The No. 71 Chevrolet sponsored by RealTree, once again plans to try to make the field for every race. Dave Marcis made the field for 13 events in 1998.
Career
Racing's Gunga Din, he just keeps on hanging in. Failed to
make the field 13 times that he tried to do so, but he did make the Daytona
500 for the 30th straight season. He finished 17th in that race, then
matched that in July race there. Those two and a season-best 15th at Texas
Motor Speedway were his only three top-20 results.
While nearly all his former contemporaries have retired, Marcis, one of the true gentlemen in the game, is still running strong week to week.
Marcis battled hard each week in 1996, and earned a finish of 38th in the final standings for his efforts. Marcis earned nearly half a million dollars over the course of the 31-race schedule, driving in all but four races.
The number 11 followed him to Talladega for the DieHard 500 where he finished in that position. It represented a long run of standout efforts at the Alabama superspeedway. Marcis earned three consecutive poles there in the mid-'70s.
His first race was in the 1968 Daytona 500. He was the runner-up to Richard Petty in the chase for the 1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship. He won his first race in his 225th start, in the 1975 Old Dominion 500 at Martinsville.
Marcis' interest in cars stems from his father, who owned a garage and wrecking yard in his home state of Wisconsin. He was inspired to drive by Ernie Derr, an IMCA driver who won races at the local fair.
Marcis still spends a good deal of time on the track as the primary test driver for the IROC Series.
Is known for his black, leather, hard-sole shoes he wears while driving.
His best finish in 1995 was 15th at Michigan. Ended season 35th in the point standings. Won the wildcard drawing, made up of second-round fastest qualifiers during 1995, and his Chevy will be sporting engines from Richard Childress' shop for '96 Daytona Speedweeks.
First race, 1968 Daytona 500. Runner-up to Richard Petty for 1975 Winston Cup championship. Won two USAC stock-car races and three Late Model Sportsman (now Busch Grand National) events. Wisconsin short-track champion in 1965.
Father owned garage and wrecking yard. Marcis first became interested in speed when he drove some of his father's cars in field next to garage. Inspired by Ernie Derr, an IMCA driver who won races at the local fair. Would like to run a fishing resort or restaurant when driving days are through.
Sources: NASCAR Press Guides, Star and News staff reports.
