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Fifty years ago, Marvin
Panch was about to get the opportunity of a lifetime. After a somewhat
tumultuous racing career filled with ups and downs, factory rides and
struggling as an independent, Marvin was about to enter a second hand,
year old, Pontiac Catalina that would redirect his racing career.
Smokey Yunick, one of the premier stock car builders of the area, agreed
to let his mechanics rebuild a 1960 Pontiac Catalina that Fireball Roberts
had campaigned the previous year. Unconvinced that the car would be a
contender in the race, Smokey required the mechanics to work on the car
outside, after hours, ensuring that their primary focus was on the newer,
sleeker and more powerful '61 Catalina that Fireball Roberts would drive
in the race. Unbeknownst to either Smokey or Marvin, the mechanics' efforts
would pay off big in a 1961 Daytona 500 win.
It's fitting that in the 50th anniversary of one of the more defining
moments in Marvin Panch's racing career that he would once again climb
into a #20 race car in a competitive racing series. On May 28th (coinciding
with his 85th birthday), Marvin will drive a black and gold #20, this
time a modern day Dodge Challenger stock car, at the Iowa Speedway in
Newton, Iowa.
In a chance meeting at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) show in Orlando
last December, Marvin walked by a booth promoting a racing series for
the more "mature" stock car drivers. Intrigued, Marvin began
a dialog with Chis Evans, the owner and president of the series. After
hearing about the innovations and safety efforts that are put into the
race cars, Marvin's excitement grew and he expressed an interest in the
series. Excited at the prospect of having a NASCAR legend in their series,
Chris and Marvin quickly came to an agreement where Marvin will pilot
the #20 car (in honor of the 50th anniversary of his Daytona 500 win)
for the 2011 race season.
Great American Stockcar Series
drivers are a diverse group of men and women from across the country who
share a passion for highly competitive auto racing, but without the associated
costs or time commitments of managing their own race team.
Participants in the
series drive identically prepared high performance late-model style stockcars.
The 28 machines in the 2011 GASS field are powered by Ford, Chevrolet
and Dodge race engines and are meticulously set-up and maintained by GASS
pit crew for changing track conditions and driver preferences.
To be a member of
the GASS team, all you have to do is be 45 or older and have the desire
to compete. No previous experience necessary. The GASS team takes pride
in providing a fun, fair and competitive racing experience at some of
the premier racetracks in the country. Each GASS race is televised on
Fox Sports Net, Sundays at 10:00 Beginning July 24, 2011
If you are looking for the next adventure in your life and driving a race-ready
stock car appeals to you, please contact our Sales and Marketing staff
through our website at GASSTV.com for more information on racing with
GASS.
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