Justin Marks, of Rocklin, CA, is heading to Lowe's Motor Speedway for the first time this week when the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series unleashes its special brand of competition on Friday, May 16th. 

Marks will drive the no. 9 Crocs Tundra hoping to turn in a top performance in the 201-mile North Carolina Education Lottery 200 that will give his team a lift in the point standings and a finish they can celebrate on 'home turf.'

"I am excited about racing at Lowe's Motor Speedway.  I've been in the Charlotte area for two years now and still haven't been on the home track," said Marks, who spent time at Lowe's this week with Germain Racing's no. 7 GEICO Camry, listening to their test session and learning about the race track.  "It's going to be the closest thing to a "hometown" race as I've had in a long time.  There's such a neat atmosphere in Charlotte in May and to finally be a part of it in the Crocs Tundra is really thrilling."

Momentum should be on the side of Marks, who's team overcame some early race hurdles at Kansas to finish 11th.

"I think the Crocs Tundra is going to be strong this week.  We had a solid run at Kansas and the truck is in good shape.  Jason and the guys have been working hard to prepare for this stretch of races coming up and I'm looking forward to getting back in a routine with the no. 9 Tundra team, trying to improve every week," said Marks, who has raced in the ARCA RE/MAX Series and completed plenty of testing since his the Truck Series' last race, April 26th at Kansas. "I think Lowe's will be a competitive and exciting way to kick off this stretch that runs through Memphis at the end of June."

Heading into Lowe's, Marks sits second in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings and 17th in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship points.

Germain Racing has won two or more races each year for a total of 14 wins. Along with the victories, the team has earned 4 Bud Pole awards, 56 top-five and 85 top-ten finishes and led 1355 laps in 163 Truck Series races.