Tony Marks Racing Shows Strength At Daytona Test

Tony Marks Racing Shows Strength At Daytona Test   "Maryeve Dufault; Jared Marks and Chase Austin All Enjoy Seat Time In TMR Entry"   DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (January 18, 2011) - - Tony Marks Racing (TMR), the newest multi-car operation in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards wasn't shy about holding back in the recent three-day test session at the newly re-paved Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. In fact, the Ohio-based ARCA team quickly raised the eyebrows of their fellow competitors after TMR immediately showed strength and stabilization in their first tango with the 2.5-mile superspeedway.

 

Armed with the legendary Larry Moore as crew chief, TMR brought three drivers to the "World Center of Racing" as an opportunity to prepare the newest female sensation Maryeve Dufault to become acquainted with the breathtaking racetrack while also utilizing the experience of NASCAR driver Chase Austin to critique the team's performance.   For 16-year old rising star Jared Marks, the dream of competing at Daytona inched one step closer as the Champion Racing Association (CRA) competitor also climbed into the cockpit for several laps around DIS to give him a taste of what is yet to come.   Even though three drivers were on-hand with for the first official open-test of the new season, much concentration was surrounded on the team's full-time pilot of Maryeve Dufault, who will make her first ARCA Racing Series start next month.   After spending 2010 competing in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1, Dufault, a native of Los Angeles will leap into the most diverse racing series in the United States hoping to gain experience, respect and support as she vows to become the first female driver to win an ARCA Racing Series event in the history of the 58-year old sanctioning body.   To say that the Tony Marks Racing team wasn't busy during the three days is a huge understatement. From single-car runs to drafting and everything else in between, Dufault, Marks and Austin all delivered solid results which sensors off good vibes for the freshman team heading into the season-opener in less than a month.   Overall, Dufault led the TMR charge by placing her No. 12b Tony Marks Racing Dodge Charger into 28th out of 58 competitors after posting her fastest lap at 49.203 seconds at 182.916 miles per hour. Dufault edged out several familiar ARCA competitors including nine-time ARCA champion Frank Kimmel and the 2010 ARCA Racing Series champion Patrick Sheltra. She was also the second fastest of the six other females on-track during the open-test only trailing Milka Duno.   Marks and Austin, both in single-car rounds posted times that were 41st and 42nd respectively overall.  The team leaned on comfort not speed for Jared Marks, son of car owner Tony Marks hopped in the seat of the No. 12a Charger and wheeled his automobile around the track in 49.830 seconds or a tick over 180.550 miles per hour. It was a solid lap time for the teenage racer, who under ARCA Racing Series sanctioning age restrictions is allowed to test but not race at the historic facility.   "Overall, we're completely satisfied with the way the test came out," said Tony Marks, owner of Tony Marks Racing. "Chase, Jared and Maryeve all did an exceptional job shaking the car down and producing great feedback. I appreciate Chase being here with the team as a driver coach to the future of our great program. Maryeve did exactly what she needed to do and we believe she gained a lot of respect from her competitors."   He went onto say, "Jared will run some ARCA races later this year and we wanted to make sure he was comfortable in the car not to mention gather priceless seat time. We'll be back next month and hope we can continue to gain the trust and respect of our competitors while also deliver solid results for our team partners."   Dufault expressed her overview of the test by stating, "I'm really happy with the progression we had at the test. I felt really comfortable in the car and I achieved what I wanted to do," she said. "I cannot say enough about the Tony Marks Racing team. They did an amazing job. They've worked really hard despite having very little time to put the car together. We showed we had a very competitive piece. I really have a positive feeling for us for the race."   Tony Marks Racing plans to sport two cars in the 2011 season-opener with Dufault and possibly Austin as a teammate. The schedule will turn later in the year and allow Marks behind the second-car for up to 11 races, including much of the series' short track contests.   Before tackling the breathtaking Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway this week, the freshman organization spent Monday testing at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway allowing the team to shake down their short-track program with all three TMR protégés being allowed priceless seat time behind the wheel. Dufault will make her ARCA Racing Series short track debut at Salem (Ind.) Speedway on May 1, 2011.   Nestled back at their shop in Napoleon, Ohio, the TMR team is preparing for the first of 19 ARCA Racing Series events on the 2011 schedule which launches with the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona on Saturday, February 12, 2011 live on SPEED.   PHOTO CAPTIONS: 1) The No. 12 Tony Marks Racing Dodge Charger on-track at Daytona (Fla.) Speedway during preseason testing for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.    2) ARCA Racing Series Rookie of the Year candidate Maryeve Dufault.   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. For additional information on TMT, Inc. please visit; tmtcompanies.net.   ###

TMR Completes First Test for 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     Tony Marks Racing Completes First Test for 2011 Dufault, Marks and Austin Turn Laps at New Smyrna   Toledo, OH (Dec. 15, 2010) –Tony Marks Racing (TMR) got their pre-season testing off to a great start after a three-day test at New Smyrna Speedway with drivers Maryeve Dufault, Jared Marks and Chase Austin at the wheel of the both a late model and ARCA car.

 

The test was intended to provide Dufault and Marks an opportunity to get familiar with the ARCA car and get some valuable seat time as TMR prepares their 2011 campaign.  Under the watchful eye of veteran crew chief Larry Moore, Austin took the first laps in the ARCA car, shaking it down and making certain that it was dialed in prior to Dufault and Marks taking the wheel.   "This was only the 2nd time in the ARCA car for me but it all came back pretty easy," said Austin.  "I just shook down the car to get a good baseline so that Maryeve and Jared could run without worrying about anything but getting familiar with the ARCA car.  They both did a good job.  I was impressed with how well they did and despite the rain, it was a successful test."   Crew chief Larry Moore planned the test so that Dufault and Marks could run quite a few laps in the CRA Late Model car and learn the ½ mile oval of New Smyrna before moving into the ARCA car. "We came into the weekend with the goal being to get Maryeve and Jared familiar and comfortable in the ARCA car," explained Moore.  "I was impressed with how smooth and calm they both were when we moved to the ARCA car as that is really something you can't teach a driver.  They both handled the ARCA car really well and I was impressed with how quickly they picked up on the weight and horsepower of the car.  It's nice to leave a test and say there was no drama with the drivers or the cars."   For Dufault, the test was a good opportunity to get seat time in the ARCA car and begin to learn the nuances of the stock car.  "I am really very happy with the whole weekend," said Dufault at the close of the test.  "The team did a great job and we communicated really well.  I was really happy to adapt so quickly to the 800 HP ARCA car and the test has really boosted my confidence going into the Daytona test in January."   Marks started the weekend running the CRA Late Model that TMR plans to enter for the 2011 season.   "The test started off really well, we were fast in the late model right out of the trailer so that was nice," explained Marks.  "I'm going to be running Speedweeks at New Smyrna in February so it was nice to get a chance to run this track and fine tune the car and start getting ready for the Crate Late Model and Super Late Model events."  Marks also got his first opportunity to test the ARCA car on Sunday.  "I wanted to get my feet wet in the ARCA car," said Marks.  "It's very different than the late model with a lot more horsepower and a heavier car so it was nice to get a feel for the car and get a little seat time.  I am looking forward to doing some more testing in the ARCA car as the season goes forward."   The team has now returned to their shop in Toledo, Ohio where preparations for their next test at the Daytona International Speedway January 11-13, 2011 are underway.  "Now we're going to spend the next few weeks going over the cars and making sure we're ready to go testing in January," said Moore.  "Even though we have a lot of work on our plates, I think we are just thrilled to be here and get to work with Maryeve and Jared and watch their careers grow."   The team is slated to run the full 19 race season in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards with Dufault.  Additional team plans for 2011 include entries for additional drivers in select ARCA Racing Series events.  TMR will also enter Jared Marks in a full schedule of late model racing in CRA and ASA and is exploring the possibility of limited Nationwide Series schedule.   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 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 Truck and Nationwide 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.   For additional information on TMT, Inc. go to www.tmtcompanies.net.