nd. For Marks, the significance of the occasion extends far beyond where he starts.
Watch the Race
The NASCAR Truck Series is running the inaugural race at Naval Base Coronado – San Diego Street Course on Friday, June 19th. The Navy 250 begins at 7 pm ET on FS1, NASCAR Radio Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
