by Jim Addison

MONROE, La. -- Monroe Motor Speedway has a new General Manger, Rusty Marcus, and the 2009 season plans are exciting and almost completely confirmed. The 2009 racing season will be full of fun and excitement for all. The schedule is almost complete as the new GM is waiting for dates to be confirmed before releasing the GREAT and complete schedule. Racing will all get cranked up and started in March.

Marcus comes to Monroe from Orlando, Florida and that has folks asking why.

I got a chance to sit down with the new GM and ask him a few questions. When asked why come all this way, he firmly and quickly answered “Opportunity.” He also has family who lives in McComb, Mississippi. We began to talk about MMS and his past racing experiences. The feeling in the room was that of two guys just sitting around talking about racing. It was a very relaxed atmosphere and it felt like I had known him for years. As we talked you could hear the excitement in his voice of how happy he was to be here and how excited he is to be around racing.

How did you get started in racing was one of the questions. "I grew up going to Palm Beach Fairgrounds on Sunday and Hialeah," said Rusty Marcus. "It was a Sunday tradition in my family to go to the races and when Palm Beach Fairgrounds changed their races from Sunday to Friday, we would then go to races at Hialeah on Sunday. Marcus raced a ’73 Dodge Charger and to this day is still a Dodge man.

Marcus, a long-time race fan, then got started working at his old home track, Thundercross Motorsports Park in Okeechobee while a full-time employee of the State Water Management office. At Thundercross he did anything they would ask him to do. After cutbacks eliminated his regular job and Thundercross closed, Marcus moved north and basically volunteered his services to both Orlando Speedworld and New Smyrna Speedway, often working for no pay. Marcus turned some heads not only among competitors and fans but the FASCAR brass as well. When former track GM Dick Westfall retired after the 2004 season, Marcus was named the new General Manager.

In his very first year as General Manager and Promoter of Orlando Speedworld, Rusty Marcus has been named the 2005 Lowe's Motor Speeedway Promoter of the Year.

The annual award honors a promoter who excels in presenting affordable short track racing in a family atmosphere.

In a letter addressed to Marcus from H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, President and General Manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway, Wheeler says: "Rusty, your tireless efforts and dedication have transformed Orlando Speedworld into one of the nation's premier short tracks. While many tracks in your area continue to struggle at both the front and back gates, you are able to produce successful nights of racing each week. Combine this with your dedication to running a tight, efficient program and emphasis on low admission prices and reduced costs to racers, and it is clear why our blue ribbon panel selected you to receive this year's award."

In an era when many short tracks are struggling to keep the gates open, Marcus has devised a formula that attracts both fans and competitor. Rusty has been with Orlando SpeedWorld and the FASCAR family for 5 years, but when this offer came to him to come to MMS, it was just really hard for him to say "no".

Marcus has bold plans for MMS as many things have been planned. School bus races may become reality, special nights with ASA and/or CRA Series, special events other than racing, national television crews coming in to broadcast the excitement. There is just too much going to take place at MMS to list in this one article. Keep checking the website and the NewsStar for the latest and updated information. Marcus said, "Our goal is for the speedway to become a significant part of the community and the local economy." "When you come here, you have to be excited about coming here, or else you're not going to come back," Marcus said. "We've got to make sure whenever you spend your hard-earned entertainment dollars that you think it was well worth it and come back." Rusty left me with one thought, “If we have taken one child off the street and given him something to share in and enjoy, then the hard work is worth it.”

Walking out I could only think one thing, racers start your engines and let’s go racing, because it looks like it will be some kind of a year! From what I heard and the excitement felt, racing fans strap in to your seat, because as they say, we will sell you the whole seat, but you only will need the edge. See you all at the excitement pit, oh, known as Monroe Motor Speedway, in March.

Quick Notes: A town hall meeting will take place Saturday, January 3rd, 2009 at 2:00pm at MMS. All interested fans and drivers are encouraged to come and share ideas as well as hear about the new 2009 racing schedule. Rusty would like to start an intern program for those that might want to go in to broadcasting, journalism, or managing. If your company would like to be a sponsor in a particular capacity give the track a call or email them at info@monroemotorspeedway.com. You can access the track’s website at www.monroemotorspeedway.com.



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