FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Duane H. Fredrickson
LaFavre Racing Teams
(612) 469-1839
DIRT-RACING LEGEND JIMMY MARS GOES ASPHALT
Mars signs with LaFavre Racing for 1999 NASCAR Season
Lakeville, Minn. (November 6, 1998) — Long the nemesis of dirt-track late model drivers across the country, Elk Mound, Wis., driver Jimmy Mars announced he will leave his regular schedule pursuing victory at high-paying events on the Hav-A-Tampa and STARS tours to pursue asphalt racing in a NASCAR Re/Max Artgo Challenge Series car with Minnesota-based LaFavre Racing.
“This is a perfect opportunity for us to move up and get a taste of asphalt racing,” said Mars, whose long-term goals include moving up to an exclusive asphalt series such as NASCAR Busch Grand National or Winston Cup. “If we want to climb up through the ranks, this is the perfect place to start. The resources at LaFavre Racing will definitely help us pursue our goal to win the series championship next year.”
The Parker Stores-sponsored late model has become a favorite across the country as Mars has amassed more than 100 feature wins over the past several seasons. Mars’ resume includes victories at such prestigious events as the 1997 Dirt Late Model Dream at Rossburg, Ohio, the 1996 USA Outlaw Nationals and the 1996 and 1997 Firecracker 100, all at Cedar Lake Speedway in Somerset, Wis.
In addition, Mars was the 1996 point champion at Wisconsin’s Red Cedar and Cedar Lake Speedways, as well as the UMP Wisconsin State Point champion and the WISSOTA 100 champion. Wisconsin Fans for Auto Racing named him the “Dirt Late Model Driver of the Year” in both 1995 and 1996.
Jimmy and brother Chris Mars, who serves as Jimmy’s crew chief, bring their aspirations for victory and passion for perfection to LaFavre Racing Teams, where they will continue to run several dirt races in addition to their NASCAR schedule. At LaFavre Racing, the Mars join an operation that includes an ASA team and limited NASCAR Busch Grand National program headed by crew chief Terry Garrison and driver Mike Garvey.
“We are thrilled to have Jimmy and Chris on board and we’re looking forward to an exciting season pursuing the Re/Max Artgo Challenge Series championship with them,” said team owner Scott LaFavre. “They’re the kind of racers who go to the front—dedicated, hard-working, all-out, foot-to-the-floor guys and we think this is going to be a great partnership.”
The NASCAR Re/Max Artgo Challenge Series is an asphalt, late model touring series that visits 13 tracks on its 18-race swing through the country. Drivers will attack everything from traditional short tracks such as the high-banked Rockford (Ill.) Speedway to the new superspeedways of Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis, Mo., and Pike’s Peak International Raceway in Fountain, Colo., as well as the road course at Heartland Park in Topeka, Kan.
LaFavre Racing is a Lakeville, Minnesota, based professional auto racing team that competes in the American Speed Association (ASA), NASCAR Re/Max Artgo Challenge Series and NASCAR Busch Grand National Series. As the 1997 ASA championship team and winner of the series' prestigious Crew of the Year award, LaFavre Racing leads the field in commitment to perfection. For more information, visit our web site at www.lafavreracing.com.
