Mark McFarland
Encyclopedia
Mark McFarland of Winchester, Virginia
) Currently works as a crew chief for Matt DiBenedetto in the K&N Pro East Series. McFarland won the NASCAR
Weekly Series national championship in 2003.
At the end of 1995, he started racing late model
s at Old Dominion Speedway
in Manassas, Virginia
. He was rookie of the year in 1996, and finished third in points. In the 1997 season, he captured 9 wins, and 27 top 10 finishes, at several tracks throughout the south. He finished second at points at Old Dominion.
In 1998, he ran select NASCAR
Busch Series
events, along with 15 late model races throughout the east coast. He qualified for several Busch Series events. In 1999, he did not run any NASCAR events, but finished fourth in points at Old Dominion, and set a new track and LMSC record of 15.222 (88.687 MPH), which still stands today. He continued to run late model and off and on Busch Series events through the 2003 season, when he won the national championship for LMSC in NASCAR
.
In 2004, he raced first for Jim Harris in the Craftsman Truck Series
in the Harris Trucking Dodge. Then about mid season, he was picked to be one of the 4 Hungry Driver drivers in Tommy Baldwin's #6 Busch Series
Dodge's.
He then moved into the USAR Hooters Pro Cup series 1n 2005 driving the Winfuel #32 Chevy for Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Ken Barlow hand picked Jefferson Hodges as the teams crew chief, "Jefferson did a fabulous job building and leading this new team with knowledge and a true craftsmanship"
In 2006, McFarland was hired to drive the number 88 United States Navy
Chevrolet
for Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
in the NASCAR Busch Series
. He got injured while running in the top 10 at the Milwaukee Mile
and missed the next two races at Daytona International Speedway
and Chicagoland Speedway
. He had dislocated his shoulder and also injured some of the muscles around it. Following the Kroger 200
Mark was released from his driving duties of the #88 U.S. Navy Chevrolet. Martin Truex Jr.
would drive the car in the next race at Watkins Glen International
and Robby Gordon
drove it in subsequent races at Michigan International Speedway
and California Speedway
. Shane Huffman
, also from the Hooters Pro Cup series, drove the remaining races in the #88 and is slated for a full Busch Series schedule in the car for 2007.
Winchester, Virginia
Winchester is an independent city located in the northwestern portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the USA. The city's population was 26,203 according to the 2010 Census...
) Currently works as a crew chief for Matt DiBenedetto in the K&N Pro East Series. McFarland won the NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Weekly Series national championship in 2003.
Early career
At the age of eight, he began his racing career, racing go-karts. He earned a factory ride after his first year of racing. In 1994, his karting career ended with 10 National Championships and 14 State Championships to his name.Late model
A "late model car" is a car which has been recently designed or manufactured, often the latest model. The term is broadly used in car racing, and often appears in common use, as in "The officer was driving an unmarked, late model sedan."There is no precise...
s at Old Dominion Speedway
Old Dominion Speedway
Old Dominion Speedway is a 3/8 mile NASCAR Whelen All-American Series and drag racing track in Prince William County, just south of Manassas, Virginia . The Potomac News reported in August 2006 that the track had been sold and that it would be leveled by developers in around a year...
in Manassas, Virginia
Manassas, Virginia
The City of Manassas is an independent city surrounded by Prince William County and the independent city of Manassas Park in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Its population was 37,821 as of 2010. Manassas also surrounds the county seat for Prince William County but that county...
. He was rookie of the year in 1996, and finished third in points. In the 1997 season, he captured 9 wins, and 27 top 10 finishes, at several tracks throughout the south. He finished second at points at Old Dominion.
NASCAR weekly-series championship
In 2003, driving an asphalt Late Model Stock Car McFarland won 16 of his 18 starts at Old Dominion Speedway in Manassas, Virginia. This earned him the national championship of the NASCAR Weekly Series, as well as the track championship" Mark gives all the credit for his success to Jim Dean. " It was Jim's leadership that guided me to our championships.NASCAR national-series career
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Busch Series
Busch Series
The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...
events, along with 15 late model races throughout the east coast. He qualified for several Busch Series events. In 1999, he did not run any NASCAR events, but finished fourth in points at Old Dominion, and set a new track and LMSC record of 15.222 (88.687 MPH), which still stands today. He continued to run late model and off and on Busch Series events through the 2003 season, when he won the national championship for LMSC in NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
.
In 2004, he raced first for Jim Harris in the Craftsman Truck Series
Craftsman Truck Series
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...
in the Harris Trucking Dodge. Then about mid season, he was picked to be one of the 4 Hungry Driver drivers in Tommy Baldwin's #6 Busch Series
Busch Series
The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...
Dodge's.
He then moved into the USAR Hooters Pro Cup series 1n 2005 driving the Winfuel #32 Chevy for Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Ken Barlow hand picked Jefferson Hodges as the teams crew chief, "Jefferson did a fabulous job building and leading this new team with knowledge and a true craftsmanship"
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
for Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
* NOTE: References to "Earnhardt", "he", and "him" refer to the subject of this article, unless otherwise specified. References to his father will include "Sr."...
in the NASCAR Busch Series
Busch Series
The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...
. He got injured while running in the top 10 at the Milwaukee Mile
Milwaukee Mile
The Milwaukee Mile is a -long oval race track in West Allis, Wisconsin that seats about 40,000 spectators. It operated as a dirt track until 1953. The track was paved in 1954....
and missed the next two races at Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
and Chicagoland Speedway
Chicagoland Speedway
Chicagoland Speedway is a tri-oval speedway in Joliet, Illinois, USA, southwest of Chicago. The speedway opened in 2001 and currently hosts NASCAR racing including the opening event in the 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup. Until 2011, the speedway also hosted the IZOD IndyCar Series, recording...
. He had dislocated his shoulder and also injured some of the muscles around it. Following the Kroger 200
Kroger 200 (Busch)
The Kroger 200 was a race in the NASCAR Nationwide Series which took place at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis in Clermont, Indiana.It originally debuted as a summer night race, as the only major NASCAR event in the state of Indiana. It replaced a USAC stock car race held at the track, after that...
Mark was released from his driving duties of the #88 U.S. Navy Chevrolet. Martin Truex Jr.
Martin Truex Jr.
Martin Lee Truex Jr. is a NASCAR driver. He drives the #56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota Camry for Michael Waltrip Racing in the Sprint Cup Series. Truex is a two-time Nationwide Series champion; having won the title in 2004 and 2005. His younger brother, Ryan is a champion in the K&N Pro Series East...
would drive the car in the next race at Watkins Glen International
Watkins Glen International
Watkins Glen International is an auto race track located near Watkins Glen, New York, at the southern tip of Seneca Lake. The facility is owned by International Speedway Corporation...
and Robby Gordon
Robby Gordon
Robert W. "Robby" Gordon is an American racecar driver who currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series as an owner-driver, driving the No. 7 Speed Energy Dodge Charger for Robby Gordon Motorsports, and also competes part-time in the Nationwide Series...
drove it in subsequent races at Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway is a two-mile moderate-banked D-shaped superspeedway located off U.S. Highway 12 on more than in Brooklyn, in the scenic Irish Hills area of southeastern Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is sometimes known as a "sister track" to Texas...
and California Speedway
California Speedway
Auto Club Speedway is a two-mile , low-banked, D-shaped oval superspeedway in Fontana, California which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since 1997. The track was also used for open wheel racing events until 2005. The racetrack is located near the former locations of Ontario Motor Speedway and...
. Shane Huffman
Shane Huffman
Shane Huffman is a former NASCAR and USAR driver. He drove the #40 Key Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado in the Craftsman Truck Series. In 2006 and 2007, he drove the #88 NAVY "Accelerate Your Life" Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS for JR Motorsports in the Busch Series.Shane Huffman returned to NASCAR...
, also from the Hooters Pro Cup series, drove the remaining races in the #88 and is slated for a full Busch Series schedule in the car for 2007.
Honors
- As part of the 25th anniversary of the NASCAR Weekly Series in 2006, McFarland was named one of the series' All Time Top 25 drivers.