Zip Corvette is proud to sponsor Mark Sasko and Tom Leary and their 1973 Corvette in this year’s Hemmings Great Race presented by Coker Tire!
Friends for 20 years, Sasko and Leary enjoy vintage auto racing, collecting cars, and traveling.
Sasko fell in love with Corvettes in 2012 when he bought a restored 1958 model, found by his wife and daughter at the Goodguys car show in San Diego. That classic C1 is still in the family.
The car they will drive in The Great Race is a 1973 Corvette that Sasko bought specifically for this event. It is a silver convertible with a red interior and a 350 engine with an automatic transmission. They’ve spent a lot of time prepping the car and have opted to run it in convertible mode.
“This is our first time driving in The Great Race,” said Sasko. “As fellow car guys who travel well together, we think this will be a hoot and look forward to participating in this event for years to come!”
Held each summer at the end of June, the Great Race is the ultimate time, speed and distance rally designed for classic cars. Originally, it was a two-week, cross-country torture test for vehicles built before World War II. But rules changed with the times and the cut-off year incrementally progressed. Now, 40 years later, the cut-off year is 1974, which opens the field for 1950’s classics, muscle cars and more. Corvettes are a natural fit, as the cars handle and perform well and typically withstand the rigors of the nine-day, 2,300-mile road rally.
This year’s race will be held June 20-28 and will follow the legendary “Mother Road”, Route 66, from Illinois all the way to California.
The 2026 Great Race has been officially recognized as a Route 66 Centennial Event in partnership with the U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission! Together with racers, crews, and sponsors, this year’s event is celebrating 100 years of America’s most iconic highway — one community at a time.
Zip Corvette is cheering for Mark and Tom as they experience their first Great Race!