Ty Norris’ departure from Trackhouse Racing sent shockwaves through the NASCAR community.
The seasoned motorsports executive had been with the team since its inception in 2021, playing a pivotal role in transforming it into a powerhouse.
Now, Norris has taken on a new challenge, joining Kaulig Racing as Chief Business Officer. In this role, he will work alongside owner Matt Kaulig and team president Chris Rice to forge partnerships and develop strategies for the racing team’s future.
Despite his departure from Trackhouse being on good terms, the team’s co-founder, Justin Marks, had nothing but praise for Norris, calling him one of the greatest executives in NASCAR history when it comes to building race teams.
Trackhouse Racing’s co-owner remains optimistic about Ty Norris
Ty Norris had a remarkable journey with Trackhouse Racing. When he joined in 2021, the team had just one Cup Series entry driven by Daniel Suarez. In the years since, they’ve purchased Chip Ganassi Racing, acquired a third charter for Shane van Gisbergen from Stewart-Haas Racing, and launched PROJECT91.
During Norris’ tenure as President and Business Officer, Trackhouse went from being underdogs to serious title contenders, with Daniel Suarez currently competing in the Round of 12 playoffs in NASCAR’s premier division.
Reflecting on Ty Norris’ exit, Justin Marks told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, “He’s going to accomplish great things. We’ll continue to work together. Trackhouse has a strong partnership with Kaulig—our pit crew supports them, and we’ve got SVG over there. We’re still very connected.
I think he saw an opportunity at Kaulig to help them take that next step, much like he did when we created Trackhouse. He’s one of the best, if not the best, at building race teams in our sport’s history.”
With 35 years of NASCAR experience, Ty Norris brings an extensive resume. His career began in 1990 at RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company, before moving on to Dale Earnhardt Inc. six years later. After his tenure at DEI, Norris briefly served as Vice President of Special Projects for Speedway Motorsports before joining Michael Waltrip Racing in 2005.
In 2013, he was involved in the infamous ‘SpinGate’ scandal when Clint Bowyer intentionally spun out to help Martin Truex Jr qualify for the playoffs. As a result, Norris was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR but was reinstated shortly afterward.
Given the strong relationship between Trackhouse and Kaulig, it’s no surprise that Norris’ transition has been smooth. Welcoming him to Kaulig Racing, the team issued a statement on social media: “Today Kaulig Racing announces the addition of NASCAR industry veteran Ty Norris.
Norris will serve as the team’s Chief Business Officer, focusing on partnerships and long-term strategy alongside owner Matt Kaulig and team president Chris Rice. Bringing Norris and his vast experience to the executive team is part of several key moves Kaulig and Rice are making to ensure the long-term success of their NASCAR Cup Series program.”
Norris’ impact at Kaulig Racing will be closely watched. The team aims to become consistent playoff contenders in the Cup Series, and the motorsports executive has a challenging task ahead of him.
Will he replicate the success he brought to Trackhouse Racing? Only time will tell, but his appointment appears to be a significant step forward for Kaulig Racing’s ambitions at NASCAR’s top level.
