Mark, along with crew chief & IHRA World ET & MPH Record Holder Jim Lape are focused on winning the IHRA Summit Drag Racing Series Points Championship. This would give Mark an unprecedented 5th IHRA Funny Car World Championship.

With sunny weather forecast for the IHRA CARQUEST Northern Nationals at the Mid-Michigan Motorplex in Stanton, MI, CONSISTENCY played the key role in qualifying for the Ethanol Performs Funny Car.

Round 1 of qualifying shows Thomas in the #3 spot with a 5.889/242.10. Mark maintained the #3 position in qualifying running 5.894/241.63 and a 5.872/239.91.

Each session the Ethanol Performs Dodge Avenger posted the top speed.

First round of eliminations Mark’s opponent was #14 qualifier, Steve Ruda. Mark outran Ruda with a 5.922/236.17 to a losing 6.277/223.65. 2nd round had Mark against Laurie Cannister the #6 qualifier.

Couldn’t get much closer than Mark losing by .02, with a 5.936/236.30 to 5.934/237.63. Call that close competitive racing.

For the 3rd time this season, Thomas set yet another Track MPH Record.

And for the 4th time, claimed the Event Top Speed 242.10.

Mid-season recap showed the Ethanol Performs Dodge Avenger of Mark Thomas at the IHRA Holley Spring Nationals at Rockingham Dragway in Rockingham, NC was #1 Qualifier 5.809/241.45, in doing so, set LOW ET of the EVENT. The Mark Thomas Racing Team received the BEST ENGINEERED PRO CAR AWARD. Mark lost 1st round due to excessive tire spin.

At the IHRA AC Delco Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park in Richmond, VA, Mark qualified #3 5.840/238.43, runner-up finish and set TOP SPEED of the Event 242.67.

The 3rd event on the IHRA schedule was the Mopar Performance Parts Canadian Nationals at Grand Bend Motorplex in Grand Bend Ontario. Again, Thomas qualified #1 5.869/237.34 and lost in the semis.

Thomas qualified #3 5.839/237.21 at the IHRA Amalie Motor Oil Summer Nationals at Cordova Dragway Park in Cordova, IL. Mark was given the FAN FAVORITE AWARD for this event. He was chosen for this award by the fans that attended this event. No other Funny Car Driver has ever achieved this award. What better way to complete this race was with a win by Mark. In doing so, he re-set the TRACK RECORDS for ET & MPH 5.812/240.64. He also set EVENT LOW ET & TOP SPEED. This now placed Mark in the points lead.

The Ethanol Performs Dodge Avenger Funny Car placed #3 in qualifying 5.837/241.32 & finished in the semis. Thomas also set EVENT TOP SPEED 241.32 as well as reset the MPH Track Record. Mark maintained the points lead.

Entering the IHRA CARQUEST Northern Nationals at the Mid-Michigan Motorplex in Stanton, MI, Mark qualified #3 5.889/242.10 & lost 2nd round. He again set EVENT TOP SPEED & reset the TRACK MPH RECORD 242.10, and still retains the point’s lead.

On the personal side, Mark and Chris took their children on a family vacation. Chris says, "While Mark can drive a Funny Car, he can’t drive a pontoon boat". He completely destroyed the propeller. When Mark returned the boat, he told the man that he destroyed the propeller. The man says it’s OK & that it happens. But when Mark went to show him the propeller, the man stated that he never saw anything that bad. Mark said, "Am I glad that I purchased propeller insurance".

While holding the points lead, Mark is looking forward to the upcoming IHRA Mopar Parts World Nationals, Presented by Ethanol at Norwalk Raceway Park, in Norwalk, OH which is Mark’s home track on August 23-26.