Getting to Know MRS Rookie, Max Zachem
Story by Tyler Apanell

While his name might not be household yet, Koszela Speed Rookie of the Year contender, Max Zachem (pronounced Zack-Umm) out of Preston, Connecticut has already started turning heads in this young 2010 season. Coming off his best finish to date (fifth at Thunder Road International Speedbowl in Barre, Vermont) with the Modified Racing Series, sponsored by BobValentiAutomall.com, Max returns this Thursday night to the Big “T”, Thompson International Speedway in Thompson, Connecticut where he started his career in quarter midgets at the Little “T” next door.

I had the pleasure to catch up with Max while we were waiting out the weather at the Seekonk Speedway.

TA:  How did you get started in racing?
MZ: My father was a spotter on the Whelen Modified Tour for many years for Charlie Pasteryak, Doug Heveron, and got his start with Art Barry, like I did. We ran quarter midgets from 2000-2006 and then we started racing legends cars in 2006 and still do on occasion when we aren’t running the modified.

TA: How did you get hooked up with Major Motion Racing?
MZ: It was actually through Facebook. I had friends, Jon Fultz and Kevin
Crowley whom were working on the cars for George Bierce and we worked it out. My dad has known Kevin for years, they watched me run the legends and saw the stats and figured they would give a rookie a shot. I think I am the first rookie Kevin has worked with; we’re having fun at it.

TA: What lured you to the Modified Racing Series, as opposed to other, more local options, like a SK Mod at Waterford?
MZ: The Modified Racing Series features tracks that I’ve raced at pretty much with the legends car or have been to in general. The cost for each show is a lot better than running weekly at the same track and plus we love traveling. I mean we grew up with the quarter midgets travelling all over the East Coast and the legends car as well.  Going up to Oxford, Beech Ridge, and Waterford is what made this even better. Jack Bateman’s engine lease program made it affordable to run a motor as well.

TA: What has been the biggest challenge coming out of a legend car?
MZ: The width and running with people that I’ve never raced with before. Learning the modified with so much horsepower and the big slick tire and the long races you have to learn how to be patient, because I am used to the 20 lap runs on a hard, pretty much street tire with the legends car. With the modified you have to stay relaxed for the first 75 and then go up through for the last 25.

TA: Any significance to the number 79?
MZ: Yes and No. We wanted to be 19, that has always been George’s number with Major Motion, but the number was registered to Kenny Horton and 79 was the next closest thing. The way we picked the color choices was Hillbilly North Racing, unlike James Civali.

TA: What has been your favorite track thus far?           
MZ: Thunder Road, even though we got a good finish there, I actually like the track. It’s very momentum-like, which is fun with the legends car and the banking, it’s a little short track, which I love. Obviously, Waterford Speedbowl is always going to be my favorite, it was my first race, the first time the team had been out of the box and to run eighth quick in practice and then to end having a rookie mistake in the heat race. It’s probably my favorite track and always will be.

TA: Looking ahead at the schedule what event are you looking forward to the most?
MZ: I really can’t wait to run Thompson and Beech Ridge. Beech Ridge has always been my favorite with the legends car. We won the championship last year with a legends car up there and Mr. Andy Cusack has been excellent to me. He has treated me well no matter what, because we travel up every Thursday night to run his series. He always came over to shake my hand and ask how I am doing. He is the promoter that I love to see at all the racetracks, he comes around and shakes everyone’s hand, like Tom Curley did up at Thunder Road, thanking them for being there. That’s how you bring the people.

TA:  You just graduated high school, what are your plans?
MZ: It’s undecided, I checked out the University of Northwestern Ohio, which is a pretty cool school and I’ve looked down in the North Carolina area, and I always have my choice of the community college that is just eight minutes down the road and live at home and run the modified.

TA: So you still want to be able to race?
MZ: Yes.

TA: What is the deal with Eldora Speedway adorning the right-rear quarter panel?
MZ:I met up with Larry Boos and Tony Stewart at Atlantic City when I was a corner worker at the indoor races. We hooked up made a little deal, there is no money involved, but maybe for future things coming up. When I went to tour UNOH, I went over to Eldora and met up with Larry again and would have gone to the “Prelude to the Dream” and hung out with Tony Stewart, last Wednesday if I didn’t have exams

TA: Lastly, any chance we will see the number 20 legends car down in Charlotte, North Carolina for the “Legends Million”?
MZ: Nope. I will be at Oxford Plains Speedway running the MRS race and possibly running an ACT Late Model in the 250, still working on a ride for that show. I tested an ACT car there and could run in the top five, in terms of lap times.