PLUER GETS BOOST FOR ROAD AMERICA RUN

Topics:  Mark Pluer

Matt Panure
Mid American Stock Car Series
June 14, 2010

FORT ATKINSON, Wis. (June 14, 2010) – Momentum has been a friend of Mark Pluer’s so far in 2010. During Sunday’s running of the Mid-American Stock Car Series’ Vercauteren Memorial, Pluer will receive an extra boost by carrying the colors of Bucyrus, sponsor of Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide event.

Bucyrus provides mining services and equipment. The company has locations around the world, including one in South Milwaukee, Wis.

The wires in Pluer’s mind started to touch and sparked an idea when he found out Bucyrus was sponsoring the Nationwide event, but did not have any representation on the track. “One of my crew guys works there and he mentioned something to them,” Pluer said. “I told them if they wanted, we would get some vinyl and put it on my car.”

After speaking with representatives from Bucyrus, the deal was in place for Pluer and included another perk. Pluer will have his car on display in the company’s hospitality tent all day Saturday.

“They have people coming from all over the world,” Pluer said. “It’s a big entertainment thing for them.”

Pluer hopes to parlay this event into a future sponsorship opportunity. “Basically I’m flying their colors for this race,” he said. “After this event we’ll talk about some future sponsorship.”

A good run during Sunday’s Vercauteren Memorial could go a long way to help impress the representatives from Bucyrus. No problem, said Pluer.

Specializing on the short tracks, Pluer said he’s up for the challenge of taking a few right turns, as well. In fact, Pluer won his first ever road race. In 1998 he took a 1977 Monte Carlo to Gingerman Raceway in South Haven, Mich., and left victorious.

In three appearances at Road America Pluer has finished third twice, most recently in 2008. Pluer led the field to green in the first ever Mid-American race at Road America in 1993, but blew the clutch out of his racer and was unable to finish the event.

“I love it. It’s challenging,” he said. “It’s a lot of work for us to put (the car) together, but I’m up for it. I go all out. I want to win the thing.”

Alluding to the 2008 event at Road America, Pluer foresees some stiff competition in the lead pack. “There was a breakaway pack of us. I have a feeling you’re going to see that again,” Pluer said. “I think you’ll see the fast guys pull ahead and you’ll see four or five guys dominate the race.”

Of the drivers Pluer predicted to be battling for the win is Bill Prietzel. Prietzel is a two-time Vercauteren Memorial winner, the latest MASCS winner at Road America and the current point leader. He also pegged road racing specialist Mike Mulcahy as one to watch. Mulcahy finished second to Prietzel in 2008.

For those up front, if a win at the historic four-mile course isn’t enough, some extra incentive will be involved. The Harold and Regina Vercauteren traveling trophy will be on the line for the 21st time. Pluer etched his name onto the five-foot-tall token in 2000.

“Most Mid-American guys are so new, I don’t know if they know Gary (Vercauteren, MASCS founder), what he brought to the sport and how he developed it over the years,” Pluer said. “Any memorial race means a lot. It represents someone who was close to us that we lost. Gary was a good guy.”

Mid-American is slated to run a 40-mile (ten-lap) race to cap off the weekend of racing at Road America. The weekend, which spans from Thursday, June 17 to Sunday, June 20 features the NASCAR Nationwide Series, SCCA, Trans Am and more.

The Vercauteren Memorial is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Sunday and is to be preceded by qualifying at 10:15 a.m. Mid-American also has practices slated for 5 p.m. Saturday (after the NASCAR Nationwide race) and 8:40 a.m. Sunday.

Road America is located on Highway 67 just outside Elkhart Lake, Wis. For more information on Road America or the weekend’s events visit www.roadamerica.com or call 1-800-365-RACE (7223).

For more information about the Mid-American Stock Car Series, including the full 2010 schedule, results, standings and driver information visit www.midamericanracing.com.