Off Season Downtime Has Renewed Jason Makarewicz's Confidence

by Dino Oberto -- "Keeping Track"

Hazleton area racer Jason Makarewicz is one driver who is glad to see 2007 behind him as it was a year that had started with high hopes but unfortunately frustration set in almost from the get go.

Makarewicz, along with wife Marissa, his brother Kevin and Jeff Owler make up the Mac Brothers Racing Team at Mountain Speedway.

Last year an opportunity arose for Makarewicz and company to take stock in a race track of their own as Bethel Motorsports Park in Bethel, NY was up for sale and they were very close to making it theirs. However, a last minute snag by the owner of the land which the track sits on put an abrupt halt to the deal.

Their attention then returned back to Mountain where Jason raced throughout the season with the late model class while the rest of the team competed with the thriller divisions.

There wasn't much to write home about either. Marissa dealt with engine woes over most of the year and then in the season ending King of the Mountain race she got badly wrecked during a lead swapping duel that also took out teammate Owler. Then Kevin faced a similar fate that same day.

It was at that point that Jason was completely discouraged and set to pull the plug on the entire racing operation. He was so frustrated that at one point he actually had sold the stable of cars including the trailers and tow vehicles. But soon after he realized he was misconstrued.

Now, after some serious downtime and a chance to regroup, Makarewicz is ready to go at it again only this time things will be a bit different as he's moving up to the headline class of modifieds which has renewed his enthusiasm to race.

"At one point I had everything sold but I guess I came to my senses. I had to call everyone back and tell them there was no deal. Now after regrouping we've decided to run just a limited schedule although by the time the season gets rolling that could change into a full year," said Makarewicz.

"Last year I was really looking forward to running my own race track. We were on the verge of signing the final papers but at the last minute the owner of the land decided to raise the price and he became kind of ignorant about the whole thing.

"It would have been really cool to run a track as opposed to racing around the track. It may have worked out or it may not have. I'm still today getting phone calls on whether or not we're going to open the track."

The past is the past and now it's time to focus on the task ahead, especially making the adjustment from a late model to a modified.

"There are a few similarities, at least that's what I could tell from the very little time I had in the car," said Makarewicz who had a brief test session in late November. "Keep in mind it was a very cold out and that was not good for the car or the track. Once I'm out there full bore I know there will be a significant difference."

Although Makarewicz is energized to begin his new endeavor, it's not something he's going to get to overly involved with, at least for now. He wants to stick to his game plan of running a limited schedule and not get caught up in the weekly grind that comes with each week.

"I just want to go out and have a good time this year and not race every week. We've been doing this for almost ten years now and we need a break."

There will, however, be plenty of emphasis put on Marissa and Owler to get a win or two with the thrillers. Kevin in the meantime is also stepping up a class as he will now drive with the street stocks.

"I'm really going to put more of an effort into her (Marissa's) car and Kevin's car more than my own. I want to see them win. As for me I know my chances will be very tough with the competition they have right now with the modified class," said Makarewicz.

"As for Marissa and Kevin we know we'll be in good shape when the season starts - thanks to some great sponsorship with Forbo Flooring, Jo Jo's Beverage and Screen Printing USA so we'll be putting a lot of concentration into those two efforts."

If there was one highpoint of the year it came at mid-season during the second annual Ed "Duct Tape" Makarewicz Memorial race, a 50-lap feature for the thriller cars. It is a memorial event honoring their father who passed away in 2005. And, according to Makarewicz this year's feature could be the best yet as they are close to cutting a deal with a sponsor that would sweeten the purse considerably for the June 21 show.

"We're working on a sponsor for this year's event and if everything works out it will be the best payout the Thriller's have yet to see," he noted.

"In the past two years the race has been a fabulous affair. The support we've gotten from the drivers, fans and family has been amazing. We've been able to have good purses plus with the addition of the lap prize money that is added just. There's even been a spike in the crowd when we run that race. It seemed like one of the better turnouts as compared to most other race nights.

"I can see this race continue to grow. It twice as big for the second one and we're confident it will keep on that trend. For what we're offering I don't see why it wouldn't."