MichiganCircleTrack.com is the online home of the MARC Times Racing News & Michigan Racing Scene and MARCTimesTV.

The Michigan Winged Sprint division has seen it’s fair share of drivers come and go over the past thirty years. One dedicated and constant face has shown up each Saturday night at Butler Speedway for the past twenty-nine years. Driver Mark Aldrich in the No. 1a. Aldrich age 47, resides in Addison, Michigan and has been a Tool and Die maker at Rima Mfg. in Hudson for the past twenty six years. Mark has three sons: Allen age 21 of Hillsdale, Alex age 20 who's in the United States Marines, and Kyle age 13 of Waldron.

Mark has raced in the sprint division since day one.  I asked him how he got involved with the sport and he said, “I just wanted to do it, I used to go watch the races and said someday I’m going to race cars. I started with a 79 sprint.” Aldrich runs the Chevy 410 in a Maxim chassis. He builds his own engines, and it seems to work well for him. Aldrich car sports the No.1a with a black chassis. Mark has driven for several different dirt associations including World of Outlaws, Allstars, IRA and SOD. Marks has traveled to several tracks throughout the years and says that I-96 is one of his favorites. When Butler is not running sprints Mark travels to tracks in Michigan, Indiana or Ohio. Aldrich has raced at El-Dora, I-96, Attica, Fremont, Sharon, Crystal, Owendale, Winston, Plymouth, Dixie, Thunderbird, Merritt, Auto City, Kalamazoo, Hartford, Avilla, Oakshade, Martin and a few others.

Mark states his greatest moment in racing was winning his first feature at Butler around 1995. On the opposite side of that, his worst moment would be at El-Dora in 2000 on Easter weekend. Aldrich said “it was the first race of the season. In the heat race I must have had a heim joint bust. I went straight into the wall between turn 3 and 4. I cracked a couple of vertebrates in my back, broke my thumb, and had to spend a few days in the hospital down there. I destroyed my car!” While Aldrich continues to be a competitor in the points chase, he admits, “that is one of my racing goals, to win a points championship at Butler.” Aldrich has five feature wins and over thirty heat race wins to his name and finished 5^th overall in points in 2008. Mark states his short term goal is just to finish the race each night and to take the car and himself home in one piece! (Aldrich definitely has a sense of humor!) I asked Mark who is his favorite driver was and he said Steve Kinser the No. 11 in the World of Outlaws.

Aldrich Racing sports a strong and dedicated pit crew with years of experience and knowledge. Kenny Sanders has been the crew chief for over twenty five years, Allen (AJ) Aldrich, Chuck Wilson, Josh Turner, Mike Kane, Randy Kane, Alex Aldrich and Kyle Aldrich all pitch in and do what ever the driver needs or wants to keep a smooth running operation. One of the things that really stand out watching the crew of the No. 1a over the past year is that they are willing to help anyone out. I constantly see other drivers or crew members talking to Aldrich or his crew for suggestions or help. In the event that someone gets tangled up and needs a part to finish the night, it is usually Kenny, Josh or AJ running to the No. 1a trailer to get a part to help another team as well. That is what makes the racing great at Butler, the family atmosphere and friendships that build over generations of racing.

The No. 1a is sponsored by Kittle Heating & Cooling from North Adams Michigan. The Aldrich family has a large fan base which is evident on Fan appreciation night and on any weekend one can see the fans circling his trailer at the track. Mark takes time to answer questions, take photos, sign autographs, and share racing memories with the fans young and old. If you would like to contact Mark, or any of the other crew members you can do so at