July 15th Racing

July 15th, 2000 - After racing Thursday and Friday nights, it was time to go back to WIR for the White race. During practice Mark seemed to be able to keep the car low in the corners. Mark qualified 4th fastest with a 19.873 second lap. He started mid pack in first 50 and would hang tough until there was an opening. Once the field started running single file Mark was able to gain on the cars infront of him. He would be really flying through traffic, turning 19.9 second laps. After a couple cautions, Mark commented he needed a long run. With 5 laps to go Mark was running 3rd a little ways behind the 1st and 2nd place cars. The checkered flag flew and Mark had a 3rd place finish! The line up for the second 50 gets inverted, but since there were many cars that were wrecked out of the first 50 he didn't start back as far. Mark was able to move up a couple positions and was running 4th when the caution came out. They relined up the cars during the caution and put Mark in 5th place when he was in 4th. While before the green came out the car pulled in. Mark was running in 4th place and got passed by Lowell Bennett, but Mark stuck with him. Mark was gaining on Lowell and a couple times looked like he was going to pass Lowell back, but lapped cars got in the way. Mark would cross the line in 5th place. Great Run!!! 4th in time, 3rd in first 50 and 5th in second 50. After this great run Mark is currently 5th in the Red,White,Blue points standings only 34 points out of first.

Mark will run Thursday at WIR and Saturday at Norway for the Mars series race. Mark is currently 14th in the standings for the Mars series with 467 points.

Qualifying - 4th
First 50 - 3rd
Second 50 - 5th