Dirt on Dirt - Wisconsin-loving Marlar wins Cedar Lake opener

August 4

Cedar Lake Speedway,

New Richmond, WI

Sanction: World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series (USA Nationals prelim) - $6,000

Information provided by: Kevin Kovac and staff reports (last updated August 6, 6:18 am)

Wisconsin-loving Marlar wins Cedar Lake opener

USA Nationals prelim

Mike Marlar
Brent Larson
Tanner English
Brandon Sheppard
Dennis Erb Jr.
Tyler Erb
Chase Junghans
Shannon Babb
Cade Dillard
Gordy Gundaker
Brian Shirley
Max Blair
Bobby Pierce
Shane Clanton
Boom Briggs
Ryan Gustin
Tyler Bruening
Ricky Weiss
Chris Madden
Kyle Strickler
Brandon Overton
Garrett Smith
Jimmy Mars
Jonathan Davenport

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Mike Marlar takes the checkers for his $6,000 WoO victory.

What won the race: Taking command on the 11th lap when pole-starting Jonathan Davenport lost ignition, fellow front-row starter Mike Marlar led the rest of Thursday's $6,000 World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series 30-lapper to open Cedar Lake Speedway's USA Nationals weekend. Five-time track champ and WoO regular Brent Larson finished 2.284 seconds behind at the checkers while 14th-starting Tanner English finished third.

Quotable: "The car was pretty good right there," Marlar said. "Brent, how about Brent? He was so good here. We're on his home turf and he's (running strong). The car was great right there. It was good in the heat and it was good right there. Jonathan there, I don't know what happened. I know I started catching him a little bit and I was hoping I was faster, but he might have just been breaking, who knows."

Key notes: Marlar emerged from a three-wide battle with Brent Larson and Gordy Gundaker on the lap-11 restart and wasn't seriously challenged the rest of the way. ... Marlar's 11th career WoO victory (all three in 2022 have come in Wisconsin) continued his personal streak of top-five finishes going back to mid-June. ... Gundaker contended up front but faded on the final restart after clipping an infield tire and damaging his car's left-front spindle. ... Four cautions slowed the action, including for a six-car pileup exiting turn two that included Shane Clanton, Chris Madden, Ryan Gustin, Ricky Weiss, Boom Briggs and Tyler Bruening. ... The other three yellow flags: Kyle Strickler's smoking car slowed on lap 22; Garrett Smith spun on lap 16; and Jonathan Davenport slowed leading on lap 11). ... The weekend continues Friday and Saturday paying $50,000-to-win. The two-day format features double heat races and an eight-car dash Friday that will be used to set the top 16 drivers for Saturday’s 100-lap finale. ... WoO The series on Thursday announced that former WoO champ Steve Francis has been hired as the director of competition. ... Two-time USA Nationals winner Josh Richards isn't competing at Cedar Lake after contracting Covid-19. ... Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., a 20-race USA Nationals starter and 2008 runner-up, debuted a new Longhorn Chassis.

On the move: Tanner English of Benton, Ky., started 14th and finished third.

Winner's sponsors: Marlar’s Longhorn Chassis is sponsored by Delk Equipment Sales, Rockets Convenience Plus, Tri-Rivers Enterprise (Mark and Kim Dotson), Auto Parts 4 Less, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Capital Capsigns, VP Racing Fuels, Stanley Best Heating & Aiar, Midwest Sheet Metal and Bilstein.

Points chase: After Cedar Lake Thursday: 1. Dennis Erb Jr. (3,850); 2. Tanner English (3,686); 3. Max Blair (3,666); 4. Ryan Gustin (3,488); 5. Brent Larson (3,438); 6. Josh Richards (3,380); 7. Gordy Gundaker (3,378); 8. Boom Briggs (3,232); 9. Kyle Hammer (2,472); 10. Shane Clanton (2,448).

Current weather: Clear, 77°F

Car count: 46

Fast qualifier: Jonathan Davenport

Time: 13.377 seconds

Polesitter: Jonathan Davenport

Heat race winners: Jonathan Davenport, Mike Marlar, Brent Larson, Chase Junghans

Consolation race winners: Ryan Gustin, Chris Madden

Provisional starters: Max Blair, Boom Briggs

Next series race: August 5, Cedar Lake Speedway (New Richmond, WI) $50,000

Editor's note: Clarifies what caused Gundaker’s damage.

From staff and series reports

NEW RICHMOND, Wis. — Updates from the weekend’s opening World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series event at the 35th USA Nationals, highlighted by a $6,000-to-win program for the national tour (results unofficial):

Feature

Taking command on the 11th lap when pole-starting Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., lost power due to a faulty ignition, fellow front-row starter Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., led the rest of Thursday's $6,000 World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series 30-lapper to open Cedar Lake Speedway's USA Nationals weekend. Five-time track champ and WoO regular Brent Larson of Lake Elmo, Wis., delighted home-standing fans as he finished 2.284 seconds behind at the checkers, while 14th-starting Tanner English of Benton, Ky., finished third.

Feature lineup

(30 laps)

Row 1: Jonathan Davenport, Mike Marlar
Row 2: Brent Larson, Chase Junghans
Row 3: Gordy Gundaker, Shane Clanton
Row 4: Tyler Erb, Brandon Overton
Row 5: Dennis Erb Jr., Kyle Strickler
Row 6: Brandon Sheppard, Bobby Pierce
Row 7: Garrett Smith, Tanner English
Row 8: Shannon Babb, Tyler Bruening
Row 9: Ryan Gustin, Chris Madden
Row 10: Brian Shirley, Cade Dillard
Row 11: Ricky Weiss, Jimmy Mars
Row 12: Max Blair, Boom Briggs

Consolation results

(10 laps; top three transfer)

First consolation finish: Ryan Gustin, Brian Shirley, Ricky Weiss, Frank Heckenast Jr., Joseph Joiner, Jason Feger, Chad Mahder, Jeff Massingill, Trevor Gundaker, Jesse Glenz, Andy Boozel. Scratched: Paul Parker, Drake Troutman, Kye Blight, Thomas Hunziker.

Second consolation finish: Chris Madden, Cade Dillard, Jimmy Mars, Kyle Bronson, McKay Wenger, Jake Timm, Boom Briggs, James Giossi, Lance Matthees, Shawn Kirwin, Tim Isenberg, Matt Furman, Max Blair, Cale Emerson. Disqualifed: Ashton Winger (deck-height violation after finishing second).

Heat results

(Eight laps; top four transfer)

First heat: Jonathan Davenport, Shane Clanton, Dennis Erb Jr., Garrett Smith, Ricky Weiss, Jeff Massingill, Joseph Joiner, Frank Heckenast Jr., Jason Feger, Andy Boozel, Paul Parker, Kye Blight.

Second heat: Mike Marlar, Brandon Overton, Brandon Sheppard, Shannon Babb, Brian Shirley, Ryan Gustin, Trevor Gundaker, Jesse Glenz, Chad Mahder, Thomas Hunziker, Drake Troutman.

Third heat: Brent Larson, Tyler Erb, Kyle Strickler, Tanner English, Chris Madden, Cade Dillard, Jimmy Mars, Kyle Bronson, Tim Isenberg, Matt Furman, James Giossi, Shawn Kirwin.

Fourth heat: Chase Junghans, Gordy Gundaker, Bobby Pierce, Tyler Bruening, Ashton Winger, McKay Wenger, Boom Briggs, Max Blair, Lance Matthees, Casey Emerson. Disqualified: Jake Timm (deck-height violation after finishing fourth)

Time trials

First group
1. Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 13.377
2. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 13.436
3. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 13.512
4. Brandon Sheppard (1), New Berlin, Ill., 13.589
5. Kye Blight (31AUS), Katanning, W. Australia, 13.620
6. Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 13.623
7. Ricky Weiss (7W), Headingley, Manitoba, 13.638
8. Ryan Gustin (19R), Marshalltown, Iowa, 13.641
9. Shane Clanton (25), Zebulon, Ga., 13.704
10. Shannon Babb (18), Moweaqua, Ill., 13.741
11. Jeff Massingill (6M), Keewatin, Minn., 13.769
12. Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 13.771
13. Frank Heckenast Jr. (99Jr), Frankfort, Ill., 13.782
14. Trevor Gundaker (11T), St. Charles, Mo., 13.837
15. Jason Feger (25), Bloomington, Ill., 13.846
16. Jesse Glenz (7x), Chippewa Falls, Wis., 13.982
17. Garrett Smith (10), Eatonton, Ga., 14.023
18. Chad Mahder (55C), Eau Claire, Wis., 14.204
19. Andy Boozel (99B), Clymer, N.Y., 14.332
20. Thomas Hunziker (38), Bend, Ore., 14.515
21. Paul Parker (10), Kaukauna, Wis., 14.674
22. Drake Troutman (7D), Hyndman, Pa., no time
23. Joseph Joiner (10J), Milton, Fla., 13.541 (DQ; didn't report to scales)
Second group
1. Brent Larson (B1), Lake Elmo, Minn., 13.676
2. Chase Junghans (18), Manhattan, Kan., 13.736
3. Kyle Strickler (8), Mooresville, N.C., 13.773
4. Gordy Gundaker (11), St. Charles, Mo., 13.802
5. Tyler Erb (1), New Waverly, Texas, 13.816
6. Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 13.818
7. Cade Dillard (97), Robeline, La., 13.820
8. Ashton Winger (58), Hampton, Ga., 13.845
9. Tanner English (81E), Benton, Ky., 13.859
10. Jake Timm (49), Winona, Minn., 13.891
11. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 13.921
12. Max Blair (111v), Centerville, Pa., 13.956
13. Chris Madden (44), Gray Court, S.C., 13.957
14. Tyler Bruening (16), Decorah, Iowa, 13.994
15. James Giossi (11G), Hudson, Wis., 14.045
16. Boom Briggs (1), Bear Lake, Pa., 14.087
17. Matt Furman (51), Iowa City, Iowa, 14.089
18. McKay Wenger (42), Fairbury, Ill., 14.165
19. Jimmy Mars (28), Menomonie, Wis., 14.310
20. Lance Matthees (90), Winona, Minn., 14.405
21. Tim Isenberg (9T), Marshfield, Wis., 14.408
22. Shawn Kirwin (10K), Morris, Minn., 14.470
23. Casey Emerson (8E), Grand Rapids, Minn., 15.223

Thursday’s schedule

(All times local)

2 p.m. - Pit gates open
5 p.m. - Grandstand gates open
6 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6:30 p.m. - Hot laps
7 p.m. - Competition begins
Late Model time trials
Opening ceremonies
Limited Late Model heats (10 laps)
Late Model heats (10 laps)
Late Model consolations (10 laps)
Limited Late Model feature (20 laps)
Late Model feature (30 laps)
(After party in the Cedar Lake Arena)