[Racer Duck]

Marshall University soon may be represented by something even faster than alumnus Randy Moss.

It's a stock car.

And it would be the first university-sponsored car to race full-time, said Dana Tomes, a racing enthusiast who developed the idea of rolling out a Thundering Herd-themed car for the tracks.

Tomes and his wife, Tonya, are majority shareholders in Herd Racing, which hopes to unveil a Marshall stock car for the 2008 NASCAR-sanctioned Nationwide (formerly Busch) Series, which begins in February.

But to turn the vision into a reality, they must come up with $3 million.

Herd Racing already has Marshall's blessing to slap the university name, logo and colors onto its racecars for the entire season.

The team, however, must find other sponsors to help raise $3 million, the minimum for participating in all 35 races next year in the Nationwide Series. Much of the money will go toward building the cars.

Tomes pitched the idea to Marshall officials about six weeks ago. He said they welcomed it.

His company has already drafted designs of what the car would look like - a slick green and white Dodge Charger with "We Are. . .Marshall" plastered on the body above the rear wheels. The Marshall 'M' logo would likely appear on the hood.


Tomes has requested the number 75 for the car. The number would serve as a tribute to the 75 victims of the Marshall plane crash in 1970.


Charleston Daily Mail

[NASCAR Gnome]

Being a De La Salle alum, I've always loved the combination of the colors green, white and black because those were our school colors! If they ever bring out a die-cast, I'm definitely getting myself one!

Now, if I could only find 3 mil lying around somewhere...