5/6/2014
Sunset Speedway Park
Getting Up To Speed With…Marc Farrar
Getting Up To Speed With…Marc Farrar
By Ben Deatherage
Originally from Auburn, Maine Marc Farrar has a racing career that spans nearly the entire country. While he's competed in a weekly racing program in Missouri and Oregon for a total of four years, he's also raced at tracks in Iowa, Oklahoma, Idaho and Utah. But his original introduction to racing was where he grew up, the Pine Tree State of Maine. Marc had a two year karting career in the Midwest before moving to San Diego for work before moving to Sherwood, Oregon three years ago.
Racing the last two season at Sunset Speedway Park Farrar just loves the “Banks Bullring”. In 2012 Farrar was the Rookie of the Year in Street Stock points and finished third in the final standings while last season he was sixth in points with two wins and six top fives in only nine starts. We got a chance to talk to Marc about his 2014 plans, why he races the #5, and his racing background across the country. Now let’s get up to speed with Marc Farrar.
Driver: Marc Farrar
Home Track: Sunset Speedway Park
Hometown: Sherwood, Oregon
Occupation: Government Affairs at Comcast
Age: 44
Years Racing: 4
Classification: Street Stocks
Car: 5
Chassis: 1976 Camaro
Sponsors: AFT Performance Racing Engines, Aftermarket Enterprises
Special Thanks: Dustin and Larry Canfield
BD: What are some of your plans in 2014?
MF: Well we're gonna change things up a little by coming out with a different look on the car. The overall plan is to run for the Street Stock championship at Banks. We’ve got a pretty good class of Street Stock drivers. They are competitive but at the same time low key and not trying to prove a point. It makes for a fun evening and it’s great that no one out there wants to tear up equipment. Everyone gets along because we’re out there for the same reason.
BD: How did you get your start in racing?
MF: My dad was a flagman at Oxford Plains Speedway in Maine. I thought it was an omen that I would be involved in racing, particularly when my Dad flagged the races the night I was born! Mom took us three kids to the stock car races every Saturday night. After moving to Kansas a buddy of mine was into kart racing and had three karts that he owned and invited me to run a KT100 one of the last nights of his season. I was hooked and bought myself a kart and ran a KT100 for a year and the second year ended up running two Karts - a KT100 and another with an open motor. I ran those on oval dirt tracks like Lasoski Speedway (in Warrensburg, Missouri) which is like a karting version of Bristol and I also ran the Tulsa Shootout (same track where the Chili Bowl is run) and made the main both years, and also ran the Kart Nationals in Delaware, Iowa. But then I sold all my stuff when I moved from Kansas City to San Diego for work and was there for a few years. I moved up here in 2011 and that fall I went to a race at Sunset and ended up buying a Street Stock from Randy Allen.
BD: What is your biggest racing highlight so far?
MF: I’d probably say this last season winning the fifty-seven lap Street Stock feature during the Doug Walters Classic show. Our class had a full field of cars that night so we got the 57 lap feature and I took the lead on lap three and was out front the rest of the race.
BD: Why did you choose the #5 to race?
MF: Actually it relates back to the Oxford Plains Speedway days. The #5 was driven by a multi-time Late Model champion named Mike Rowe. The Late Models were the feature class at the track and he won ten or twelve championships. They called it the “Quick 5”. This year’s paint scheme is a 1970’s-80’s tribute that will mimic his and I’m hoping that it maybe gives me some good luck.
BD: Any chance you might move up to the Modifieds in the future or are you happy in the Street Stocks?
MF: You know I really want to get better and improve my driving and have more success in the Street Stocks at Sunset. My first year I won a few trophy dashes and a main and last year I won two mains. If I’m able to win some more features or a championship I might. I’m interested, but I just want to be the best I can be in the Street Stocks before I move up.
Sunset Speedway Park hopes to kick off the 2014 season with Ladies Night this Saturday May 10th and Ladies get into the races for just $5.00. Classes in action for that evening will include the IMCA Modifieds, Pure Stocks, Dwarf Cars, and the Womens division. It will also be a special event for the Womens classification as they will participate in the Iron Woman 50. For more information log on to www.sunsetspeedwaypark.com.
Submitted By: Ben Deatherage
