Mark Sims, a Driver Profile

"MEET MARK SIMS"

What can you say regarding this fearless, crate car driver that has been in all kinds of battles, and he comes out smiling, and why? I mean he is currently 21 years old and was born December 22nd, 1987. From Lithia Springs Georgia, this local boy has some ties that can take him where the Big Time racers are.

Mark is the kind of person, that you really don't understand, I mean he has raced in the Pure Mini division at West Georgia Speedway and he has Won there and lost also, but Mark won more races in Pure Mini than he has in his Crate Car years.

He also has a Father that stands behind every move he makes, and that is something special in this world where Fathers don't seem to care about their Sons, so when ever Mark is at the track there you will see his Father standing along side him, maybe giving him advise or maybe just cooling himself with a fan blowing on himself as Mark prepares the car for a night at the races.

One thing is for sure when Mark takes his 22M Crate car onto the track he is "Locked in and Loaded", sometimes I believe he demands to much from his Car, then again only Mark knows for sure what his car is capable of doing on a given Saturday Night.

You see once he gets strapped into his car, and the visor closes, Mark becomes a different person, he changes, and he is all about racing and getting his way to the front of the pack.


Sammy Duke owner of West Georgia Speedway, shakes hands with future star driver, Mark Sims, one thing about it Sammy Duke is a big Mark Sims fan.

You know there were days, that Mark wished he had not gone to the track, as his pure mini car, ended up hitting the wall during some hot laps at West Georgia Speedway. Those were the days, he had his car painted in the same paint scheme as the Late Great Dale Earnhardt.
Back in the early days, Mark ran in the Pure Mini class and
was always a hard charging driver, he may have crashed on Saturday night, but he was raring to go on Monday Morning, as he stopped by the my home and picked up a DVD of a race to see what he did right and what he did wrong. DVD's or great learning tools, and are watched over and over by winning drivers.

This is a classic photo that I shot, on a Monday afternoon here in Douglasville, Georgia. It catches the young fire in the eye's of Pure Mini Driver, Mark Sims.

In this photo it proves he can relax and have fun, and one thing is for sure Mark always likes to have his photo's taken, that's good because when he gets with the bigger names in racing he will have to put on that charm like he does here.







This is a recent photo, that I call "The Beast Is Back".


Mark Sims unrolls his 22M Black Crate car, that has such a intimidating look. Mark has the uncanny ability to give me the "Thumbs Up" sign as I walked past him.


One thing I have ,and always will is the respect for the way Mark Sims, treats fellow drivers, and fellow friends, he has that unmistakable habit of caring for people and that is not found in too many young people today.

I have yet to ask Mark to pose and him deny me, that is just the way he is made up. Mark cares for people and that's what makes you root for him on the race track. Mark will even do a famous "Lays Potato Chip" Commercial for me, that is just the way Mark is.

So if you want to root for a driver that has talent, he just is a little raw, take a close look at the 22M or driver Mark Sims. One day you will see him some where in racing, you never know he may not be driving, because Mark has the talent too become a dirt track owner, he has that likable personality that makes you all think of him not just behind the wheel of a race car, but maybe one day owning and running his own race track somewhere in the South. I just hope I am along when that happens.

Below is Haley Carter, she is Mark Sims #1 Fan in the State of Georgia!

Even Jeff Carter's Wife "Lisa" gets the royal treatment, as Mark Signs the back of her shirt, now that is CLASS.

Thanks for reading, and the next BLOG will be out soon.......

Tino Patti

A Freelance Photo/Video Journalist
an also a MSA Magazine Contributor

For more Info on Mark Sims head over to: