Marko Perivolaris; Great Racer, Even Better Persom
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Concept
Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a famous car race that happens every year in Florida. It's a big event for NASCAR fans and marks the start of the racing season.
Part
shifter
A shifter is the part of the car that you use to change gears, like going from first gear to second gear. It's important for controlling how fast the car goes.
Term
race car
A race car is a type of car built for racing. It's made to go fast and handle well on a track, often with special parts that make it different from regular cars.
Term
batteries
Batteries in cars are what give power to start the engine and run things like lights and radios. In race cars, they might use special batteries that are lighter and more powerful.
Term
turn the bottle on
Turning the bottle on usually means starting a system that gives the car extra power for a short time. It's often used in racing to help the car go faster.
Part
brakes
Brakes help a car slow down or stop. Upgrading to racing brakes means getting better parts that can stop the car more effectively, especially during fast driving.
Term
short block
A short block is a part of an engine that includes the main components like the block and crankshaft, but not the top parts like the cylinder head. It's important for rebuilding or upgrading engines.
Term
throttle stop
A throttle stop is a tool that limits how much power a car can use, which is important in racing to keep cars within certain speed limits. It helps ensure fair competition in specific racing classes.
Term
super street
Super Street is a type of drag racing where cars are modified to go fast but still need to be somewhat street-legal. Racers compete to see who can finish a quarter-mile race in the shortest time, usually around 10.90 seconds.
Term
1090 racing
1090 racing is a drag racing class where cars try to finish a quarter-mile race in about 10.90 seconds. It allows for some modifications to the cars, but they still have to follow specific rules.
Concept
Pomona Divisional
The Pomona Divisional is a drag racing event that takes place in Pomona, California. It's part of a series of races where drivers compete to earn points and qualify for bigger races.
Concept
NHRA
NHRA stands for National Hot Rod Association, which is a big organization that runs drag racing events. They organize races where cars compete to see who can go the fastest in a straight line.
Car
TNT Dragster
The TNT Dragster is a type of race car made for going really fast in drag races. The 2014 model is built specifically for racing competitions.
Part
20 degree engine
A 20 degree engine is a type of engine where the parts are angled in a specific way. This can help the engine perform better, especially in racing.
Car
Chevrolet Camaro
The Chevrolet Camaro is a powerful car that many people love for its speed and cool looks. The 1967 version is especially famous and is often seen in races and car events.
Concept
dirt track racing
Dirt track racing is a type of car racing that happens on dirt surfaces. It often involves different kinds of cars and is known for being very exciting.
Term
ET drags
ET drags are a type of race where drivers try to complete a certain distance in the shortest time possible. It's a common way to compete in drag racing.
Concept
Wednesday night drags
Wednesday night drags are fun racing events where people can race their cars against each other. It's a chance for anyone to try out their car's speed in a safe place.
Car
Chevrolet Corvette
The Chevrolet Corvette is a fast and stylish sports car that many people admire. It's known for being really powerful and is often used in races, making it a favorite among car enthusiasts.
Term
dragster
A dragster is a type of car made for racing really fast in a straight line. They are built to go as fast as possible in short distances.
Term
snapped a valve
When a valve in the engine breaks, it can cause serious problems. This usually means the engine needs a lot of work to fix it.
Term
engine swap
An engine swap is when you take out the engine from a car and put in a different one. People do this to make their cars faster or to fix problems.
Concept
Norwalk
Norwalk is a famous racetrack in Ohio where many drag racing events take place. It's known for being a great place for racers and fans alike.
Concept
Virginia Motorsports Park
Virginia Motorsports Park is a racetrack in Virginia where different types of racing events happen, especially drag racing. It's a popular spot for racers and fans.
Concept
Bowling Green
Bowling Green is a racetrack in Kentucky known for its connection to the Corvette. It's a place where people can race and enjoy car events.
Concept
Gainesville
Gainesville is a racetrack in Florida famous for drag racing events. It's known for hosting big races and is a popular spot for fans and racers.
Concept
Indy
Indy is a well-known racetrack in Indiana where many big car races happen, including the famous Indianapolis 500. It's a popular place for racing fans to visit and experience the excitement of motorsport.
Concept
World Footbreak Challenge
The World Footbreak Challenge is a drag racing event where drivers have to use their foot to control the brakes instead of special equipment. It's a test of skill and timing for racers.
LIVE
Yes, sir, I'll try doing today.
I'm doing good buddy and you know to any any of our audience members that are
out here in the great state of Oregon you know I am a government employee but
you get your money's worth with me because I'm supposed to have the day off
today yet I am out here in beautiful seaside Oregon putting in work for the
great state of Oregon so you know when you when you think about government
workers just know that you get your money's worth with me because I'm
working on my day off out here well we're glad at least one of them does
some something good on their day off I mean I am sitting in a beach in a beach
for a hotel you know so I'm not I'm not like you know slaving away by any means
but I am where I am on the clock here I mean I'm not right now but not in this
very moment we probably wouldn't tell on you if you were at this very moment
you know I'm always on the clock it doesn't matter it just even you know
it's just it's just around the clock buddy I'm just always working I love it
well it is race week I'm getting pretty excited leave for Phoenix on Wednesday
morning we only got a handful of people for my family racing unfortunately did
some parts didn't show up so not everybody gets to race this weekend but
everybody should be back in action for for the next race I think it'll be Phoenix
for the national or whatever comes first I'm not quite sure on the schedule but
it's race week got lots of people heading down to Phoenix for the national
open and and the divisional to follow so we'll be looking forward to hear some
results from that next week you got any thoughts on that yeah I just seen a lot
of people prepping ready to go you know we talked a little bit about it last
week how I'm just barely kind of getting into my offseason my offseason
situation here and and people are loading them up to go racing already so
little jealous it's 39 degrees here where I'm at right now so we're not
anywhere close to racing anyway but it's just it's just interesting to see the
difference in the seasons and and depending on where you live you know
it's race time already which is which is pretty crazy you know we had Daytona
500 this weekend and race season's back baby oh yeah I don't know about anybody
else out there but we always make plans right as soon as the season ends hey we
need to do this to the trailer we need to do this to our cars this needs to get
done well you forget about it like two hours doing it all this week you leave
and you get your car ready for for the season and you're like crap I forgot to
do this in this in this so this last weekend's a little bit of a thrash but
got new batteries for the trailer the shifter got in my in my race car for
stock and just a handful of other things that you remember to do as soon as you
start loading but we're working you better remember to do all seasons turn
that bottle on well luckily for me I come from the the supercomp car where it
was routine to turn the bottle on so just have to yeah but I seen you drive
that car you got your hand on the back of the seat just cruising so you're gonna
have to get in the game and turn that bottle on if I see that thing go to 8500
because you forgot to turn the bottle on and it didn't shift you're gonna hear
about it forever you got it I put it right right inside the door right where
I put my tire gauge so if I do miss it we got big big problems nice I got some
brakes coming today I'm gonna finally upgrade the the 80 pound stock disc
brakes on the hot rod and get some real racing brakes in the front and rear so
really stoked about that get a little little weight off it and make her a
little safer so so stoked on that and the short block I think finally sailed away
this weekend to get to get tuned up and get some new rings and bearings and all
that good stuff so I'm stoked man I'm ready to go I'm starting to itch for it
yeah super exciting especially when you got some upgrades and can't wait to see
it on the track and see how it performs I got a throttle stop too ooh Troy's
coming to Pomona for some super street action I don't know we'll see if I get
her done this year but I'm definitely gonna gonna make an effort if not this
year 2027 we're going super street we're going 1090 racing and I'm pumped for it
I love it it's barely fast enough to put on a stop to go 1090 so I gotta speed her
up a little bit before I bolt the stop on it because it's only a 1020s car anyway
so I gotta I gotta speed her up just a little bit well ditch it all that way
with brakes is only gonna help it'll help a little bit it'll help a little bit
and I'm gonna need them when I when I'm on an 85 and I'm sending people through
at the other end hard on the brakes I love it if you're anything like Pete
last week you only need two so I'm not anything like Pete but I sure I sure like
it's that well we got quite the episode this week we got Marco Paravolaris
joining us tonight it should be a really exciting one I know that Marco
won't tell it himself so I'm just gonna bring it right now with with some of
the stats that Austin Austin Williams fed me he's got six national event wins
in eight final rounds four of which came in Supercomp two and super gas he's
one at three different tracks and four different final four different tracks for
final rounds he's a two-time Jagsall star he run it up in 2015 in super gas
and we got some interesting stories about that he's your 2019 pro et division
seven driver of the year and 2019 pro et champ and that's just breaking the
surface there's way more division wins and big money wins and all sorts of stuff
six for eight man that's it that's a guy you don't want to see in the final
round and we'll get him on here in a second Marco stay out of the 1090 stuff
buddy I just told you I'm gonna try to get in there but I know how you do with
this dot 90 stuff and I don't want to see you in a any round the first round
the final round a time run I don't care I don't want to see you there buddy so you
stay with that fast stuff well now that now that we've got that out of the way
and I'm sure he's embarrassed but we'll bring him on see how ready he is when
we bring him on there he is how's Marco doing tonight doing good thanks for
having me guys absolutely thanks for taking some time out of your evening to
join us and do some bench racing looking forward to it Marco I'm gonna get
started with some questions when do you what do you think you'll get your
season started I know that we talked briefly earlier today that you weren't
gonna come down to Phoenix but you talked about maybe Pomona Pomona Divisionals
the plan I love it what's your what's your schedule looking like this year are
you gonna do a lot of NHRA stuff chase more big money stuff what you got so
we're gonna start off the season by going to the Pomona Divisional and if all
goes while there hopefully the Phoenix National then on to Tucson for four
sites bracket race which we always look forward to and long as everything holds
together we'll run the few races after the fling it's kind of hard to look too
far ahead but just looking forward to starting the season and going from there
and you'll be pulling double duty super comp super guess it at all those
divisionals and nationals again that's the plan tell us a little bit about your
your NHRA cars and a little bit about your bracket cars so NHRA cars we have
a 2014 TNT Dragster that we run in super comp that's got a 615 inch 20 degree
engine in it built by Ponella and the super gas car is a 1967 Camaro
Roadster and that's got a 582 inch 20 degree as well and been very happy with
both cars and I'm just so excited to get back into the seat and drive them both
as well as they performed at the end of the year last year absolutely you got a
couple bad hot rods that's for sure and that 67 you got man it's immaculant it's
Marco do you like being in the long car or the Roadster more definitely the
Roadster yeah that's my guy right there ever since I jumped in a in a door car
I kind of forgot about the dragsters yeah that don't get me wrong the dragsters
are fun but there's just something about driving a Roadster it's really hard to
put it into words but the first time I drove a Roadster when I was a bit
younger I just fell in love with it oh yeah Ronnie Cort says Marco's nasty in
the new Roadster well shout out to Ronnie looking forward to working with him at
the Vegas fling and appreciate the compliment absolutely Ronnie Marcos
nasty and everything he drives don't get me wrong so I'm gonna jump back a little
bit you got started in in racing a little different than most drag racers your dad
happened to race some dirt track am I right on that that is correct so not not
your average junior dragster racer you watch your dad do some dirt track stuff
tell us a little bit about about that so that particular picture I actually ran
a mini sprint for a short time my dad ran modifies and late models for a good part of 25 years and
I always planned on taking that up but our dear friend Richard Lear who had been a mentor for
my father for pretty much most of his life he suggested that I take my 94 Camaro out to the
Sonoma ET drags in 2011 which it's hard to believe that was 15 years ago so that particular car
we took out of three cars just kind of pieced them together took the best parts that we could
find off of each car and that's what it turned into at first before we painted it our big joke
was it looked like a Christmas tree so the first time I went out it was very difficult
there I realized right off the bat that there was going to be a lot to learn and so much to pay
attention to and fortunately Lella and my parents they supported me a hundred percent Lella simultaneously
learned how to dial and pretty much from the first race it just became
all about trying to learn about the little details and what we could do week by week
to help us get better as a whole and it just means everything that that has continued for
the last 15 years Marco you talked about what was that 2009 2011 when did you take the Camaro
out 2011 so so you go from from bringing that out for the first time in 2011 to just four years later
winning your first national event right yeah that's a that's a pretty fast track I think most would
would say from their first bracket race in a street car to hoist in a Wally at a national event
maybe talk a little bit about just what that felt like and and going from learning the ropes
to to standing at the top of the podium just a few years later well I look back at 2011
and just like I said how much there was to learn I would say about midway through the season
I felt like had made some progression Lella was dialing the car really well for what we had to
work with and having that kind of conversation with my dad he asked both of us is this something
that you see yourselves doing for a long time and of course at the time it really was what we
loved to do so not long after that conversation my dad had made the decision to retire from racing
and fully support us so by him making that decision none of that would have been possible
he and my mother dove in head first with just about everything we did and it all happened
fast I couldn't have imagined the memories in those four years that you had mentioned and
I'm just thankful that you know we're still doing it as a family so what you're telling me
as you started in 2011 you won your national event in 2014 is that correct 15 15 just four
short years later you accomplished all this in less than 15 years I just a lot of times
I just look back at the memories and just can't help but be thankful more so just all the people
that my family and I have met along the way like you two and I feel like that's just what this sport
is all about you meet people that there you have so much in common with because we can all relate
to the fact of how hard it is to manage a race program keeping the equipment together the traveling
and when you have those battles on the track and can just have fun with it when we're lose
that just that's what means so much about this sport absolutely I love it man and
if anybody who's watching hasn't noticed about the nicest guy and the most humble guy you're
ever going to meet right here we've heard those stats though and you have a well-known reputation
for being just such a good dude how do you go from a guy who who's never going to wish anything
but wind lights for anybody he knows to once you put on that helmet for yourself and you flip a
switch and you're you just become an absolute killer is there a is there a preparation is there
a routine you go through to to to flip that switch what is that like for you when you strap on that
helmet and you go from nice guy Marco to I'm coming for the trophy well a lot of that believe it or
not is counterintuitive I just tell myself all the time and my father always tells me
because about the lowest stakes races that I've ever been involved in are the Wednesday night
drags at snowmer raceway which is what I mainly started off doing back in high school so the
fact that he's always reminded me that it's no different than it just being another Wednesday
night it definitely helps keep the pressure off and try and focus on the fundamentals and just
trying to have the similar of a routine as possible but yet just trying to stay positive and always
reminding myself that we do this for no other reason other than it's what we love to do great
one of the things you talked about just recently just barely was the fundamentals
and one of the things that I recognize Marco for on the racetrack is how awesome your reaction times
are all the time you your your Black and Decker tree record as Big Jed says right
what I don't want to give away all of your secrets but what do you do to prepare and
and what do you think you attribute your reaction times to well I would say it's a multitude of
so many things practice is definitely one of them but the other things that I would say the biggest
attributions are is just having people that are so positive like my family and my group of friends
that that I do this with and them always encouraging me to take care of myself exercise stay healthy
eat healthy and just take it seriously great Marco you've you've over the last few years really
you know taken a pretty prominent role with the fleeing brand and I heard y'all got a big race
coming up pretty soon some people might have heard about it talk a little bit about how
how did that come about how did you go from from being a local west coast racer to being
you know a prominent member of that fleeing brand and what's that experience been like for you what
does that mean to you well it means first and foremost it means so much to me to be able to
work with a tight-knit group of people and to be able to in in small ways give back to a sport
that I love especially getting to work with my sister who she's been working for the flings for
over the last 10 years just started out in graphic design and it just kind of went from there but
in answer to your question Troy Kyle Cyple was like a big brother to Lella and I in 2011 my first
DT finals we just instantly became really close friends and he just from the time that we hung out
and got to know each other he just wanted to be a part of what we did he's he's driven
few of our cars and with that friendship Peter became a part of that as well so in 2021 Kyle got
pretty sick and he insisted that they had everything all under control leading up to the 2021 fling
well that would be the first event that Lella would work at the event so it was kind of a good
time to step in and help out then when Kyle's health unfortunately declined and shortly before
he lost him I just mentioned to him that I would love to continue to help out and I'll never forget
it when he said that would make me proud but so that sticks in my mind and I'm just thankful to
still be working with a great group of people I think everybody else is really thankful you
know that you are too and it's interesting you know we talked a little bit last week
Kyle came up he comes up a lot in in our shows and our episodes and the more I hear about him
the more I wish I would have got a chance to meet a guy like that because I never did get the
opportunity I was a little late to the game and he was you know in his final years as I kind of
came into drag racing but that's just you know another example of how he's touched so many people
out here another another prominent thread is Lella Lella Lella talk about I'm not close with my sister
and we love each other to death but we don't we're not super close we don't live anywhere near
each other and so to hear to hear about that relationship that you guys have and what a
not just the relationship you have but what an integral piece of your racing program that that
she's been tell us a little bit about that relationship and and what she means to you
from as long as I can remember we've done just about everything together I mean I guess it's
because our mom and dad always included us in everything that we ever did we grew up being
best friends and I'm thankful to say that not only has that not changed but in all that we've
done together all that we've gone through as a family the good times and the bad times I feel
like that has only made us closer and the fact that in back in 2011 she wanted to be a part of
something that that she could tell meant a lot to me and for us to be doing it as a family
I mean not once has she ever even hinted about not wanting to be a part of it or
you know not supporting whatever it is that we've done so to be able to race together
do stuff together as a family and travel to the flings and work together and to have each
other's back all the time unconditionally man it's I when people ask me about our relationship
I get emotional because I don't know what I do without her she just means having just
a spectacular sister like her just means everything to me and that's pretty special man I appreciate
you you know digging into that a little bit for us you're a you're a lucky fella and I know she's
a lucky gal too to be able to share that with you and and that's a relationship I think that many of
us um envy certainly respect and and wish uh I think we all look for relationships like that in
our life and and even cooler that um you know that's one that you guys have cultivated since you were
since you were babies you know pretty awesome stuff something I want to add to this um Lella
is just as much of a killer as Marco is she hasn't raced as much but man when she's behind the wheel
she's a she knocks him down dead it's it's really impressive for as good as she is for as little
see time as she's had it's uh it's pretty awesome to watch it it means so much that she's always
had the interest of driving herself and she foot braked at local races here and there
over the course of the last three or four years but then as a pretty good chunk of last year
we spent working on her Camaro that she now has and she just from from the time she started driving
it um just how she's picked it up what she pays attention to and mainly how well she listens
as a brother I just in general I just couldn't be any more proud of her both on and off the track
have you guys ever raced each other we've ironically we've made one time run together
and both of us were 11 on the red side so we are dead even that's fine nobody has the
other hand I love it I think we need to have a little family showdown at the in between rounds
at the fling we need to have like a best of five the two of you this year at the fling Troy I don't
know if you're aware of this but Peter and Kyle used to do the face offs oh yeah maybe just maybe
we could have a Marco and Lella face off instead this time I'd love it man who doesn't know about
the wreck and go man uh one of the most legendary you know match ups of all time uh the wreck and
go is I mean that's that's my favorite thing that's ever happened on the drag strip man
yeah that was a great memory between Peter and Kyle I hadn't known Kyle very well at that time but
I think that kind of signified just how much fun those two always had together and
in answer to your question I think what Lella looks forward to most is just you know running
everything as normal and to find ourselves in any kind of a position especially in in late
rounds I know that that's something that she would look forward to um anytime that we're
racing together but I think she'd say the same thing as I do when or lose just being able to
race together um compare what we're doing round by round I mean I got to say I have more fun
doing that with her than I do just racing myself and her entirely being a crew cheat
nice so hypothetically speaking you guys are running uh in the deep round is she gonna make
you dial yourself that's funny that you say that I think she would undoubtedly be honest about what
she thinks I would be on I don't think there'd be any way that she would do anything to sabotage
my end of it because I genuinely believe that she would want both of us to put up the best run
that we possibly can and be able to look at the time slip after regardless of which one of us
would win or lose and just say man that was just an awesome race and so much fun
I think that would put more pressure on in park I mean her being just super honest like hey man
you're on a 95 you better run it you know because I'm on it because I'm on a 05 and I'm gonna run mine
so I think I think giving him the real number puts more pressure on him uh I think we gotta see it
we gotta get we gotta get this to happen between rounds man I uh I mentioned in the intro that
you're uh you're a two-time jigsaw star um I have a story that I want you to confirm
is it true that um when you went to the all-stars you broke your engine um either in a time run or
first round and that same uh year you went to the final uh kind of blind that actually believe it or
not that is a true story so when we made the trip back to Chicago we brought the super gas
Corvette that we had at that time we actually had just fresh in the motor and I had tested it the
week before and everything was perfect as well as the super cop car testing went great we went back
there first time run it ended up the Corvette that is snapped a valve and then it was I believe
the second time trial with the dragster because the plan was actually to pull out with the dragster
and put the dragster motor in the Corvette it ended up breaking beyond an easy fix as well
so we went all the way back there and within two time runs hurt two motors so at that point
I told my dad that you know as great as it is to be back here this just isn't meant to be
and right away my dad says oh no we're we're not done yet so we go around the pits and
a friend of ours at the time introduces us to Jason Lynch and Mia Tedesco and they were
I mean they were a tremendous help they had an engine that we weren't sure was going to work on
the car because it was a tall deck block so once the short version of that story is we get the motor
back to the pit and my mother actually flew in that evening before eliminations and my dad said
I want you and your sister to be able to get some sleep tonight you know don't don't worry about this
so my mom and dad are up till almost four in the morning doing the engine swap
while Lela and I are sleeping and I wake up the next morning and you know my mom and dad say
you know come out here let's uh fire this thing up and I just couldn't believe it and
you know just the I mean especially the kind of dedication that that my mom had
um just unconditionally in that moment and that is an experience that I'll never forget
I'm just a testament to the fact that you know parents were going to do whatever it took to
give us a chance and and what from hurting two motors and two time runs to what a runner up
right you run it up at that race crazy man it just proves the the dedication that the pair
of a larris family has and the passion they have for for the sport um you mentioned your mom
and uh I'm pretty sure that this photo um kind of represents um her um can you tell us what your
helmet means to you um for those of you can't see it says live for today because tomorrow may never
come um what does that mean to you marco so that actually was my mom's high school quote
and when I was very young and saw that in her high school yearbook of course didn't really
understand what the meaning of that was but she just always used to say that you gotta live for
today because tomorrow is never promised and she passed away just a little over five years ago she
was she was 51 and unfortunately lived a short life but that that is a testament to how my mother
lived how she treated people the way that she wanted to be treated and always understanding
that tomorrow was never a guarantee so our our good friend eric ray is who um who did that I mean
when I mean he delivered it to us a few days before the anniversary of my mom's passing and
a lot of emotions and still I mean just looking at it on the screen right now is
um very very meaningful it's a gorgeous helmet to anybody who's going to be listening on Spotify
or the Apple podcast we just show one of the coolest looking helmets uh that you'll ever
see beautiful paint work um and to be carrying a message like that you know from your mom something
that means something to you makes it even that much cooler man I'm sure that's your your mother
and and definitely your father are extremely proud of you and and aloe and in that case um
I'm gonna kind of bounce around here now a little bit um what is one of your most favorite
racing accomplishments I would say that the one that stands out the most is the 2017
it was I believe the second year of the spring fling million I hadn't had a whole lot of experience
eighth mile bracket racing in the big picture I mean had done it just a handful of times and
the that whole weekend I hadn't made it past third round including running the million and
my dad just kept saying going into um the last day's race which would have been Saturday
he said you just gotta just gotta you know try and put down good laps just do your thing and
just gotta see what happens we have one day left so you know it being any time that it's
you know a challenging weekend and you have somebody that believes in you that much and
telling you that it's not over yet I look at the end result of that particular day never having
imagined what the end result would have been and it's just a rush you know anytime I picture that
memory and you uh walked away with 20 grand and and your your name went down in history as one of
the fling winners I mean I still every time I think about it it just it just means so much because
even though it's their organization for Kyle Peter and so many friends to be there as well
it's that one definitely stands out the most all I gotta say is sorry Troy no you go go ahead
one of the one of my favorite things to look at is the the flings um chase for five wins right
and uh I'm a firm believer that if if Marco didn't step into the role that he's playing with the
brand that he would have his name um edged in that fifth fifth win category I uh I I
I'm actually really confident that you would be there Marco I'd co-sign that and I we gotta bring
that paint scheme back man that's a that's a nasty looking car that actually was my first dragster and
um yeah it so it so the black actually was red before and we took that part of the wrap off it
just it just kind of stuck and um just a great memory all the way around load it all right
let's uh let's bounce to the flings a little bit um this year's fling uh is coming up here in April
or end of March early April um what are you most excited for about this year's fling Marco
well the fact that I mean the first thing that comes to mind is um I'm not a hundred percent
sure if this statistic is correct but in the last in the last three years um I mean you had
Andy Schmall, Luke Bogacki, and Cooper Chun winning last year's race um I mean just a variety
of racers have won the spring fling million as of recent and it's just always so exciting to
just think about the fact that um who's gonna walk away with the spring fling million check
next and anytime that that does happen you go back in the statistics and you just think
man that was an incredible performance leading up to that so uh being on the outside of that
watching between the staging lanes and on track seeing that all come to fruition for
whoever it is that wins it and even makes it really deep in it just being around that atmosphere
is I would say what gets me the most excited well you know he's watching he's watching out there
I think this Chris Whitfield's year um he's been on such a tear lately and he's gotten so so close
uh I think I think it's time for my man Chris Whitfield to park it in the winter circle but
we are West Coast podcast and over the last three years the West Coast has really really
represented obviously it's a West Coast-ish race so so car count represents well from out here
but people come from all around as you know um all over the country to race this thing
I think one year West Coast racers won five out of the six races including the
including the dragster shootout deal I think Dylan house won like 17 of those dragsters
what do you attribute to West Coast racers showing up so strong do you think it's just
a home field advantage kind of thing um or you know what do you think there
so I've actually talked about this amongst amongst a few different people and I think
in general between both the East Coast and the West Coast is there's a variation in altitude
humidity all kinds of different weather conditions and at Las Vegas you've got the win
so a lot of these racers over the years I feel like a lot of good bracket racers out here because
superclass racing is a big part of what we have out here having the opportunity to
quarter mile race and also have the challenge of dialing in all these different variations
of conditions I think puts the West Coasters at an advantage but when the East Coasters come in
and have all this seat time experience and nothing phases any of them whatsoever I think
between the confidence that the West Coast drivers get in the variation of conditions
versus all the all the seat time and accomplishments that the East Coast drivers have it just makes
for amazing competitive racing that I just have so much respect for everybody that that shows up
and performs at such a high level it's pretty incredible and the fling just shared I think
today or yesterday that breakdown of the average package and average winning package
and just just filthy and and you see you see them progressively tighten it up there in the
late rounds to the quarters and the semis and you know then the the finals it's funny how it
kind of swings back the other way in the final but it's just wild to see and we talked about it with
Coop a couple weeks ago you know it's one thing to to be dialed in and locked in for five or six
rounds on a Saturday to be locked in for 10 rounds over 18 hours is another thing entirely
especially at a place like like Las Vegas and I think that's why we all love that race so much
because when you stand on the top of the mountain at the spring fling million you've done something
pretty special so pretty amazing to watch every year for sure. Marco with you and your passion for
the spring fling brand do you ever feel an itch to race one of those races is it ever cross your
mind that you might be able to race one again or is it kind of written off that you're dedicated
to the fling brand and and operations rather than racing it? Well the plan always is to
stay as dedicated as I can to do my part to help the event race operations wise as much as possible
but when you see that competitive of racing and the quality of racers that are there I do have the
thought all the time of just how cool it would be to be racing in that type of environment but
that's what makes me appreciate having the opportunity to work at the flings because
not only is it a great environment to be surrounded by but also also appreciates any time that that
I do get to go to a bracket race or any kind of a race at a high level just to appreciate the
opportunity I mean that's one of the main reasons why I look forward to foresight's race at Tucson
so much just before the fling. Well let's let's go there Marco because even if you're not going to
race the spring fling million you guys are going to produce a similar atmosphere coming up here in
Tucson pretty quick with the east versus west showdown I know you're locked in at least the last
time I looked on the west coast roster and it's stout the east coast roster obviously super stout
as well you form a winner of at least 110 grander I don't know if you've cashed in any on any other
ones but I know you've won at least 110 grander down there at Tucson how pumped are you to to put
it all on the line for the west coast at the showdown this year? Well you just look I mean I look at
the list and first and foremost it is a great group of guys to be teammates with including Parker
it's gonna be so much fun it's just it's a great atmosphere I think everybody's gonna be excited
and have a great attitude about it and just to be supporting each other and believing in each other
to put together great laps and it'll just be a great way to kick off the weekend and for so many
of us to not only have fun together but to also race against a group of guys that that we have
so much respect for that you see what they do year after year and you just can't help but appreciate
how far they've come and what they've accomplished a lot of the young guys that are on the east
coast roster in such a short amount of time so just to have the opportunity to race against those
guys not only in the shootout but the rest of the weekend in general I think just the whole challenge
of it is just so exciting. Take note Ryan Gleghorn this is how you're supposed to talk about your
competition. Like we said Marco is the nicest guy out there until he puts his helmet on.
One of the things that I want to know is it's kind of a two-part question. You've been to a lot
of racetracks especially with the Flings with the All Stars even your home track is beautiful
what's your favorite track to race at and what's your favorite track to attend?
So I would say that I've only raced here one time ever but Galot Motorsports Park in North Carolina
for a bracket racing atmosphere is just something that I looked forward to before we made the trip
but once we were there and just how spectacular that facility is and just how good the track was
just made for some just really tight racing and I enjoy working there as well. Bristol's
another track I really like never raced at Norwalk that's definitely a bucket list track
someday Vegas feels like a second home and I mean I have good things to say about pretty much
every track that that I've raced at and I just can't wait to hopefully race at some more that
I can experience it and kind of find the unique appreciation in the facility and the atmosphere
of the racetrack. Two things Galot obviously the coolest scoreboards in the business how it's been
this long and nobody else has put those scoreboards up at their track is beyond me because it's
it's just clear that all scoreboards should look like the scoreboards at Galot it's got to happen
and then you talk about these tracks you've been to the ones you love you talked about
VMP is there one in particular a bucket list track that you that you've never raced at that
you really want to check off the list before it's all over?
I would say the first one on the list has definitely got to be Norwalk I mean just working there last
year to getting to know and work with the Bader family was just an amazing experience all the way
around so I would say that that's probably the first track that comes to mind as far as a bucket
list track to race at but and I've heard really good things about Virginia Motorsports Park
that'd be a cool track to race at someday Bowling Green and Gainesville would be another one as
well I mean I know they're all so far away but you just you watch them on live feeds and on board
videos and you just think man it'd just be such a cool experience one day
have you never raced at Bowling Green? Never oh man we got to get you out come on out to the
TB race later this year and get her done for me it's it's got to be Alaska Raceway Park
I grew up in Idaho and looking at the sawtooth mountains and things like that and when I see
pictures of of ARP just racing right towards just a behemoth of a mountain that one's got to be it
for me it's about the longest haul you could possibly have I don't know how to ever make that
happen but someday got to get up to Alaska Raceway Park Parker where's yours? What still boggles my
mind sorry I'm on Alaska still what still boggles my mind is we can drive there all the maps make
seem like it's like Hawaii where it's clear out there and so driving to Alaska but you
have to drive through Canada to get there it takes like a week though like you can drive there but it
takes like a week I think I'm pretty sure you could take a boat and get there faster than you can drive
I think I've watched too many episodes of Ice Road Truckers still want to drive to Alaska
but I think that my my bucket list track there's a lot of them that I'd like to attend but
Indy is one for me being a stock eliminator guy I want to go to Indy the the event not
necessarily the track I just want to experience class and and the big car counts and and the
whole week-long party but just to visit a racetrack man I've been to Bristol luckily I got to go
visit my buddy Jason out there and race his Camaro at the World Footbreak Challenge which was
really cool I love that race but uh man St. Louis the million that that seems like a place that I'd
like to attend it's got the big facility it's the national event field but also big money feel at the
same time so I'm gonna go ahead and say St. Louis all right all right you want to go to Indy and
experience 2400 class racers doing time runs oh yeah I'll be one of them and but the the hard
thing about that is they start at like six which is like four AMR time so you have to go a couple
days early and get acclimated by yeah and I love my sleep I'm a I'm a solid if I don't get my eight
hours I'm I'm a pretty grumpy person what else you got park uh I'm uh I'm running out of good
questions I uh you got anything for us Marco I mean I I really do like the direction that
the sport is going just as a whole I mean Troy mentioned it a few minutes ago when you
mentioned the TB race at Kentucky and I just think that there are great promoters that put on
great races and I feel like since 2018 or 2019 people have been saying now is a great time
to be a racer despite the economy and I feel like since then even with what all happened in 2020
and what has continued on that phrase has been true I mean the sport grew to what was its golden age
in about 2019 or so and I don't think the sport has deviated from that at all so
I mean all's we can hope for is that more kids keep coming out of juniors and have the interest
and dedication to continue to race and that's I think what makes all of us look forward to the future
yeah I think you hit it on the head because because we continue to see the car counts go up
every year every single year even at the big races that cost two grand to get into right the the
count goes up and it goes up and it goes up and despite whatever the the doom and gloom is out
there about the economy uh you know bracket racing is thriving right now in in a way that it never
ever has before and I think I think you hit it with the promoters that despite all that
the promoters out there right now that are currently you know kind of running at the
top of the game have found out a way to provide so much value for their racers whether it's
peter beyondo and your team uh with the fling whether it's you know tyler and brian with tb
and a whole list of others um you know chris foresight out here on the west coast
they found a way to provide enough value that no matter what's going on out there in the world
people are still showing up to these races every single year and in bigger numbers than they did
in the year before so a lot of people in drag racing especially yearn for the good old days
and I remember the the good old days you know uh but I think they're right now you know there's
so many options there's we're a fragmented sport at this point you know there's a lot of shows in
town and so it splits us all up but on the whole uh drag racing is a is a pretty cool thing to be
involved in right now because no matter what you want to do or how you want to do there's something
for you out there so pretty awesome I got a I got a question we need you to spill a little tea
if you if you uh if we can convince you to there's been rumors out there
that the terminators coming back to n h r a class racing in 2026 can you confirm or
deny these rumors because parker and I have to do a way too early championship pick at some point
and my pick could be swayed significantly if I knew that peter beyondo was about to come back
and do some class racing well I can't confirm or deny 2026 specifically but all pretty much
I always like to let peter talk about things on his own terms but just to just to see him
have the drive and the motivation to not only go for whenever he decides to
an eighth world championship and whenever he's able to get out and bracket race
he just has so much passion I mean first and foremost and thankful to call him and Emily friends but
um for how much that he has raced between starting a family doing the flings and all that to
work as hard as he does to uh to sustain his ability regardless of what he decides to chase
or do is something that is inspirational and something to appreciate but whenever that time
is um I just look forward to look forward to peter getting back after it look look at this guy what
a pro parker look at he been in the media training or something he takes that question soaks it up
redirects you know waving his hand over here so you don't see what's going on over there what a pro
man marco you should be a politician marco can't be a politician he's too nice and honest
well we like to close um our interviews with a question that shroy's come up with and his
question is what are you chasing it's kind of a uh open question for you've accomplished a lot
what keeps you driven and uh and what are you looking forward to accomplishing or trying to
accomplish in the future so I chase memories so sometimes the best days that you have don't
translate into results but just simply every opportunity that we have to go racing and
uh make the try and make the best of each race that is um the memories are I feel like what can
stick with you and your family forever knowing that you gave it everything that you had and
I think a lot of times that that part is tough to continue to gain motivation to do it but
I've always been a big Kobe Bryant fan most of my life and he used to say phrases like
those days that you get up early and work hard those times that you stay up late and work hard
the biggest misconception is that that is what actually translates into the dream is the process
of it so I would say that chasing memories and appreciating the people that I get to do it with
and all all the respect that goes both ways and most importantly to always trust the process
from from Kobe Bryant to Joelle and Bede yeah uh well Marco I think I I speak for anybody who's
out there listening I think we all hope to be able to make some memories with you at some point
this year I don't know when I'll get a chance to see you hopefully at the Woodburn divisional
or maybe at the Seattle National or or even up here at the summer showdown later this year but
I'll definitely be looking to connect with you at some point this year and I know Parker will
too man we really appreciate you coming on and just appreciate who you are obviously as a racer
and as a competitor but way more than that just as a person and as an ambassador for our sport
out here on the west coast well I appreciate you guys having me on the show and just all that you
guys do for the sport to create the hype and the positivity and just putting into words of what
we all look forward to and everything that that there is uh that happens week in and week out
in our sport yes sir I uh I look forward to seeing you at the track but I do not look forward to
seeing you on the track so uh we'll see you not in Pomona but uh at the next event I'll
I'll catch up with you and talk to you later but uh there he is Marco Paravilaris winner on the track
and winner in our hearts uh we'll see you next time Marco thanks buddy we'll talk to you soon
appreciate you guys see you man we might be the most handsome guys in drag racing but he's the
coolest dude in drag racing no doubt about it he is definitely the most uh nicest humblest guy
that is out there I don't think you could torture him to say a mean word about anybody well and just
like you know I I sit there and ask how do you how do you flip the switch or or or all that you
look at his demeanor uh throughout that whole interview as cool as a cucumber you know absolutely
ice cold um and just on level the whole time and and he talked about that right trying to minimize
those distractions and just keep an even keel um yeah what a what a pleasure to chat with him
had the pleasure to finally meet him in person a couple times last year at the fling and again at
the divisional and um you know better for better for knowing him for sure so super stoked that he
took some time with us absolutely um we are sneaking up on that one hour mark um do you
want to get into our way too early predictions or do you want to save that for another day
I feel like with both of us especially if we were going to give any kind of background on why we
made our picks that's a whole nother probably 40 minutes that that might be a show without a guest
kind of show um and so maybe we put a pin in that uh I've got man I've got so many names like I wrote
them down and then I scratched it out and I put a different name and then I scratched it out
and I looked back at multiple years of where people finished and you know you've got those
guys like I mean we talk about Chris Whitfield right it's like when is it going to be his time
and and on one hand you want to say it's got to be his year this year right but after the year he
had last year it's so difficult to follow up that kind of performance with one that that matches that
or is even better the very next year and so um and that goes for a lot of folks right and so
you know I've got some folks on my list that finished the year in the 20s last year uh that I think
you know judging by their their scores a lot of folks had some pretty high scores that didn't
run a full schedule and and some of those folks that they run a full schedule uh could be a problem
so I think we got to put a pin in it man because I think there's a lot to talk about uh on on who
you know who might do it we'll have a little better idea next week because we'll have a
divisional under our belt and on the calendar you know on the scoreboards so um maybe we maybe
we revisit that next week hey I'm just saying uh unless somebody comes out from the east coast
um the west coast we'll have um we'll be the number one in points for at least a week that's
right uh did you do top alcohol dragster and top alcohol funny car I didn't but let's say it Joey
Severance or Sean Cowey's gonna win top alcohol dragster and Doug Corden is making his return in
the funny car so there's my chance I didn't pick any of those guys and I love Joey Severance as much
almost as much as his wife does um that's that guy's a hero of mine and he certainly uh got the
experience in the car to do it I think John Bradford is gonna win it they have got that
injected machine running like it's nasty it's nasty um he didn't run a full schedule last year
and was still way up there um I'm picking John Bradford and uh nobody's touching Sean Bellamere
I mean it's he's the class of the field in a way that I don't think um I just don't see how anybody
runs with Sean Bellamere again I think Sean Bellamere repeats uh next year so we got the top
alcohols out of the way at least I'm not much of a follower of the alcohol I mean I pay attention
but I couldn't tell you what he teased their running or or anything like that but do you think
that Sean Bellamere could go on a run like Frank Manzo did back in the early 2000s
or Rick Santos man Rick Santos won five in a row um which to me is is still one of the um I don't
know how any list that that Manzo's on what you can't have a list that he's on without him being
number one on that list whatever the list is uh he was dominant for a long long time um a five
Pete run like Santos went on and then he just kind of like disappeared he was just gone and I don't
know much about any of that or about him as a person but but five five in a row that's crazy
that's crazy and yeah I certainly think Sean has the car and the crew right I mean you look at that
crew and and you think about other classes um you know I think about maybe Jeff Taylor and
that type of team you know uh that Sean has uh he certainly could man um it's when they unleash
that thing nobody's even close yeah nobody's even close man and not to mention that they
could do it in both the the injected nitro car and and the blown car is equally impressive yep
yeah they're just they're just um everybody else is playing catch up to those guys and
they not stopping right that's the thing is they're not just sitting there waiting for everyone to
catch up they just keep pushing and keep pushing and keep pushing and so you know I'd love to say
Brian Howe is gonna you know get it figured out and and bring a title back to the northwest
I know he wants it I know he's hungry for it um but you know they're trying to get that thing
figured out and I know they've been putting in a lot of work in the off season this year and so
I'm gonna be pulling for him for sure but I just think Bellamere and that crew is the class of the
field in a way that's uh pretty tough to compete with so and and you should start paying better
attention to the alcohol classes man the alcohol classes are uh like the redhead stepchild I guess
they they don't quite get the the sportsman drag racer love or the mission foods love so
maybe we need to have a top alcohol um guest on well we'll never get Joey on because he don't
want to he'll never talk to anybody that's his least favorite thing to do so we can probably get
everybody but Joey Severance uh I mean I'll ask him but he ain't gonna come so maybe you could
just talk to him put your phone in your shirt pocket I would I'd have to do it I'd have to
wear a wire and just do it incognito I'll let you I'll let you borrow my meta Rayban glasses and
the live stream it like you're just that's what it would take man that's what it would take so we'll
look at that we even snuck in some top alcohol into our into our bracket breakdown podcast that's
right buddy it was good to chat with you uh we'll keep in touch this week for sure I'll be thinking
about you while I got my toes in the sand uh out here in beautiful seaside Oregon and um
you know we'll catch up with you next week I don't know who's coming on we gotta figure out
what we're doing I guess we'll talk uh way too early championships we could talk way too early
championships uh early division winners and uh maybe we could even snag a a guest to come on and
talk about a win or or some future plans so I would say I'll see you with my toes in the
sand too but I hope I don't end up in the sand and uh yeah don't please don't Phoenix got rid of
their uh their boat race water so uh don't even get to enjoy that but good luck I'll talk to you
soon you have a good rest of your vacation and uh stay hard at work on everything else all right
talk to you later bye
About this episode
Marko Perivolaris joins the Bracket Breakdown team to share his journey in drag racing, from his early days in a 94 Camaro to becoming a formidable competitor with six national event wins. The conversation dives into his racing schedule, including plans for the Pomona Divisional and upcoming events. Marko discusses the importance of family support in his racing career and reflects on the camaraderie within the racing community. With exciting stories and insights on his vehicles, including a 1967 Camaro Roadster, this episode captures the passion and dedication of a true racer.
Original notes
This week we dive into Markos accomplished racing career even at such a young age. We talk about his roles at Spring Fling Bracket Races and what the future has in store.
Bracket Breakdown
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