Inside Line Promotions
NEWBERRYTOWN, Pa. (June 17, 2013) – It was an up-and-down week for Brent Marks.
It began on Wednesday at Bridgeport Speedway in Swedesboro, N.J., where Marks qualified 12th quickest and was in staging for his heat race when fellow competitor Jason Leffler sustained a life-ending crash at the 5/8-mile track. The event was cancelled.
“I never got to know Jason, but I definitely learned what kind of a person he was after reading all of the stories,” Marks said. “Learning all of that stuff I wish I did get to know him. He sounded like a great guy.
“Myself and everyone at Brent Marks Racing offers our condolences and best wishes to his family and son, Charlie Dean.”
Marks returned to action on Friday with the UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa., where he faced an early issue. During hot laps the car jumped out of gear and the team scrambled to change a part in the rear end and the shift cable before qualifying. Without a chance to observe the track changes or manipulate the setup on the car, Marks qualified 14th quickest and later finished fifth in his heat race to advance to the feature.
“We fell behind the eight ball,” he said. “If we didn’t have the problem early on, got a better time trial lap and a better starting position in the feature, I think we could have competed in the top two. We just chased ourselves all night long because of an early problem.”
After starting the main event 10th, Marks advanced to fourth place by Lap 4. He maintained that position until the final corner of the last lap when he bounced off the wall after trying to pass for third place. Marks ended with a fifth-place finish, which was his 11th top five this season.
The UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions competition continued on Saturday at Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, Pa., where Marks qualified 10th quickest, maneuvered from fourth to second place in his heat race and started the feature on the outside of the fourth row.
He quickly advanced to fifth place until the track blew off and the car fell off, dropping him to a seventh-place result.
“We were disappointed with that run even though it was a top-10 run,” he said.
Marks concluded the weekend on Sunday for the Father’s Day Sprint Car Special at Susquehanna Speedway, where he finished second in his heat race to advance to the feature redraw. After pulling the No. 4 and starting on the outside of the second row for the main event, Marks spent the first few laps biding his time.
“We started fourth and were kinda riding around there a few laps,” he said. “The track blew off and I was able to make the top work. (On Lap 9) I went to slide Chad Layton in turn one for the lead. When I hit a rut I guess it snapped the heim on the left rear torsion arm and the whole car fell to the ground and slid up. Obviously I couldn’t race like that.”
Marks pulled into the pits and was credited with a 22nd-place finish.
“That was a bummer,” he said. “We were super fast. I think we would have picked up our fifth win of the season. I’d rather something break racing for the win than sucking and finishing 15th or worse.”
Marks is slated to compete on Friday at Williams Grove Speedway and Saturday at Lincoln Speedway.
QUICK RESULTS –
June 14 – Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa. – Qualifying: 14; Heat race: 5 (3); Feature: 5 (10).
June 15 – Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, Pa. – Qualifying: 10; Heat race: 2 (4); Feature: 7 (8).
June 16 – Susquehanna Speedway in Newberrytown, Pa. – Heat race: 2 (2); Feature: 22 (4).
SEASON STATS –
32 races, 4 wins, 11 top fives, 24 top 10s, 27 top 15s, 29 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Friday at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa., and Saturday at Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, Pa.
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: www.BrentMarksRacing.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brent_
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
VIDEO –
Here are highlights of Marks’ first career win at Selinsgrove Speedway on May 26 courtesy of WHPTV: http://www.whptv.com/
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?
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?
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 – BAPS Auto Paint and Supply
With three stores in Central Pennsylvania and one in Massachusetts, BAPS Auto Paint and Supply is a distributor of Quality Automotive, Industrial, and Commercial Coatings and Supplies. For more information, visit www.BAPSpaint.com.
“BAPS Auto Paint and Supply has sponsored me ever since I started racing go-karts in 1999,” Marks said. “They have been longtime family friends and a huge support of my career.”
Marks would also like to thank Fredericksburg Eagle Hotel, 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.