When the 2008 season was about to begin, seasoned Hazleton area racer Jason Makarewicz was looking forward to getting on track at Sundance Vacations Speedway, a.k.a Evergreen/Mountain Speedway.

It wasn't just because the new race year was about to begin but more so of the fact that 2007 was a dreadful campaign so renewed enthusiasm was abound within him. Makarewicz was also looking forward to driving a Modified stock car for the first time which added to his eagerness to get started.

Makarewicz, along with his wife Marissa and brother Kevin, make up Mac Brothers Racing. Marissa and Kevin compete in the Factory Stocks.

For a variety of differentiating reasons, however, 2008 turned into a short season. Difference of opinions between Makarewicz and the track pretty much kept him and the team away for most of the season. According to Makarewicz it came down to the interpretation of the rules. Thus he stepped away from the sport in order to rethink and regroup.

"I guess I was aggravated to the point that we didn't come back last year. Actually we bought a camper and went camping most of last year is what we did. It felt real good too. We went down three times to race and another time to just watch and it felt really good to get away.

We had been doing it for seven seasons in a row and so we needed a break," said Makarewicz.

Now with the 2009 season fast approaching, Makarewicz has again found the energy to come back to action only this time he will do so strictly a car owner and leave the driving to his wife and brother.

"One of my problems was when I was driving, if I smashed the car then I had to spend the money to fix it. With Marissa and Kevin, they'll go out and run the fenders off the cars and not worry all that much because I'm the one who will be spending the money to fix it.

But that's okay. I'm too cautious of a driver and you really can't be that way," said Makarewicz.

"We sold our cars from last year and wound up buying two more for this year and with the track only having a fourteen week season, meaning we race every other week in our class, that's going to make things really nice."

In a move to help ease costs to its teams, the speedway has incorporated an every other week schedule for its classes and for Makarewicz and company, that bodes well.

"We thought about moving up to the Street Stocks but that class is just crazy and very competitive and you need some decent money to do well in that class. We feel we can do the Factory Stocks pretty much out of our own pockets and we also have a nice group of sponsors that will make things affordable for us to be competitive enough in the class," explained Makarewicz.

"It's not affordable like it use to be. Five-ten years ago you can be in a Street Stock and still be able to get your parts from the local junk yard and now you can't. Yes some things you still may be able to but a lot of times you have to order from a speed shop.

"Now with the way they've put the schedule together with us racing every other week, it's definitely going to be more affordable. It will be more relaxing and your whole summer won't be tied up for 22 races every single Saturday and working on the cars every night of the week. It should be a lot more enjoyable this way."

The team has Forbo Flooring Systems, Jo Jo's Beverages, Screen Printing USA and Barbush Grafix as their backers. Makarewicz made sure to note how mom plays a key role in aiding them.

Marissa and Kevin will each be driving Monte Carlo's which they feel are going to be more of an edge in terms of body style.

"I think Kevin will do very well this year. Marissa does great over the first half of each race and with a little more patience she should have an awesome season. There's no question that both of them can be mixing it up every week among the leaders," said Makarewicz.

"We're going to be shooting for the championship. The last couple of years I had put the money into the cars to be a top five. Now I'm spending the money to get them up front all the time and vie for a title."

One of the highlights of the season at Sundance Vacation Speedway will be the "Ed Makarewicz Memorial - Duct Tape 50 for Factory Stocks on June 20. It is a feature race named in honor of the Makarewicz's late father. In the few years it has been run the race has become one of the more anticipated races with plenty of fanfare that goes to the Factory Stock division.

"We had a real good sponsor lined up last year but unfortunately they backed down two weeks before the race. I'm working with some folks right now and am hoping we can have a real nice purse to pay out," said Makarewicz.

"This will be the fourth year of holding the event and it's really evolved into something special for the Factory Stocks. We may try something a little different with the format this year. We're thinking about stopping the race at the halfway mark and then inverting the field."

Area race fans can get their first look at the Mac Brothers Racing team on March 4-8 when the track heads to the Laurel Mall for their annual Race Car Show. The season starts April 19.