Drivers to Benefit from Duct Tape Memorial at Sundance Speedway

By Dino Oberto

The fourth Annual Ed "Duct Tape" Makarewicz 50 at Sundance Vacations
Speedway in northeast Pennsylvania is scheduled for Saturday night, July 4.

The race is in memory of the late Ed Makarewicz, best known as Duct Tape.
When Makarewicz passed away at the age of 59 on November 16, 2005, his sons,
Kevin and Jason, who have been strong supporters at Sundance Speedway over
the past decade, put together the memorial event in his honor and since then
it has blossomed into the highpoint feature of the season for the Factory
Stock class.

While most other divisions reap the headlines and payouts, the Factory
Stocks, considered an entry level, low buck class, remains on the bottom
side of the billing chart. Yet this class can boast some of the best action
due to the fact that the cars are not all hyped with purpose made parts for
speed and handling enhancement and its drivers are pure breed racers as they
learn from a class which enables them to become better skilled, a trait that
pays off when eventually moving up to higher levels.

Once a year, thanks to the Makarewicz's, the Factory Stock teams can enjoy
an extra distance show that runs 50-laps and more so pays additional money,
a rarity seldom seen in such a class.

The Makarewicz's have always had at least two cars in the Factory Stock
field which made it all too simple as to choosing it for the special event.

"It just keeps getting better and better. Our season is not going to well
and if it wasn't for this race and being as popular as it's become, we
wouldn't be racing. As a team, this race has given us the motivation to
continue racing," said Jason Makarewicz who serves as the team manager of
Mac Brothers Racing and is a former Late Model and Modified driver.

Aside from the normal payout, the Makarewicz's have again been able to
collect additional cash that helped sweeten the pot. Individual lap sponsors
are a big part while others gave donations towards the full purse.

"A lot of people are laps sponsors and one guy even gave a $100 for the
worst wreck," said Jason.

"The track still pays their regular purse and then we just add to that. The
last three years we divided the money between the top three finishing
positions. This year we'll split the pot between every spot."

A Factory Stock car is as basic as it gets when referring to a 'stock car.'
An Enduro car is somewhat similar and thus those cars were invited to
partake as well.

"We actually had some calls out to some of the guys with Enduro cars and as
long as they fall under the track rules then we welcome them," said Jason.

Ed Makarewicz was a unique individual who took on life head on. His sons
followed along that path which is why they have a special passion with motor
sports.

Being that his boys are so heavily involved in the local racing scene and
how he was perhaps the biggest supporter of them, even though he had
condoned it at first, they in return wanted to do something special in his
honor by having this yearly memorial.

No doubt family and friends will be coming out to pay tribute to Duct Tape
and if the past three runnings were an indication, then this year's edition
will be another unqualified success. And, they will be ready to do it again
next year and beyond.