Living the Dream: Mark Faul

[NewsBot]

It's a pretty big decision to walk away from your full-time job and set off in search of a dream. Yet, in 2002 that's exactly what Mark Faul did and he really hasn't looked back since. Having a good support network helps a lot and, from the beginning, one of Faul's steadfast sponsors has been K&N Filters.


Photos: K&N Filters

The Tacoma, WA, racer spent 208 days last year hauling his two NHRA drag cars around the country, racing and making friends along the way. Those years have brought their highs and lows, and close calls as well. Inside Faul's trailer, you'll find a Super Stock GT/EA 1998 Grand Am and a Stock C/SA 1969 Chevelle.

With those cars, he has claimed 10 Super Stock victories in 13 final rounds, four Stock titles in eight attempts, a Super Comp runner-up in 2002 and a near double at the Fontana Pacific Sports Nationals in 2008, where he won Super Stock and finished second in Stock.



"It's been a real roller coaster this year. I started slowly, and then was runner up in my Chevelle at the IHRA national in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Then I hit a slump for a month with early exits, until I won the divisional event in Boise, Idaho. Then some more bad luck at the next three races, including blowing up my best engine in my Grand Am in Fontana this year. But things went well in the Allstars, so my confidence is better again."

Even when things aren't running as smoothly as he'd hope for, Faul is a professional when it comes to representing his sponsors, like K&N Filters. "I use their air and oil filters exclusively on the racecars and my streetcar," explains Faul.



A recent National win in Illinois helps keep the dream alive. "Victories like winning the JEGS' Allstars in Joliet definitely make it worthwhile," said Faul. "I'm fortunate to have certain freedoms without a regular job, and wins like this are necessary to be able to keep going."

Previous runs at the JEGS' Allstars event saw Faul eliminated early in the process. Not this time, though, where consistency took him through to the end, to win dial with an 11.851 versus his 11.80 dial.

A 32-race schedule has Faul thinking about cutting back just a little. "I have a week off before Brainerd, Minnesota, and then I'm back home to another Seattle divisional event. I'm unsure about Indy and the next few races after that, but for sure I'm running in Las Vegas and Pomona at the end of the season."

"There's still a lot of racing left this year," he say, with a glint of mischief in his eye. Even he's not there, we're pretty sure that Mark Faul will be keeping close tabs on the action.




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