Maryeve Dufault; Tony Marks Racing Qualify Career-Best Third At Talladega

Topics:  3 Amigos 250, Maryeve Dufault

Chris Knight
Knight Motorsports Management/Tony Marks Racing
April 14, 2011

TALLADEGA, Ala. (April 14, 2011) - - Maryeve Dufault qualified a career-best third in only her second ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards attempt at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway Thursday afternoon lining up her No. 12 VR-12 / Dodge Motorsports / Victory Water Dodge Charger on the inside of row number two for tomorrow’s 3 Amigos 250.

Dufault, the Sorel, Quebec native has been very impressive in her Talladega debut. Her rookie Tony Marks Racing (TMR) team showed early signs of strength in pre-race testing last month before rocketing herself to third on the practice charts earlier today.

For a while, Dufault’s lap of 52.204 seconds at 183.434 miles per hour set the rookie on the outside of row number one before youngest Kyle Fowler knocked the Redondo Beach, California native down to third overall.

In her first career ARCA Racing Series start at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in February, Dufault qualified 24th.

“Wow, this is great,” Dufault said with a huge smile. “I cannot thank VR-12, Dodge, Victory Water, Tony Marks and Tony Marks Racing for this great opportunity and with a really fast race car. I know we were going for the pole, but I’ll take third and we’ll look forward to tomorrow’s race.”

With her superb qualifying effort, Dufault picked up five crucial championship points towards the coveted ARCA Racing Series championship title which resumes tomorrow after nearly a two month sabbatical.

“Points are good,” she added. “Our goal for tomorrow is to stay up front and not make any mistakes. I’ll have Mike (Calinoff) up spotting for me tomorrow and with his experience, I know I’ll have a shot to be in contention for a good finish if not a win for our sponsors and everyone at Tony Marks Racing.”

Tony Marks, a successful entrepreneur from Ohio has been very pleased with the development and progression of his young race team and was rightfully thrilled with today’s results. “Maryeve and the entire TMR team did a fabulous job,” he said. “We came here and showed the field that we have a great race car and I feel that Maryeve can take VR-12, Dodge, Victory Water and all who support us to victory lane. It’s been a great day so far, hopefully it will keep going into tomorrow!”

A short happy hour final practice session has been etched in for competitors tomorrow but the TMR has not fully decided if they will participate in the run.

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

For more on Maryeve Dufault, please log onto Maryeveracing.com

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

See the buzz that VR-12 is creating by clicking over to their website at VR-12.com.

Quench yourself with Victory Water, see how at Victoryh20.com.

About Tony Marks Racing (TMR):

Tony Marks Racing was founded in 2009 through the passion for racing of team owner and former driver Tony Marks. Marks is the successful owner of TMT, Inc., a logistics, warehousing and packaging company with over 400 employees whose customers are mainly comprised of Fortune 100 companies.

Marks began his racing career in 1985 getting behind the wheel of everything from drag racers, Dirt Late Models, SCCA Formula Fords, USAC F2000 Open Wheel and ARCA cars. Tony personally raced until 2005 amassing numerous wins, championships and track records along the way until he then changed his focus from driver to owner and began building racing programs for his children Jared (16 years old) and Rachel (13 years old). Under the auspices of TMR, Jared began his racing career in 2002 in quarter midgets and now competes in late model, CRA, ASA and ARCA Series events while Rachel continues her development program racing quarter midgets and Bandoleros.

TMR has been at the forefront of charitable giving through its’ “Driving Against Hunger” and “Million Meal Challenge” race programs which have raised over $200,000 for Forgotten Harvest in 2010 at the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series events at Michigan International Speedway.

For the NASCAR events TMR along with TMT, Inc. partnered with Forgotten Harvest for the “Million Meal Challenge For Our Kids” which helps to bridge the hunger gap while schools are out of session and feeds 20,000 children per day in the Detroit metro area. Forgotten Harvest was significantly displayed on the entry of Chase Austin during both the Truck and Nationwide events at Michigan International Speedway along with logos of “Million Meal Challenge” sponsors Walgreen’s, United Race Group, Holyfield’s Choice Alka-Power Water and Vitamin Spice. Evander Holyfield was also instrumental in the challenge, acting as Grand Marshall for the August race and announcing his “Fight Against Hunger” on behalf of Forgotten Harvest.

As the first race team to “Drive Against Hunger” through their partnership with Forgotten Harvest, TMR plans to continue their alliance with Forgotten Harvest and once again “Drive Against Hunger” during the 2011 season.

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TEAM COMMUNICATIONS CONTACT:
NAME: Angela Starke / Chris Knight / Knight Motorsports Management
PHONE: 704.500.7384 / 239.834.9797
EMAIL: angela@chrisknightpr.com / chris@chrisknightpr.com