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Atkinson leads at Southern California's famed Irwindale Speedway! read more ...

Atkinson Battles Up Front At Roseville! read more ...

Auto Racing Daily - May 1st, 2007 read more ...

Hoseheads - May 1st, 2007 read more ...

Atkinson Battles Up Front At Blythe! read more ...

http://www.hoseheads.com/usac.html 

http://www.lvms.com/track_info/bullring/bullring_news/519521.html 

Fifteen-year-old Mark Atkinson of Seattle rounds out the field of USAC drivers in the RSWC. He is expected to compete for RSWC in the Ford Focus Midgets, joining Miille for 2007. read more ...

Three young RSWC drivers not yet in race cars are Zach Zimmerly (12) of Washington, Christian Stover (13) of California and Mark Atkinson (14) also of Washington. Ron Sutton scouted these young kart racers and signed them to the same driver career development program as the older drivers, as “Drivers in Training" in preparation for their car racing careers. These three very young guns are racing karts on asphalt and 600 Micro Sprints on dirt for 2006, plus practicing in full size race cars to prepare them for the future. read more ...

Mark Atkinson, 15, from Washington, has already won twice in his rookie year of Micro Sprint racing. Both wins came at the short Micro Sprint, dirt track of Lebanon, Oregon.

Mark competed in the 2005 Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle "Shoot-Out" and earned a coveted spot in the RSWC driver development program.

The 22 drivers in the Shoot-out ranged from 14 to 22 years old. The drivers chosen to test, came from all over the United States including New Jersey, Florida, of course all over the West Coast and even Canada.

Mark, who had only raced karts to that point, put in impressive runs in the USAC Ford Focus Midgets, with great feedback to the crew … made even more impressive since Mark was only 14 at the time.

Picked by Ron Sutton as an up and coming star racer and brought into the RSWC program, Mark was the only pre-16 driver to join the big boys for training with Cory Kruseman.

Cory put all the RSWC drivers through the paces on the dirt (mud) oval of Ventura Speedway in 185 hp Focus Midgets and 630 hp Sprint cars. Mark kept up the pace, and both Cory and Ron were clear Mark has talent and potential.

Early this year, Mark made the switch from karts on short asphalt road courses to 600cc Micro Sprints on dirt ovals.

Mark has been a quick student and his progress impressive. In only his 10th race, Mark posted his first win. Then recently Mark won a second time, again at Willamette Speedway’s small track in Lebanon Oregon. This brings the RSWC Team Drivers to 11 wins early in the season and 426 all time wins.

Mark’s future is bright as he looks to full size race cars in 2007 … once he turns 16.

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If you let Ben Hogarth start on the pole, you're going to chase him for the entire race. And that is exactly what the competitors did in the 600 main!

Ben won the race, but was hotly pursued by Jon Farrell, and Shane Broers who finished second and third. JR Thomas gave everybody a scare on lap thirteen when he jumped another competitors tire in the middle of the back straight and came to rest after a series of snap rolls in turn middle of three. JR walked away! I'm sure it is an event he soon will not forget. By far the most spectacular run of the night came from Mark Atkinson of Kirkland, Washington. Mark finished second in the "B" main to transfer to the "A" and started thirteenth. When the dust has settled, Mark was a fourth place finisher in the "A" main! Mark actually made this amazing run twice on Friday night.  He cut a right rear tire down while battling for the lead.  He came into the pits for a yellow flag tire change and restarted the race in last place with 7 laps to go.  In the 7 remaining laps he picked them off one by one for a 4th place finish.  An absolutely amazing run... 

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eKarting News - March 29th, 2006 read more ...

Three young drivers that did not come through the RSWC Shootout, only because of their age, are Zach Zimmerly (12) of Washington, Christian Stover (13) of California and Mark Atkinson (14) also of Washington.  Ron Sutton scouted these young kart racers and signed them to the same driver career development program as the older drivers, as “Drivers in Training" in preparation for their car racing careers.  These three very young guns will be racing karts on asphalt and 600 Micro Sprints on dirt in 2006, plus driving full size race cars as training.

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Atkinson Racing just announced that they’ve ordered a Yamaha R6 powered Sprint Car from PMP in central CA.  They've hired Mark Torres, an experienced sprint car driver and set-up expert to be their crew chief.  Atkinson expects to campaign as much as their 2006 kart racing commitment allows for.  Mark is under contract to Cycle Barn in Lynnwood Washington to drive CRG racing karts in both the Stock 125cc shifter class and the Rotax Jr. Class for the 2006 season. 

The invaluable sprint car experience will further Mark’s commitment to Ron Sutton's Winner's Circle program based in Sacramento, CA.  With Sutton’s guidance and after a thorough analysis of all possible options available to a 15 year old, the sprint car was seen as the logical choice in Mark’s quest for a career in motorsports.  Mark will gain valuable race car experience as he looks to the 2007 season as one where he'll have many choices including a national USAC effort as a 16 year old.  Cottage Grove Oregon, Lebanon Oregon and Deming Speedway in Northwest Washington State have seen explosive growth in this class of racing.  Each of these venues fields significant numbers of talented young drivers. 

 

 

We've run the SportVue LT1 every time we've hit the track since installing it early in the 2006 race season. I'd estimate that we've used it in approximately 40 heat races. While Mark drives a number of cars and karts in the course of a race season, our number one focus for 2006 has been his 2006 PMP Mini Sprint with a Yamaha R6. Our goal was to develop the skill of driving a very loose race car in preparation for what will probably be USAC racing next season.

 read more ...