Talk about a no-frills interior-Mark's...
Talk about a no-frills interior-Mark's coupe features such bare race essentials as RCI racing bucket seats, a homemade 10-point cage, Auto Meter gauges, and MSD ignition hardware. A Steeda Tri-Ax shifter is connected to a Hanlon Motorsports pro-shifted TTC-Tremec TKO II transmission. Mark's clutch of choice is a Spec Stage III.
Mark started out in 2001 as a nitrous fiend, but he discovered the squeeze was maintenance-intensive, and nitrous refills quickly proved to be a pain. For 2002, he received help from Paxton in the way of a Novi 2000 supercharger. That move paid big dividends for Mark, as he would go on to claim his first Real Street victory at the NMRA's '02 Columbus stop. After wearing the number 8 on the car for 2002, Mark will be able to wear the number 6 for 2003. However, Chris (aka "Noodles") Hemmeter at Behind Bars Race Cars is building a new car for Mark for the '03 season, and it should be ready for the Ohio race. Noodles built Rich Groh's '01 Factory Stock champion-ship car, and Mark is hoping for the same kind of success from his new vehicle.
Speaking of 2003, Mark will be back in the hunt with the coupe seen here-although it will carry a different graphic treatment-until his new car is done. When asked what this NMRA season holds for him, Mark said, "Well, for starters, a lot of sleepless nights getting ready for the races and a lot of good times at the races. A win or two would be nice." Mark hopes to make it to every '03 race and to make a good showing while he's there. But what he really wants in 2003 is a Real Street top-five jacket. You know, the ones that have the nice patches.
"First, I would like to thank Danielle for putting up with me and my racing habit," Mark says. "If it wasn't for her, I would never have gotten the chance to go racing. [I also want to thank] Ricky Best from Vortech/Paxton, Jim Averill at TTC-Tremec, Rich Groh, Charley Schmidt at Trick Flow, Dave Norton at Spec clutches, Dr. Gas, Auto Meter, John Galway for the use of his trailer (sorry about the ditch on the way to BG), Luke at Sticker Dude Designs, Dave and Mike in the parts department, Mike Post, Robert Payton at Speed Lab, Matt Wandel, Jeff Victor, Bill, Joe at ASSC for teaching Danielle how to read the track, Jimmy Dahl, Chip and Scott for getting drunk and entertaining us at the late night parties, and to all of the friends we've made in Real Street. You guys make all the late nights worth it. I would also would like to thank Canton, Moser, Pro-M, Weld Racing, Quarter Master, MSD, AFCO shocks, CP Pistons, TTC-Tremec, and Water Tower marina."