Martino Motorsports Evolution Continues…

by editor on Aug.23, 2013, under Hotzone

Martino Motorsports Evolution Continues…

Buoyed by another rather telling on-track performance during last weekend’s NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals, it is onwards and upwards for Mark Martino, Canada’s only NHRA Pro Stock class racer….

Mark Martino

Mark returned to the NHRA Pro Stock class at Brainerd running his first event since the Route 66 Nationals at Chicago in early July. At BIR he was behind the wheel of a special edition race car which showcased new team associates and event guest sponsors Menards & Voortman Cookies (of Burlington ON).

Driving the extremely potent GXP which was leased from Kenny Koretsky and which features a Victor Cagnazzi engine program, Mark in fact earned his 3rd career round win when he knocked out high profile and pre-event favourite Jeg Coughlin during Pro Stock round #1.

Mark combined a terrific .016 RT with a run of 6.647 secs at 207.88 mph to edge out Coughlin’s slightly quicker 6.644 secs at 207.40 mph in the highly funded Jegs Dodge Avenger.

Martino did fall in the next round to recent Pro Stock class hot shoe Vincent Nobile by a 6.636 to 6.684 secs count.

But with that 1st round win and to date in his relatively short NHRA career — Martino’s racing record now shows he has beaten Greg Anderson, Jason Line and Jeg Coughlin head to head in NHRA eliminations. That’s an impressive fact in anybody’s books.

Mark Martino will now move on to the NHRA’s Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals next week with entry into the biggest and most prestigous drag racing event in the world. At Indy the team will revert the car back to it’s SANY & BIK Lifts primary sponsorship look and colours to continue that very valued new relationship.

“We did have a two race initial deal with Bob Benza which worked well but which has now expired,” Mark explained. “Then at Chicago we teamed up with Kenny Koretsky who had a GXP available after we sold our GXP to a race team in Australia. Kenny’s car is a really good car — the former Nitro Fish which Greg Stanfield last drove.”

“Our new sponsorship is allowing us some more funding and options to move forward with,” he added. “We were able to commit to at least more 3 races with Victor for one of his motors. We have added in Ed Guarnaccia, Jamie Yates & Jerry Eckman to our equation — so we have a pretty good brain thrust going.”

But Mark also remains calculated, patient and strategic about his racing future which includes a continued focus on some long term goals.

At Brainerd last week – Mark Martino took out Jeg Coughlin on a holeshot in round #1 of competition.

“At this level of drag racing it takes time to put all the right deals together,” he admitted. “Our new associates all will help us make our program stronger and we are building some momentum towards the future. Our target is 10-15 races next year and I want to try to run the full NHRA tour at some point after that. 2013 is providing us with important steps towards that.”