Justin Marks from Rocklin, California won the Keystone Light pole for this evening’s 12th Annual Lucas Oil 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Dover International Speedway, which is also called “The Monster Mile”. It is his second career pole in the series.
Justin Marks from Rocklin, CA in the GoPro Chevy Truck wins the Pole at Dover.
In this, the 6th race of 25 for the year in the Truck series, Justin broke up the ongoing Kevin Harvick – Kyle Busch battle. With a lap of 156.924 mph around the one mile concrete oval track, he knocked Harvick off the pole and put the No. 66 GoPro Chevrolet Silverado truck in the top spot.
Justin was interviewed on SPEED before he qualified and afterwards jokingly credited the interview for helping him go fast and win the pole. Justin Marks interviewed on SPEED TV.
Justin had this to say about the famous track in Delaware: “Dover is one of my favorite racetracks on the schedule. It requires a nice combination of technical ability and courage to go fast. It’s also fun to go to tracks such as this because they are so unique and don’t fit the mold of more traditional short tracks or intermediate “cookie-cutter” facilities.”
Justin Marks from Rocklin, California will race in the 4th race of the NASCAR Camping World Truck series on Saturday at the Martinsville Speedway in Virginia. Justin is currently in 18th place in the points standings. His best finish so far was 18th at Phoenix International Raceway. Qualifying can be seen on Speed TV on Saturday 7:30 to 8:30 am. The race is Saturday, 11:00am-1:30pm and again from 9:30pm-12:00am also on Speed TV. Here is a press release from Turn One Racing and the Go Pro racing team. Please check out the Official GoPro® Store.
MARKS RETURNS TO MARTINSVILLE:
Justin Marks will make his second career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday. The track, which is best known for its paper-clip shape and 12° banking, is one of the most challenging tracks on the circuit. “It’s obviously a very difficult race track; its one of the most difficult tracks on the schedule,” said Marks. “I feel like we had a pretty good test and I feel like we’re making progress every time, so I’m looking forward to it. Martinsville is one of those tracks that I’m going to have to lean on the veterans as much as I can and get as much advice as I can over the course of the weekend because typically the new guys, or the less experienced guys, don’t do that well there.
There is such a style to getting around there fast. I really enjoy driving the track; I think it’s a really cool venue and sort of a unique challenge. I’m encouraged because I feel like this team is getting better and better every week. We’re ready to apply it and get a good finish.”
A pitstop by Justin Marks of Rocklin, California in the #66 Go Pro Chevrolet Truck.
THE CREW CHIEF’S CHOICE FOR MARTINSVILLE:
Crew Chief Doug Wolcott has selected chassis No. 54 for the 13th Annual Kroger “250”. This truck was last raced by former NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion, Jack Sprague at Martinsville Speedway in 2008. The truck qualified 15th and finished 11th with Sprague at the controls. Since then, the truck underwent a complete overhaul including a new front clip and body.
MEET MARKS ON SATURDAY!:
Justin Marks, teammate Cole Whitt, and other NASCAR Camping World Truck Series drivers will take part in an autograph session on Saturday, April 2nd from 9 to 10 a.m. The autograph session will take place across from the ticket office at Martinsville Speedway.
MARKS PREPARES FOR MARTINSVILLE WITH MOTOR MILE TEST:
Justin Marks and the No. 66 GoPro team took their Chevrolet Silverado race truck to Motor Mile Speedway in Dublin, Va. last week for a private test session to prepare for the Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway. “I think the test went real well,” said Marks. “I think the guys all worked together better than they have at any other race track this year, races included. We were able to get through a lot of changes and stick to the plan really closely. The truck responded really well to the different stuff that we did and we changed a lot of geometry. I think it was great because now I am comfortable in the truck and I know how to drive it. I feel like it was a really efficient test. It was definitely great for us to do because I think we learned a lot about this truck. “
TURN ONE RACING IS TIED TO VIRGINIA:
Virginia’s own Van-Go Rentals – “Your Temporary Transportation Solution” is a team sponsor of Turn One Racing. Van-Go Rentals is based in Lynchburg, Va. and is locally owned and operated. In addition, the team receives support from Grand Springs Water, a co-packaging facility and private label bottling company that offers natural spring water with an exceptional taste.
DARLINGTON, S.C. — Justin Marks made his first date with the “Lady in Black” on Saturday night when he made his first career start at the infamous 1.366-mile egg-shaped oval. Being patient and on his toes seemed to pay off at the track best known for leaving its mark on unsuspecting superstars, until Marks’ – who had avoided the event’s first seven wrecks – made contact with the wall just 49 laps from the conclusion of the 6th Annual Too Tough to Tame 200. Justin Marks of Rocklin, CA
“I was happy that we had a truck that was the most competitive so far this year,” said Marks after the race. “It looked like the GoPro Chevy was headed to a solid top-15 finish, maybe better. I’m not sure if there was something on the track or if I just made a mistake but we got sideways right behind Ricky (Carmichael) when he went around. We caught the wall just enough to end our night. It was pretty disappointing.”
Before the collision, the 29-year-old Rocklin, California native had cracked the top-15, which was a significant improvement over qualifying, where his fast lap would only claim 28th starting spot. “Darlington is a very difficult racetrack but a lot of fun to drive,” said Marks. “Everything you hear about showing respect and staying focused are absolutely true. It requires a level of concentration and confidence rare to other tracks.”
That concentration and confidence paid off at the drop of the green flag. Marks started 28th and never looked back; breaking into the top-20 after 10 laps. After logging 25 laps and avoiding the event’s first three accidents, Marks’ brought his No. 66 GoPro Chevrolet down pit road to the attention of the crew, who outfitted his Silverado with four fresh Goodyear tires, fuel, and an air pressure adjustment to help aid the truck from being tight in the center of the corner, and loose off.
When the race resumed, the truck picked up speed and Marks was able to drive it into the top-15 by lap 40. Taking the opportunity to hit pit road again under caution on lap 59, Crew Chief Doug Wolcott called for two right side tires, fuel, and a track bar adjustment, returning Marks to the track 14th. The #66 GoPro Chevrolet Truck driven by Justin Marks of Rocklin, CA.
Marks battled in the top-15 until the next caution waived on lap 90 for a single truck wreck in turn two. Making his final pit stop of the night, Marks hit pit road for four tires, fuel, and an air pressure adjustment, returning to the track 15th. Just three laps after taking the green flag on lap 95, Ricky Carmichael wrecked while exiting turn four and made hard contact with the outside retaining wall. Marks tried to take evasive action to miss Carmichael’s machine, but he slapped the wall with the right front instead.
Marks limped his GoPro Chevrolet to pit road under caution where the crew assessed the damage. With the toe knocked out and the right front fender gone, Marks’ chances of coming away with a top-10 at Darlington were done. After a short red flag, the race resumed with Marks in 26th place. Despite the damage, Marks hung on to finish 24th in his Darlington debut.
Marks and the No. 66 GoPro team will enjoy two weeks off before heading to Martinsville Speedway for the Kroger 250 on Saturday, April 2nd for race number 4 of 25 in the 2011 Camping World Truck Series season.
