When it comes to drag racing and going fast speed has always been a part of Craig Marshall’s life. Following in the footsteps of his father Bob, Craig knew from an early age he would one day hop in a car and compete, but little did he realize at the time just how much success he would one day have on the racetrack.

Like his father Craig has turned his passion into a very successful on-track career in Stock and Super Stock and like his father Craig is always a threat to win on race day. Craig is a two-time IHRA World Champion, winning the 2004 Stock title and 2008 Super Stock title. Even more fascinating, Craig’s Super Stock championship in 2008 came exactly 34 years after his father Bob won the very first Super Stock title back in 1974.

Coming off of a championship season Craig had high expectations in 2009 and he did not disappoint. Craig produced a pair of top 10 finishes in the North Stars Division of the Summit Pro-Am Tour in Stock and Super Stock and also claimed a Tournament of Champions qualifying victory at the Pittsburgh Raceway Park Champion System Sportsman Nationals. With the victory Craig joins his father Bob as the duo try to bring home yet another championship for the Marshall family when the Tournament of Champions gets underway at Rockingham Dragway in May of 2010.

NAME: Craig Marshall

AGE: 28

HOMETOWN: Columbus, OH

CLASS: Super Stock, Stock

DIVISION: North Stars

CAREER: 2008 Super Stock World Champion; 2004 Stock World Champion; Multi-time national event winner

2009: Won Pittsburgh Raceway Park Sportsman Nationals in ST; Finished 8th in North Stars Division in SS; Finished 8th in North Stars Division in ST

Craig Marshall

GET TO KNOW CRAIG MARSHALL

You’ve been accidentally locked inside a store, and are all by yourself for the night. What store would you hope to be in?

(Huge laugh) Best Buy. The next day I’m going to be walking out with the biggest TV and biggest speakers I can find.

You have a time machine to take you anywhere in the past. Where will you go?

The past? Man. Cancun. I’d be partying like a rock star during Spring Break, something I never did and always wanted to do. Hell no, since the day I got my driver’s license I’ve always been working.

Talk about the day you got your driver’s license.

I can tell you exactly what I did. I had just left Pep Boys and I had pimped my ride out. Me and my buddies were flying through the parking lot and I cut off my dad’s secretary, and so he cut me off the company insurance. (Big laugh).

You’ve been elected President. What law will you change in the first five minutes after you take office?

What law would I change? No speed limit.

Who makes you laugh the hardest?

Probably Charlie Sheen on “Two And A Half Men.” That’s my favorite show.

You’re on a deserted island with three other people, none of who are family members. Who do you want there with you?

No family? Heidi Klum, Jennifer Aniston, and Matthew McConaughey. He’s a cool cat. I like him. He’s funny, and one of my favorite actors.

Talk about your favorite restaurant. But, it can’t be a chain restaurant.

So it can’t be an Applebee’s? Probably Shade on the Canal. A lot of good-looking ladies work there. It’s in Canal Winchester, Ohio, where I’m from. I’d order the fried bologna and the mini corndogs. And a Long Island Iced Tea.

As a kid, who was your superhero?

(No hesitation) Shaft. I didn’t dress like him, though.

When you’ve had “one of those days”, what makes you feel better?

I usually come home, kick up the music, go sit at the bar in my basement, and have a couple of cold ones.
 
Speaking of music, what band would you hope would ask you to tour with them?

Go on tour with? Lil’ Wayne. It would be pretty wild.

What’s in your CD changer now?

A homemade CD I made. It’s got a little bit of everything. It’s got The Fray on there, Nickleback, it’s got Lil’ Wayne, and some George Strait, I listen to it all.

Talk about a band or singer that you’d drive 200 miles to see, even if you didn’t have a ticket.

Elvis. (Laughs) I’m very open-minded. Elvis, man, he made good music. I guess hanging around my dad and his friends caused it. My dad likes Elvis and I have a buddy whose dad likes Elvis. I just like his music. I can sing all his songs. My roommate looks like Elvis and sometimes he dresses up like him for Halloween. My favorite Elvis song is “Jailhouse Rock.”

If someone paid you $10,000 to get up in front of 10,000 people and sing would you do it?

Oh yeah. Why not?

Name a famous person you’d like to meet, living or non-living.

A famous person. Awww…that’s a good one. Abraham Lincoln. The first thing I’d ask him is where he bought his hat. (Big laugh)

If you had the chance to have an all-day lesson with another racer, who would it be?

Umm…all day, one-on-one. It would have to be Peter Biondo. I would learn every trick up his sleeve. He’s won a lot of races in the Sportsman ranks.  I’ve never had the chance to sit down and talk to him. He’s not much of a talker. He just wins.

Let’s pretend you’ve become famous and are doing commercials. What will you sell?

I would want to sell my own shoes. They would be an authentic drag racing shoe, designed by Mr. Craig Marshall himself. They would have lights on them, and maybe a little wing on the back, and they would be sleek and narrow in the front.

You’re asked to be on a magazine cover. Where would you like to see yourself?

GQ. I’d definitely be wearing a suit, a nice pinstripe suit. It’s a black suit with silver pinstripes and a silver tie. Classic.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

Best advice. My dad said, “Never second guess yourself.” I look up to him. He’s taught me everything, like how to be street smart and how to get through life.

What’s the secret to life, in 5 words or less?

Man…stay focused and be positive.

In high school, you were the person most likely to______________.

Well, in my yearbook I was voted the Male Class Clown. I don’t know if I was voted Most Likely to Succeed or Not to Succeed.

Then, you were the least likely to________.

Have my homework done on time.

Speaking of school, what’s really in the Salisbury steak they serve in the cafeteria?

Man, I don’t have a clue! I thought it was kinda good, though.