Farewell to Dave Marcis By-Danny Zeeff Check out ALL our sections and features here!! There is plenty to keep you busy on our main page! To millions of recent converts to Nascar, Dave Marcis might seem like an out of place old timer who didn't have the sense to quit years ago .If I may, allow me to enlighten you as to why Mr. Marcis is revered and respected by those who were "race fans when racin' wasn't cool". First, Marcis was tough. Just ask any of the guys that raced him in the 60's and 70's. [ You'll find them in the broadcast booth, in the pits, or the owner's suite, but not in a race car].One story has it that a young contender took offense at something Marcis did during a race and went to settle up after the race. Marcis was working under his car when the youngster arrived and began his verbal assault. Marcis is said to have rolled out from beneath his car, stood up, and without a word knocked the guy on his ass with one punch. Then he reached down to help him up while inviting him back to his hauler for a sandwich. When a fan cut in front of his street car leaving the track, then flipped him off, Marcis ripped the front of the impudent scoundrels sports car off with a massive Detroit bumper and never even slowed down. His on track demeanor not being a whole lot more forgiving, he earned respect and a proper air gap between iron from his fellow drivers. Remember, these guys had names like Allison,Petty, Yarborough, and Flock. Political correctness was not they're strong suit! If you think Dave Marcis has just been a field filler for Nascar all his life, think again. After driving for numerous owners and teams in the sixties and seventies, winning five races along the way, he finally found himself a contender in the points battle as well. Placing second to Richard Petty [75], sixth [76], fifth [78], ninth [80 and 81], and sixth in 82 remains a record envied by all but the elite in today's field of Cup drivers. Having been involved with many of the big owners of the day,including Penske and Childress, Marcis decided to own his own team and the 71 became synonymous with Dave Marcis to this very day. With the way fate has of putting great men together, it is no surprise Marcis and Dale Earnhardt became best of friends, and the relationship was beneficial to both. While Earnhardt supplied engines, hardware, and sponsorship help, Marcis had the knack of testing for Earnhardt and communicating results to the team thus freeing Dale to tend to other necessities. For the 2002 Daytona 500, Dave Marcis will strap on the helmet for the last time. How old were you in 1968? I'll wager many of you weren't born yet. Dave Marcis was here, driving in the Daytona 500, just as he's done every year since. If you're lucky enough to be there, stand up and salute this amazing man. You'uns are seeing the end of an era. Danny Zeeff Thanks to Stock Car Racing Magazine and "The Winston Cup" by Duane Falk for some of the information used to write this column. DannyZ@insidethepitbox.com Check out ALL our sections and features here!! There is plenty to keep you busy on our main page! (Editors Note:The views and opinions of our writers are just that, theirs. If you have comments, write to them. We take no responsibility for their articles... Do you blame us?) Article archives Return to the Main Page