Marks came to the team for the Atlanta event to help the newest addition to the ThorSport Racing stable get more track time before next season’s attempt at Rookie of the Year with driver Dakoda Armstrong. After practice and qualifying on Friday afternoon, crew chief Dan Stillman called for changes to remedy the handling troubles Marks described prior to the 200 mile battle later in the evening.
Evidence of the changes appeared within the first five laps as Marks came over the radio and informed his team the GoPro Chevy was really loose. Holding on until the first pit stop, he maintained his position within the top 20 and steered clear of some early trouble on the track. On lap 23 the GoPro crew supplied their driver with four tires and several adjustments to tighten him up all the way around the 1.5-mile circuit.
Marks was silent on the radio following the first round of adjustments until the next caution period on Lap 37 when he radioed to Stillman that the adjustments had his ThorSport Racing machine headed in the right direction, but still needed some final tweaking. Just 23 laps later, Stillman brought his driver back down pit road for a set of sticker tires and more adjustments. Marks went back to work on traffic and began picking his way through the field towards the top-10.
The final chance for adjustments came during the last scheduled pit stop of the night with 30 laps remaining as Marks peeled off the track to bring the No. 98 to the attention of his crew. A solid stop by the team would be followed by a report from their driver that he had completely lost fuel pressure as soon as he returned to competition. Marks brought the truck down pit road and the crew lifted the hood and quickly discovered the failure in the fuel system. Stillman directed his crew to pull the truck behind the wall to fix the broken part, taking just 14 laps to remedy the issue and get Marks back to racing. Unfortunately, he was not able to gain any positions and ended the night in 28th position.
“We didn’t start the night off where we wanted to be, but the guys did a good job and we made gains all night,” Stillman commented. “I wish we could’ve run the whole last run on the track because we had the truck really handling well after that final pit stop.”
“We were really loose in the beginning of the race but we got better and better after every pit stop. We just had an unfortunate parts failure in the fuel system there and the guys did a great job getting it fixed and getting us back out there for the points,” Marks said following the race.
“I’m really excited for this team and for Dakoda. I can tell there’s a good pace in this truck and it just needs to be discovered with this group of guys and this package. It was going to be a good solid night for us but what’s good is the 98 got some experience and stayed fresh for the next race for Dakoda Armstrong. ”
Rookie driver Armstrong will retake the wheel of the No. 98 Chevy Silverado at Chicagoland Speedway in two weeks when the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series resumes competition.
About ThorSport Racing:
ThorSport Racing, based in Sandusky, Ohio, is the longest tenured active NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team. ThorSport Racing’s first came at the Milwaukee Mile on July 6, 1996. NASCAR’s only Ohio-based team, which has run full season schedules annually beginning in 1998, currently runs the No. 88 Menards Chevrolet Silverado driven by Matt Crafton, and the No. 13 Safe Auto/Curb Records Chevrolet driven by Johnny Sauter.
ThorSport Racing has wheeled into Victory Lane with Terry Cook, Matt Crafton, and Johnny Sauter since its inception and has finished a dominating seven times within the top 10 in points with both trucks. In April 2011, Sauter wheeled into Victory Lane at Martinsville Speedway. In 2009 and 2010, both Crafton and Sauter finished in the top five in driver points. In 2011, ThorSport Racing has moved into a state-of-the-art, world-class, 100,000 square foot racing facility in Sandusky, and has also expanded its operations with the addition of a third NCWTS team, the No. 98. The team is set to run select races in 2011, and full-time in 2012 with Rookie of the Year contender Dakoda Armstrong.
About Justin Marks
California native Justin Marks began his love of racing after attending local races and the Indianapolis 500 with his father at the age of 14. His racing career sprouted from local street stock racing and grew into a successful SCCA and Rolex Sports Car Series career. Marks finished 16th in the 2001 Rolex Sports Car 24 Hours of Daytona in his first career professional race, and later collected a total of 12 wins in the SCCA and Rolex Sports Car Series combined. In 2009, he competed once again in the 24 Hours of Daytona and came home with a victory.
Marks moved on to ARCA Racing Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck and Nationwide Series competition in 2007, where he competed in select races over the next two years. Last season, he raced full-time in the ARCA Racing Series with Win-Tron Racing, collecting one win, seven top-five and 13 top-10 finishes. In the first half of 2011, Marks competed in 12 events for Turn One Racing and GoPro, collecting the pole at Dover and two top-10 finishes. For the latest news on Justin, please visit www.JustinMarksRacing.com.
About GoPro
Based in Half Moon Bay, California, GoPro is the world’s leading activity image capture company. GoPro’s HD HERO line of wearable and gear mountable cameras are used by more consumers and video production professionals than any other camera in its class. GoPro’s products are sold in over 60 countries and in the USA through professional channels and retailers including Best Buy, Sports Authority, Bass Pro Shops, Cycle Gear, and online at gopro.com.
- ThorSport Racing Press Release
