{"id":7858,"date":"2014-09-08T13:38:08","date_gmt":"2014-09-08T20:38:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/?p=7858"},"modified":"2015-11-11T10:56:18","modified_gmt":"2015-11-11T18:56:18","slug":"justin-marks-is-looking-to-make-woo-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/justin-marks-is-looking-to-make-woo-history\/","title":{"rendered":"Justin Marks Is Looking to Make WOO History"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Justin<\/a>
Justin Marks isn’t too busy running an empire to do a little NASCAR racing.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Burnout’s introduction to former race car driver, and current dirt track racing team co-owner Justin Marks and his new projects wasn\u2019t exactly auspicious.\u00a0 RacingJunk.com business development guru Shawn Stewart called and said, \u201cWhy don\u2019t you chat with Justin if you get a chance. He owns the karting track we went to when we were in Charlotte.\u00a0 It\u2019s where PJ threw up.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Justin came on the phone, I related this story to him.\u00a0 He chuckled. \u201cYeah, that happens.\u201d\u00a0 Motion sickness isn\u2019t something most racers have to contend with from themselves, but when you own a high-speed race experience facility, a little vomit seems like par for the course.\u00a0 That doesn\u2019t seem to bother Justin nuch.\u00a0 The young go-getter has his eyes on bigger things than a little temporary inconvenience, like translating his combination of race skills and business savvy into a race-related empire. And he\u2019s well on his way.<\/p>\n

Marks got his start in the racing industry in college, racing SCCA regional events. He\u2019d always been a fan of dirt racing, having attended races in Iowa with his grandfather, but with connections in the SCCA he decided to try his hand at road racing. In 2001, he parlayed that experience and the connections he\u2019d made into driving for a privateer Porsche team out of Danville, VA, then raced for four years for BMW doing largely endurance-based sports car racing.\u00a0 In 2010, he decided that while he loved to race, he wanted to utilize the business skills he\u2019d earned in college.\u00a0 While Marks still races occasionally, it\u2019s more to keep the flames stoked.\u00a0 He\u2019s moved onto other sorts of thrill rides.<\/p>\n

Due to his race career and the geography it had covered, Marks was familiar with many parts of the United States, including Charlotte, NC, a racing capital.\u00a0 \u201cSo much great racing was going on in Charlotte,\u201d Marks said, \u201cThere was so much driving talent, but when they weren\u2019t occupied during race season, there wasn\u2019t anything for them to do, driving-wise. We wanted to change that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Partnering with Michael McDowell, Justin did the due diligence, getting zoning permits, developing a business plan, and finally they broke ground in 2011 to open the GoPro Motorplex.\u00a0 The karting track was a near instant success. It\u2019s been embraced by the local community, and focuses on offering services for corporate and group events, a perfect fit for the race-crazed area.<\/p>\n

But owning a successful company, DryLake Entertainment, along with the successful karting track and its offshoots including KartSport North America, wasn\u2019t enough for Justin. He was determined to own a race team.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe racing bug first bit when I was a kid, going to dirt races at Knoxville, Quincy, and Donaldson with my grandfather in Iowa.\u00a0 When I finally started to race in California, I didn\u2019t know anyone in dirt racing, otherwise I would have started there. I\u2019d always been interested in owning a team, and thought that a dirt team would also be a great way to learn the business,\u201d explains Marks.<\/p>\n

He partnered with Kyle Larson after meeting at the GoPro Motorplex, and knew that the partnership would bring expertise, connections, and help build a business. Companies, knowing Marks’ business acumen and Larson\u2019s race savvy, would be comfortable investing, and aligning with their brand.\u00a0 \u201cBasically, I asked him if he wanted to start a World of Outlaws team with me,\u201d Marks said. \u201cFortunately, the answer was yes.\u201d<\/p>\n

To start, Larson Marks Racing, and driver Shane Stewart have deliberately campaigned a limited season while building a community, learning the cars, and developing a sound strategy for success. Next year, they\u2019ll be in the race for the championship.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re always careful not to qualify victories by points,\u201d Marks points out. \u201cWe aren\u2019t going to ignore the strength and history of the other teams that will be competing next year.\u00a0 We want to build a car that can race throughout the event, not just time trial quickly. We want a balance, and we want to discover what it will take to be competitive in the top 3 or the top 5.\u201d<\/p>\n

Larson Marks has had a good season so far. The team won their first WOO event, and won the qualifying event at Knoxville, as well as taking a few quick time firsts throughout the season.\u00a0 And Justin has some advice for others in the race community planning out their futures after they step out of the driver’s seat or out of the pits.\u00a0 \u201cMake sure that you understand all of the aspects of the field, learn the business as well as the vehicle. Know the sponsors, learn the trends, read about people who are successful. It’s never enough to just understand how to drive.\u201d\u00a0 These are words Marks has lived by, learning continuously from everyone around him, and applying that knowledge into a successful series of entrepreneurial opportunities.\u00a0 \u201cThe whole deal is relationships, \u201c he says. \u201cMaintain them, those are the true investments.\u201d<\/p>\n