Tony Marks Racing Shows Solid Strength In Toledo Practice

Topics:  Maryeve Dufault, Menards 200

Angela Starke/Chris Knight
Knight Motorsports Management/Tony Marks Racing
14 May 2011

TOLEDO, Ohio (May 14, 2011) - - 2011 ARCA Racing Series Rookie of the Year candidate Maryeve Dufault, drive of the No. 12 VR-12 / Dodge Motorsports Dodge Charger and her Tony Marks Racing (TMR) teammate Jared Marks, driver of the No. 8 VR-12 / Dodge Motorsports Dodge Charger both made excellent strides today at Toledo Speedway in preparation for tomorrow’s Menards 200 presented by Federated Car Care.

Mother Nature thwarted the days schedule after persistent rain showers soaked the half-mile oval throughout the morning forcing ARCA Racing Series officials to revise the itinerary, which now included two practice sessions and the cancellation of Menards pole qualifying presented by Ansell.

In the first practice session, Marks, a Napoleon High School sophomore maneuvered the 13th fastest lap with Dufault, the Sorel, Quebec Canada native tucked close behind in the 15th position.

In final practice, Marks negotiated the 15th fastest lap with Dufault on the bumper of her rookie teammate in 16th.

“The No. 12 VR-12 / Dodge Motorsports Dodge Charger is good,” said Dufault. “I really don’t want the guys to change a thing. The only thing was I had to give it a lot of wheel going into the turns, but I am getting used to it the way that it is and just want to get comfortable driving it how it’s currently set up. The team did a really great job setting the car up for the track. Overall, I am really happy with the car.”

“We were good from the time we unloaded considering we came here and tested Monday”, said Marks, who will make his inaugural ARCA Racing Series debut in the Menards 200. “We made a couple of adjustments to the track bar and the left rear spring and we were good to go. I really just wanted clean laps out here considering this is my first time in a 3400 pound ARCA car. I’ve been here before in a late model but, I’m just focused on getting comfortable in these cars. Overall I’m really happy with the No. 8 VR-12 / Dodge Motorsports Dodge Charger and the way it’s performing. I’m excited about the race, being in this series and anticipating a clean race tomorrow.”

For Ohio entrepreneur, team owner and former race car driver himself, Tony Marks he was pleased with the day. “Both Jared and Maryeve did an exceptional job today. The Tony Marks Racing team have busted their tails off preparing our VR-12 / Dodge Motorsports Dodge machines and to be as competitive as we are off the trailer makes me feel real good. Hopefully, we can have a good day tomorrow with both drivers learning a lot and giving VR-12 and Dodge two really good finishes.”

Because time trials was cancelled because of inclement weather, Marks will start his machine from the 31st position with Dufault a positions ahead in 29th.

The Menards 200 presented by Federated Car Care (200 laps / 100 miles) is the fourth of 19 events on the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 69th ARCA race at Toledo Speedway is a two-day show. An hour on-track autograph session has been etched in from 12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. on race day (Sunday). The contest will take the green flag shortly after 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 15. The race will not be televised nationally but event coverage including live timing and scoring throughout the weekend will be available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com presented by ARCANation.com. For the second consecutive race at Toledo Speedway, the anticipated thriller will be available locally on television through the Buckeye CableSystem Sports Network (BCSN) Sunday night at 9:00 p.m. All times are local.

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