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LATEST
SNIPPET
In October 2006, Marsh became the first
African-American female professional racecar driver
to compete in the Pro Modified category, reaching
speeds in excess of 200mph
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Bio
Date of Birth: February
11th
Age: 27
Height: 5’7’’
Birthplace: Raleigh, NC
Residence: Raleigh, NC
Education: Elon University – BS in accounting
and Business Administration concentration
finance
North Carolina A&T State University –
Master’s of Science Industrial Technology
concentration manufacturing systems.
Candyce Marsh carries
on family tradition
Candyce Marsh, professional drag racers,
watched her father race up and down the
quarter-mile dragstrips of North Carolina. Candyce
Marsh continues a tradition that has been in her
family for 35 years. Marsh, 26, of Raleigh, North
Carolina is the president and driver of Candyce
Marsh Racing, Inc. She and her team compete in the
International Hot Rod Association’s Pro
Modified category.
Marsh’s father
Clarence, who’s an investor in her team, raced
as a ‘weekend warrior’ throughout the
1960s, 70s and 80s. He was employed a research
analyst at North Carolina State during the week and
then would strap on his helmet at the crack of dawn
on Saturdays and Sundays. Candyce explained she
started riding along with her father and his
brother, Al Morgan, starting at the tender age of
five.
“I grew up in the
industry,” she said in a recent phone
interview. “When my father was racing his
Camaro in the 80s, I traveled with him and gained a
lot of experience. We traveled and raced throughout
the state of North Carolina. I remember him winning
a race at Piedmont Dragway in Greensboro (NC) in
1993.’
“I have been able to
build on the accomplishment of my father and take
my racing career to the next level.” At age 17
in 1998, Marsh got her father’s fever for
speed getting bit by the racing bug. She raced his
1988 Camaro in the IHRA’s Hot Rod Class (10.90
Index Class), on the IHRA’s national
tour.
In the year 2000 Candyce
and her parents created Candyce Marsh Racing. She
began to compete in the IHRA Top Sportsman Class on
a regional basis. In her first divisional race at
Virginia Motorsports Park Candyce made it to the
quarterfinals. In 2002 she began racing in the Top
Sportsman Class on a national level
“The first few years
(2000-2004) I did the general maintenance and
preparation on the car. When we obtain sponsorship
in 2005, from Bar’s Leaks, our crew needed to
expand to meet those demands” Marsh said. Her
crew now comprises of her father, Maurice Bea, Gary
Cox, Chris Cheeks, and Dion Allen. All of them have
many years high performance racing
experience.
In 2003, Marsh not only
raced a full IHRA national schedule, she expanded
her racing program by using the electronic fuel
injection system developed by AC Delco sponsored
Harold Martin. She continued to race in the
division in 2004 and 2005. Her most notable
accomplishments during this time were:
Committed to continuing
the success of 2003, Marsh qualified in the top
eight cars at each race with elapsed times in the
six-second zone.
In 2005 known
manufacturer, Bar’s Products, maker of
Bar’s Leaks, become Marsh’s primary
sponsor. In addition, Marsh and her team set the
bar among her fellow competitors by qualify in the
number 1 position at two national events, a feat no
other driver did during the 2005-racing season.
While racing, Candyce was
also building on her knowledge to help run her
team. She attended Elon University in Burlington,
North Carolina and graduated in May of ’03
with two Bachelors’ of Science degrees in
accounting and business administration with a
concentration on finance. In May of ’05, she
obtained her Master’s degree in industrial
technology from North Carolina A & T
University.
After college, Marsh moved
up to the IHRA Pro-Modified Division in 2006 where
she’s currently racing now. Marsh became the
first African-American female to compete in the Pro
Modified class.
“Our times were
significant although we didn’t qualify,”
she said. “In 2006 we competed in an American
Drag Racing League (ADRL) national event and the
IHRA’s Fall National at Rockingham Dragway in
NC. In 2007 we did several local races. Pro
Modified is a competitive class, we are looking
forward to growing our program and become more
competitive.’
Her best time with the
Pontiac last year was an elapsed time of 6.54 at
208 mph in the fall at an IHRA meet in Rockingham,
N.C.
“For 2008 we
haven’t confirmed our schedule yet. We’re
trying to get additional funding to run a
competitive racing program,” Marsh said.
“Our first goal this season is to grow and
develop marketing partnership and
sponsorships.”
As president of Candyce
Marsh Racing, Inc., Candyce is focused on racing as
a business. She said her racing operation provides
unique marketing opportunities for motorsports
enthusiasts and markets that haven’t been
fully engaged in the motorsports area of
professional drag racing.
“I over see all day
to day operations and I’m currently looking
for investors,” she said. “I’m
creating a business model to ensure sponsor and
marketing partnerships.
“We are working with
a marketing company that is assisting our efforts
to obtain sponsorship so we can race a full season.
Our next goal this season is create a racing
program that will allow us to be competitive and
ultimately put us in the winner’s
circle.’’
Candyce Marsh To Make Her Professional
Debut!
After years of dedication and hard work in the
motorsports arena, Candyce Marsh has realized her
goal of earning her Professional Drag Racing
License. Marsh will compete in the professional
category called Pro Modified. She will make her
debut as a Professional Racecar driver during the
upcoming IHRA Universal Technical Institute World
Finals at Rockingham Dragway – October
20-22.
“The journey of obtaining my professional
license has been an experience. Everything I have
done both on and off the racetrack has been in an
effort to reach this goal and advancing my racing
career. It presented challenges that I overcame and
opportunities that were well worth the end
result.” said Marsh. “I’ve worked
hard to prove myself as a professional sportsman,
and, I’m grateful for having a dedicated group
of individuals with the right expertise to help me
to reach this accomplishment.”
One of the criteria that Marsh had to meet in
order to successfully reach her professional status
was establishing a solid race program. Marsh also
had to work to substantiate herself as a competitor
by aligning herself with industry leaders.
Throughout the years, she has been able to present
a professional image through securing a
professionally built racecar, transporter, and
building relationships with world-renowned parts
manufacturers. In addition, she partnered with
ACDelco sponsored Harold Martin, who is recognized
internationally for his technological advancements
in motorsports. As a professional engine builder,
Martin expanded Marsh’s race program to
include his revolutionary electronic fuel injected
engines; thereby, enhancing her race car’s
capabilities.
“We've watched Candyce grow over the years
and we're very excited to see her professional
debut at the World Finals," said IHRA President
Aaron Polburn. "She's worked her way to the
top.”
As part of the preparation for the World Finals,
Marsh’s team will be pulling together a
competitive program they feel will ultimately drive
them to the finish line. “It is an honor to be
able to compete with some of the best professional
drivers in the world. We know we have to be ready
with our best.”
Marsh, a Raleigh, North Carolina native, is
always excited about racing at ‘THE
ROCK’. A few hours from home, she is expecting
friends and family to share in the excitement of
the weekend’s events. “We are pumped
about this weekend and showing our best to our
hometown crowd,” says Marsh.
In addition, early assessments are indicating
that Marsh could be the First African American
Female in the history of drag racing to become a
professional race car driver. With numerous
accomplishments already under her belt, Marsh could
easily become the next “Tiger Woods” of
motorsports.
Results
1998
Started racing at seventeen years of age.
Qualified for a divisional race at Kinston Dragway
in the Hot Rod Class.
In first national event at Maryland International
Raceway progressed to the second round of
eliminations in the Hot Rod Class.
1999
Qualified for races at Rockingham Dragway,
Darlington International Raceway, Mid-Michigan
Motorplex, and Maryland International Raceway on
the International Hot Rod Association national
event tour.
In first full season of competition progressed to
quarterfinals at Sportsman Nationals in
Augustus, Georgia.
Progressed passed the first round of eliminations
on numerous occasions.
2001
Qualified for races at Rockingham Dragway
(national event) and Virginia Motorsports Park
(divisional event).
Moved to the Top Sportsman class. In first
divisional race made it to the quarterfinals at
Virginia Motorsports Park located in Petersburg,
VA.
2002
Participated in races at Rockingham Dragway, US
131 Raceway, Norwalk Raceway Park, and Maryland
International Raceway on the International Hot Rod
Association national event tour.
Made national event debut in Top Sportsman at
Rockingham Dragway. Qualified forty-six out of
forty-eight cars.
Qualified for races at US 131 Raceway and Maryland
International Raceway.
Out of 980 cars received the best appearing car
award at the Sunoco World Nationals in Norwalk,
Ohio.
2003
Career Best Elapsed time 6.97 seconds 197
mph.
Participated in races at San Antonio Raceway,
Rockingham Dragway, Virginia Motorsports Park,
Milan Dragway, US 131 Motorsports Park, Norwalk
Raceway Park, New England Dragway, and Maryland
International Raceway.
Qualified number three at San Antonio Raceway.
Qualified number fifteen at US 131 Motorsports
Park
Qualified number twenty three at Norwalk Raceway
Park. Progressed to the second round of
elimination
Qualified number two at New England Dragway.
Qualified number seven at Maryland International
Raceway.
Qualified number eight at Rockingham Dragway for
the World Finals.
2004
Qualified number two at the 34th Annual US Sport
Scene.com at Rockingham Dragway.
Qualified number seven at the 4th Annual ACDelco
Nationals at Virginga Motorsport Park. Qualified
number four at the 5th Annual Mopar Canadian
Nationals at Grand Bend Motorplex. Qualified number
seven at the 2nd Annual Motor City Nationals at
Milan Dragway.
Qualified number ten at the 23rd Annual Torco Fuels
Northern Nationals.
Qualified number nineteen at the 27th Annual Sunoco
World Nationals.
Qualified number four at the 9th Amalie Oil North
America Nationals.
Qualified number ten at the 13th annual IHRA
President’s Cup Nationals.
2005
Qualified number Three at the 4th Annual Amalie
Oil Texas Nationals.
Qualified number Six at the 35th Annual IHRA Spring
Nationals.
Qualified number Five at the 5th Annual AC Delco
Nationals.
Qualified number thirty-eight at the 6th Annual
MOPAR Canadian Nationals
Qualified number ONE at the 3rd Annual Motor City
Nationals.
Qualified number ONE at the 4th Annual AC Delco
Canadian Nationals.
Qualified number three at the 24th Annual TORCO
Race Fuels Northern Nationals
Qualified number six at the 28th Annual TORCO Race
Fuels World Nationals
Qualified number two at the 10th Annual Amalie
North American Nationals
Qualified number ten at the 14th Annual TORCO Race
Fuels President’s Cup
Qualified number tweleve at the 10th Annual Udderly
Smooth Fall Nationals.
2006
Attended Roy Hill’s Drag Racing School
Became first African-American female professional
racecar driver
Qualified number four at the 29th Annual TORCO Race
Fuels World Nationals
Competed at the 3rd Annual Eastern Racefuels
DragStock III
Competed at the 11th Annual Universal Technical
Institute World Finals
Schedule
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