Notes & Quotes: BITNILE.com Grand Prix of Portland

MARK WILLIS joined AJ Foyt Racing after earning an A.A. degree at the NASCAR Technical Institute (NTI) in Mooresville, N.C. Mark was born in Tacoma, Washington and grew up in the surrounding area of the state's capitol. His interest in racing began with NASCAR but through a recommendation from a motorsports executive, Mark's journey took him to INDYCAR. We asked him a few questions...

How did you become interested in motorsports?   

MW: "I became interested in motorsports at the age of 4. At that time, I remember sitting in front of the tv watching NASCAR. That’s the earliest thing I can remember that I enjoyed anything associated with motorsports. "

Where/when was the first race you attended? 

MW: "The first race I attended was a drag race at the Pacific Raceways in Kent, WA that is formerly known as Seattle International Raceway. My dad had a friend named Gary Swenson who race jet engined drag cars, and his was named American Eagle One."

Mark's family from left to right: his sister Brooke, younger brother Bryce, Mark and his wife Johanna, older brother J.J. and his wife Jessica, their son Noah and daughter Tullah (in Jessica's arms), Mark's step-mother Lorinda and his dad Kirk, and Mark's younger brother Blaine.

When and where did you start your professional career in racing? When did you realize you could make a career out of it? 

MW: "I started my professional career in Motorsports in 2024 with AJ Foyt Racing in Waller, Texas. I realized I could make a career out of Motorsports after I finished my first year."

Have you ever raced cars yourself? 

MW: "I have not raced cars myself, however I did race karts after I graduated from high school."

Please list major series you've worked in

MW: "The only major series I have raced in is IndyCar which was right out of school for me. The only other thing that would be close is traveling with Italkart, which Michael Valiante runs out of Sumas, Washington. I participated in the ROK Cup USA as a mechanic for some of his drivers during 2021 and 2022."

What is your most significant achievement to date?  

MW: "My most significant achievement would be graduating from NTI with honors. "

How did you come to work for AJ Foyt Racing?   

MW: "I came to work for AJ Foyt Racing by graduating from the NASCAR Technical Institute. I was told about AJ Foyt Racing looking to hire and there was a position available in Waller, Texas if I wanted to pursue it, which I said yes to. It was NTI that helped me get my foot in the door."

Please describe your job on the team. 

MW: "I work on the underwings, plus the front and rear wings for the No. 4 car of David Malukas. I also, do some carbon/bodywork repairs if needed." 

What is the most challenging part of your job?

MW: "The most challenging part of my job is staying focused when I am burnt out from the season and there’s a handful of races left. That’s where mistakes happen and points are lost for the team. Very important to work together as a team and keep the mood light and have some good laughs as we all get tired at different points through the season."

What do you love most about working in the NTT INDYCAR Series? 

MW: "What I love most about working in INDYCAR would have to be the teamwork aspect. Being able to arrive any weekend at any given track and have the possibility to get a podium or even a win. All of that takes a team to accomplish and when that podium or win happens it truly is special because everyone feels a sense of accomplishment and it motivates you to continue what you’re doing, such as being excellent at what you do, working together as a team, and not making it about you." 

During pit stops, Mark peels off the bug and oil-stained clear vinyl shields on the aeroscreen which are layered for quick removal.

What would you change, if you could?

MW: "I would change the scheduling. Try to make it two races a month instead of having five races in one month and one in another."

What is your favorite track and why?  

MW: "My favorite track would have to be the Indianapolis Motor Speedway because the speed that the cars reach is amazing. But more so how every little detail plays into the speed of the race car. Everything matters at a track like that." 

What interests/hobbies do you have outside of racing?  

MW: "Some things I like to do are driving go karts, eating food as you can see and spending time with family and friends." 

What are the top 3 things on your bucket list?   

MW: "The top 3 things on my bucket list are:

1) Travel throughout Europe specifically Italy 

2) To go and watch the 24-Hour race at Le Mans (France).

3) To participate in an endurance race as a driver at Road Atlanta. "

What is the best advice you've ever received?

MW: "The best advice I’ve ever received would have to be from Matthew 6:34 'Do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself, as each day has enough trouble of its own.'"

The No. 4 Chevrolet will sport the Gallagher Insurance livery for the BITNILE.com Grand Prix of Portland this weekend. Gallagher is one of the world's largest insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting firms. A community insurance broker and trusted local consultant, Gallagher Insurance helps people and businesses move forward with confidence. With more than 39,000 people working around the globe, they're connected to the places where they do business and to every community they call home. Managing risk with customized solutions and a full spectrum of services, they help foster a thriving workforce, and always hold themselves to the highest standards of ethics to help their clients face every challenge—that's The Gallagher Way.

DAVID MALUKAS enters this final stretch of three races 10th in the NTT INDYCAR Series standings. This weekend, the No. 4 Chevrolet will carry the Gallagher Insurance livery at Portland International Raceway where Malukas has one top-10 finish (eighth in 2023) and one top-10 start (10th in 2022). His best finish of the season is his second-place in the Indianapolis 500.

What is the key to getting around Portland?

"The key to getting around Portland is all about rhythm. Making sure you’re on the right track from Turn 4 to Turn 7." 

What is the most challenging aspect of the track?

"The most challenging aspect of the track would have to be Turn 4 to Turn 7. It all feels as if it’s just one corner. You mess up Turn 4 and the rest will be out of sync."

How does the track favor Chevy power?

"This track favors Chevy power with the majority of corners being mid to high-speed corners. Chevy excels in its top end power."

Do you have any favorite places to visit in the area?

"Haven’t done much exploring outside of the Portland track to be fair so nothing that comes to mind."

Being back in the top-10 in the INDYCAR Standings, how does that affect you?

"It feels good to be in the top-10 after all the ups and downs. Need to focus on consistency and make sure we finish the season strong."

How did you spend your time off last week?

"Went to visit my sister in Hawaii with my girlfriend. Had a good break spending time with my family."

MALUKAS FAST FACTS:  Age 23...Born in Chicago...Lives in Indianapolis...Single...First generation Lithuanian American...Father gave him his first go kart launching his multi-time championship karting career including the 2015 IAME International Final World Championship (Junior division) in LeMans, France...Scored poles and victories in the USF2000 and Pro Mazda series before becoming Vice-Champion in the 2021 INDY NXT by Firestone series ...Joined Dale Coyne Racing with HMD to advance to the 2022 NTT INDYCAR Series scoring a 2nd place finish at World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR)...Came back with Coyne in 2023 and scored another podium at WWTR finishing 3rd...In 2024, a wrist injury in a dirt-biking accident in the off-season led to a partial 10-race season with Meyer-Shank Racing where he posted two Top-10s and qualified in the Firestone Fast 6 five times. Finished 2nd in 2025 Indy 500 after starting seventh. Qualified second in the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix for best start to date in 2025.

SANTINO FERRUCCI won his first career NTT P-1 Award last year at Portland where he finished eighth in the race which kicked off a string of top-10 runs to finish out the 2024 season netting him ninth place in the final standings. Ferrucci is currently 13th in the standings after missing the race in Toronto after a crash in the morning warm-up.

Portland was the first road course you ran in an Indy car, with the previous IndyCar races being the two street races at Detroit in 2018. What were your impressions of the track and how the Indy car ran on it?

"When I first got to see the track and drive the car there, I thought it was enjoyable. We were having a really good day too. I think they would have finished pretty well inside the top 10 but the fuel collector broke and we ran out of gas. But I liked the track from day one.

"I think it's one of the better tracks that we get to go to. I think it races really well. It's super old school. The pavement is old, there's no runoff. It's been around in IndyCar for a long time. It's a great track and it hasn't really changed."

Santino edged out all-time NTT P1 Award winner, aka INDYCAR's Pole Meister, Will Power who congratulates Santino at Portland last year.

Do you think having your first road course race at Portland was helpful, because it wasn't as challenging perhaps Barber or Road America?

"Yes and no. I think it was helpful because the track was a bit shorter than some of the other road courses we go to, but it still had a really good mix of corners, high and medium speed corners with the big brake zones. So, you really got to test all of the car at the track, which was nice. So honestly, it was really good for me. "

What is the key to getting around Portland fast?

"One of the big things with Portland is that it's got a lot of high-speed entries, so it's a lot of commitment and trust from the car. So, we had a really good setup last year, and I was able to really drive the car into the apex, and I think that was a big, big help for our speed."

What's the most challenging part of the track?

"The most challenging part of Portland is probably turn 10 -11, that really high-speed left-right chicane that starts the lap. "

How does the track favor Chevrolet's power?

"Well, the track will favor Chevrolet because of the top speed, there's two very long straights which are good for us."

Do you have any favorite places to visit in the area, whether it's parks or restaurants?

"There's a Mexican joint that I've been going to for a few years, 'Who Song & Larry's' on the Columbia River in Vancouver."

After capturing the pole last year, how did that affect you?

"I think it was a huge momentum boost going into the final events of the year. From that pole, we picked up two more top-fives [Milwaukee] and another two top-10s [Portland and Nashville]. We really closed out the year super strong because of that pole."

How did you spend your time off last week? Like doing what and where?

"Well, my wife Renay and I took the dogs and we toured Napa, drank a lot of wine and relaxed at the hotel spa and resort. We had a really nice reset."

FERRUCCI FAST FACTS: Age 27...Born in Woodbury, CT...Lives in Dallas, Texas...Married Renay Moore in January, 2024...Began racing karts at age 5, moved to cars in 2013...Competed in Formula 2000, British Formula 3, GP3 finishing third at Spa Francorchamps as a rookie, was development driver for Haas F1 team for three years (2016-2018), moved to Formula 2 in 2018...made his INDYCAR debut in Detroit in 2018...moved to NTT INDYCAR Series fulltime in 2019 finishing 13th in standings for Dale Coyne and won Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year after finishing seventh...13th in standings again with fourth place finish in the 500...drove part-time in 2021-22 but maintained top-10 streak in Indy 500 with finishes of sixth (RLL Racing) and 10th (Dreyer Reinbold Racing)...Scored career-best finish at Indy with his 3rd place finish in the 2023 Indianapolis 500; with his fifth place finish at Indy this year, he continued his string of consecutive top-10 finishes in the 500 which now stands at seven...Competed part-time in NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2021-22. Earned 2025 NTT P1 Award at Portland, Ore....posted 11 Top-10 finishes for career-best to finish 9th in the NTT INDYCAR Series driver standings, his highest ranking to date. The Foyt team finished in the top-10 in the points standings for the first time since 2002. Ferrucci scored his career best finish of second in the 2025 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix.

The BITNILE.com Grand Prix of Portland will be broadcast by FOX Sunday, Aug. 10 starting at 3 p.m.  ET.