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Challenger Raceway

Mars lands at Challenger, earns $22,000 UFO win

October 11, 2008, 7:41 pm
By Dustin Jarrett
DirtonDirt.com correspondent
Mars (28) stalks polesitter Jackie Boggs (4B). (Todd Battin)
Mars (28) stalks polesitter Jackie Boggs (4B). (Todd Battin)

KENT, Pa. (Oct.11) — It only makes sense that Jimmy Mars would be right at home in a series tagged with a UFO label. The Menomonie, Wis., driver, who started 12th in the $22,000-to-win Ultimate at Challenger Raceway, took the lead from polesitter Jackie Boggs of Grayson, Ky., on lap 37 and never looked back en route to a rich victory on the Unified Force Championship Series. | Saturday slideshow | Saturday's preview | Friday slideshow | Friday pre-race notes | Heat race recaps

Mars threaded his way through lapped traffic for 83 caution-free laps before a yellow with seven laps remaining erased his half-track lead in the 91-lapper and put Jeep Van Wormer of Pinconning, Mich. alongside for the double-file restart. Another caution with just four laps to go gave Van Wormer another chance to overtake Marks, but his No. 55 slipped high on the restart, allowing Davey Johnson of Latrobe, Pa., to grab the runner-up spot.

Johnson, however, couldn't gain enough momentum to catch the smooth-sailing Mars as the Wisconsin driver claimed victory in his Mars Car sponsored by Deppe Enterprises. Johnson finished second in the Bill Stile-owned No. 1J with 15th-starting Van Wormer third, 20th-starting Robbie Blair of Titusville, Pa., fourth, and Boggs fifth.

Boggs and fellow front-row starter Tim Dohm of Cross Lanes, W.Va., led the field to the green with Boggs taking early command of the field with Jared Miley of South Park, Pa., soon settling into second. Mars flexed his muscles early as he cracked the top five by the 11th lap. Shortly thereafter, the leading Boggs closed in on the back of the field with Miley and Mars in tow. While business at the front of the field was beginning to pick up, 19th-starting Steve Francis was rim-riding as he headed for the front and Blair was quietly working his way through the field.

Mars took second from Miley on lap 34 and was soon hounding Boggs for the point. After a brief side-by-side battle for the lead, Mars took command of the field on lap 37 and wasted no time pulling away from the competition.

Johnson showed his strength just after the halfway point as he grabbed third spot from Miley, then challenged Boggs for second as the duo raced through heavy lapped traffic. He finally took the spot from Boggs on lap 70, but Mars was a full straightaway ahead and stretching his lead.

Boggs fell to fourth on lap 77 as Van Wormer found the middle groove to his liking and moved into third. The Michigan driver continued his assault by overpowering Johnson for second on lap 81.

The race's first caution for UFO champion Alex Ferree of Saxonburg, Pa., on lap 83 bunched the field — Mars was a half-track ahead of Van Wormer — and lapped cars were sent to the back of the pack for a double-file restart with Mars on the inside and Van Wormer on the outside. Although Mars stormed ahead on the restart, another yellow four laps later forced another restart.

With a key chance to unseat Mars, Van Wormer drove too hard into turns one and two and Johnson was able to slip past. But Mars had too much for either pursuer as he finished off his victory in his first-ever weekend at the Pennsylvania oval.

The Ultimate: (1) Jimmy Mars, (2) Davey Johnson, (3) Jeep Van Wormer, (4) Rob Blair, (5) Jackie Boggs, (6) Steve Francis, (7) Sam Stile, (8) Jared Miley, (9) Josh Richards, (10) Dave Hess Jr., (11) Alex Ferree, (12) Jim Yoder, (13) Matt Lux, (14) Billy Drake, (15) Steve Baker, (16) Keith Barbara, (17) Tim Dohm, (18) Gregg Satterlee, (19) Todd Andrews, (20) Chris Hackett, (21) Russell King, (22) Rodney Sweitzer, (23) D.J. Miller, (24) Darrell Bossard, (25) Bob Close, (26) Jared Hawkins

Saturday's consolation race recaps:

First consolation

Billy Drake and Russell King put on a lead swapping clinic for the fans as the duo traded the top spot an astounding five times over the course of the first nine laps. Once Drake finally settled into the lead, he rode the high side to victory with King holding on to the bridesmaid honors. Jeremy Miller, Brian Ruhlman and Mike Blose completed the top five.

Finish: Billy Drake, Russell King, Jeremy Miller, Brian Ruhlman, Mike Blose, Dan Stone, Pat Doar, Chad Valone, Dave Blazavich, Denton Boyer, Tom Decker, Corey Conley, Shawn Jones, Shawn Claar, Mike Knight. Scratched: Jim Kurpakas.

Second consolation

Bob Close and Jason Covert led the pack to the green with Close getting the early edge. A caution with four laps to go tightened the field back up and, with the double-file restarts intact, Matt Lux bolted into the lead and took home the win with Close taking second followed by Rich Gardner, Jason Covert and Dick Barton.

Finish: Matt Lux, Bob Close, Rich Gardner, Jason Covert, Dick Barton, Steve Casebolt, Rodney Sweitzer, Shawn McGarvey, George Lee, Mike Johnson, Jon Hodgkiss, Clate Copeman, Kirk Bradley, Dave Satterlee. Scratched: Tom Bateman.

Third consolation

In a caution-free prelim, Steve Francis put an old-fashioned beating on the field, winning by half-track margin over Darrell Bossard. Behind the lead duo, Greg Oakes, Boom Briggs and David Scott battled feverishly for the third position with Oakes grabbing that spot ahead of Briggs and Scott.

Finish: Steve Francis, Darrell Bossard, Greg Oakes, Boom Briggs, David Scott, Darrin “DJ” Miller, Steve Everhart, Chad McClelland, Jake Shady, Dan Maxim, Matt Dobnak, Jack Thornton. Scratched: Rod Jones, Doug Eck.

Fourth consolation

At the drop of the green, a four-car pileup in turns one and two collected 14th-starting Chub Frank. However, the Bear Lake, Pa. veteran was able to continue. Frank quietly worked his way through the field, trying to chase down leaders Robbie Blair and Gregg Satterlee. Frank closed in to Satterlee on the final circuit, but was unable to make the pass as Blair and Satterlee transferred into the feature with Frank, Rick Eckert, and Jeff Rine on the outside looking in.

Finish: Robbie Blair, Gregg Satterlee, Chub Frank, Rick Eckert, Jeff Rine, Jason DuPont, Gary Lyle, George LaBarbera, Mickey Wright, Bobby Stokes, Austin Hubbard, Mel Minnick Jr., Jim Lepro. Scratched: Greg Fetters.

The Ultimate lineup

Row 1: Jackie Boggs, Tim Dohm
Row 2: Jared Miley, Keith Barbara
Row 3: Sam Stile, Davey Johnson
Row 4: Chris Hackett, Alex Ferree
Row 5: Todd Andrews, Jim Yoder
Row 6: Dave Hess Jr., Jimmy Mars
Row 7: Jared Hawkins, Josh Richards
Row 8: Jeep Van Wormer, Steve Baker
Row 9: Billy Drake, Matt Lux
Row 10: Steve Francis, Robbie Blair
Row 11: Russell King, Bob Close
Row 12: Darrell Bossard, Gregg Satterlee
Row 13: D.J. Miller, Rodney Sweitzer
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