TOOTSIES, KID ROCK’s AND TRACKHOUSE RACING ROLLING IN HOT IN LAS VEGAS
Daniel Suárez and Ross Chastain To Sport Kid Rock’s Honky Tonk and Tootsies Branded Camaros for NASCAR Weekend
Suárez Focused on Trophies, Fun in Final Races; Will Pilot Kid Rock’s No. 99 Honky Tonk Chevrolet in Las Vegas
Tootsie’s Joins Chastain for Las Vegas; Driver Advances into Playoffs Round of 8
No. 99 Trackhouse Chevrolet driver Daniel Suárez has a clear mission for the final four races of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season.
He wants to win races and have some fun along the way.
Winning might seem like an obvious goal every weekend for the 30-year-old Monterrey, Mexico native but since he is no longer in the championship battle, trophies are more important than accumulating points. And, for Suárez, driving a race car is always fun.
He’ll combine those two goals Sunday when the Cup Series races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Suárez’s No. 99 Chevrolet carries the logos and colors of Kid Rock’s Honky Tonk.
The Nashville bar and steakhouse includes five floors, four stages, and six bars and can accommodate almost two thousand people. The Honky Tonk’s namesake Kid Rock is a multi-platinum American rock ‘n roll icon.
His music has been characterized as a melting pot of musical genres; from rap-rock in the ‘90s with singles “Bawitdaba” and “Cowboy,” to the multi-chart hit “Picture,” a collaboration with Sheryl Crow that charted at No. 4 on the Hot 100, to the global smash hit, “All Summer Long,” which charted at No. 1 in eight countries across Europe and Australia.
Kid Rock is no stranger to NASCAR or Trackhouse Racing.
He joined Ross Chastain in victory lane at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in April when Chastain took the lead on the last lap and recorded the second of Trackhouse’s three victories in 2022. Suárez’s victory in June at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway was the second-year team’s third victory.
Suárez could use a fun weekend.
He saw his title aspirations slip away Sunday on the Roval at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway when his steering failed at the beginning of the final stage.
Until then, Suárez’s day was perfect, earning third and fifth-place bonus points in the first two stages. It appeared all he had to do was finish the race mid-pack, but the mechanical gremlins dropped him to 36th and five laps behind the leaders depriving him of joining Chastain in advancing to the Round of 8 in the 2022 playoffs.
Winning in Kid Rock’s car Sunday could ease that pain.
NBC will television Sunday’s race at 2:30 p.m. EDT
Daniel Suárez, Driver of the No. 99 Kid Rock’s Honky Tonk Chevrolet
What are your goals for the final four races of 2022?
“We want to win races. Pretty simple. That’s what we do. Anything less than winning all four races means there is room for improvement.”
How would you assess your year?
“It’s been good. Last weekend really hurt but when you look at the big picture we have a lot to be proud of at Trackhouse Racing and on the No. 99 team. Certainly, we have to continue to work and continue to get better.”
How is Justin Marks’ management style different from others you have raced with in NASCAR?
“For me, he’s a race car driver; he’s an owner and he’s a very, very smart businessman. I think that the combination of those things makes him very successful at what he’s doing at Trackhouse Racing. Also, he thinks a lot outside of the box. He’s not concerned or scared of going right when everyone else is going left, so I really like that about him. He’s doing a great job with Trackhouse. He’s not just building a powerhouse in Trackhouse, but he’s building a brand. That’s exactly what he told me when Trackhouse was only on a piece of paper. It’s very nice to be involved with people that are putting their thoughts and ideas into reality.”
Can you win one for Kid Rock?
“Can you imagine the party if we win this race? I’m going to have to tell Kid Rock that we have to make it to Miami this next week so we can’t party too much. That would be so much fun if we could win in Vegas with Kid Rock.”
Follow Daniel Suárez in USA’s “Race for the Championship”
Ever wondered what Daniel Suárez’s life is like behind the wheel of a race car, at his home, in his race shop, in his car?
Here is the show to find out.
USA Network will air “Race For The Championship,” a new unscripted series about the drivers and teams of the NASCAR Cup Series, on Thursday at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
The series will give a behind-the-scenes look at the elite drivers and teams competing in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Documenting the lives of the sport’s best on and off the track, viewers will get a rare glimpse of what it takes to balance personal relationships with the pressure to perform. Packed with action, heart, and drama, this exhilarating series will offer up a taste of what it’s really like to partake in the world’s top level of stock car racing. Watch as the drivers are pushed mentally and physically to their limits, navigating a NASCAR season unlike any other – with a new car, new tracks, and new challenges – for their chance to make history.
Over 10 episodes, “Race for the Championship” will tell the story of the 2022 NASCAR Cup season and playoffs.
CLICK TO WATCH ALL EPISODES
Suárez and other drivers attended the world premiere of the series on Sept. 1 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
No. 99 Trackhouse Team Roster
Founder: Justin Marks, Rocklin, California
President: Ty Norris, Sumter, South Carolina
Driver: Daniel Suárez, Monterrey Mexico
Crew Chief: Travis Mack, Louisville, Kentucky
Car Chief: Eddie D’Hondt Jr., East Islip, New York
Spotter: Frank Kimmel II, Jeffersonville, Indiana
Engine Builder: ECR Engines, Welcome, North Carolina
Engine Tuner: Jason Watkins, Ridgeway, Virginia
Fueler: Milan Rudanovic, Wantage, New Jersey
Front Tire Changer: Josh Bush, Lexington, North Carolina
Rear Tire Changer: Jerick Newsome, Memphis, Tennessee
Jackman: Josh Appleby, Athens, Alabama
Tire Carrier: Jeremy Kimbrough, Decatur, Georgia
Engineer: Jose R. Blasco-Figueroa, CDMX, Mexico (Mexico City, Mexico)
Engineer: Dustin Zacharyasz, Berea, Ohio
Mechanic: Griffin Rider, Lawson, Missouri
Mechanic: Alex Lacognata, Scarborough, Maine
Mechanic: Tony Barkman, Rio Vista, California
Truck Driver: Glenn Shano, Toronto, Canada
Truck Driver: Ben Prince, Denver, North Carolina
Notes of Interest
- Suárez became the first driver from Mexico (Monterrey) to win in the NASCAR Cup Series on June 12, 2022, at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway.
- He became the fifth different driver all-time not from the United States to win a NASCAR Cup Series race; joining Marcos Ambrose (Australia), Juan Pablo Montoya (Colombia) Earl Ross (Canada), and Mario Andretti (Italy).
- Suárez advanced to the Round of 12 in the 2022 NASCAR Playoffs.
- In 2016, Suárez became the first Mexican driver to win in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, claiming three victories at Michigan, Dover, and the championship finale at Homestead-Miami.
- Suárez owns 84 Xfinity Series starts posting three wins, 33 top-five, and 55 top-10 finishes.
- Suárez owns 28 Camping World Truck Series starts posting a win (Phoenix, Nov. 11, 2016) 10 top-five and 16 top-10 finishes.
- In the Cup Series, Suárez owns two poles (Pocono, July 16, 2018), (Kentucky, July 12, 2019.)
- Trackhouse founder Justin Marks competed in six Cup Series races with a best finish of 12th place in the 2018 Daytona 500. He made 35 starts in the Xfinity Series posting a win, three top-five, and seven top-10s. He won the Xfinity Series race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Aug. 13, 2016, driving for Chip Ganassi Racing.
- Marks competed in 39 races in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series posting four top-10s and capturing two pole awards. He started eighth and finished 31st at Mid-Ohio on July 9, 2022.
- He joined four co-drivers in winning the 2009 Rolex 24 in the GT division.
- Before turning a wheel in 2021, Trackhouse Racing became one of the more popular teams in NASCAR when it announced GRAMMY® Award-winning global superstar Pitbull had become a partner. Not only is he an active partner on the Trackhouse executive team, but Pitbull also serves as a brand and philanthropic ambassador.
- The Trackhouse team won the 2021 NASCAR Diversity Team Award.
- Marks won the 2022 “Byrnsie Award” from Fox
Click Here for This Week’s NASCAR Television Schedule
Click Here for Suárez’s Season & Career Statistics
Click Here for Trackhouse Racing Historical Statistics
Win a Free Cruise From Trackhouse Racing After A Top-10 Finish
Trackhouse Racing and Princess Cruises will give 10 lucky race fans a 7-day Princess Medallion Class vacation for two if either Suárez or Ross Chastain score a top-10 finish in any of the 2022 playoff races.
If Suárez drives the No. 99 Princess Chevrolet to victory lane at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Oct. 23, Trackhouse will give away 99 Princess Cruise vacations.
Fans from Massachusetts to California have already won trips after Trackhouse’s top-10 finishes in the playoff races.
You can be next!
Click Here To Register To Win a Free Cruise
Located on the corner of 3rd Avenue and Broadway, Kid Rock’s Big Ass Honky Tonk & Rock ‘n’ Roll Steakhouse is Nashville’s biggest and baddest new honky tonk! With five floors, four stages, and six bars, this gorgeous honky tonk can accommodate almost two thousand people. The first floor and mezzanine overlook our grandiose, 2 story main stage, where Broadway’s brightest stars perform daily. Our sky-high 5th-story rooftop boasts the most stunning views of downtown Nashville. Hungry? Our kitchen serves mouth-watering steaks daily, including our signature 36oz. Tomahawk Ribeye. Want to watch your team play? We’ve got you covered with large-screen 4K TVs on every floor.
Read About Trackhouse in Sports Illustrated
Tootsie’s Joins Chastain for Las Vegas
Driver Advances into Playoffs Round of 8
Ross Chastain heads to Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend with the purple and white colors of Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge on the No. 1 Chevrolet Camaro.
Las Vegas marks the first time the Nashville-based landmark has adorned Chastain’s Chevy.
Earlier this year at Vegas, Chastain led 83 laps en route to a third-place finish. Since then, he has collected 10 additional top-fives. A solid accumulation of top-fives and top-10s has led him to the Round of 8 in the playoffs.
When Chastain climbs behind the wheel of the Tootsie’s Chevrolet on Sunday at Vegas, he will start the race six points above the playoff cutoff line and third in the standings.
Las Vegas is the first of three races in Round 8, with upcoming races at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway on Oct. 23 and Martinsville (Va.) Speedway on Oct. 30, before the Round of 4 and final race for the championship at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 6.
The Alva, Florida native earned his first Cup Series career win at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas on March 27. Chastain had a thrilling three-wide battle in the closing laps to secure his and Trackhouse Racing’s first Cup win. In April at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, Chastain captured his second Cup win. In total this season, he has accumulated 11 top-fives, 17 top-10s and 624 laps led.
Last weekend on the Roval at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway, Chastain finished 37th after making contact with the wall and damaging his No. 1 Chevy. Quick repair work by the crew, and earning 10 bonus points and one stage point by winning Stage 2 gave Chastain enough points to advance to the Round of 8.
NBC will broadcast Sunday’s Cup race at 2:30 p.m. ET.
Ross Chastain heads to Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend with the purple and white colors of Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge on the No. 1 Chevrolet Camaro.
Las Vegas marks the first time the Nashville-based landmark has adorned Chastain’s Chevy.
Earlier this year at Vegas, Chastain led 83 laps en route to a third-place finish. Since then, he has collected 10 additional top-fives. A solid accumulation of top-fives and top-10s has led him to the Round of 8 in the playoffs.
When Chastain climbs behind the wheel of the Tootsie’s Chevrolet on Sunday at Vegas, he will start the race six points above the playoff cutoff line and third in the standings.
Las Vegas is the first of three races in Round 8, with upcoming races at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway on Oct. 23 and Martinsville (Va.) Speedway on Oct. 30, before the Round of 4 and final race for the championship at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 6.
The Alva, Florida native earned his first Cup Series career win at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas on March 27. Chastain had a thrilling three-wide battle in the closing laps to secure his and Trackhouse Racing’s first Cup win. In April at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, Chastain captured his second Cup win. In total this season, he has accumulated 11 top-fives, 17 top-10s and 624 laps led.
Last weekend on the Roval at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway, Chastain finished 37th after making contact with the wall and damaging his No. 1 Chevy. Quick repair work by the crew, and earning 10 bonus points and one stage point by winning Stage 2 gave Chastain enough points to advance to the Round of 8.
NBC will broadcast Sunday’s Cup race at 2:30 p.m. ET.
Ross Chastain, Driver of the No. 1 Tootsie’s Chevrolet
Some people have said that’s its really a surprise to see you in the Playoffs, what do you say to them?
We’ve prepared to do what we’ve done. But until you do it in the Cup Series, I couldn’t legitimately tell you that we were going to lead all of the laps we have led, have the finishes we have, win the races, etc. That’s wild. Until you do it, I don’t know how anyone could say it’s going to happen. We’ve done a lot of things we set out to do.”
Could you imagine five years ago going on to the Round of 8?
“I couldn’t have imagined five months ago. Go back three or four years ago and I got my opportunity with CGR and I am forever grateful.
“Here we are still rolling on in the Playoffs with Trackhouse Racing and the No. 1 team.”
You sound very optimistic about intermediate tracks coming up?
“Yeah, I’m full-on focusing on Las Vegas, not looking back at the Roval. Our intermediate program is strong. I have full confidence going into these two weeks at intermediate tracks. Our cars are strong.”
No. 1 Trackhouse Team Roster
Founder: Justin Marks, Rocklin, California
Team Partner: Armando Christian Perez, Miami, Florida.
President: Ty Norris, Sumter, South Carolina
Driver: Ross Chastain, Alva, Florida
Crew Chief: Phil Surgen, Lake Elmore, Vermont
Car Chief: David Fero, Galt, California
Spotter: Brandon McReynolds, Mooresville, North Carolina
Engine Builder: ECR Engines, Welcome, North Carolina
Engine Tuner: Harry Holcomb, Mount Pulaski, Illinois
Fueler: Brook Davenport, Centreville, Maryland
Front Tire Changer: Mike Roberts, Hendersonville, North Carolina
Rear Tire Changer: Ken Pozega, Warren, Ohio
Jackman: Shane Wilson, Edgewater, Maryland
Tire Carrier: Matt Simmons, Charlotte, North Carolina
Engineer: Mike Skarbowski, Upper Black Eddy, Pennsylvania
Engineer: Mike Hann, East Granby, Connecticut
Mechanic: Josh Heidkamp, Vandalia, Ohio
Mechanic: Mike Madill, Glendale, Arizona
Tires: Patrick Lyden, Erie, Pennsylvania
Truck Driver: Roy Miller, Elkridge, Maryland
Truck Driver: David Alexander, Concord, North Carolina
About Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge:
Tootsie’s has operated across the alley from the Ryman Auditorium (The original Grand Old Opry) in Nashville, Tenn. almost continuously since 1960. Its proprietor from 1960 to 1978, Hattie Louise “Tootsie” Bess, bought the lounge called “Mom’s” and named it for herself.
According to tradition, a painter mistakenly painted the exterior orchid purple. The color was never changed and became Tootsie’s signature color. Over the years, she served such famous customers as Kris Kristofferson, Faron Young, and Willie Nelson when they were still up-and-coming artists, and Tootsie was well-known for her generosity toward struggling musicians. The photo- and memorabilia-lined walls are called “Tootsie’s Wall of Fame.” A portion of the Loretta Lynn biopic “Coal Miner’s Daughter” was filmed inside Tootsie’s.
A music connection is not new to the Trackhouse racing team. In 2021, Marks announced GRAMMY Award-winning global superstar Armando Christian Perez (Pitbull) as a team partner. Perez served as the grand marshal at the 2021 Daytona 500 and has attended several Cup races.
Click Here for the NASCAR TV Schedule
Notes of Interest
- 2022 marks Chastain’s second full-time Cup Series season. The Chevrolet driver’s first Cup Series start occurred in 2017.
- Chastain won his first career Cup Series race at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas on March 27, 2022 and his second at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway on April 24.
- Chastain owns 197 Xfinity Series starts with two wins (Las Vegas in Sept. 2018, and Daytona in July 2019), 23 top-five and 49 top-10 finishes.
- The Florida native has 100 Camping World Truck Series starts with four wins, three earned in 2019, and one in 2022 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway, 19 top-five and 44 top-10 finishes.
- Chastain joined Trackhouse Racing for the 2022 season after Chip Ganassi Racing was acquired last off season by Justin Marks.
- Chastain has driven for Premium Motorsports, Spire Motorsports and Roush Fenway Racing in the Cup Series before his first full-time season in 2021.
- Trackhouse founder and owner, Justin Marks, competed in six Cup Series races with a best finish of 12th-place in the 2018 Daytona 500. He made 35 starts in the Xfinity Series posting a win, three top-five and seven top-10s. He won the Xfinity Series race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Aug. 13, 2016 driving for Chip Ganassi Racing.
- Marks competed in 38 races in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series posting four top-10s and capturing two pole awards. He joined four co-drivers in winning the 2009 Rolex 24 in the GT division.
- Before turning a wheel in 2021, Trackhouse Racing became one of the more popular teams in NASCAR when it announced GRAMMY® Award-winning global superstar Pitbull had become a partner. Not only is he an active partner on the Trackhouse executive team, but Pitbull also serves as a brand and philanthropic ambassador.
- Trackhouse Racing won the 2021 NASCAR Diversity Team Award.
Trackhouse Racing Historical Statistics