Mike Marlar Wins Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals!
by Eric Arnold
KNOXVILLE, Iowa (September 17, 2016) – It has been the year of the upset winners at Knoxville Raceway and Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tennessee surprised everyone by leading the final 61 laps on his way to a win $40,000 at the 13th annual Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s General Store!
Front row starters Jimmy Owens and Josh Richards were the early front runners of the 100 lap event, Owens led the opening ten laps until Richards used lapped traffic to get by Owens and pull away. It appeared that Richards, the four-time runner-up at Knoxville would go on to finally win the Knoxville Nationals. Marlar started in row two and fell to fifth early but was able to claw his way back to the leaders. On lap 40 Marlar made his move and passed Richards.
The event was marred by several caution periods and Marlar was able to hold off challenges by Richards and later from Scott Bloomquist on every restart to drive away and win by 1.188 seconds of Blooquist at the checkered flag.
The win was Marlar’s second of his career at Knoxville who won a Nationals preliminary in 2012. Marlar finished fourth in 2015, third in 2014, and sixth in 2012. The part-time super dirt late model driver was able to put together the winning combination to become the eleventh different winner of the Knoxville Nationals crown jewel event.
Bloomquist started eighth and was running fourth at halfway. His car came alive and was running second by lap 60. Bloomer was able to driver beside Marlar on a few occasions and pass him briefly at one point during the race, but fell short of winning a record third Nationals.
19 year-old Bobby Pierce finished third in his first entry at Knoxville in four years. The youngster looked strong driving from his tenth starting position to stand upon the podium a week after winning the World 100.
Richards was running third when he pulled in with five laps remaining. Jimmy Owens would pull in on lap 46 with mechanical woes as would Jonathan Davenport on lap 79.
In preliminary action Gregg Satterlee won the B Main and Morgan Bagley won the C Main.
The 2016 Knoxville Raceway season is now complete. Stay tuned to www.KnoxvilleRaceway.com
for our 2017 schedule announcements in the coming weeks. The 57th annual Knoxville Nationals are scheduled for August 9-12!
Results 13th annual Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s General Store
C main, 15 Laps: 1. Morgan Bagley (1); 2. Joel Callahan (2); 3. Mason Zeigler (14); 4. Ray Guss Jr. (4); 5. Rich Bell (6); 6. Dave Eckrich (8); 7. Mike Fryer (10); 8. Charlie McKenna (19); 9. Jay Johnson (13); 10. Joel Callahan (2); 11. Mitch McGrath (18); 12. John Duty (17); 13. Justin Duty (9); 14. Nick Marolf (7); 15. Rob Toland (3); 16. Brian Ledbetter (16); 17. Rob Moss (11); 18. Doug Sanders (15); 19. Colton Flinner (12);
B main, 20 Laps: 1. Greg Satterlee (1); 2. Chad Simpson (6); 3. Chad Mahder (2); 4. Tim Lance (3); 5. Kent Robinson (7); 6. Jason Rauen (4); 7. Frank Heckenast Jr. (10); 8. RC Whitwell (13); 9. Ricky Weiss (12); 10. Bryant Goldsmith (0); 11. Mason Zeigler (0); 12. Brent Larson (8); 13. Morgan Bagley (18); 14. Nick Hoffman (14); 15. Rich Bell (0); 16. Matt Furman (22); 17. Spencer Diercks (5); 18. Ricky Thornton Jr. (15); 19. Jason Utter (17); 20. Jason Feger (9); 21. Billy Moyer Jr. (11); 22. Ray Guss Jr. (21);
A main, 100 Laps, No Time: 1. Mike Marlar (4); 2. Scott Bloomquist (8); 3. Bobby Pierce (10); 4. Shane Clanton (9); 5. Billy Moyer (7); 6. Jimmy Mars (15); 7. Tim McCreadie (14); 8. Kyle Bronson (22); 9. Dennis Erb Jr. (16); 10. Darrell Lanigan (21); 11. Don O’Neal (11); 12. Chad Mahder (27); 13. Tim Lance (28); 14. Josh Richards (1); 15. Rodney Sanders (12); 16. Brandon Sheppard (13); 17. Jonathan Davenport (19); 18. Steve Francis (20); 19. Chad Simpson (26); 20. Shannon Babb (6); 21. Colton Flinner (31); 22. Dale McDowell (3); 23. Earl Pearson Jr. (17); 24. Tyler Erb (18); 25. Chris Simpson (5); 26. Spencer Diercks (32); 27. Jimmy Owens (2); 28. Chase Junghans (23); 29. Joey Moriarty (24); 30. Jason Rauen (30); 31. Kent Robinson (29); 32. Greg Satterlee (25); Lap Leaders: Jimmy Owens 1-10, Josh Richards 11-39, Mike Marlar 40-100.
Category: Iowa, Knoxville Raceway
