Speedway, Indiana (March 31, 2025)………Car owner and engine builder Mark Ray, whose cars captured a USAC National Midget feature victory and a USAC Indiana Ford Focus Midget title, passed away on Thursday, March 27, 2025. He was 67 years old.
The Davenport, Iowa native found his passion early in life by following his father into the world of motorsports. As a young boy, he idolized his father, Ralph, enjoying every minute spent at the stock car races while watching his father’s famous no. 33 entry.
One of Mark’s favorite childhood memories was attending his first Indianapolis 500 in 1965 with his father, mother and older brother. Together as a family, they witnessed Englishman Jim Clark win in the first victory for a rear engine car. Mark found his way behind the steering wheel, racing go-karts at the age of five alongside his beloved older brother, Dave.
Too young to drive, Mark began crewing on the family-owned car in the Badger Midget Auto Racing Association in 1973, helping his brother, Dave, earn Rookie of the Year honors, and eventually, a 1977 BMARA championship with car owner John Heisdorf.
When able to drive himself, Mark found his way to victory lane a handful of times, including at his favorite track to drive, Kankakee Speedway in Illinois. He gave up his driving career unselfishly to support his family’s aspirations to seek the United States Auto Club National Midget title in 1985, using his car as a part time entry and back up.
Mark helped guide the family-owned Ray Racing Enterprises team, and brother Dave, to a 1981 Midwest Auto Racing Association championship and two top-five USAC National Midget championship finishes in 1985 and 1986. This while building the team's engines. Mark earned his sole USAC National Midget win as a car owner in 1987 at Binghamton, New York’s Five Mile Point Speedway with Kevin Olson driving. It was a feat in which Kevin himself never forgot and even noted in his book, “Cages are for Monkeys.”
During his run with USAC, Mark hosted a slew of high profile drivers, including 1983 Indianapolis 500 winner Tom Sneva, 1996 Indianapolis 500 runner-up Davy Jones and open wheel standouts Jack Hewitt, Jerry Stone and Bentley Warren.
Mark’s most cherished accomplishments came later in life with his son, Robbie Ray, winning a 2000 Winged Three Quarter Midget Association championship, the 2003 USAC Ford Focus Midget Series championship and the 2017 Badger Midget Auto Racing Association championship. The 2017 BMARA championship stood out to Mark for the fact it came exactly 40 years after his brother Dave accomplished the same feat.
Mark found his way to the highest level of motorsports when Mike Teegarden tapped him to work under Mike Devin as an engine tech inspector at the Indianapolis 500 from 1986 to 1997, one of his most cherished accomplishments. For 11 years, every single engine that qualified for the Indianapolis 500 ran through his hands.
Mark's greatest motorsports achievements came in support of others racing endeavors. He loved to build racing engines and did so successfully for the majority of his life. His profession as a prototype machinist at the Rock Island Arsenal for 43 years honed his skills and he became a master at both trades, often being relied on for the most difficult tasks. He incessantly read books on engine building theory and sought advice from others, often saying, “there are better engine builders out there than me,” showing his humble side.
Mark was sought by famed Indy Car engine builder Herb Porter and even took time away to work at his shop, Speedway Engines, briefly. He declined Porter’s full-time offer, fearing the negative impact his family would feel from relocating away from home. He accomplished the most with the least, working out of a run down two car garage at his home while others had large well equipped shops to work in. He was proud of his engine building accomplishments and was winning in that regard as late as the 2024 Badger Midget Auto Racing Association championship.
To the outside world, Mark was a racer, but to his family, he was a son, brother, father and grandfather. He cared for his family so much that he would often sacrifice his own well-being for theirs. He came whenever he was called and could never bear seeing someone he loved suffer in any way. He unselfishly cared for his 92 year old mother and worried for her well-being even in his final moments.
Mark beamed with pride at both of his children’s births, and when they married, he accepted their spouses as his own. He beamed again when his grandchildren were born and watched them grow up with complete love in his eyes. He thoroughly enjoyed watching his grandson, Ryder, run track, play baseball, football and bowling at his high school in De Witt, Iowa. He attended his granddaughter Alliana’s golf tournaments, school plays and band concerts at North Scott schools, and he did not miss his grandson Emmett’s school music programs, grandparents and donut days at the same.
Mark was a religious man, spending time at his church, Immanuel Lutheran, as a member of the council there. He loved his Pastor Ferch and attended services and bible study regularly. He often worried for the well-being of his church, again acting in an unselfish way in service to others there.
His most cherished holiday was Thanksgiving. He loved to spend time together with his family all in one place all at one time, a trait he received, as he would say, “honestly from my dad.”
He was preceded in death by his father. Those left to honor his memory include his children Robert (Valerie) Ray and Cassie (Chris) Joens; grandchildren Ryder Peel, Alliana Ray and Emmett Ray; mother Donna Ray; brother David (Debbie) Ray; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2025 at 11:00 am at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Davenport. Visitation will be held on Friday, April 4, 2025 from 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM at Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home. Burial will be in Fairmount Cemetery. Luncheon will follow at the church. Memorials may be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church.
Online tributes may be expressed at www.hmdfuneralhome.com.
