4/30/2008

Mark Earnest Craves Numidia Triumph
by Gene Ostrowski

   Mark Earnest of Jerseyshore doesn’t necessarily consider himself a hardcore racer. Instead he’s grateful to be involved in a sport that has helped him fulfill his urge for competition at what he calls a well known and well-managed drag strip- Numidia Dragway.
    Earnest runs the pro class and competes with his professionally built 1970 Chevy Nova. Definitely not a street legal machine- the engine puts out 650 HP, the car has a full roll cage, a racing seat, 5 point racing harness and over 50% of the vehicles body id made of fiberglass.
    The car and driver run ¼ mile elapsed times in the high 9-second range.
    Earnest has been drag racing at Numidia for five seasons and said that he feels that this is the season for him to shine. It’s much different than last year.
    Last May his engine erupted during a run. His rear tires hit his engine oil that was dropped onto the track surface. The car lost traction, which sent Mark head on into the wall at 106 MPH. Luckily, Earnest was not injured, but he knew that it would take weeks to repair his drag car.
    That’s when track owner, Bob DiMino stepped in.
    DiMino offered Mark a ride in one of his drag cars until repairs were made to his wrecked Nova. Earnest explained that it would take weeks to repair the ride, yet DiMino insisted. He even offered to let Mark race his car for the rest of the season if needed.
    Earnest took DiMino up on his offer and scored one win in DiMino’s drag car one Friday night.
    He commented on how much he appreciates the generosity of the track owner, “Hands down, I can’t say enough about the DiMino’s and the track. “Bob’s a good friend and great family man- He’s a smart business man and an all around great guy”.
    DiMino took full control of the strip, beginning in 2005. Earnest commented on how much the track itself has changed over the last two seasons. “I think that has to do with a lot”, said Earnest. “That includes the best payouts, and their guaranteed, not to mention the neatness and overall appearance of the place”.
    Evidently, Earnest isn’t the only racer that feels respect for the facility and its owner. “The racers just love him and seriously, no one has anything bad to say about him”.
    In only two full years of operations under DiMino, the track recently won the national ‘Track Management Award’, which is a huge feat, especially in the short amount of time under the current owner.
    DiMino gives a lot to the community level as well Earnest said. “Bob contributes a lot, Especially to the local police department”.
    Earnest is just happy to have a track that he could race at, and it’s close to home. “A lot of drag strips close every year”, he said. “I’m glad to see that this one isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon”.
    He had a busy weekend just a few weeks ago. He made the trip to Maple Grove, then Numidia. After finishing decent, yet not winning at either facility, Earnest claims that his net loss, including tow money was only $9 for both days of racing.
    “Once you have the car and know what your doing it’s not as expensive as what many people think”, he said. “The racing is fair and it’s handicapped, so racers don’t start head to head. “There’s a lot of math and it’s all about timing”, he said
    Occasionally, Earnest races at Beaver Springs and Skyview Drag in Tioga, NY.
    Although he was the runner up at Numidia five times last season, Earnest is still looking for his first victory in his own car. As the quick reacting veteran put it, “I just couldn’t get it done last year”.
    Awards and monetary prizes are presented to the top five in each division at the season ending banquet. Mark currently sits sixth in the standings, but he cares more about finishing in the top eighteen overall.
    “The top eighteen will head to the NHRA divisional brackets in Reading, PA. “That’s where I want to go”.
    There’s a lot going on for the track as well, including some television deals, plus a very good possibility of NHRA divisions in 2009. Earnest said that DiMino also has a huge fireworks display planned for July, and estimated that they cost between $10-$15K.
    “The fireworks are always great and DiMino pays for them out of his pocket”, he said. “This year they should be just as big as the ones that you see at the fairs”.
    Although his win might be right around the corner, Mark Earnest is just happy to have a place where he can call home and continue to make friends in the sport he loves so much- drag racing.