2011-07-14

Back In Business Maryeve Dufault Sets Sights On Iowa Speedway

NEWTON, Iowa (July 13, 2011) - - Healed and feeling great ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards Rookie of the Year candidate Maryeve Dufault returns to competition this Saturday afternoon at Iowa Speedway in the running of the Prairie Meadows 200.

 

While the Sorel, Quebec native was forced to skip last weekend’s race at Berlin (Mich.) Raceway, she still attended the Hantz Group 200 to support her Tony Marks Racing (TMR) team and the No. 12 Mad Croc Energy / VR-12 / Dodge Motorsports Dodge Charger driven by 2010 ARCA champion Patrick Sheltra.

 

With Sheltra starting sixth and finishing fourth, Dufault and her TMR team led by Darren Wolfe and Ryan Chism return to short track racing this weekend hoping to keep the team’s momentum pointed in the right direction.

 

 

“I feel great, I’m just ready to get back in a race car,” said Dufault. “It was extremely hard to sit out last weekend’s race at Berlin, but it was in the best interest of everyone at Tony Marks Racing and Patrick did a good job. Hopefully some things I learned from him can adapt to Iowa.”

 

Officially out of the championship hunt, Dufault shifts her agenda on the ARCA tour now aiming for strong finishes to keep her freshman team in the spotlight.

 

“Now that points’ aren’t necessarily an issue, we can focus on the bigger picture and that’s trying to win races. Obviously, that’s a tough task for any team to do in ARCA this year, but this is a good team with a lot of talented people, so we’re going to do our absolute best in the next eight races to put our No. 12 Mad Croc Energy / VR-12 / Dodge Motorsports Dodge Charger in victory lane.”

 

With that mentality planted, Dufault knows that in order to win races, you must be around for the final laps to have a shot. And while Dufault has struggled to see the checkered flag on the short tracks this year due to circumstances beyond her control, the former NASCAR Canadian Tire Series pilot is glued on being around when it counts the most.

 

“Unfortunately, we haven’t had good luck on the short tracks this year,” recalled Dufault. “We’re looking to change that statistic stat and be around to see the final laps at Iowa Speedway. I hear it’s a pretty cool track and relatively easier to drive compared to some of the other short tracks we compete on. We’ll just have to see how it goes.”

 

Car owner Tony Marks is thrilled to have one of the most popular drivers in ARCA back in the saddle this weekend at Iowa Speedway. The successful Ohio entrepreneur feels that Dufault will climb in her Dodge Charger and compete as she hasn’t missed a beat.

 

“Maryeve is a crucial piece to the success of Tony Marks Racing, so we’re glad to have her back in the seat this weekend,” he said. “Last weekend’s results were a boost for us all and I think it has Maryeve more determined than ever. I like her attentiveness to the details and the overall goals for this weekend, so hopefully we can have back-to-back strong runs for the No. 12 Mad Croc Energy / VR-12 / Dodge Motorsports Dodge Charger.”

 

For the third time this season, Tony Marks Racing will field two entries on the ARCA Racing Series tour. In addition to Dufault, TMR development driver Jared Marks will compete in the 11th race of the season in the No. 8 Mad Croc Energy / VR-12 / Dodge Motorsports Dodge Charger on Saturday afternoon.

 

This weekend, Tony Marks Racing is pleased to have the Hilton Garden Inn of West Des Moines, Iowa on-board as a major associate marketing partner for Saturday’s contest. The Hilton Garden Inn logo, part of the Hilton family of hotels will be plastered on the team’s No. 8 and No. 12 entries this weekend.

 

The Prairie Meadows 200 (200 laps / 175 miles) is the 11th of 19 events on the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The sixth ever ARCA race at Iowa Speedway is a two-day show. Practice begins Friday, July 15th with an hour and twenty minute practice session planned from 3:00 p.m. – 4:20 p.m. A final fifty minute session has been etched in from 5:30 p.m. – 6:20 p.m. Menards Pole by Ansell qualifying is slated for race day, Saturday July 16th set to begin at 12:10 p.m. The event will take the green flag shortly after 4:15 p.m. The event will air live on SPEED. Additional event coverage including live timing and scoring throughout the 1,323rd race for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards since it was formed in 1953 will be available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com presented by ARCANation.com.  All times are local.

 

For additional information on TMT, Inc. please visit; tmtcompanies.net.

 

For more on Maryeve Dufault, please log onto Maryeveracing.com.

 

To learn more about Tony Marks Racing, please click over to Tmr-racing.com.

 

See the buzz that VR-12 is creating by clicking over to their website at VR-12.com.

 

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.

TEAM COMMUNICATIONS CONTACT:

 

NAME: Chris Knight, Knight Motorsports Management  

 

Posted by Marc Patrick Roy at 14.7.11

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