Richmond, KY--Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN became the first driver to win three STARS Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Events this season as he captured the $3000 to win main event on a special Friday Night of racing at the Richmond Raceway in Richmond, KY. In winning the 40 lap event Marlar took over the points lead from Scott James, who finished in 22nd place. The 25 year old racer drove the Todd Truss Company, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, Wilson's Service Center, CarCosmetics.net, Winfield Video, Roger Ogle Home Builders, Oneida Paint and Body, H&M West Enterprises, Marlar and Sons Auto Dismantling, Kenny's Rowboat, 45 Race Shop, Hoosier Tires, Real Wheels, Performance Battery, PBM Performance Products, WFO Graphics, Torco Fuels, Bilstein Shocks, Adam Christopher Racing Engines, C.J. Rayburn Grand Prix #157 to the win despite a late race charge from David Powers and a faulty wheel bearing. Powers of Salyersville, KY finished in second piloting the JMC Motorsports/Fannin's Sawmill/Stinger Chassis Grand Prix. Taking third was Mike Jewell of Scottsburg, IN in the Southern Indiana Rick Drilling/MPC Motorsports/MasterSbilt Grand Prix. The fourth spot went to Timmy Yeager of Harrodsburg, IN in the Clark Racing/Welfab Inc/C.J. Rayburn Monte Carlo. Rounding out the top five was Michael Chilton of Harrodsburg, KY in the Harold Chilton/Chilton's Lawn Care/C.J. Rayburn Monte Carlo.
Marlar would start from the pole of the 40 lap race with Johnny Wheeler alongside. Marlar would survive a race of attrition by some of his competitors and some problems of his own to capture the win. Marlar grabbed the lead right from the get go at the drop of starter Noel Hargis' green flag. Wheeler would quickly move into second place with veteran, Jim Curry taking third and David Powers in fourth. They would stay in that running order up until the 14th circuit when Powers would go by Curry to take over third place. Up front Marlar was walking away with the race only slowed by a lap two caution for the stalled Scott James and another caution for Marty Stepp on the front stretch. Marlar had built up a considerable lead over Wheeler and the rest of the field and even after each caution he would quickly build upon his lead again. With the halfway signal going up it was still Marlar well in control of the race with Wheeler still running in second with now pressure from Powers and sixth place starting Mike Jewell who had made his way around Curry for fourth. The race for second was a dandy between Wheeler, Powers, Jewell and Jesse James Lay. Lay was up to fifth challenging for more until he ran over a piece of debris on the race track puncturing his tire causing to him to slow and stop for a caution. At this point of the race (Lap 28) while the caution waved for Lay, second place running, Johnny Wheeler came to a halt in turn number three with a broken oil pump belt that forced him to the pits and out of the race after a strong run.
The race really started to get interesting as after the caution flag Marlar who seemingly had this race under complete control saw it possibly slipping away as Powers would take over second after Wheeler left the race and he would challenge Marlar until the checkered flag. Marlar kept his groove and despite a broken ball joint on his racer he would smoothly handle his race car and fight off all of Powers' efforts in the waning laps. Powers tried several time to get by Marlar as his best bet was coming off of turn number two and corner four where he would get a real good run on Marlar, but Marlar would do what he had to do and hung on for the win making him the only three time feature winner this year on the competitive STARS Battle of the Bluegrass tour. Marlar now leads the overall championship points chase and leads the R&P Industrial Chimney Rookie of the Year points as well. Powers finished a car length back in second followed by Jewell, Yeager and Chilton as all of those drivers finished on the same straightaway at the end.
Completing the top ten were Rick Corbin (from 18th), Tyrel Todd, Victor Lee, Eddie Carrier Jr and Jesse James Lay.
In preliminary results Timmy Yeager earned the Racing Optics/Bullzilla Graphics Fast Time at 15.411 topping the 36 entrants. Heat race winners were Jim Curry, Mike Marlar, David Powers and Johnny Wheeler. The AFCO B-Mains were taken by Michael Chilton and Tyrel Todd.
Race Summary
STARS Battle of the Bluegrass
Friday Night, July 11, 2003
Richmond Raceway
Richmond, KY
Racing Optics/Bullzilla Graphics Fast Time: Timmy Yeager 15.411
First Heat: Jim Curry, Aaron Hatton, Timmy Yeager, Michael Chilton
Second Heat: Mike Marlar, Mike Jewell, Brad Neat, Dennis Roberson
Third Heat: David Powers, Marty Stepp, Scott James, Scott Hall
Fourth Heat: Johnny Wheeler, Jesse James Lay, Eddie Carrier Jr., Tyrel Todd
AFCO 1st B-Main: Michael Chilton, Victor Lee, Dennis Roberson, Ray Cook
AFCO 2nd B-Main: Tyrel Todd, Scott Hall, Rick Corbin, David Freeman
PBM Performance Products A-Main: Mike Marlar, David Powers, Mike Jewell, Timmy Yeager, Michael Chilton, Rick Corbin, Tyrel Todd, Victor Lee, Eddie Carrier Jr., Jesse James Lay, Bobby Carrier Jr, Dennis Roberson, Jim Curry, Scott Hall, Brad Neat, Johnny Wheeler, Aaron Hatton, Scott Douglas, Steven Ashby, Marty Stepp, Carnell Parker III, Scott James
Race Statistics
Entries: 36
STARS BoB Provisionals: Carnell Parker III and Steven Ashby
Track Provisionals: Bobby Carrier Jr and Scott Douglas
R&P Industrial Chimney Rookie of the Race: Mike Marlar
PPM Racing Products/Outlaw Race Cars Hard Charger: Rick Corbin
Marlar would start from the pole of the 40 lap race with Johnny Wheeler alongside. Marlar would survive a race of attrition by some of his competitors and some problems of his own to capture the win. Marlar grabbed the lead right from the get go at the drop of starter Noel Hargis' green flag. Wheeler would quickly move into second place with veteran, Jim Curry taking third and David Powers in fourth. They would stay in that running order up until the 14th circuit when Powers would go by Curry to take over third place. Up front Marlar was walking away with the race only slowed by a lap two caution for the stalled Scott James and another caution for Marty Stepp on the front stretch. Marlar had built up a considerable lead over Wheeler and the rest of the field and even after each caution he would quickly build upon his lead again. With the halfway signal going up it was still Marlar well in control of the race with Wheeler still running in second with now pressure from Powers and sixth place starting Mike Jewell who had made his way around Curry for fourth. The race for second was a dandy between Wheeler, Powers, Jewell and Jesse James Lay. Lay was up to fifth challenging for more until he ran over a piece of debris on the race track puncturing his tire causing to him to slow and stop for a caution. At this point of the race (Lap 28) while the caution waved for Lay, second place running, Johnny Wheeler came to a halt in turn number three with a broken oil pump belt that forced him to the pits and out of the race after a strong run.
The race really started to get interesting as after the caution flag Marlar who seemingly had this race under complete control saw it possibly slipping away as Powers would take over second after Wheeler left the race and he would challenge Marlar until the checkered flag. Marlar kept his groove and despite a broken ball joint on his racer he would smoothly handle his race car and fight off all of Powers' efforts in the waning laps. Powers tried several time to get by Marlar as his best bet was coming off of turn number two and corner four where he would get a real good run on Marlar, but Marlar would do what he had to do and hung on for the win making him the only three time feature winner this year on the competitive STARS Battle of the Bluegrass tour. Marlar now leads the overall championship points chase and leads the R&P Industrial Chimney Rookie of the Year points as well. Powers finished a car length back in second followed by Jewell, Yeager and Chilton as all of those drivers finished on the same straightaway at the end.
Completing the top ten were Rick Corbin (from 18th), Tyrel Todd, Victor Lee, Eddie Carrier Jr and Jesse James Lay.
In preliminary results Timmy Yeager earned the Racing Optics/Bullzilla Graphics Fast Time at 15.411 topping the 36 entrants. Heat race winners were Jim Curry, Mike Marlar, David Powers and Johnny Wheeler. The AFCO B-Mains were taken by Michael Chilton and Tyrel Todd.
Race Summary
STARS Battle of the Bluegrass
Friday Night, July 11, 2003
Richmond Raceway
Richmond, KY
Racing Optics/Bullzilla Graphics Fast Time: Timmy Yeager 15.411
First Heat: Jim Curry, Aaron Hatton, Timmy Yeager, Michael Chilton
Second Heat: Mike Marlar, Mike Jewell, Brad Neat, Dennis Roberson
Third Heat: David Powers, Marty Stepp, Scott James, Scott Hall
Fourth Heat: Johnny Wheeler, Jesse James Lay, Eddie Carrier Jr., Tyrel Todd
AFCO 1st B-Main: Michael Chilton, Victor Lee, Dennis Roberson, Ray Cook
AFCO 2nd B-Main: Tyrel Todd, Scott Hall, Rick Corbin, David Freeman
PBM Performance Products A-Main: Mike Marlar, David Powers, Mike Jewell, Timmy Yeager, Michael Chilton, Rick Corbin, Tyrel Todd, Victor Lee, Eddie Carrier Jr., Jesse James Lay, Bobby Carrier Jr, Dennis Roberson, Jim Curry, Scott Hall, Brad Neat, Johnny Wheeler, Aaron Hatton, Scott Douglas, Steven Ashby, Marty Stepp, Carnell Parker III, Scott James
Race Statistics
Entries: 36
STARS BoB Provisionals: Carnell Parker III and Steven Ashby
Track Provisionals: Bobby Carrier Jr and Scott Douglas
R&P Industrial Chimney Rookie of the Race: Mike Marlar
PPM Racing Products/Outlaw Race Cars Hard Charger: Rick Corbin
