Inside Line Promotions
NEWBERRYTOWN, Pa. (May 13, 2013) – There isn’t a better way to tune-up than to win.
That’s exactly what Brent Marks did on Saturday at Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, Pa., where he picked up his third feature victory of the season in a tune-up for the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series visit this coming Wednesday for the Gettysburg Clash.
In addition to the win, Marks added another podium finish with a third-place result on Sunday at Susquehanna Speedway Park – his seventh top three of the season.
“After this weekend I feel like we’re pretty comfortable with being competitive with the Outlaws,” Marks said. “I think we can run up there and hopefully win the race. I feel like we’re prepared right now. I have a lot of confidence coming out of this weekend.”
Following a change to his crew last week and a scheduled race at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa., being rained out on Friday, Marks returned to Lincoln Speedway for one final test before the premier sprint car series invades Pennsylvania.
Utilizing the format the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series uses, Marks qualified ninth quickest. Based on the heat race inversion, Marks started on the outside of the front row for his heat race.
Surprise, surprise. He led all 10 laps to claim his eighth consecutive – and track-best ninth overall – heat race win to advance to the dash.
“I don’t mind qualifying in a position that will put you on the front row of a heat race,” he said. “We just got lucky and got our eighth heat win in a row, which is pretty cool.
“It just builds everybody’s confidence. One nice thing about starting up front in a heat race is that you can tinker around with a setup you might not try when you’re starting eighth. We were able to play around a bit on a small scale and were able to learn from that as well.”
With the No. 8 being drawn as the dash inversion, Marks started on the pole. After spinning his tires in the soggy inside lane, he dropped to third on the start before rallying to finish in the runner-up position.
“The bottom was pretty slimy off of turn four on the starts,” he said. “Once you got in it you just spun your tires. I fell back to third on the start and we were able to race back to second. I was much happier starting second because of how the track was.”
Marks rocketed to the lead on the start and was only stalled by one caution near the midpoint of the 30-lap feature. He chose the outside lane on the double-file restart and again pulled to a decisive lead. Marks then held off a charging Brian Montieth in the closing laps to record the victory.
“Any time Brian Montieth is behind you, you’ve definitely got to step it up,” Marks said. “Especially when there’s a high line, which there was. We had a really good car. I definitely think we had the best car all night long.”
Marks followed the win by heading to Susquehanna Speedway Park on Sunday for only the second time this season. He promptly picked up another heat win – his 13th in 19 races this year – and started the feature on the inside of the third row.
“The feature went really well,” Marks said. “It was mostly green. I was taking my time at the beginning and sorting things out. Danny (Dietrich) and Mark (Smith) had a straightaway lead and I was able to run them down in lapped traffic. I slid Mark a couple of times, but the top was so fast it was hard to complete a slide job. Saturday night lapped traffic played in my favor and last night it didn’t.”
With only one caution in the 25-lap feature, Marks placed third.
“It definitely wipes the monkey off the back,” he said. “This weekend was a fresh start. This weekend was a total team effort. All of the guys worked together with me on the setup. It felt really good to go out there and win and to run third.”
In addition to the Gettysburg Clash on Wednesday, Marks will take on the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series on Friday and Saturday at Williams Grove Speedway for the Morgan Cup.
QUICK RESULTS –
May 11 – Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, Pa. – Qualifying: 9; Heat race: 1 (2); Dash: 2 (1); Feature: 1 (2).
May 12 – Susquehanna Speedway Park in Newberrytown, Pa. – Heat race: 1 (2); Feature: 3 (5).
SEASON STATS –
19 races, 3 wins, 7 top fives, 15 top 10s, 17 top 15s, 18 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Wednesday at Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, Pa., for the Gettysburg Clash and Friday and Saturday at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa., for the Morgan Cup with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: www.BrentMarksRacing.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brent_
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
VIDEO –
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 – Russell Heller Builder
Located in Lebanon, Pa., Russell Heller Builder is a residential construction company.
“He has been a long-life friend,” Marks said. “We’ve raced go-karts with him and his son for a long time. He recently built our new race car shop, so I know first-hand how excellent his work is.”
Marks would also like to thank BAPS Auto Paint and Supply, Fredericksburg Eagle Hotel, Creekside Auto Sales, 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.