IN A SEA OF DRAGSTERS, MARKINI’S CHEVY SHINES

.016 Average Reaction Time Including a Pair of .000s During Super Chevy Weekend

Dave Markini prefers the road less traveled.  However, that doesn’t mean the Grand Rapids auto tech doesn’t get there on time.

Racing his venerable 1969 Chevy Camaro in a Top ET class chock full of dragsters, Markini reached the final round of Saturday’s Lane Automotive Bracket Series event and still was in contention when the rains came during Sunday’s wrap-up to the Original Super Chevy Series weekend at US 131 Motorsports Park.

Although he didn’t get the Saturday victory, losing to 2015 points champion Bill Swain in the final by an almost indiscernible .0006 of a second, Markini’s .016 of a second reaction time average, including a pair of perfect .000s, helped earn him Gary Hunt’s nod as US 131 Racer of the Week.

Surprisingly, Markini’s first .000 light didn’t even get the win. Undaunted, the 30-year-old, who has raced the last 11 years with his dad, Michael, made the most of the track’s buyback option, won five straight rounds and reached the finals for the second time this season.

Congratulations, Dave, from Gary Hunt, Aeroquip and everyone at US 131 Motorsports Park.

ABOUT GARY HUNT

Gary Hunt is in his eleventh season as the track announcer at US 131 Motorsports Park, a track on which he used to race in the brackets and Stock Eliminator.  His experience as a race car driver (he won seven points championships) has served him well behind the mike and while he often misses the thrill of competition, his “desk job” is not without its benefits.  “It’s given me the best seat in the house, which is always climate controlled,” he said.  “I never break any parts, don’t have to wait in line and I leave with a little bit of money every week.”