DAVENPORT, Iowa The Badger Midget Auto Racing Assn community is mourning the death of noted engine builder Mark Ray, who died March 27 at the age of 67.

In addition to being a championship-winning engine builder, Mark Ray is the father of driver Robbie Ray, the uncle of driver Davey Ray and brother of Dave Ray.

mourns the passing of Mark Ray. Ray was a championship engine builder for the BMARA, but that only scratches the surface of his motorsports experience inside and outside of Badger. He was the father of Robbie Ray; uncle of Davey Ray and brother to Dave Ray, all Badger Midget Series standout drivers.

According to BMARA President Quinn McCabe, Mark was an important adviser on Badgers current engine package. His guidance was a great asset to the club.

Too young to drive, Mark began crewing on the family-owned car in the Badger Midget Auto Racing Assn in 1973 helping his brother, Dave, earn Rookie of the Year honors and eventually a 1977 BMARA championship with car owner John Heisdorf.

When able to drive midgets himself, Mark found his way to victory lane as a driver a handful of times including at his favorite track to drive, Kankakee Speedway, in Illinois. He gave up his career of driving unselfishly to support his familys aspirations to seek the USAC title in 1985 using his car as a part time entry and back up.

Mark helped guide the Ray Racing Enterprises team, and brother Dave, to a 1981 Midwest Auto Racing Assn Championship and two top-five USAC National Midget Championship finishes in 1985 and 1986. This while building the teams engines. He earned his sole USAC National Midget win as a car owner in 1987 in Binghamton, N.Y., with Kevin Olson driving.

His most cherished accomplishments came later in life with his son, Robbie, winning the 2000 Winged Three Quarter Midget Assn championship, the 2003 USAC Ford Focus Midget Series Championship and the 2017 Badger Midget Auto Racing Assn Championship.

The 2017 BMARA Championship stood out to Mark for the fact it came exactly 40 years after his brother, Dave, accomplished the same feat.

Mark found his way to the highest level of motorsports when Mike Teegarden tapped him to work under Mike Devin as an engine tech inspector at the Indianapolis 500 from 1986 to 1997, one of his most cherished accomplishments. For 11 years every single engine that qualified for the Indy 500 ran through his hands.