Teams

Mobile Energy Assault Team

Garage Headquarters: Orange, CT

Driver: Chris Toupence

Mechanics: Rick Martunas, Dave Verderber, Matt Grande

Nuts and Bolts:

“Our entry features three college dropouts who all share a passion for going fast and blowing things up,” says Rick Martunas of the “Mobile Energy Assault Team” that will be racing toward the checkered flag on October 13. Then, as he promises not to blow anything up on race day, he also throws in a choice tidbit: “Our fourth team member used to dance for Chippendales under the stage name ‘Hot Garbage.’”

If you want to know exactly which one of them sizzled like burning trash, you’ll have to show up on College Hill and figure it out for yourself – Martunas and his teammates Chris Toupence, Matt Grande, and Dave Verderber aren’t telling. But they are revealing other details. For instance, all four work for Northeast Beverage, which distributes fine quaffables throughout New England. And they’ve got some competitive cojones among them: Martunas and Verderber won several heats in a Red Bull Mini Moto GP race, and Toupence, the team’s soapbox driver, is a Vew-do balance board team rider and former pro snowboarder. “Our biggest challenge will be finding how far we can push the limits of this competition,” states Martunas, who will serve as Toupence’s co-pilot. “We are here to not only win the race, but win the People’s Choice award as well.”