Key To Longevity’s In The Details For Eddie Marshall

Column By: RYAN HILL / RPW – POUND RIDGE, NY – If you have watched a Big Block Modified race at Lebanon Valley Speedway in the last 30 years , you have seen Eddie Marshall race. Eddie and his familiar Marshall Oil Co #98 are a staple on the high banks of the West Lebanon, NY speedway. When the lid is lifted on the 2017 season, it will mark Eddie’s 34th season running a Big Block Modified full-time at the Valley of Speed.

His career started in 1979 warming up his father Ernie Marshall’s car at Orange County Fair Speedway. 1980 was Eddie’s first full season , he ran in the 320 Modified Sportsman Class, and on May 16th of the 1981 season he had picked up his first career win. By 1982 Eddie won his first (co) Championship in the Small Block Modified Class, and in 1983 he had moved up to the headlining class the Big Block Modified Class.

As a Big Block Modified driver, Eddie has been very successful. He is currently 10th all time in wins at Lebanon Valley Speedway, tied with Dave Leckonby. He has finished in the top 3 in points 10 times, is currently 2nd all time in Top 5 points seasons, and has won a Big Block Modified feature in four different decades.

“ When I started I didn’t have an endgame” Eddie said. “If you had asked me when I was 20 if I would still be racing at 58 I do not know what i would have said. Racing is something that when you get it into your blood it is hard to get out.”

At 58 Eddie is still one of the top drivers week in and week out. In 2016 he finished 5th in the Big Block Modified points, collecting an impressive 6 top 5 finishes. Eddie finished in the top 10 15 times out of the19 events raced in 2016, as well as finishing 6th at The Mr Dirt Track USA Super DIRTcar Series race.

Eddie’s top finish of 2016 came August 13th when he came in 2nd to Brett Hearn, a driver he has raced against the better part of four decades. I asked the 2016 Lebanon Valley Big Block Modified champion why he thinks Eddie has been able to stay competitive for this many years.

“ I think the reasons are obvious” Hearn said. “Eddie’s attention to detail morphs me, and I have always felt that was one of my own strong suits. Eddie and I were in Doug Olsen’s wedding, that’s how far back we go. My own nickname for him is Steady Eddie.”

Attention to detail is a recurring theme when talking about racing with Eddie, or talking about Eddie with anybody that has raced or worked with him. Lebanon Valley Speedway Big Block Modified driver Kolby Schroder reinforced this theme.

“ I have known Eddie for 12 years, as a competitor and a friend” Schroder said. “ We purchased our first car from Eddie. The reason we got it from him still rings true today, his attention to every detail. Whether it is getting every speck of dirt off his visor before a race, putting clean oiled air filters in plastic bags or adjusting that last 1/16th of an inch of stagger he doesn’t miss a thing.”

Jim Anderson has been full time with Eddie for 20 years and before that was part time since his first sportsman race. Again , attention to detail was forefront when Jim discussed working with Eddie.

“ Eddie and I seldom disagree on things, Eddie is the set up guy I am the car chief if you will” Anderson said. “ I make sure everything we did was the best it can be…but Eddie always double checks me. He believes races can be won in the garage. If we get an engine back on a Friday night guess what? That motor is going in, and we will be ready for Saturday. That is Eddie’s commitment, his dedication and that is his passion. He lives for racing, there is always something race car related on his mind, he never quits.”

“Where we race, the Modified Division at Lebanon Valley, you get out of it what you put into it” Eddie said. “ If you are half-heartedly working at it you will not be very successful, regardless of who you are or what kind of equipment you are in. There has to be a group of people working hard to make the racing successful”

Eddie has a hard working, passionate and dedicated team supporting his racing efforts. On any given Saturday Night the Marshall Racing Team can be found preparing the car for battle. It is a team that comes from four states with members ranging from 13 years old to people in their 70’s.

Chris Eckert is a crew member on the #98 and he said “ Eddie is by far one of the most liked drivers at The Valley. There are Marshall shirts everywhere. Eddie started out as a childhood idol of mine , and now he is a great friend. I used to go down to the pits after the races to see him when i was young , and now I am crewmember. It has been over 25 years of great memories.

I asked Eddie what some of his best memories have been, and without any hesitation he replied “ Syracuse”. Competing at Syracuse whether it was all the Super Dirt Weeks or the Labor Day and 4th of July events Syracuse is at the top of the list for him. Eddie has won the NYS Fair Championship Race on the Mile twice, 1990 and 1999, joining his father who won the event in 1973. They were the first father and son to win the event. He has also won the prestigious non qualifier race 3 times, 1997, 2007, and 2013. He is the only driver to win it three times.

Eddie has dabbled at racing endeavors outside of dirt racing such as the NASCAR Busch North Series, and Skip Barber road racing.

“ I would have liked to have expanded on that, and to be in a position to race more big DIRT events.” Eddie added that “ it is good for drivers to travel around to different places, but preparing your own car is challenge enough running once a week. It can be a big negative racing too much if you are not properly prepared for it.”

A driver that has raced over 30 years has certainly noticed changes in racing.

“ Racing is more expensive than it used to be” Eddie said. “ It is easier as far as access to parts and equipment but with that being said, it is also more competitive. It seems like the modified field at Lebanon Valley is very competitive, with everyone having good equipment. 25 years ago it was a different case. It was extremely competitive for half the field, the second half of the field was not nearly as competitive as it is now, but still the little things add up , the attention to detail.”

When asked what he thinks it takes to be competitive as long as he has he said “ desire, finances, and dedication from the people around you. You certainly cannot do it on your own. I would like to thank all the crew and team members that work so hard to make it all happen. I would also like to thank Marshall Oil Co, Advanced Water Technologies, R & M Heating and Air Conditioning, Jim and Judy Bell , the crew at TEO and Enders Racing Engines.

Eddie is looking forward to the 2017 season. He will run the full season at Lebanon Valley , and will start looking at additional racing options around Labor Day.

Eddie has an extensive racing resume, but what i find most impressive is the respect other drivers have for him, he is universally known to be a clean driver who will not use up another driver’s equipment, a true class act. I am looking forward to what 2017 and beyond has in store for Eddie and the 98 team.

Eddie’s advice to young drivers is to “ work hard , be passionate, be smooth and as fast as you can. Pay attention to the details.”