Martha, the perky Jack Russell terrier that won the hearts of fans and drivers at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn this summer, is dead. Winner of the MIS “Where’s Mongo” look-alike contest, Martha was struck by a tow truck Aug. 12 in Brooklyn, N.Y. She died soon after. Mongo is the dog pictured on the hood of Jimmy Spencer’s NASCAR Winston Cup Ultra Motorsports Dodge. Martha and her owners, Joe and Chung Vella, were guests of MIS at the Sirius Satellite 400 race weekend in June, where their little pooch quickly warmed to the burly Spencer. According to Vella, Martha was hit as she chased a vehicle owned by his next-door neighbor. Vella, who recently retired from the New York City police force, said he had passed the news of Martha’s demise on to the Ultra Motorsports team. “In July, Martha was at a Jimmy Spencer golf outing in Berwick, Pa.,” Vella said. “She was a big hit with the Spencer family.” The Vellas have since purchased a dog to replace Martha. “We talked it over and decided to buy a new pup,” Vella said. “She’s three months old and is a Jack Russell, just like Martha. Her name is Maggie and she’s white with a black patch over one eye.” Vella said he thinks often about Martha, who was a birthday gift to his wife last year. “You don’t forget a dog as good as Martha,” he said. “Our trip to Michigan with her was something I’ll always remember.” Later this month, Joe, Chung and Maggie will relocate to Phoenix, where they’ll enjoy the warm weather, while Joe plays a little golf.(Detroit Free Press)(9-5-2003)
