Post by LMR on 04/12/14 at 7:46pm
World of Outlaws Late Model Series
Tazewell Speedway
April 12, 2014
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Marlar Captures World of Outlaws LMS Victory at Tazewell Speedway
Tennessee driver tops Clanton, Eckert for his first series win in 50-lap feature
by Chris Tilley
TAZEWELL, Tenn. (April 12) - Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., took advantage of Tim McCreadie's misfortune and went on to capture Saturday night's Scion of Knoxville 50 World of Outlaws Late Model Series A-Main at Tazewell Speedway.
This was Marlar's first-career World of Outlaws Late Model Series victory, and he became the series' seventh different winner this season in seven races after holding off Shane Clanton and Rick Eckert to the checkered flag as championship leader Darrell Lanigan finished fourth with last year's top rookie Eric Wells rounding out the top five.
"We actually scaled back on racing this year and I think we're going to have one of our best year's yet," said an excited Marlar in victory lane.
"My steering is bent, my arms are tired, but with all the help from my family and friends, Ronnie Delk (car owner), all of the work they put in, we're going stay in there and drive it all we can," stated Marlar after talking about his near mishap with lapped car Mark Gant.
McCreadie and Marlar brought the field of 24 to life for the start of the 50-lapper with McCreadie jumping to the high side and the early lead. Marlar tucked under T-Mac for second with Lanigan moving from his eighth spot to the fifth position by the second circuit. By the sixth lap, sixth-starting Clanton and his Capital Race Cars entry passed Eckert for the third spot.
"We're good, just need a little lady luck to start up front and maybe we can win one," said runner-up Clanton of Zebulon, Ga.
Eckert of York, Pa., held on to a third place-finish and said tire choice was the key.
"He was a little bit softer on the left rear tire, that one restart he took the bottom off two and snuck by me and I just couldn't get him back cleared," said Eckert.
Brandon Overton of Appleton, Ga., finished sixth while Rookie-of-the-Year contender Chase Junghans of Manhattan, Kan., finished seventh. Morgan Bagley of Tyler, Texas, Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., and Rick "Boom" Briggs of Bear Lake, Pa., rounded out the top 10.
Eight caution flags slowed the main event. The first yellow flag would wave on lap three as Boom Briggs got crossed up in turn four collecting three more. Lap nine would see leader McCreadie slowing for a right rear flat tire. Bryan Hendrix spun at the top of turn two in front of the top-four cars and brought out the yellow on lap 17. Debris brought out the next yellow on lap 26. The next yellow flag would wave on lap-29 as the rescue squad had to come out of the infield and attend to a spectator. Jack Sullivan would slow in turn three for a flat tire on lap 31 to bring out the next yellow flag. The lap-39 caution flag would be for Chub Frank's right-rear flat. Jeff Wolfenbarger would slow for the final yellow with two laps to go with a flat tire.
Twenty-four cars entered the event, which brought the WoO LMS to Gary Hall's track outside Tazewell for the lone season visit.
Eckert turned the fastest overall lap of Ohlins Shocks Time Trials, circling the blistering-fast 1/3 mile oval in 11.390 seconds. Heat winners were Eckert, Wells and McCreadie.
Darrell Lanigan continues to lead the overall World of Outlaws Late Model Series championship with six top-five's and seven top-10s through seven feature events.
The WoO LMS will be back in action April 25-26 with the sixth running of the Illini 100 at Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway. Time Trials and heat races will be run on Friday night and the $20,000-to-win finale is set for Saturday evening.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com .
World of Outlaws Late Model Series Statistical Report; Tazewell (Tenn.) Speedway; April 12, 2014
Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won:
1. (2) Mike Marlar/50 $10,500
2. (6) Shane Clanton/50 $5,600
3. (3) Rick Eckert/50 $3,650
4. (8) Darrell Lanigan/50 $3,150
5. (5) Eric Wells/50 $2,500
6. (9) Brandon Overton/50 $1,700
7. (12) Chase Junghans/50 $2,300
8. (21) Morgan Bagley/50 $1,850
9. (10) Clint Smith/50 $1,800
10. (15) Rick "Boom" Briggs/50 $1,150
11. (13) Brandon Sheppard/50 $1,550
12. (14) Chub Frank/50 $1,550
13. (18) Josh Putnam/50 $1,050
14. (16) Bryan Hendrix/50 $900
15. (7) Jeff Wolfenbarger/50 $850
16. (23) Mark Gant/49 $800
17. (20) Frank Heckenast Jr./46 $1,320
18. (11) Jack Sullivan/37 $1,300
19. (4) Billy Ogle, Jr./26 $730
20. (1) Tim McCreadie/17 $1,350
21. (17) Terry Wolfenbarger/13 $750
22. (19) Kyle Bronson/9 $700
23. (22) Wade Howerton/8 $700
24. (24) Steve Smith/DNS $0
* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses
Time of Race: 34 Mins,18 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 1.071 Secs.
Yellow Flags: Eight (laps 3, 9, 17, 26, 29, 31, 39, 48)
Red Flag: None
Lap Leaders: McCreadie (1-8), Marlar (9-50)
Provisional Starters: None
WoO LMS 'Bonus Bucks' Winner: Mike Marlar ($500)
Heat #1
1 24 Rick Eckert
2 25 Shane Clanton
3 28 Jeff Wolfenbarger
4 44 Clint Smith
5 1 Brandon Sheppard
6 5 Bryan Hendrix
7 40B Kyle Bronson
8 113 Mark Gant
Heat #2
1 18 Eric Wells
2 157 Mike Marlar
3 29 Darrell Lanigan
4 18x Jack Sullivan
5 1* Chub Frank
6 14 Terry Wolfenbarger
7 99jr Frankie Heckenast Jr
8 71 Steve Smith
Heat #3
1 39 Tim McCreadie
2 201 Billy Ogle Jr
3 76 Brandon Overton
4 18c Chase Junghans
5 99B Boom Briggs
6 212 Josh Putnam
7 14M Morgan Bagley
8 15 Wade Howerton
Qualifying
1 24 Rick Eckert 11.390
2 157 Mike Marlar 11.436
3 39 Tim McCreadie 11.442
4 25 Shane Clanton 11.447
5 18 Eric Wells 11.551
6 76 Brandon Overton 11.605
7 28 Jeff Wolfenbarger 11.712
8 29 Darrell Lanigan 11.779
9 18c Chase Junghans 11.788
10 44 Clint Smith 11.796
11 18x Jack Sullivan 11.824
12 201 Billy Ogle Jr 11.854
13 5 Bryan Hendrix 11.856
14 1* Chub Frank 11.864
15 212 Josh Putnam 11.884
16 1 Brandon Sheppard 11.975
17 14 Terry Wolfenbarger 11.978
18 14M Morgan Bagley 12.099
19 40B Kyle Bronson 12.139
20 99jr Frankie Heckenast Jr 12.156
21 99B Boom Briggs 12.241
22 113 Mark Gant 12.459
23 71 Steve Smith 12.522
24 15 Wade Howerton 12.690
