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February 22, 2004: Parker Racing Team has expanded its horizons. The Avon, MA-based operation will be active on two fronts this summer.

Mark Lowrey, coming off a Rookie of the Year effort, has his sights on the AllStar Race Truck Series championship. Lowrey, who’ll drive the No. 1 Parker Truck, begins his quest when ARTS opens its 2004 race schedule March 27-28 at Waterford Speedbowl’s Modified Nationals.

Shawn Parker, a three-time ARTS champ, will “get his feet wet” on the American/Canadian Tour (ACT). Parker will run just four shows (keeping open the possibility of the ’05 rookie prize) beginning with ACTS’ visit to the Speedbowl on Saturday night, June 19.

Bob Pierce will be the crew chief for both efforts. He has been with Parker racing since 1998.

Although Parker drove the No. 1 Truck most of last year, Lowrey did drive it to a season-best third at the Speedbowl’s Finale. Lowrey, who wound up sixth in points last year, admitted to some driver mistakes. The No. 6 Truck has been sold.

“It was my first time in a race car and I was dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s” said Lowrey who attended the Buck Baker Driving School over the winter. It is one of the things I had to do. Now I’m looking forward to setting the record straight, of not having those problems.”

Still he felt “I had as good a chance of winning as anybody right from the start.” Although finances will be a factor, he is “focused on the championship, no doubt about it.”

Parker, who captured ARTS’ regional titles in 2000, ’01 and ’02, has been “thinking about ACT for a while” and looks forward to “seeing how I shape up against the guys from up north.” ACT, he added, “allows me to continue touring and it is affordable.”

Following a couple of years with limited supers at Hudson, Parker drove in the Sportsman division at Seekonk in 1998. The next year he moved up to ARTS. He will go to the ACT wars with a chassis purchased from Brent Dragon.

Expecting to be given the number 01, Parker also plans on driving at Seekonk (Aug. 14) and Lee (Sept. 26) in addition to the Speedbowl. He has been successful at all three tracks. The Milk Bowl on Oct. 2-3 is also on the schedule.