Mark Thomas is the only Pro Funny Car driver in IHRA history to earn the World Championship honor four times -- 1990, 1991, 1992, and 1994. With 40 final round appearances, Mark is the winningest Pro Funny Car racer in IHRA history.
The outlook for the 2001 season is a positive one. With guidance from crew chief Jim Lape and his wife Eileen, the team is determined to get back to the topof the Pro F/C category. The veteran team, consisting of Rod Jackenheimer, Greg Golladay, Randy Rodgers, and Jerry Recchio, is focused on making 2001 the 5th World Championship season for Mark Thomas Racing.
Mark is proud to have Ethanol as his major sponsor for the 12th consecutive year. His car for this year is a Gordy's Race Car 2001 Dodge Avenger. The car weighs 2,200 pounds, has a 3-speed Lenco transmission, Crower clutch, and is powered by a 3,000-horsepower, alcohol-fed, 526-cubic-inch Keith Black Aluminum Hemi engine. The race car is also totally lubricated by corn-based oil -- engine, transmission, and rear end!
Hard work, dedication, and common sense learned through farming have helped Mark achieve his goals in professional drag racing. Mark is part of a family farm operation in Louisville, Ohio that 2,250 acres of corn, soybeans, and forage and milks 450 head of Holstein cows.
Mark and his wife, Christine, are the proud parents of three children: Valerie, age 11; Andrea - age 8; and Nick - age 5.
Did You Know?
- The U.S. EPA has determined that a 10% Ethanol blend will reduce carbon monoxide emissions by 25%.
- American motorists have driven more than three trillion trouble-free miles on Ethanol-blended fuel. A ten-percent blend of Ethanol with gasoline is approved by every auto maker in the world. Ask your local service station manager for Ethanol-enriched fuel.
- Ethanol replaces lead as an octane enhancer. A 10% Ethanol blend will increase octane by as much as 3 points, making it a natural choice among today's lead-free high performance fuels.
- Each acre of American-grown corn produces over 300 gallons of Ethanol, enough clean-air fuel to drive 4 cars for one year and enough homegrown fuel to displace 400 gallons of imported oil. The use of Ethanol reduces America's dependence on foreign oil.