Contact: Shawn Miller
Inside Line Promotions
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Marks Claims First-Ever USAC Heat Race Victory in Fourth Career Race
Inside Line Promotions – NEWBERRYTOWN, Pa. (June 10, 2013) – It was time for a little extra fun, so Brent Marks took off the wings to compete twice with the USAC Eastern Storm last week.
While two of his five scheduled wing and nonwing events were rained out, Marks recorded a pair of tops 20s and his first-ever heat race victory against the premier nonwing racers in the country.
“It’s something different,” he said. “We’ve enjoyed wingless racing. I watch a lot of nonwing shows from Indiana on the computer and I think it’s great racing. I love the speed of the winged car, but as far as driving, it seems a little more fun to drive.
“The biggest difference is the speed and the way you drive the car. In a winged car you’re trying to keep it as straight as you can. In the nonwing you’re using the throttle as much as you can to get around the track. A totally different driving style and a totally different attitude the way the car reacts.”
In his third-ever nonwing race and first in two years, Marks began the week on Wednesday at Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville, Pa., for the Thunder on the Hill.
He qualified 18th quickest, but missed advancing to the feature through his heat race. However, Marks charged from fourth to claim the B Main and earn a position in the main event.
“I thought we might have had a top-10 car, but Kevin Thomas Jr. got his front end taken out a couple of cars in front of me,” Marks said. “He had no control and came down and clipped me. I didn’t have enough time to get repairs made.”
Marks finished 20th.
Thursday’s USAC event was rained out at Path Valley Speedway in Spring Run, Pa., as was Friday’s regular winged event at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa.
Marks returned to winged racing on Saturday at Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, Pa., where he endured one of his most frustrating nights of the season.
“That was probably our worst race all year,” he said. “We had motor problems early in the night and with all the rain we had the track was super heavy and super fast.”
Marks was unable to advance through his heat race and was relegated to the B Main, which he finished second in to pick up a transfer. However, Marks started 22nd in a caution-free feature and was only able to record a 15th-place finish.
“The feature went nonstop and we just weren’t able to make anything happen,” he said. “I had a lot better car than the group in front of me, but it was so hard to pass. It was tough to make anything happen. It was definitely disappointing. Hopefully we don’t have another night like that.”
Marks ended the weekend on a high note Sunday at Susquehanna Speedway, where he returned to nonwing action.
After qualifying 11th quickest, Marks maneuvered from fourth to earn his first career nonwing heat race victory. He then started 11th in the main event and battled to an eighth-place finish.
“We learned a lot at Grandview with the setup,” he said. “We were able to start off and adjust accordingly. We got to race with some of the top USAC guys in the country, which was cool. You definitely can’t complain about a top 10 with the USAC guys in only my fourth nonwing race.”
Marks is slated for four winged races this week, beginning on Wednesday at Bridgeport Speedway in Swedesboro, N.J. He will return to Williams Grove Speedway on Friday, Lincoln Speedway on Saturday and Susquehanna Speedway on Sunday.
QUICK RESULTS –
June 5 – Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville, Pa. – Qualifying: 18; Heat race: 5 (2); B Main: 1 (4); Feature: 20 (18).
June 8 – Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, Pa. – Heat race: 7 (5); B Main: 2 (5); Feature: 15 (22).
June 9 – Susquehanna Speedway in Newberrytown, Pa. – Qualifying: 11; Heat race: 1 (4); Feature: 8 (11).
SEASON STATS –
29 races, 4 wins, 10 top fives, 22 top 10s, 25 top 15s, 27 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Wednesday at Bridgeport Speedway in Swedesboro, N.J.; Friday at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa.; Saturday at Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, Pa.; and Sunday at Susquehanna Speedway in Newberrytown, Pa.
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: www.BrentMarksRacing.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brent_Marks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brentmarksracing?fref=ts
VIDEO –
Here are highlights of Marks’ first career win at Selinsgrove Speedway on May 26 courtesy of WHPTV: http://www.whptv.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=4077437
Check out Dirt Station highlights of Marks’ victory at Lincoln Speedway on May 11: http://youtu.be/WWQnrUF5ArI
Here is a link to a highlights package by PaPosseRacing.com of Marks’ win at Lincoln Speedway on May 11: http://youtu.be/9lltxaHih4k
Here is a link to a highlights package by PaPosseRacing.com of Marks’ win at Lincoln Speedway on March 30: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHZvZdKZCk4
Here is a link to a highlights package by PaPosseRacing.com of Marks’ win at Lincoln Speedway on March 9: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zlz27Ec4jA
APPAREL –
Marks has a variety of apparel, including t-shirts, sweatshirts, long-sleeve shirts, hats and stickers. The apparel is located in front of the truck at Williams Grove Speedway and at T-shirt Alley at Lincoln Speedway each weekend.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Russell Heller Builder
Located in Lebanon, Pa., Russell Heller Builder is a residential construction company.
“He has been a long-life friend,” Marks said. “We’ve raced go-karts with him and his son for a long time. He recently built our new race car shop, so I know firsthand how excellent his work is.”
Marks would also like to thank BAPS Auto Paint and Supply, Fredericksburg Eagle Hotel, Creekside Auto Sales, TJ’s Body Shop, KC Automotive, Wolf Run Landscaping, Glenna Straley Hair Design, Sprint Aces, Robison Racing Products, KSE Racing Products, Penske Racing Shocks, Triple X Race Co., MEMTEC Services and special thanks to Tim Spangler and Jake’s Carts for their continued support.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –
Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations, media management and merchandising services for sprint car teams. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and your sponsors’ return on investment.
To meet the media relations needs of your team, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or sprintcarreporter@yahoo.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit www.insidelinepromotions.com.