Spring Nationals
Smoky Mountain Speedway
April 25, 2015
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Casey Roberts Hustles to Second Spring Nationals Series Victory at Smoky Mountain



by Chris Tilley, Series P.R. Coordinator
MARYVILLE, TN (April 25, 2015)-After being rained out, froze out and even snowed out since March 13, the Old Man's Garage Spring Nationals Series by Schaeffer's Oil finally got back to racing action at Smoky Mountain Speedway and Casey Roberts would come out victorious in his second career series win.

Roberts collected $6,000 for the victory while driving the Cushman Paint & Body and M&S Concrete sponsored Longhorn Chassis. Roberts crossed the line ahead of Jimmy Owens, Dale McDowell, Mike Marlar and thirteenth starting Chris Madden.

Dash winner Casey Roberts and Tommy Kerr brought the field down to the green flag for the start of the 50-lapper with Kerr jumping to the lead down the back chute. Roberts would tuck into second spot and fast qualifier Mike Marlar held down the third spot. By the fourth lap, 13th starting Chris Madden would work his way up three spots to the tenth position and would close on the ninth spot.

On the seventh lap, Austin Smith would slowly make his way around the third and fourth corner and exit the speedway, ending his night. The next lap, Kerr's lead would shrink to two car lengths as lapped traffic would slow the Maryville, Tenn. driver and allow Roberts to close in. On lap 10, third place runner Mike Marlar would brush the wall in turn one but would regain his composure and hold the third position over McDowell.
 
On lap 11, Roberts would make his move on the low side coming off turn two and take the lead but officially lead starting on the 12th circuit. Five laps later, Roberts held an eight car length lead over the second place car.

On the lap 19 restart, McDowell would make the inside move on Kerr to take the second position. By the 25th lap, Roberts would again stretch that lead out to about 15 car lengths. Meanwhile, former Modified aces Mike Marlar and Jimmy Owens would battle for the fourth spot, swapping the position numerous times for about ten laps. Owens would complete the pass on the 30th circuit and set his sights for the third spot of McDowell.



By the 42nd lap and restart, Donald McIntosh, who started tenth and had worked his way into the third position at one time, lost two spots on the restart and allowed Owens to get up on the high side of the speedway and set his sights on McDowell for second spot. Owens and McDowell would battle and Owens would slip into the second spot with just six laps to go. Owens had a good run going but wouldn't be enough as Roberts would cross the line in almost a full second ahead of "The Newport Nightmare" for the win.

Five yellow flags slowed the field. On lap 19, Jason Welshan slowed on the backstretch. On the 42nd lap, Tommy Kerr would have a right rear flat tire and take it pit side. On the restart, Chris Wilson stopped his mount in turn three. On Lap 44, Stacy Boles would slam the turn two wall and on the restart, Mark Dotson would spin on the back chute.

The Old Man's Garage Spring Nationals Series will return to action next week with a double-header in East Tennessee. Friday Night May 1 the series will race at the Cleveland Speedway in Cleveland, Tenn. paying $4,000-to-win for the "Spring Fling" event and on Saturday Night May 2nd the series will roll into Gary Hall's Tazewell Speedway in Tazewell, Tenn. for a 50-lap $6,000-to-win event.

A-Main
1 101 Casey Roberts Toccoa, GA
2 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
3 17m Dale McDowell Chickamauga, GA
4 157 Mike Marlar Winfield, TN
5 44m Chris Madden Gray Court, SC
6 7 Donald McIntosh Dawsonville, GA
7 201 Billy Ogle Jr Knoxville, TN
8 007 Roger Best Maryville, TN
9 28w Jeff Wolfenbarger Clinton, TN
10 85 Mark Dotson Cameron, MO
11 2 Joey Coulter Concord, NC
12 30 Ryan King Seymour, TN
13 11b Stacy Boles Canon City, GA
14 257 Skylar Marlar Winfield, TN
15 4t Tommy Kerr Maryville, TN
16 10 Chris Wilson Crossville, TN
17 10 Chad Ogle Knoxville, TN
18 8 David Payne Murphy, NC
19 31 Skip Arp Georgetown, TN
20 c5 David Crabtree Maryville, TN
21 4 Mark Vineyard Powell, TN
22 29 Jason Welshan Maryville, TN
23 11 Austin Smith Cedartown, GA

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