Northeast Outlaw Pro Mods The Northeast Outlaw Pro Modified Drag Racing Association
Mr. Perfect: Dean Marinis and The Quest For Perfection
Josh Hachat | November 9, 2020 Photo by Rick Belden
The name doesn’t come up as “Dean Marinis.” Or “Dean.” Or “Marinis.” Or even “Mean Dean” as he’s affectionately known by many in the drag racing scene.
Instead, when the New York-native grudge racer turned successful X275, Pro Mod racer and standout tuner calls one of his New York racing friends, a different – but also very apt – nickname comes across their phone: “Mr. Perfect.”
“He calls me ‘Perfect’ or ‘Mr. Perfect’ because that’s what I’m always striving for,” Marinis says with a laugh.
In true racer fashion, perfection remains a mythological creature. It drives everyone, but is there ever a perfect run? There’s always a little more left, a little better weather, a little better track.
[Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in DI #160, the Crew Chief Issue, in September of 2020.]Perfect is a rarity and maybe even an impossibility in the never-stationary world of drag racing, but it’s also a moniker that suits Marinis well. A respected tuner and driver, Marinis is always after more, hopeful for that so-called perfect run.
Of course, that’s no different from any racer who has a similar mindset.
The difference is Marinis is willing to work to find it, no matter how impossible, how needle-in-the-haystack the concept may be.
Racing isn’t Marinis’ main job – he exports heavy equipment – but it may as well be his main priority.
Going fast is always top of mind, whether he’s doing the driving or doing the tuning. He’s enjoyed a career that’s spanned decades and whether it was grudge racing, X275 or a Pro Mod, Marinis has been dedicated to making people go fast in a nitrous car.
“If there’s anyone I can help out and make them go faster, I take pride in that.
