Marc Rogers -modified driver-2002 Article

By Robin  Ervin

While not as colorful as some of the other drivers on the track, Marc Rogers has a style all his own. He exudes a quiet confidence and offers a friendly smile to everyone he meets.   He also makes a habit of produces strong finishes in his white and red #44 Asphalt Modified. He has won a feature race every year since his first full season of racing in 1995. Together these qualities make him one of the fans’ favorite drivers.

  Marc Rogers has been around racing for as long as he can remember. His father, Steve raced everything from Modern Stocks to Full Modifieds in a career that spanned 25 years.  The elder Rogers’ home track was Wall Stadium. So it was only natural that his son Marc would start his racing career there.

  Marc Rogers started racing mid way thru the 1993 season in his father’s X4 car.   Encouraged by his performance that year, He bought himself his own modified car and raced it half of the 1994 season at Wall Stadium. He stayed at Wall until 1997 when he switched to Flemington Speedway.   Rogers raced there until the Saturday night Program ceased at the end of the 2000 season.  He finished a career high fourth in points at the end of the 2000 season.

  Surprisingly, the car he is running today is the same car he raced in 1994. He credits this to being able to avoid accidents that would require extensive repair. “So far, I’ve been lucky,” Marc stated with relief in his voice.   Watching him look at his car, one could see the admiration he has for his mount when he looks at her.  As if they are not just man and machine but two pals who have been together a long time, have seen a lot and shared many adventures.

 Rogers and his three-man crew do all the work on the car themselves.  The crew consists of his brother Danny, respected local hot wrench Jimmy Cogill and Richie LaVance.   LaVance has an extra vested interest in the team’s effort because he is one of the associate sponsors. His Pete LaVance Auto logo is prominently displayed on the side of the  #44. The main sponsor of his white and red modified is Drews Computer Consultants located in the North Jersey area.

  During the 2001 season he decided to sample the Pennsylvania racing scene. He raced half a year at Mahoning Valley and the other half at what was known last year as the Pocono Mountain or Evergreen Speedway.  Marc said, “ I wanted to visit other tracks because learning to adjust your driving style to various tracks makes you a better driver”

“I liked the experience up there at Evergreen, the people treated us real nice and I generally liked everything about the place. Mahoning Valley was nice too.   However, This year we plan to run Wall again for the entire 2002 season. “