FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 19, 2012
______________________________________

Mark Dowdy Racing Returns with Strong Showing, Finishing fifth 

by Josh Plant
Waterloo, AL (06/19/2012)- Mark Dowdy, America’s First Paralyzed Dirt Late Model Driver returned to racing action this past Saturday June 16th at Thunderhill Raceway (Summertown, TN) piloting his Pittman Dutton and Hellums Law Firm/Rather Sewer Inspection Services/Maniac Race Engines/Warrior Chassis Limited Late Model to a fifth place finish.
 
After, a month long hiatus from racing to make repairs to the Warrior Chassis and focus on family. MDR and team returned to the high banks of Thunderhill Raceway (Summertown, TN) to compete in the weekly show format with a built up need for speed.
 
Dowdy would draw the third starting spot in heat race one of two. 10 limited late models signed in on the card for the night at Thunderhill Raceway. Starting third on the grid of the heat race behind Thunderhill hot shoes #54 AJ Ferguson and #127 Robert Ardry. Dowdy and the rest of the field took the green, Dowdy hunkered down holding the third spot for the duration of the heat race and would finish third after a quick 8 laps. That earned him a fifth place starting spot in the feature event.
 
Feature time rolled around and the MDR crew made all final adjustments and were ready to get down to business for the 20 lap main event. Starting fifth on the grid, Dowdy would start mid pack of the 10 cars signed in. When the green flag dropped the Warrior Chassis and Manic Race Engine fired off like a speeding bullet. Holding the fifth spot going into turn one and losing one position exiting turn two. Riding sixth on the bottom groove of the speedway, Dowdy was passed by two more cars and fell back to eight in the early laps of the race. Dowdy soon began to hit his marks and began his march back to the front by lap 8, Dowdy had worked his way back to the fourth position, before the #27 Cody Springer who was running second to race leader AJ Ferguson dropped out of the race with engine failure. Dowdy would move up to the third spot on the restart behind race leader #54 Ferguson and second place #127 Ardry. On the restart Dowdy stay hunkered down on the bottom of the speedway and Ardry ran the high side, continuing to hit the marks that were working throughout the race, Dowdy began to gain ground on Ardry before Dowdy could make an attempt to make a pass on Ardry, caution would wave on the Speedway. Before the field could get slowed up on the front stretch, Dowdy was hit in the rear causing him to spin into the infield. After looking to see if there was any major damage, it looked to be cleared of any significant damage and could continue. Dowdy would restart in third. He would make two laps before pulling into the infield with known damage from the accident prior to the restart. Dowdy would end up with a fifth place finish on the night at Thunderhill Raceway.
 
MDR would like to say a special Thank You to all of his fans and friends for all the thoughts, prayers and well wishes for his dad and himself, over the last month and continued thoughts and prayers, as they are very appreciated and very thoughtful from each of you.
 
Mark Dowdy Racing is sponsored by these fine businesses and thanks them for their support : Pitman Dutton & Hellums Attorneys at Law (Birmingham, AL) www.pittmandutton.com, Rather Sewer Inspection Services of Olive Springs, Tn., Tolbert Performance Engine (Arley, AL) www.tolbertperformance.com, JPM Promotions (Mt. Pleasant, TN) www.jpmpromote.com , Antebellum Weddings www.antebellumweddings.net, FK Rod Ends www.fkrodends.com and Wix Filters www.wixfilters.com,Butler Built Seating Systems www.butlerbuilt.net , Bilstein Shocks www.bilstein.com ,Fragola Performance Systems www.fragolaperformancesystems.com , DBR Starters www.DBRstarters.com D & R Hardware (Waterloo, AL) (256) 766-4238, and the Jason M. Neely Foundation Race to Cure Parkinson’s Disease www.jmnfoundation22.org
 
Catch all the latest on Mark Dowdy Racing at www.dowdyracing.com