Column By: MIKE TRAVERSE / RPW – ESOPUS, NY – It’s been something he’s dreamed about for most of his 25 years.
Now, Joe Markle is moving forward with his pursuits as he has begun to race in the Rookie Sportsman division at Accord Speedway.
“We put together a car and I’m just starting to race,” Markle said. “I’ve wanted to race since I was 4 years old. Now, all the puzzle pieces are coming together to actually make it happen.”
Joe hopes to run the entire Accord schedule in 2024.
“Going into 2024, I’m looking to run the whole season. I’m hoping to get good at this sport.”
Markle picked up a 2021 Bicknell that he raced at the Halloween Havoc event.
“It’s a championship winning car up at Land of Legends Speedway. We picked up the car last winter,” Joe said. “I’ve just been kind of working on it, trying to get everything to come together, it’s a lot to do this, a lot of people involved to make it all happen. I was able to run it for the first time this year at the Halloween Havoc.”
With the engine that he has now, Joe will be limiting his racing for 2024 to Accord. But he is most definitely looking forward to 2024.
“The engine that I have, it’s only legal at Accord. I would eventually like to do some traveling around. it’s all about getting some experience. It’s just a big learning thing.”
Joe doesn’t have x amount of wins in mind to make 2024 a successful season for him.
“I want to just learn. I’m looking to get a bit faster every time out there. Take some good notes and analyze when things go wrong. Just want to be able to tune on the car. I’d like to win a Rookie race. But the main goal is to progress through the year.”
One thing Markle would like to accomplish in 2024 is getting to know others who possess valuable knowledge in the sport.
“Networking is a big part of racing. I would like to network with some people and gain some relationships to make my program better.”
While he doesn’t try to emulate any particular driver’s style on the track, there are racers who impress Joe with their approach to racing.
“I look at these guys who run the series. Mike Mahaney and Billy Pauch Jr., those guys are respectful. Respectful to the competition and respectful to their equipment.”
Like many people Joe enjoys his time at the track, not only for the competition, but for the time to get away from everyday life.
“I enjoy the competitive atmosphere. For me, it just is natural to be at the track. Everything going on outside the racetrack, you can forget about that for a time, focus at the task at hand and enjoy the racing experience.”
Down the road, Markle would like to eventually work his way up to the regular Sportsman.
“I would like to eventually be competitive with the racers in the Sportsman division. It would be nice to move up a division or two.
Joe wants to thank the people who have helped him reach this point.
“None of this would have been possible without the help of some people, my mom Elizabeth Markle, Joe Judge, my Uncle Rick Whittaker and my grandfather who has passed away. This was the last thing we were working on before he passed. It was something he really wanted me to follow through with.”
And some businesses are helping out Joe with his racing effort.
“I want to thank 3J’s Marketing Media, Hudson Valley Bed and Biscuits, Dig Race Products, East Coast Speed & Sport and Behrents.”
Joe Markle is a very soft spoken young man who is looking forward to possibly making some noise in the Rookie Sportsman division at Accord Speedway. Good luck to this aspiring racer as his racing career gets rolling.