Bluegrass Speedway
Marlar keeps stranglehold at Bluegrass Speedway
By Michael Despain
O'Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar SeriesBARDSTOWN, Ky. (Aug. 2) — Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., captured his third special event of the season at Bluegrass Speedway, earning $5,000 for leading all 50 laps of the sixth annual My Old Kentucky Home Shootout. Marlar started on the pole and dominated the event co-sanctioned by the O'Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series and Independent Racing Series.
Don O'Neal of Martinsville, Ind., was second with Brad Neat of Dunnville, Ky., third. IRS points leader Robbie Blair of Titusville, Pa., was fourth and Kevin Claycomb of Vincennes, Ind., who started 17th, rallied to finish fifth in a 47-minute race slowed by six cautions. O'Reilly BoB points leader Victor Lee of Stanford, Ky., was sixth. Michael England of Glasgow, Ky., lost a top-five spot after an early tangle with Lee but rallied to finish seventh.
Notes: Marlar drove the Estes Race Engines entry, a Rayburn Race Car sponsored by Stephens Motorsports, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply and Glenn Hensley Trucking. ... Marlar's previous BoB victories in 2008 came on April 26 and July 12. ... Marlar has a series-leading 13 career victories. ... The next IRS race is Aug. 15 at Hilltop Speedway in Millersburg, Ohio. ... Battle of the Bluegrass competitors return to action Aug. 16 at Brownstown (Ind.) Speedway.
IRS-BoB @ Bluegrass: (1) Mike Marlar, (2) Don O’Neal, (3) Brad Neat, (4) Robbie Blair, (5) Kevin Claycomb, (6) Victor Lee, (7) Michael England, (8) Aaron Hatton, (9) Dustin Neat, (10) Tyrel Todd, (11) Jordan Bland, (12) Terry English, (13) Jason Keltner, (14) Tim Tungate, (15) Johnny Wheeler, (16) Eric Wells, (17) Zach Carney, (18) Ed Behn, (19) Duane Chamberlain, (20) Rick Aukland, (21) Mike Jewell, (22) Dustin Linville, (23) Larry Gray, (24) David Webb, (25) Bryant Woodcock. Fast qualifier (among 31 cars): Linville, 16.373 seconds. Heat race winners: Keltner, Tungate, B. Neat, Blair. Consolation winners: Claycomb, Bland. Dash winner: Marlar. Provisional starters: Chamberlain, Carney, Woodcock.
