Inside Line Promotions – SELINSGROVE, Pa. (Sept. 17, 2013) – Brent Marks’ career-best season continued over the weekend as he recorded a pair of seventh-place finishes to give him 50 top 10s this season.
“It was a good, solid weekend for us,” he said.
The competition began on Friday at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa., where Marks finished where he started – second – in his heat race. That locked him into the feature, which he started on the inside of the fourth row.
“We had a decent car Friday night,” he said. “We got into a little bit of a tangle at the beginning of the race and fell back to ninth or 10th. The track was super fast, up against the wall. We had a fast car. We just needed some track position.”
Marks rallied to pass a couple of cars in the closing laps to capture the seventh-place result.
“It was one of those nights where you put your time in and do the best you can,” he said. “Seventh was the best we had.”
On Saturday, the team tried to diagnose an issue that showed up the night before. Competing at Selinsgrove Speedway for the Jim Nace Memorial 31st annual National Open, Marks was slowed by the mechanical problem to start the night.
“We were having problems with our motor breaking up Friday night and into Saturday,” he said. “We changed the fuel pump out and checked the fuel filter. When they went to push me off (for time trials) the car started and stalled. I kinda lost a little bit there. That ruined the rest of our night, not being in the invert.”
Marks was unable to get completely up to speed prior to his one qualifying lap, which he finished 13th quickest – one spot out of the heat race inversion. He finished fifth in his heat race to advance for the main event, which he started 10th.
“We had a real good car,” he said. “We set it up a little bit on the freer side. The track was really good. It kept its moisture all night. We got a little better toward the end of the first half, started to gain on some cars.”
The 44-lap race was red flagged for fuel on Lap 24 and the team tucked Marks’ right rear tire toward the car a little bit.
“I thought we were going to run up through there and run in the top five,” he said. “I felt like we had a good enough car to do it. Sometime after Lap 28 or Lap 29 we lost the right front torsion bar. The whole entire thing was missing from the car when we pulled in. I felt the car fall off, but I didn’t know what happened.”
Despite an ill-handling car, Marks held on for his second straight seventh-place finish.
“We were lucky we didn’t wreck the car,” he said. “I’m surprised we were able to hold on for seventh. Any time a bar isn’t attached the car wants to fall to that corner. I was shocked that we finished the race without that being in the car. It was definitely a handful.”
Marks is scheduled to compete on Friday at Williams Grove Speedway and on Saturday at Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, Pa.
QUICK RESULTS –
Sept. 13 – Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa. – Heat race: 2 (2); Feature: 7 (7).
Sept. 14 – Selinsgrove Speedway in Selinsgrove, Pa. – Qualifying: 13; Heat race: 5 (5); Feature: 7 (10).
SEASON STATS –
69 races, 5 wins, 21 top fives, 50 top 10s, 56 top 15s, 59 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Friday at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa., and Saturday at Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, Pa.
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.BrentMarksRacing.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brent_Marks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brentmarksracing?fref=ts
VIDEO –
Here is a link to a highlights package by PaPosseRacing.com of Marks’ first victory of the season at Williams Grove Speedway on June 21: http://youtu.be/OayAFmI9z2Q
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 – Fredericksburg Eagle Hotel
Located in a historic Fredericksburg, Pa., property dating back to the early 1800s, Fredericksburg Eagle Hotel is a restaurant/bar known for a great atmosphere and top-notch wings. For more information, visit http://www.FredericksburgEagleHotel.com.
“After working on the cars a lot of times we will head down to Fredericksburg Eagle Hotel for some wings,” Marks said. “They have the best wings around and it’s a great place to hang out.”
Marks would also like to thank BAPS Auto Paint and Supply, Creekside Auto Sales, Russell Heller Builder, 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 http://www.insidelinepromotions.com.
- Shawn Miller on Sep 17, 2013
- Article Date: 9/17/2013 by Shawn Miller - ILP