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By Meghan Diemel - All The Dirt! Racing News

In 1985, Jimmy and Chris Mars were two farm kids who enjoyed racing on the weekends. Flash forward four decades later, and the relentless work ethic and determination they learned in the farm fields of Wisconsin is the backbone of their business, Mars Race Cars.

During 2024, that spirit of perseverance was visible in victory lane once again, as clients in MB Customs from Mars Race Cars cleared another 600-win season sanctioning bodies throughout the nation.

"It was really an unbelievable year in so many ways," reflected Jimmy. "We had drivers winning national championships, series titles, big end-of-the-year specials and several crown jewels across multiple series. I think we ended up with nearly 200 Late Model wins, more than 300 Mod wins and just over 100 Midwest Mod/B Mod wins. And the win count doesn't include the many drivers who had their best season yet, between top fives and top tens."

With the success comes additional pressure, but it's something he, Chris and the rest of the Mars Race Cars shop have come to embrace each fall, he acknowledged.

"We celebrate our clients' accomplishments and we're really happy to see them all have a year like they have had. Obviously we feel proud of what we've built here; we definitely try to build a family type atmosphere and a win for one is a win for all. But, we've already been heads down, back to the grind, preparing for 2025 for a couple months now," Jimmy explained.

While drivers were tearing it up on dirt tracks across the United States in their MB Customs, Jimmy, Chris, AJ Diemel and the rest of the crew at Mars Race Cars worked diligently on stepping up their research and development yet another notch in 2024. That meant more hours testing at various tracks in the region and more time spent developing innovative ideas to make MB Customs even better. Not only do they want to continually improve the product they offer clients each year, but this year they had the additional challenge of taking their chassis to the next level in the face of the increased cost of materials and supply chain problems that have plagued nearly every industry. They want to be able to offer the same high-quality products clients have come to expect from Mars Race Cars, without passing the buck onto the racers.

"We grew up with that drive to always improve on whatever we were doing, whether it was farming or racing," said Jimmy. "So this year, like any year, even though we saw our clients continue to hit an unbelievable number of wins for the MB Customs brand, we aren't going to rest on that. And now with the increased costs, we see it as our responsibility to ensure the same quality, support and excellence drivers have come to expect, regardless of what's going on in the industry."

"We've been on the other side as a customer," added Diemel. "We fully understand as competitors ourselves what people expect out of the partnership between a client and the chassis builder. We've tried to add value to the chassis builder/client relationship and take great pride in being available to provide timely responses to any questions a client may have, whether it's during the build process or throughout his or her season."

When you buy an MB Customs race car then, whether it's a Late Model, Modified or Midwest Mod, it's not a one-way business transaction, added Chris.

"It's not just our livelihood, it's our passion," he said. "It doesn't matter if you buy a used car from Mars Race Cars, or a new chassis, we're answering questions and providing technical support until your last race of the season. When you call the shop, you will speak to the people who had direct involvement in the fabrication of your chassis. It's now 40 years of chassis building for us this year and we're just as committed to dirt track racing now as we were back then."

>> Roller-Only, For Good Reason
After you purchase a new or used race car from Mars Race Cars, you leave with a car that is right where it needs to be to be in contention for a win when it's unloaded. Jimmy, Chris and AJ have made sure their nearly 100 years of combined racing experience are carried throughout the process of production and afterward. This is complemented by additional staff who have all had long-term involvement in motorsports and their own successes on the dirt tracks of the Midwest.

"We pay attention to every detail of every race car that leaves this shop," said Jimmy. "Even if you're buying a used car from us, it's been gone through thoroughly and leaves here ready to roll out and race. That's the least we can do for our customers who have entrusted us with the major component of their racing programs."

In addition to complete turn-key Late Models, Modifieds and B Modifieds, Mars Race Cars has a complete inventory of race parts; shock sales and service through CMD Race Shocks; complete rear end center (rebuild, straighten, etc.) specializing in Winters; complete rack & pinion rebuild center specializing in Sweet Mfg.; jig work; custom aluminum fabrication (tire carts, pit accessories, custom race car modifications, etc.); custom sheet metal fabrication (race car bodies, pit boxes, etc.); motor installation; custom tire grooving and siping; custom pipe bending; welding (TIG & MIG); and much more.

>> Wins, Titles, & Championships Across Sanctioning Bodies
Drivers in MB Customs collected national championships and huge series titles again in 2024, including another WISSOTA Challenge Series Championship for Cole Searing, the seventh Dirt Kings Tour championship for Nick Anvelink, a first-time USRA National Championship in the Modifieds for Tyler Wolff, and another USRA National Championship in the Late Models for Cade Nelson. Wolff also won the Heartland Modified Tour, while Joe Duvall won the ARMS Modified series.

In addition to the national championships and series titles, the MB Customs brand was driven to many wins among some of the biggest series throughout Modified and Late Model racing, including the MARS Late Model Racing Series, ARMS Tour, Touring Outlaw Modified Series, Heartland Mod Tour; American Crate Late Model Series; WISSOTA Challenge Series; and the Tri State Late Model Series.

If you were at any big money race throughout USRA, WISSOTA, or the southern United States, you probably also saw an MB?Customs in victory lane.

Cole Searing garnered his first-ever John Seitz Memorial victory and the $9,200 paycheck, and also won earlier in the season at the Twin 25s in Superior. MB Customs house car driver Sam Mars successful season included his first-ever victory at I-94 Speedway at the Gopher State Showdown, as well as the $5,000-to-win KME Series at Gondik Law Speedway.

Kaden Blaeser drove the MB Customs house Modified to the Silver 1000 victory in August, and just a few days later he also won the Dairyland Dash at Rice Lake Speedway.

Here in Menomonie, AJ Diemel won the Mahder 55 Memorial in the Late Models and Chad Mahder won another Punky Manor title in the same class. Shane Halopka picked up the Modified victory at the Mahder 55, Diemel grabbed his first-ever win in the Modifieds at the Punky, and Derek Haas nailed down the honors in the Midwest Mods at the Punky - giving the brand a sweep of action at the historic event.

Ashley Anderson and Ryan Savoy made it into victory lane during the Northern Nationals in Superior in the Late Models and Midwest Mods, respectively, while Dan Bargender impressed race fans and fellow drivers with his win in the Swant Graber 30 at Rice Lake Speedway.

Mike Stearns and Jarod Klein were also big winners, taking home trophies from the Big Buck Nationals at Brown County Speedway.

In WISSOTA 100 action, Blake Adams won a Midwest Mod Qualifying Feature, as well as the Championship Feature, and also net the Granite City Cup and Madtown Showdown, among many other victories, in 2024.

Of the many non-sanctioned big money races outside of WISSOTA, Chad Becker took home Orv's money once again at Dakota State Fair Speedway, while Lucas Schott and Keith Foss split honors in the Modifieds at the North Star Nationals at Mississippi Thunder Speedway.

At the Legendary 100, Qualifying Feature winners included Diemel, Ashley Anderson and Bargender in the Late Models; Cade Nelson in the USRA Late Models; and Darrell Nelson in the Modifieds. Anderson and the Nelsons all took home the wins in the Championship Features.

During the three-day Masters event at Cedar Lake Speedway, Sam Mars, Rodney Sanders, and Charlie Olsen were all winners in action.

Other drivers with notable wins included Tyler Wolff (Ed Gressel Memorial opener, Grant Junghans Memorial, Larry Phillips Memorial); Schott (USMTS Spring Challenge, Dairyland Showdown); Darrell Nelson ($5,000 Mod win at Cedar Lake Speedway); Kevin Adams (Madtown Showdown); Michael Truscott (Kyle Runkle Memorial); Jake Smith (Mod Wars Ogilvie Raceway); Brennon Weight (Timmy Ims Special, Fiesta City Speedway); Nick Perry (Fall Nationals, Interstate Speedway); and Dale Ames and Mike Stearns (Casino Speedway's Autumn Classic).

That's not nearly the full list of the vast accomplishments for drivers in their MBs this last year; Jimmy, Chris and AJ know it just scratches the surface and there were many more special moments for drivers, from January in New Mexico through the Dome in December.

"A lot of work goes into making sure drivers have our support," added Diemel. "You tell us what sanctioning body or bodies you are running, and we'll make sure it's the best of the best."

>> The Future for MB Customs Pilots with Mars Race Cars
Each season, the entire shop at Mars Race Cars is involved in trying to up their game for the following's season's line of MB Customs.

"There is no off-season now; we continue fine-tuning and testing throughout the winter, wherever our clients are racing," explained Jimmy. "We're working with them to make sure we're making the adjustments necessary to get them into victory lane - ahead of their competition."

"That benefits every racer," added Diemel, "even if your season doesn't start until May and you race one night a week. The time we put in the shop and across the nation in the winter months is a huge asset to everyone."

With more than 2,450 Late Model wins, 2,970 Modified victories and another 770 wins in the Midwest Mod/B Mod ranks since the brand's inception, MB Customs chassis are quality pieces at market level for cost, and the racer behind the wheel is making a solid investment in their race program for the price. Jimmy, Chris, AJ and the rest of the Mars Race Cars gang invite you to become a part of the Mars Race Cars and MB Customs success in 2025.

If you're ready to take the next step to take your racing program to the next level, call the Mars Race Cars shop at 715-235-4950, and take a look around MarsRaceCars.com to see what they've been up to!