Name: Mary Lendzion
Position: NMCA/NMRA Staff Writer
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan
Hometown: Detroit, Michigan
Occupation: Full-time writer and media and public relations for Summit Motorsports Park, and writer for NMCA and NMRA


 
Short Bio: Growing up in Detroit, I was surrounded by muscle cars made by Ford, GM and Chrysler.
 
My brothers and father had Mustangs, a Torino, Bronco and Chevelle, and I loved watching them work on their cars and riding in their cars.
 
I went on to have a Camaro, followed years later by a 1998 Mustang that I drove on the street for a while before my husband, Mark, helped me turn it into a race car. I raced in bracket categories and went 13s followed by 12s, 11s, 10s, 9s and ultimately high 8s in the quarter-mile, and then I tried Ultra Street and eighth-mile racing. Reaching that level with my naturally aspirated small-block Ford was a big deal to me, especially because my husband, Mark, Mike Curcio of Mike Curcio Racing Products and Dave Zimmerman of Team Z Motorsports, among others, put a lot of work into my engine and car to help me accomplish that.
 
While I still have my 1998 Mustang, I haven’t raced it in a few years because I’m focusing on my work with Summit Motorsports Park, NMCA and NMRA, but I consider writing about racers and racing to be the next best thing.


  
Favorite Racing Class: I tried to narrow it down to just one, but I couldn’t. I’m drawn to the variety of NMCA and NMRA classes.
Favorite Car: My 1998 Mustang
Dream Car: 1967 Mustang Fastback
Favorite Race Track: Summit Motorsports Park is home and where my heart is because I raced there and now work for the track, but there’s something about every track I’ve been to that I like.
Favorite Food: A casserole I make with quinoa, black beans, corn, chopped sweet potatoes, cumin, chili powder and topped with avocado slices.
Favorite drink: Iced tea
Favorite sport: Racing
Favorite movie: I have so many favorite movies, but among them are “Ford v. Ferrari,” “Band of Brothers” and “Memphis Belle”.
Favorite quote: My mom told me to “Pursue your passion, and be a voice for people or animals who need you to be a voice for them,” and I will always remember that.
Favorite phone app: Forks Over Knives recipe app
Favorite vacation spot: Leelanau Peninsula in Michigan
First purchase if gifted a million dollars: A home on the Leelanau Peninsula in Michigan
First job: Delivering newspapers for the Detroit Free Press
Worst job you ever had: I haven’t had one that didn’t like.
Best job you ever had: I love to write and I love Detroit, so my job as a writer at the Detroit Free Press will always be special to me, but I also love my current jobs with Summit Motorsports Park, NMCA and NMRA.
Favorite band/artist: Music means a lot to me, so it would be impossible to name just one band or artist as a favorite, but I turn up the volume for Tyler Childers, The Lumineers, Avett Brothers, Tragically Hip, Skydiggers, White Stripes, Jack White and Jason Isbell, among others.
Dream Job: Full time animal rescue, but it might break my heart as much as it would warm my heart.
If you could meet one person, living or dead, who would it be: A World War II B-17 pilot.
Best Advice given to you:  “Follow your heart.”
Worst Advice given to you: “Forget about it because there is nothing you can do about it.”
Who do you most admire: My parents.
What’s your hidden talent: I think I have a pretty flower garden.
What are your hobbies or interests other than racing: Walking through the woods or by the water, spending time with my furry babies, cooking, frequently trying new recipes, watching movies, reading, going to airplane and car museums and going to air shows.
What’s your guilty pleasure: Having a little downtime on the weekend to sleep in with several of my furry babies around me.
What’s something people don’t know about you: I won NMRA Bracket 1 and NMRA Bracket 2 races in 2007 and 2009, and saved the photo of the winner’s circle celebration with my husband and Steve Wolcott. A few months later, seeing my name in the event coverage in Race Pages, meant a lot to me, especially since soon after that, Jason Reiss, the editor at the time, gave me the opportunity to start writing for the magazine.
Canon or Nikon: Canon
Coffee or tea: Tea
Horse, Dog or Cat: All of them
What inspires you: Compassion, passion, creativity, feeling at peace.