Part One of Four Introducing Dells Raceway Park's 2010 Rookies of the Year

by Matt Panure
Mark Ailes might be what some consider a late bloomer, but make no mistake - his career at Dells Raceway Park (an ASA member track) is in full bloom after a spectacular rookie season in the pure stock division.

A factory worker at Goodyear Tire and Rubber in Sun Prairie by trade, the recently-turned 40-year-old's path to Rookie of the Year honors wasn't carved out the same as most.

The Portage, Wis., resident began his racing career as most do, in the stands. He began making trips to Dells Raceway Park in the late 80s as a spectator, and soon after started wrenching on Gary Harkala's late model. However, it took almost 20 more seasons before Ailes got his first taste behind the wheel.

After being involved either in the stands or the pit area for so long, Ailes decided it was time to take his turn early in the 2009 season.

"It was the first night of the season I was sitting in the stands with my wife and my two brothers when we saw a bandit with a for sale sign on it," Ailes recalled. "We went in the pits and bought it that night."

The following week Ailes was out in full force, recording multiple top fives and top tens en route to a seventh place finish in bandit standings. Not one to rest on his laurels, Ailes decided to move up to the pure stock division after the success of '09.

Ailes said he bought a used pure stock and started putting in some hard work over the offseason prior to 2010. "We gutted it, cut the roll cage out, took the chassis out from underneath it and basically rebuilt the whole car."

The work paid dividends early in the season with multiple top-ten finishes in the first weeks of the 2010 campaign. However, Ailes' early momentum slowed when transmission problems forced him to miss two weeks of the season.

With the transmission problems cleared up in mid-July, Ailes fought back and began to display his ability to contend on a nightly basis. He recorded a third-place finish on July 17, a season-best until the following week.

On July 24, Ailes secured an early lead and cruised to victory, the first of his career. There were some nervous moments behind the wheel, Ailes said. "I thought for sure a caution would come out, but it didn't," he said. "I never really thought [a feature win] would happen this year."

Recording one more top five and a total of 12 top tens through the season, Ailes was ecstatic with a top-five finish in season standings. "I was just trying to make consistent finishes," Ailes said of his hopes for 2010. "Being out there my first year, a top ten in points was my goal for the season."

With his mission accomplished, Ailes plans to return to the pure stock division in 2011 with another top five in sight. He also hopes to have a backup car in case transmission problems come to the forefront again.

But just as he did after a year in the bandits, Ailes also may be ready to make another jump after a season in the pure stocks - this time to DRP's premier division. "I may be showing up in a late model. The plan is to practice and maybe race it," Ailes said. "There are a lot of 'ifs' and 'ands' right now, but for sure I'll be back full time in the pure stock."

As his second season in pure stocks looms, Ailes tried to reflect on what he learned in 2010. "It's hard to say," he said of his best lesson last season. "The more seat time you get, it helps you. I try to talk to the other drivers. Whatever they could help you out with, they would."

Drivers may not be so eager to help in 2011 if Ailes fulfills his goals for the season. "To get a championship would really be great, but I'd be really happy with another top-five finish," he said.

In 2010 Ailes' pure stock was sponsored by Schultz Small Engine, Northside Auto Repair, GA Motorsports, Kapp Racing Products, all of Portage, TIRY'S Race Engines of Ripon, Badger Diversified Metals of Madison, and Adrenaline Graphics of Wisconsin Dells.

Ailes and his fellow rookies of the year will be honored at the Dells Raceway Park Championship Banquet on Saturday, Nov. 13 at Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells.

For more information visit www.dellsracewaypark.com or www.chulavistaresort.com.