UPS RACING

DeMarco at work in the Roush Fenway shop

Mark DeMarco is the shop foreman for the No. 6 UPS team. Mark took some time after Phoenix to talk with UPS Racing about his job at Roush Fenway Racing.

How did you get into the sport?

In St. Louis, we did drag racing growing up. I took a break for a while and then in 1993, I attended a NASCAR Cup race in Darlington and became a fan for the first time. A few years later, I applied for a job and got back into racing.

What’s your favorite part about being on a NASCAR team?

I actually can say I like my job; I enjoy working on cars everyday.

What’s the coolest thing that you’ve gotten to do since being a member of the No. 6 team?

I got to go to New York in 2003 and 2004 when Roush Fenway Racing won championships for the first and second time.

What’s your normal “run of show” during the week?

Mondays and Tuesdays are always super crazy because the cars and everyone else is back from the previous race weekend. Wednesdays are dedicated to preparing the cars to be loaded for the next race and the rest of the week, I am still in the shop preparing for the following week. Then I watch the races on TV every weekend.

What is your favorite track?

My favorite track is Talladega. It always has been and probably always will be.

If you weren’t working in racing, what do you think you would be doing?

I would probably be a mechanic at an auto dealership like I used to be, or I would own my own shop by now.

Where did you grow up? St. Louis

What’s your favorite thing to do on an off-weekend? Panning for gold locally in NC

Favorite Movie: Star Trek Movies

Favorite TV Show: Flashback

Favorite cartoon as a kid: Road Runner

Favorite pizza toppings? Pepperoni

Favorite place to eat? Outback

Favorite  music: Old School Rock and Roll

DeMarco helping on the BGCA car that ran in Texas

Claude (L) and Jim (R) during pre-race

UPS employees Jim Marzolf and Claude Rigsby were selected to deliver the green flag at Texas Motor Speedway. As part of UPS’s official partnership with the Texas track, UPS has exclusive rights to deliver the green flag on race day.

Jim is a 23-year UPS employee  and delivery driver out of the Grapevine, Texas UPS center.

“I am a big racing fan so being out to deliver the green flag in Texas was great. Everything was just really exciting and the whole day was great. To get out on track before the race and get the VIP treatment all day was really special. We had like five guys at the track from my center, and they were just really psyched that we were able to deliver the green flag. The day was great and everyone treated us like royalty.”

Claude is a 29-year UPS employee that is heavily involved in the UPS Road Code program, and getting ready to retire at the beginning of next year. With the Road Code program and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America featured on the No. 6 for the weekend, it was only fitting Claude be a part of Sunday’s green flag delivery.

“I’m very thankful for being asked to do the green flag delivery in Texas. And with it being the Boys and Girls Clubs Road Code car design, it was extra special. I’ve really enjoyed my time working with the kids at the Boys and Girls Clubs in Dallas and teaching them about safe driving. It was really an really honor to have been out at the track to help deliver the flag. Being out there with the sounds and smells was great and we were trying to make it as enthusiastic as possible. I had a really good time and really enjoyed it.”

Sunday's green flag delivery

Hello from Texas!

We got out here early on Thursday since the Nationwide Series had tech at the track. We all fly together, so all of the Cup guys had the day off on in Texas to have some fun. Some of us did have to work as David had two sponsor appearances on Thursday, but it looks like some of the No. 6 team hit the golf course. I’m not sure what the rest were up to, but the weather was beautiful for the first day of the race weekend.

Last week we were in Talladega, Alabama. That was such a stressful weekend because things happen so fast there and you never know who is going to get caught up in a wreck.  We survived right up until the end when David got bumped and took a trip through the grass. We still finished okay and actually moved up a spot in the point standings. 

We also got to have a little fun in Talladega. I’m not sure if you’ve heard stories about the infield there, but it’s crazy. The wildest fans go to Talladega and camp out for the whole week! A lot of the crew guys make an annual trip to ‘cruise the infield’ to see what’s going on inside of the largest tracks on the schedule. The Zac Brown Band played a free concert to anyone with an infield pass on Saturday night before the race. Of course it had rained all day Saturday, but it stopped by late afternoon. Event though the weather cleared, it was definitely a muddy mess. The concert was really good and David even stopped by for the start of it. He left early since he had to get up and race the next day. 

Now back to Texas. We’ve got a really cool car this weekend and everyone is excited to see it on track. We’ve gotten to visit some Boys and Girls Clubs of America locations this year on behalf of UPS, and those visits are always a lot of fun. Our paint scheme this weekend is cool with a lot of the BGCA kids’ handprints on the car. I even tried to match up my hands with theirs on the car, and I actually fit a few. I’m not sure if they’ve got some growing into their hands to do or if my hands are just small!

Well, that’s about it from here for now. Hopefully we get a good run this weekend to make up for last time. David had such a good run going in the spring, but debris got caught on the grill and overheated our car…bad luck. Here’s hoping it’s all behind us!

- Nancy

Sam at work during a UPS pit stop

Sam Gibson is the front tire carrier for the No. 6 UPS team. Before leaving for Talladega, Sam took some time to talk with UPS Racing about his job at Roush Fenway Racing.

How did you get into the sport?

I knew a friend working for a different team that got me a job in 2000. Five years later, I started at Roush with the No. 6 Truck. From there, I moved over to the No. 17 Nationwide team before moving up to the No. 6 Cup team.

What’s your favorite part about being on a NASCAR team?

My favorite part would probably be the traveling and getting to see different parts of the country.

What’s your normal “run of show” during the week?

During the week I work in the shop tearing down cars, building suspensions, puttin in motors, and have pit crew practice.  When I’m not working I enjoy just relaxing and hanging out and going to the movies.

What are your normal responsibilities once arriving to the track each weekend?

Once I get to the track, I prep the tires for the race, get them to the pit box, lay them all out, and clean them. After all my work is done, I help anyone else out that may need it.

What are you responsible for during the actual race?

I’m the front tire carrier

Anything significant about the upcoming weekend?

It’s a restrictor plate track where I a lot can happen fast, but David runs really well there.

If you weren’t working in racing, what do you think you would be doing?

I would probably be a chef at a restaurant or working at an auto dealership.

Where did you grow up?

Boone, NC

What’s your favorite thing to do on an off-weekend?

On off weekends, I go to the lake to go surfing.

Something interesting about yourself?

I enjoy yoga even though the guys make fun of me about it.

Favorite Movie: Any Vince Vaughn movie

Favorite TV Show: Californication

Favorite Cartoon as a Kid: Curious George

Favorite Pizza Toppings? Greek pizza

Favorite Place to Eat? Fusion Bowl

Favorite Music: Dave Matthews, Metallica, Korn, Chevelle

Sam during pre-race with the rest of the UPS team

Justin with the mini UPS package car at Martinsville Speedway

This past weekend at Martinsville Speedway, Justin Chaney was part of the UPS Trackside Services team. Justin took some time on Sunday to talk with UPS Racing about what he does both at and away from the track.

My name is Justin and I am an on-road supervisor out of the Danville, Virginia Center. I’ve been with UPS for five years and first started working with the company unloading trucks.

I was glad to be able to go out to the track this past weekend and work for the UPS Trackside program. I really like going out to the track because I like seeing the people involved in the sport and making sure they have what they need for the weekend. It’s fun to see everything that goes on at the track that regular race fans don’t get to see.

During my spare time, I enjoy riding mountain bikes, going camping and riding four-wheelers.

- Justin