Tony Marks Racing Ends Inaugural ARCA Season On High Note

Topics:  Jared Marks, Federated Car Care 200

Chris Knight
Knight Motorsports Management/Tony Marks Racing
October 19, 2011

TOLEDO, Ohio (October 19, 2011) - - Tony Marks Racing (TMR) started the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards season strong and they ended the season in the same fashion as the Mooresville, North Carolina-based team earned yet another top-10 finish in Sunday’s Federated Car Care 200 at Toledo Speedway with development driver Jared Marks.

With a two-car entry in place, the odds were doubled for the organization to have success. Jared Marks, the Napoleon, Ohio native was returning to the wheel in No. 8 Terry Henricks Chrysler / Dodge / Jeep / Ram Dodge Charger and female sensation Maryeve Dufault in the No. 12 Mad Croc Energy / Dodge Motorsports / Tony Marks Racing Dodge Charger. Marks entered the season on the heels of a career-best fourth place finish in his most recent start at Salem (Ind.) Speedway. Dufault making her second Toledo Speedway start and on the momentum of a commendable solid top-20 finish the week before at Kansas Speedway.

With the United States Auto Club (USAC) sharing Saturday with the ARCA Racing Series at Toledo Speedway, practice which was normally run as one session would now be combined into two forty minute-efforts. Mounting the fourth and 10th place positions in each practice respectively, Marks and his TMR entry were optimistic about qualifying.

In qualifying, Marks posted the seventh quickest lap picking up the pace considerably.

Unfortunately, teams returned to the ARCA-owned racetrack on Sunday under gloomy skies and consistent rain showers. Ultimately, the start of the contest would be pushed-back nearly two hours before the command to fire engines was given. ARCA would choose to utilize the 35-car starting field to finish the track drying process throwing both the green and yellow flags simultaneously for the first 40 circuits of the contest. With the yellow flag retracted and the green “officially” given to the field, TMR had already experienced its fair share of misfortune.

Despite running at slower speeds, both drivers were forced to bring their machines respectively to pit road for separate engines issues which included a carburetor change for Dufault and an examination for Marks. After review, it was determined that Marks would have to settle with just seven cylinders for the remainder of the ARCA Racing Series event.

Now under routine green flag conditions, both drivers had their work cut out for them. The main objective for both teams was to try and thunder their way towards the front of the pack. Despite not fully up to par, Marks hustled his way through the field and utilize some pit strategy which not only put the rising star back in the hunt – but also inside the top-10.

In fact, Marks found himself battling with cars with full horsepower but the rookie’s determination behind the wheel made up for the disadvantage underneath the hood and he was able to mount a 10th place finish in a green-white-checkered finish.

“We had our work cut out for us, but we made the best of it,” offered 17-year old Marks. “We really didn’t have any indication about the motor, it just happened all of a sudden. As a team though, we still knew that we had a good handling car, so we just had to use push it all race long. I want to thank everyone from Terry Henricks Chrysler / Dodge / Jeep / Ram Dodge Charger and of course Dodge for jumping aboard this weekend and for crew for their efforts in times of doubt.

Car owner and Ohio entrepreneur Tony Marks offered his insight on the final race of the season. “We definitely had some ups and downs, but we made the best of it. Jared did a great bouncing back from something completely out of his control and Maryeve continued to strengthen her short track skills by finishing the race. We’ll regroup and plan to return to the circuit bigger and better than ever in 2012.”

A separate release relating to Maryeve Dufault’s overall performance of the Federated Car Care 200 at Toledo Speedway will be issued in the immediate future.

Next up for the ARCA Racing Series is the 2011 championship banquet which is set for Saturday, December 10th at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington, Ky., near Cincinnati. The top-20 drivers and top-10 owners and drivers will be recognized for their participation in the series this year.

To learn more about Jared Marks and Tony Marks Racing, please click over to Tmr-racing.com

For additional information on TMT, Inc. please visit; tmtcompanies.net.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
NAME: Chris Knight, Knight Motorsports Management
PHONE: 239.834.9797
EMAIL: chris@chrisknightpr.com