Marcis says so long with retirement bash

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- What would a driver’s last race be without a going away party?

			Dave Marcis

That’s exactly what Dave Marcis, driver of the No. 71 Realtree Chevrolet, received from his fellow drivers and friends on Tuesday night. The Plaza Resort and Spa was the location for the farewell affair to honor Marcis who will attempt to make his last Winston Cup start in Sunday’s Daytona 500.

The event was put together by Richard Childress Racing, Realtree and Goodyear.

“Dave has meant a lot to RCR,” Richard Childress said, “As Dale Earnhardt’s schedule started to get busier and busier as his success grew, Dave was able to do most of the testing for us.

“Dave has such a feel for the car that nobody else did and he could communicate that to our crews. This man has given so much to the sport through the years and this party is well deserved.”

Known for always wearing a Goodyear hat and wingtip shoes, having a voracious appetite and a love for hunting and fishing, Marcis received accolades and gifts from those in attendance.

Retired drivers Richard Petty and Bobby Allison attended the event. Petty wore his trademark cowboy hat. Allison was sporting a pair of wingtips in honor of Marcis.

Current drivers Ricky Craven, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kerry Earnhardt, Rick Mast, Ken Schrader and Terry Labonte were also there. NASCAR CEO Bill France Jr. and president Mike Helton also stopped by.

Marcis received a $50,000 retirement check from Realtree's Richard Jordan. BASS Pro Shop gave him a new bass boat, Goodyear chipped in a leather jacket and Childress gave Marcis a two-week fishing and hunting trip.

However, the biggest surprise of the night came when a tarp was pulled back on the beach to reveal a Petty blue, 1957 Chevrolet race car with the No. 2 on the side. It was the original race car Marcis used when he began racing in his native Wisconsin back in the 1960’s.

The car was located and restored by friends from his home state at the cost of $80,000.

“You know, I’m not sure we’re going to be able to get Dave to retire now,” Childress quipped. “I saw the look on his eye when he fired up his old race car out there. Now, we just put $50,000 in his pocket to boot.”

Marcis will be leaving Winston Cup racing as a driver-owner, but will retain the owner’s hat. He plans to enter a few more races with someone else behind the wheel.

He made his first start in the 1968 Daytona 500 and has the record of 32 consecutive starts, which he earned between 1968 and 1999. Marcis failed to make the race for the first time in 2000.

Marcis has 882 Winston Cup Series starts,w ith five wins, 94 top-fives, 222 top-10 finishes and 14 Bud Pole Awards.

His last victory was in 1982 at Richmond in a car Childress had helped him set up and build.

“I came down here to Daytona that first year in 1968 and didn’t really know anyone,” Marcis said. “I always looked up to Richard and that’s why my first car was painted the same color as his. He was one of the first people who welcomed me and I have enjoyed a great friendship with him since.

“Without the fans and friends I’ve made in this business, none of this would have been possible. Everyone is saying what I’ve done for the sport, well I couldn’t have done anything without theirs.”

“This party is something else, it really is special. I didn’t know what to expect and after all this I really don’t know what to say. Thanks.”