Racing Community Mourns the Loss of Mark Zona

(February 7, 1957-September 25, 2001)

The Fingerlakes and Central New York racing community mourns the loss of one of the most prominent, aspiring engine builders and former drivers with the untimely passing of Manchester, NY's Mark Zona. Zona passed away quietly in the early morning hours of September 25, 2001 in his sleep as a result of a massive heart attack. He was 43.

Mark Zona was born on February 7, 1958 in Rochester, NY the son of Casti and Margaret Zona. As he grew up, it became evident that Mark had a fascination with speed becoming involved with motorcycle racing in his teens, but he never took an interest in stock car racing until he met best friend and former car owner Ron Landis at the age of 21.

"In 1978 A young Mark came into the business I owned looking for a few parts. I heard he was supposed to be a hot-shoe around town when it came to speed so I asked him if he had ever taken an interest in racing cars. He said he had never attended the stock car races so I told him to show up on Saturday night at Canandaigua Speedway. He did and I put him in my Street Stock. A few weeks later he earned his first win and the rest is history," Landis would explain.

By the end of that season, Mark had proved his smoothness and talent as a driver by garnering the Rookie Street Stock championship at Canandaigua Speedway. The following season he would follow that title up by taking the Expert Street Stock championship at Canandaigua. He would also earn the championship that same season at Rolling Wheels Raceway and finish a respectable 2nd in the standings at Weedsport. The following 3 seasons (1980-82), Zona would compete quite successfully in the Limited Late Model division at Brewerton and Fulton before making the jump to the big block DIRT Modified ranks at Canandaigua in 1984. For 3 seasons he would battle with the best in the business with limited success making the switch to the newly developed DIRT Sportsman division in 1988. Immediately upon arrival into the Sportsman ranks, Mark became a vital force and that season he earned the championship title to prove it. From 1988-1990 he would compete in the Sportsman ranks amassing an impressive win total. Following the completion of the 1990 season, Mark would hang up his helmet and end his career behind the wheel of a stock car but not before compiling over 100 victories as a driver. Zona would seem to slip away from the racing scene until 2 seasons ago when he re-emerged building motors for several drivers on the DIRT circuit. Since that time, his mastery on a powerplant had become somewhat legendary as his engines became one of the strongest on the racing surface. Darryl Ruggles (Modified), Eldon Payne and Bill Englert (Sportsman), Mike Cooper (Pro Stock) all competed with Zona powerplants and became forces to contend with each time they entered the racing surface. His expertise even extended out of the NY area as he built the motor for successful Pro Stock campaigner Tim Landis in Summerville, SC. Although Mark was a very quiet and pensive individual in the pit area, his potent powerplants would speak for him in the arena of racing as they roared on the speedway delivering many of the drivers housing his motors to victory lane. At the time of his passing he was in the process of putting the final touches on motors for Ruggles and Payne for Super DIRT Week XXX. Unfortunately, he was not able to finish these preparations, but his memory will go on to the big show with both in their quest for success on "The Moody Mile".

Zona was a graduate of Oswego College earning his teaching degree in Industrial Arts. He would teach for several years before changing employment. He would then work for UPS where he worked until the time of his passing.

Mark is survived by his father Casti Zona. He was predeceased less than a month earlier (9/10/01) by his mother, Margaret Zona. Calling hours were held Thursday September 27 from 5PM to 8PM at the Patrick Halstead Funeral Home in Manchester with the funeral taking place Friday September 28 at 10AM at St. Dominics Church in Shortsville.

Mark, although you will be missed on this Earth, we all realize that the good Lord has many drivers waiting for a talented engine man for the racing action in Heaven above. God knows, as we all do, that you're indeed the man for that job. Race on, my friend, and power them on to the coveted checkers.