#71 Team Past News and Rumors
NOTE: many of the links in the past news will be old and may not work
decided it was not worth the time to go thru each one on all the Team Past News pages
2000 News
Trickle in the #71 at AMS? UPDATE: Dave Marcis may turn over his #71 Realtree Chevy to Dick Trickle at Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend. Marcis' father is having surgery today. Marcis will decide today if he'll stay with his father in Wisconsin or race in the Winston Cup finale Sunday(Speed Magazine)(11-16-2000)
UPDATE: Dave Marcis' father had surgery this week for colon cancer and Marcis skipped Friday's first-round time trials at Atlanta to be with him. Veteran Dick Trickle is subbing for Marcis, 59, who is not expected to be back in time for Sunday's NAPA 500. "I'll be here the whole weekend. Me and the boys are going to have as much fun as we can and see if we can get this thing in the race," Trickle said. (That's Racin')(11-17-2000)
UPDATE 2: Trickle stood on his speed and failed to make the race(11-18-2000)
Earnhardt (Kerry) wrecks: Kerry Earnhardt wrecked the #71 Realtree Chevy during practice at Lowes Motor Speedway (2:30-4:30pm). Dave Marcis will climb in a backup car and try to make it in the race during 2nd round qualifying(TachZone with images)(10-5-2000)
Another Earnhardt at Lowes UPDATE: Kerry Earnhardt, son of Dale Earnhardt will attempt to make the UAW-GM Quality 500 Winston Cup race at Lowes Motor Speedway(Winston Cup Scene). No word on what car/team, probably #71(9-29-2000)
UPDATE: Kerry Earnhardt will attempt to run the Marcis Auto Racing #71 Team Realtree Chevrolet in the Cup
race at Lowe's Motor Speedway this weekend. Earnhardt made his Winston Cup debut in the Realtree Chevrolet at
Michigan's August event. Earnhardt qualified the Realtree machine in the 27th position, just one position shy of a qualifying spot for the prestigious Bud Shoot Out Qualifier. He finished the race 43rd due to an accident in the first portion of the race, caused by an extremely loose condition in the car. Earnhardt ran the ARCA spring event at Lowe's, finishing second in a neck and neck battle with race winner Lyndon Amick. Similar to Earnhardt's last Winston Cup run, Dale Earnhardt, Inc. will prepare the #71. Dave Marcis will be on-hand and calling the shots from the garage and pits(Champion Sports Group PR)(10-2-2000)
Marcis Speaks: Dave Marcis, when he's asked about last weekend's race at Darlington Raceway, where he was involved in at least two wrecks, he won't duck the issue. About the incident with leader Jeremy Mayfield, Marcis claims innocence. "I was not a lapped car," Marcis said. "I was going to be if he got me, but I wasn't yet. I had a good car. You can't tell me any of those guys haven't raced just as hard to try to stay on the lead lap at one time or another. That's what racing is all about." See more at Total Sports(9-7-2000)
Marcis Part time in 2001 UPDATE 2: this weeks Winston Cup Scene mentions that Dave Marcis says this could be his last season he runs the Cup circuit full time and that he may go to a limited schedule in 2001(7-27-2000)
UPDATE: Dave Marcis, driver of the #71 Realtree Chevy, said Thursday he plans to run only about 10 races in 2001. A sponsorship deal for next year has not been finalized, and instead of attempting to stretch his limited resources throughout an entire season, Marcis said he plans to focus on a handful of tracks next year where he thinks he can muster some good finishes. As for his plans after he gets out of the driver’s seat, Marcis says they’re still up in the air. He’s not ready to stop driving yet. Marcis has competed in 871 races, which is the most of all active drivers and second overall behind Richard Petty’s 1,177(Kingsport Times News)(8-25-2000)
UPDATE 2: Dave Marcis says that he plans to drive in only 10 events next year and that Kerry Earnhardt, son of Dale Earnhardt, could drive in some of the other races. Kerry Earnhardt drove Marcis' car at Michigan last month(Roanoke Times)(9-6-2000)
Father and two sons REPOST and History: if Kerry Earnhardt makes the starting field for the Pepsi 400 at Michigan it would be the 2nd time a father raced against his two sons in NASCAR's premier series. On August 3rd, 1960 at Birmingham, AL, #42-Lee Petty raced his sons #43-Richard and #44-Maurice. Richard was 2nd, Lee was 3rd and Maurice was 8th in a 50 mile event with 16 cars starting(Forty Years of Stock Car Racing by Greg Fielden and some research by...)(7-28/8-16-2000)
Kerry Story: interesting column at the Charlotte Observer about Kerry Earnhardt that explains alot about him, his childhood and his relationship with Dale Sr, Dale Jr and his Step Dad. See it at: The `Middle E' steps up at Michigan by Scott Fowler(8-16-2000)
Another Earnhardt in Cup? UPDATE 3 it's OFFICIAL and correction: Kerry Earnhardt, Dale Sr.'s son, is set to make his Winston Cup debut next month at Michigan(PitNow) AND ARCA driver Kerry Earnhardt is contemplating a qualifying attempt in the Winston Cup race at Michigan Speedway on Aug. 20. Earnhardt, the older brother of Dale Jr., won the ARCA race at Pocono last month(Times Dispatch) AND Kerry Earnhardt may join father Dale and younger brother Dale Jr. in the Pepsi 400 in Brooklyn, Mich., on Aug. 20. Kerry, who won the June ARCA race at Pocono, tested in a Winston Cup car recently and his speed would have been seventh fastest in the June Michigan race. "We've got three more ARCA races after this one and that's what we're concentrating on right now," Kerry said. "We'll see how everything goes from here and just see what comes up."(Times Leader). No idea what team, it does not say(7-22-2000)
UPDATE: TNN's Raceday reports that the Cup run at Michigan by Kerry would be in a DEI car(7-23-2000)
UPDATE 2: but RPM 2Day reported that Kerry Earnhardt will drive the ARCA car he drove Saturday at Pocono, BUT that Dave Marcis will not run at Michigan and let Earnhardt use the #71 (and owners points/provisional) and the car would be sponsored by Realtree (Marcis's fulltime sponsor and an assoc on the #3 with Kerry's father Dale). If Kerry makes the Cup race, Ron Hornady's #3 NAPA BGN crew will pit the car(ESPN2's RPM 2Day)(7-23-2000)
UPDATE 3: Continuing a long-standing relationship between Marcis Racing and Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI), the
two teams join efforts again to qualify the Team Realtree car at the upcoming NASCAR Winston Cup event at the Michigan Speedway. Using DEI equipment and Dave Marcis' five-decade's worth of Winston Cup racing knowledge, Kerry Earnhardt will attempt to qualify the #71 Team Realtree car- making a mark in the history books. At no other time has a father raced against his two sons in NASCAR's premier series. The relationship between Earnhardt, Marcis, and Richard Childress Racing is entirely intertwined. Marcis avidly tests for Earnhardt and
Richard Childress Racing, and they share a form of sponsorship from Realtree. Realtree is the primary sponsor of the #71 and an associate sponsor on the #3. Kerry Earnhardt is elated to have the opportunity to race against his
little brother and father. "This is a chance to do something no one has done- to race against their father and brother in Winston Cup. I couldn't be more pleased. There'll be a lot of pressure, but it's all worth it for the shot that I'm getting." Currently competing in ARCA, the eldest of the Earnhardt sons has participated in five events. Four of the five races have ended as top three's, winning the ARCA race in Pocono this June. All of his ARCA cars, like the Cup car Kerry will use in Michigan, have been prepared at Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Bill Jordan, President of Realtree, said, "we support Dave and Dale in their effort to give Kerry the best opportunity for his debut Cup appearance. We have enjoyed a long relationship with the Earnhardt family. Aside from Dale, Kerry is the next best hunter in the family so it's only natural that we support this effort. There is no doubt he'll do a good job representing Realtree." Dale Earnhardt feels this situation is beneficial for everyone involved. "Dave and I talked about the possibilities of doing this with Kerry a couple of months ago. After he won at Pocono we talked about it again. We presented it to Realtree and they said yes. We all agreed this would be a good thing, so as it stands we'll (DEI) provide the car. Dave will provide tremendous experience, and Kerry, well he has to provide a good qualifying time. Hopefully it will be a big plus for everyone involved."(Champions Sports Group PR) - CORRECTION: actually this would not mark the first time a father raced against his two sons in NASCAR's premier series. On August 3rd, 1960 at Birmingham, AL, #42-Lee Petty raced his sons #43-Richard and #44-Maurice. Richard was 2nd, Lee was 3rd and Maurice was 8th in a 50 mile event with 16 cars starting(Forty Years of Stock Car Racing)(7-28-2000)
Marcis hires driver to run the #71 Realtree Chevy at Sears Point. R.K. Smith, 62, winner of the SCCA World Challenge Championship in 1990 and '92, will be behind the wheel of Marcis' #71 Chevy at Sears Point. Marcis was injured last year and put Smith in his car for the Sears Point event, but Smith failed to qualify for the starting field(NASCAR Online)(6-20-2000)
Marcis 2nd Round: #71-Dave Marcis was going to make a 2nd round attempt to qualify for the Kmart 400 at Michigan but #9-Stacy Compton's engine blew as he cross the finish line on his attempt, oiling the track with one car yet to run.
That one car belonged to Marcis. Initial word was that NASCAR would make Marcis wait until after the live-television IROC race soon to follow for his qualifying run. Marcis said that was not so. He said NASCAR offered to clean the track for him, but he declined as he said: "Mentally, I just can't qualify with oil on the track," he said. "It's my decision. I can't go 200mph on [a slick surface]. I don't need a wrecked race car(SpeedVision)(6-11-2000)
2nd Marcis car? hearing that Dwayne Leik, Jackman/Business mgr/PR for Marcis Racing, will attempt to make the Pocono 500 on June 18th in the #72 Chevy. Leik also attempted to make the California race in April but failed to make the race. Leik may also attempt a few other races in 2000(6-7-2000)
Marcis bags a Turkey: Dave Marcis didn't bag a qualifying spot in Saturday night's Pontiac Excitement 400 but he got the next best thing: a near-record 21-pound, 2-ounce turkey, among the largest ever bagged in the state(of Virgina). Marcis, who went turkey hunting at 4:30 a.m. Friday near Richmond, hasn't qualified in eight of 11 races this season. He decided to pack up and go home rather than try to requalify Saturday(AJC)(5-7-2000)
Did Ya Know? that Dave Marcis has a little known distinction amongst the present CUP drivers? He is the only current driver remaining to have run a NASCAR Winston Cup (Grand National) dirt track race. See full story at Stooge's NASCAR Site(3-4-2000)
Marcis and the Bodines: Dave Marcis finished 17th in the second qualifier Thursday. Two spots higher, and he would have qualified for his 33rd consecutive Daytona 500. As it was, he was heading home. Marcis wasn't the only significant name to miss the field. Former Daytona 500 winner(1986) Geoffrey Bodine, who had been in 19 consecutive Daytona 500s, finished just 19th in the first race and couldn't qualify on time. His brother, Brett, missed for the first time in 13 years(News and Observer)(2-18-2000)
Marcis Robbed: On January 26th, a break-in occurred in Dave Marcis Racing shop. Someone broke into his personal motor home, the race team trailer and the show car trailer. Taken was many clothing articles and some tools. Police have recovered some of the effects and made one arrest but are still looking for who actually did the break in. All the tools have Marcis Auto Racing #71 on them. The clothing includes: pit crew shirts, Marcis' personal hunting overalls and boot with 'Dave' written on the inside, an insulated jacket, Exide Battery Charger and Battery, torque wrench, air rifle, Coleman lantern. Any info regarding the breakin can be directed to the Buncombe County sheriff's detective John Elkins at (828) 250-4458(Winston Cup Scene)(2-5-2000)
Marcis/Realtree Renew: Realtree signed up to sponsor Dave Marcis and his #71 Chevy for the 2000 Cup season. Marcis plans to attempt all 34 Cup races(NOL)(1-21-2000)
Marcis News: Dave Marcis has an edge as he heads into the Talladega race weekend. Marcis will use the same engine that Dale Earnhardt used when he won at Talladega earlier this season(Times-Dispatch)(10-12-1999)
Penalty: Kyle Petty and Dave Marcis were each penalized a lap for pitting outside the box. It's the same penalty given Jarrett at New Hampshire last weekend(The Depot)(9-27-1999)
#71: from NOL - Dave Marcis closed the second practice of the day by spinning off Turn 4 and impacting the wall with his Realtree Chevrolet. The car was damaged badly enough that Marcis declined to present the car for Bud Pole Qualifying. He will be forced to qualify the car in Bud Second-Round Qualifying on Saturday morning. It was the only accident in two series practices and Bud Pole Qualifying(NOL Friday Notes)(9-25-1999)
Dave Marcis speaks: short and to the point - Q: hi dave, what are your plans for next year? A: I am going to be racing in Winston Cup. See the rest of the NOL Chat(8-24-1999)
Marcis on top from AP/Infobeat: Dave Marcis is back on top in the race to be the driver with the most miles completed at Michigan Speedway. By completing 197 laps to finish 33rd Sunday, Marcis edged ahead of Darrell Waltrip. He has now completed 17,948 miles (8,974 laps) in 56 Winston Cup races at the 2-mile superspeedway. Marcis had lost the record in June when he failed to qualify for the second consecutive race at Michigan. Meanwhile, Waltrip completed 195 laps to log 17,768 miles (8,884 laps)(Infobeat)(8-23-1999)
Marcis out? General Motors executives are again making a pitch to venerable Dave Marcis to turn his helmet over to a younger driver and become just an owner. But Marcis, 58, plans to make his 33rd straight Daytona 500 start next spring before making any decision(PitNow)(8-23-1999)
Sad News: Dave Marcis' mother, Lucille, passed away at age 78 on Thursday in Wausau, Wis. She is also survived by Marcis' brothers, Donald and Tony(SpeedNet)(8-20-1999)
Marcis: I don't report much IROC stuff, but thought this was interesting: True Value International Race Of Champions officials have announced that longtime test driver Dave Marcis will replace the injured Adrian Fernandez in the 40-lap IROC at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway today. Fernandez was injured this morning during practice for Sunday's Championship Auto Race Teams event at Detroit. Fernandez is currently undergoing X-rays for arm and wrist injuries. The extent of his injuries is unknown. This is Marcis' first IROC start since June 17, 1978 at Michigan Speedway. Marcis will start today's IROC at Indy in fourth position(StockCarFans/Ron Felix)(8-6-1999)
Marcis: Dave Marcis finished 159 laps at Daytona in the Pepsi 400 in Daytona and took over the lead in the miles completed category in the Pepsi 400, with 10,402 miles in the race. He overtook Richard Petty in Saturday night's event. Petty completed 10,337.5 miles in his career(32 events)(NOL) Marcis also has ran the most laps and now has 4,161 laps completed. Petty racked up 4,135 laps(AP)(7-4-1999)
Marcis Miffed and no to retirement: "My body's still sore, and I'm still a little upset with Brett Bodine," Marcis said Tuesday. "(Bodine) did the same thing to his brother a couple of years ago at Indy. He just flat spun me out Sunday going into the tunnel turn at Pocono". Marcis asked Kevin Triplett to review the film of the accident. He said they would. Marcis said his rib cage was sore, his hips were black and blue and he still had a mild headache from Sunday's wreck, which did considerable damage to his #71 Chevrolet. Since he's still not fully recovered, Marcis has decided to let West Coast driver R.K. Smith drive his car this weekend at Sears Point to gain owners points. Smith, 61, who has lived in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., since 1973, won the SCCA World Challenge Championship driving a Corvette in 1990 and 1992. He competed in the 24 Hours of Daytona this season and will also compete in Saturday's Southwest Tour race in a Monte Carlo at Sears Point. Marcis also said Tuesday he has no plans to retire from Winston Cup racing, though rumors to the contrary have been circulating the garage area for weeks(That's Racin')(6-23-1999)
Marcis Injured UPDATE 3: Dave Marcis was taken to a local hospital by ambulance after hitting the wall hard midway in the race. He walked from the car but was woozy. His Team Manager said he had some cuts and chest pain. No further info known at 5:30pm/et - UPDATE: Dave Marcis was taken to a hospital after spinning out in turn 2 and hitting the wall. His helmet hit the driver's side netting just as the left side of car smashed into the wall. Marcis sustained a laceration to his chin, and bruises to his neck, chest and right ankle. He was taken to Penn State-Geisinger Wyoming Valley Hospital for observation and released(Infobeat/AP)(6-20-1999) -- UPDATE 2: From NOL - Dave Marcis was resting comfortably at home Monday morning following a brutal accident in Sunday's Pocono 500 at Pocono. A team spokesman said Marcis' participation in this weekend's Save Mart/Kragen 350 at Sears
Point Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., was "questionable," but that it would be reevaluated on a day-to-day basis(NOL), GET WELL DAVE(6-21-1999) -- UPDATE 3: RPM2Nite reports that the team has talked to Winton West driver R.K. Smith to possibly drive the #71 RealTree chevy at Sears Point if Marcis does not feel up to it(6-22-1999)
Marcis News: Dave Marcis(#71) is denying rumors that this will be his final season in the series. Reports have said Marcis will announce his decision at the Pepsi 400 next month in Daytona, and will retire from driving after next year's Daytona 500(Tennessean)(6-16-1999)
Sparky Plug Hears...UPDATE 2: "One of our garage area spies tells us venerable Dave Marcis will announce his retirement at the July race at Daytona. The rest of the year will be a farewell tour. In honor of Marcis, our source(Sparky source) says, Dale Earnhardt will drive a special camouflage paint scheme -- gold and black car with Goodwrench service on the hood -- at the Daytona night race. Marcis is expected to be back for one more race next year -- the Daytona 500 in February 2000. That would give him a Daytona 500 start" (assuming he qualifies, which he has done every year since 1968) in five decades and two centuries(SpeedVision)(5-12-1999) -- UPDATE 1: On WC Today Radio, Dave Marcis said it was news to him and he'd make an announcement when/if he was to retire. He said there was no retirement planned, nor any decision made about when it would come about(5-13-1999) -- UPDATE 2: Haven't seen it yet, but many readers say the latest RCCA magazine/catalog has a #71 Dave Marcis retirement car for the Pepsi 400 at Daytona. Top of the car is CAMO and bottom of car is black and is separated by red trim. No mention of an Earnhardt tribute car(6-8-1999) - NOTE: email Sparky Plug if you have any problems with the 'century' comment...
Marcis Upset: Dave Marcis went home in a huff after missing Sunday's race, angered mainly at the rule that allows teams that don't qualify on the first day to stand on their speeds. See the rest of the That's Racin' article at Marcis says qualifying deck stacked against him(3-21-1999)
Irvan/Marcis?? UPDATE: Dave Marcis is pretty mad at Ernie Irvan. See the icFlorida story at Marcis blames Irvan for qualifying mishap another stort on this at the ESPN site - Marcis takes issue with Irvan(2-12-1999)
2nd Marcis Car: Jim Sauter is attempting to make the Daytona 500 in a 2nd Dave Marics Chevy, #72. Marcis himself has Mike Skinner's qualifying engine under the hood, and Steve Park has the engine out of Earnhardt's car. Only eight cars went out to re-qualify in second round. No idea about 3rd round on Tuesday. Dave Marcis was fastest with a lap of 192.794mph or 23rd fastest overall, he should now be safely in the 500(last year the 20th fastest got the last spot)(2-8-1999)
Marcis to test: Dave Marcis will sub for Mike Skinner at Daytona next week in the #31 Lowes Chevy. Skinner is recovering from knee surgury during the offseason(NASCAR Online)(12-30-98)