Marcis to hang up helmet?

Dave Marcis, NASCAR's most enduring driver and a man who knows more about the racing ovals of America than any other, could be set to hang up his racing helmet at Daytona next weekend or at least set a firm date as to when the 60-year old will draw the curtain on his 33-year NASCAR Winston Cup career.

Dave Marcis' low-budget, family run operation and loyal sponsors Realtree have announced that they will be holding a press conference at the Daytona International Speedway over the Pepsi 400 weekend at the Daytona International Speedway fuelling speculation that NASCAR's longest standing competitor will retire from the cockpit either with immediate affect or at the end of the year.

Marcis has been an almost permanent fixture on the Winston Cup scene since he made his debut in the 1968 Daytona 500 finishing a career best second in points in 1975 to Richard Petty and scoring his first of four NWC victories with team-boss Rod Osterlund. In addition to driving, Marcis Auto Racing has fielded cars in Winston Cup competition since 170 and Marcis scored the team's sole NWC victory to date in 1982.

Somehow, as costs have spiralled and big budget, multi car operations all but eliminated the privateers, Marcis and the No.71 team kept afloat and presented at every race up until the end of last season with a small but enthusiastic band of workers and Dave's immense experience at certain track meant he was still able to qualify in the top ten right up until last year at tracks such as Talladega and Dover where Marcis is second to none in terms of experience.

This year however Marcis finally decided to cut back on his schedule hoping to take in the races that his team will be competitive in. However after failing to qualify for the Daytona 500 for the second year in succession and witnessing the death of close friend Dale Earnhardt, Marcis may have decided that is enough id enough.

NASCAR's 'Racing Grandfather' persevered after Earnhardt's death, contrary to most expectations, but has appeared at only five events since, making the grid just once, at Talladega and it could be that we have seen the last of Marcis as a driver although the chances of him bowing out without one last victory parade are very slim indeed.

As for the future of the No.71 team, depending on what Marcis says, the keys could be handed to a younger prot?g?, possibly Kerry Earnhardt who drove the car twice last year and a tie up with Dale Jr's older brother will continue the ties between Marcis, Earnhardt and Richard Childress, whose team has aided Marcis greatly over the past couple of seasons.

Marcis is also the official preparation expert for the International Race Of Champions Series and is responsible for setting-up the 12 identical Pontiac Firebird's used by some of America's most successful drivers in the 'All-Star' series. Marcis actually got to race in the last IROC round at Michigan as a substitute for the injured Dale Jarrett and acquitted himself more than handsomely against some drivers less than half his age.