By Ben Deatherage
AVON, Minn. (June 10, 2026) — The grandstands at North Central Speedway had seen a lot over the years.
Championships.
Heartbreak.
Future stars.
Veteran racers.
And thousands upon thousands of laps turned around the Brainerd-area clay.
On May 23, 2026, the Brainerd-area track witnessed something it had never seen before.
Mark “Bud” Martini parked his No. 4Q2 IMCA Northern SportMod in Victory Lane for the 100th time in his career, becoming the first Minnesota driver to reach the century mark in the division and just the 13th member of the SportMod Century Club.
The moment carried extra significance.
The victory came on the final night of Cliff Sasker’s tenure as promoter before retirement, ending an era at a racetrack Martini had called home for decades.
“That was pretty special,” Martini said. “I’m probably one of the longest racing guys there at Brainerd. Cliff is a super, super guy. I don’t know anyone in the racing industry better than him. He is a good man, and it was an honor to race at his track all of these years. I was glad I won it. It was really awesome.”
The track had character that night.
Rain earlier in the week had left its mark.
His back wasn’t feeling its best.
And the feature didn’t begin exactly where he wanted.
But like so many times before, patience paid off.
“I won the heat, and in the feature I started a ways back and took my time a little bit,” Martini said. “There were a couple of restarts that helped. Jacob Jordan was leading and got into a hole and upset his car. I got around him, and it was smooth sailing from there.”
For Martini, the win represented more than a number.
It represented decades of work.
Family.
Perseverance.
And a philosophy that had guided him throughout his racing career.
If you work hard enough on a race car, eventually good things happen.
And if there was any question whether the milestone would slow him down, Martini answered it the very next night by scoring career win No. 101 at Redwood Speedway in Redwood Falls.
Mark “Bud” Martini celebrates his 100th career IMCA Northern SportMod victory on May 23, 2026, at North Central Speedway in Brainerd, Minnesota. The milestone triumph made him the first Minnesota driver to join the division’s Century Club. (Photo by Stephanie Frederick)
Built by Family
Long before the trophies and championships, racing was already part of the Martini family.
His father, Mark Sr., raced during the 1960s, although he preferred building cars to driving them.
“He had a car that he was scared to drive, so he had someone else drive for him,” Martini said with a laugh. “They did pretty good and won several races.”
That driver was Vick Klein.
Meanwhile, Bud’s uncle Dean raced primarily at Brainerd.
By the time Bud reached his teenage years, racing had become impossible to ignore.
At 16 years old, he climbed behind the wheel himself.
The year was 1986.
His father helped him build a Thunder Car, and together they began racing at Granite City.
“We did pretty well for what we had,” Martini recalled.
The success sparked a passion that never left.
In 1990, he moved into Modifieds and competed through 1996 before stepping away from racing for a decade.
But the break didn’t last.
In 2006, Bud and his brother Eric acquired another race car.
Initially, the plan was simple.
Eric would race.
Bud would watch.
Instead, watching reignited the competitive fire.
“I started to have fun again going to the races,” Martini said.
Before long, he was back behind the wheel.
Then Eric built him a new car for 2007.
Not everyone was impressed.
“There were some people laughing, saying, ‘What does he know about racing?'”
The answer came quickly.
The brothers won 15 features during that first season together.
“I remember my brother saying his usual, ‘Well, how did that work?'”
Martini laughed.
“And I said, ‘Holy buckets, that thing worked good.'”
Nearly two decades later, Eric’s cars are still the foundation of Martini’s racing operation.
Finding a Home in SportMods
By 2015, another turning point arrived.
Princeton Speedway, one of Martini’s favorite racetracks, made the move to IMCA sanctioning.
Martini decided to follow.
“The reason I did SportMods is because Princeton was one of my favorite tracks,” he said. “When they switched to IMCA, I said I’m going to get a SportMod. It was cheaper, it wouldn’t cost as much as what I was running, and with the limited motor it seemed like a really good deal. There were a lot of opportunities to race, and I still think it’s one of the best deals in racing today.”
The decision proved to be one of the best of his career.
In his first season, Martini earned IMCA Northern SportMod National Rookie of the Year honors, won the North Central Speedway track championship, and captured 25 feature victories.
It remains the most successful season of his IMCA career and accounted for one-quarter of the wins that would eventually carry him into the SportMod Century Club.
“That was a pretty good year,” Martini said. “I raced a lot because there were a lot of opportunities with IMCA.”
Since joining the SportMod ranks, Martini has won at least one feature every season except 2017. Another standout campaign came in 2023 when he collected 12 victories.
Among the biggest wins of Martini’s IMCA career are a Winter Nationals feature victory in Arizona in January of this year, the Ernie Mincy Early Thaw Series feature wins in early 2025, and the Corn Cob Nationals at Buffalo River Speedway.
Since joining the SportMod ranks, Martini has won at least one feature every season except 2017. Another standout campaign came in 2023 when he collected 12 victories.
The consistency helped him climb toward the century mark.
Among the biggest wins of Martini’s IMCA career are a Winter Nationals feature victory in Arizona in January of this year, the Ernie Mincy Early Thaw Series title in early 2025, and the Corn Cob Nationals at Buffalo River Speedway.
Another victory that stands out came much closer to home.
The Mighty Axe Nationals at North Central Speedway had eluded Martini for years despite countless attempts.
“I tried for so many years to win that race,” Martini said. “Finally getting one in 2015 was pretty special.”
More Than 100 Wins
The race car that delivered victory No. 100 almost never made it there.
Built by Eric in 2018-19, the car suffered a devastating crash during the 2025 IMCA TV Winter Nationals in Arizona.
Martini was ready to scrap it.
Then he sent pictures to his brother.
“He said, ‘You can fix it.'”
So they did.
The car was patched together.
Repaired.
Given another chance.
And somehow, it became better than ever.
“It may be patched together, but it sure works good,” Martini said. “It’s unbelievable. It runs, hooks up, rotates. It’s got traction and really works good. I tell my pit guys anybody can go win with this thing.”
The comeback of the car mirrors much of Martini’s racing philosophy.
Hard work matters.
Preparation matters.
And having the right people around you matters.
Today, Martini remains grateful for the people who have helped make the journey possible.
Some have been with him for years.
Gilleland Chevrolet has long been one of the cornerstones of the program, while I.R.A.Y. Auctions has provided support through a friendship that extends well beyond the racetrack.
In the pits, Cory and Riley have become trusted members of the team, helping keep the car prepared and ready for race night.
But when the conversation turns to the people who have made the biggest impact on his racing career, Martini’s thoughts quickly return to his brother.
Eric has built every race car Bud has competed in since 2007.
Together, they’ve endured skepticism, celebrated victories, repaired wrecked equipment, and built one of the most successful IMCA Northern SportMod programs in Minnesota.
Back in 2007, when Eric unveiled his first chassis for Bud, there were people who questioned whether it would work.
The brothers answered those questions by winning.
Nearly two decades later, they were standing together again, this time celebrating a milestone few drivers ever reach.
“Without him I wouldn’t be doing this,” Martini said.
That statement might be the real story behind 100 wins.
Life Around Avon
Away from the racetrack, Martini has always been a car guy.
He owns a car business, restores collector vehicles, and enjoys bringing old machines back to life. Among the favorites in his collection is a 1969 Camaro RS convertible that carries a special meaning.
He owned the car when he was 18 years old.
Eventually, he sold it.
Years later, he tracked it down and bought it back.
“That’s probably my favorite one,” Martini said.
The attachment to cars feels natural for someone who grew up in Avon.
Mark “Bud” Martini’s garage showcases a lifelong passion for automobiles, racing, and restoration. Among the highlights is his beloved 1969 Camaro RS convertible, a car he owned as a teenager, sold, and years later tracked down and purchased again. The collection also includes a pair of motorcycles from his youth—a Honda XL75 and a Honda CT70—along with memorabilia reflecting decades in motorsports. (Courtesy Photo)
Founded in 1873 and incorporated in 1900, the Stearns County community sits among a landscape dotted with lakes, rolling countryside, and small-town neighborhoods. Named after England’s River Avon, the city embraces the motto “Lakes, Loons, Living.” Within the city limits are Upper Spunk, Middle Spunk, and Lower Spunk Lake, part of a chain of waterways that helped shape the area’s identity. The lakes take their name from “spunk,” a term early settlers used for dry wood or tinder used to start fires. Each summer, residents celebrate that heritage during Spunktacular Days, a community festival that draws visitors from throughout central Minnesota.
Just down the road in Collegeville sits Saint John’s University, one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in Minnesota. Founded in 1857 by Benedictine monks from Bavaria, the university has long been a cultural centerpiece of the region and is also recognized as the birthplace of Minnesota Public Radio. The campus is perhaps equally famous among locals for “Johnnie Bread,” a recipe the monks have baked for generations to support abbey projects and programs.
“It’s a pretty good area,” Martini said. “Saint John’s has a really nice campus.”
Like many people from Avon, Martini appreciates the simple things — spending time with friends, working on cars, and staying busy.
“I like to keep busy doing stuff and hanging out with people and living life,” he said.
The welcome sign greets visitors entering Avon, Minnesota, the Stearns County community where Mark “Bud” Martini has spent much of his life. Founded in 1873, Avon is known for its chain of Spunk Lakes, Spunktacular Days celebration, and close-knit small-town atmosphere. (Courtesy Photo)
For someone who has spent nearly four decades around race cars, life has never been about sitting still.
Whether he’s restoring a classic car, working with customers, spending time with friends, or climbing behind the wheel of an IMCA Northern SportMod built by his brother, Martini continues doing what he’s always done.
Finding ways to make things work.
Much like the patched-together car that carried him to win No. 100.
