Marquis Favors Jennerstown

    Broad Brook, Conn -- To Jerry Marquis of Broad Brook, Conn., there is nothing quite like a half-mile race track.  He has had a good deal of success on the New England tracks in that size range, and he is hoping to add Jennerstown Speedway to his list of successes when the Busch North Series runs the Burnham Boilers 150 there on August 22.
    "I think the tracks in the half-mile range are some of the most challenging tracks in the Northeast.  They're a lot faster than the quarter-mile tracks, so you have to be thinking way ahead, but they usually do not offer that moment or so to catch your breath like the superspeedsways do.  You really earn your way on the intermediate tracks, and Jennerstown is one place you work hard at, " said Marquis.
    The .522 mile track nestled in western Pennsylvania's Laurel Highlands, is configured in such a way as to offer some of the highest speeds found on any track of similar size.
    "The place is flat-out fast.  Bob Howe and the whole O'Conner GMC team do a good job of preparation for every race, but there is a little extra incentive to do well at Jennerstown. It is one of our longest trips, and doing well there can make the long ride home much more enjoyable, " said Marquis.
    With the growth of Busch North Series racing paralleling that of NASCAR, the competition is growing by each race.
    "It used to be, not too many years ago, that Jennerstown would draw a full field of cars, and you had a good chance of making the race.  Nowadays, there are usually a lot more cars than there are starting positions, so you are in a battle from the minute you take the car out of the hauler.  You are running hard from the moment you get there until you head out for the trip home, " said Marquis.
    In the early 1990s, Marquis was a factor in several NASCAR Winston Racing Series, Northeast region battles.  He won the Northeast region title in 1991, beating a Jennerstown regular Glenn Gault in the process, and he finished second to Jennerstown regular Charlie Cragan in 1992.
    "After I talked with these guys at Nashville, I knew I wanted to race at Jennerstown.  The Busch North Series gives me that chance.  Besides, I get the chance to renew some old acquaintances there once a year, " said Marquis.
    But Marquis is looking for something more than a reunion of the NASCAR Winston Racing Series Classes of '91 and '92.
    "Even though Piney Lasky has passed away, they continue the tradition of putting a cowboy hat on the winner in the Victory Lane pictures.  People all over the country know that the guy in the cowboy hat just won a race at Jennerstown.  I'd love to be that guy, " said Marquis.