Bluegrass Speedway
Marlar outruns O'Neal, wins $5,000 at Bardstown
By Michael Despain
O'Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Mike Marlar earned $5,000. (dt52photos.com)
BARDSTOWN, Ky. (July 12) — Overtaking race-long leader Don O'Neal on the 26th lap, Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., led the rest of the way in the 40-lap Kentuckiana Klash at Bluegrass Speedway for his series-leading 12th career victory on the O'Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series. The seventh-starting Marlar and O'Neal, of Martinsville, Ind., traded slide-job passes before Marlar took command for good and pulled away to win by a full straightaway and collect $5,000. | Slideshow
O'Neal settled for second followed by fast qualifier Kevin Claycomb of Vincennes, Ind. Brad Neat of Dunnville, Ky., was fourth and series points leader Victor Lee of Stanford, Ky., was fifth in a race slowed by four caution periods, the most serious for Dustin Neat's broken tie rod that sent him into the turn-three wall at the end of the backstretch. Jason Keltner ran among the leaders early in the race but wrecked with Tim Tungate while battle for seventh and retired.
Notes: Marlar's Tracy Seymour-owned Rocket Chassis has a Vic Hill Race Engine and sponsorship from T&R Logging, Miller’s Used Cars, Southern Ohio Wood, Larry Strickland Logging and Wayne Bowen Racing Supply. ... Victor Lee's 13th-to-fifth run was good for the PPM Racing Products Hard Charger honors. ... The next scheduled event for the Battle of the Bluegrass is the 21st annual Butterball Wooldridge Memorial on July 19 at Richmond (Ky.) Raceway. The race pays $5,000 to the winner.
O'Reilly BoB @ Bluegrass: (1) Mike Marlar, (2) Don O’Neal, (3) Kevin Claycomb, (4) Brad Neat, (5) Victor Lee, (6) Michael England, (7) Tyrel Todd, (8) Joey Kramer, (9) David Webb, (10) Dustin Linville, (11) Mike Jewell, (12) Jordan Bland, (13) Chris Combs, (14) Aaron Hatton, (15) Larry Gray, (16) Eric Wells, (17) Bryant Woodcock, (18) Jeff Watson, (19) Zach Carney, (20) Jason Keltner, (21) Tim Tungate, (22) Scotty Earl, (23) Dustin Neat. Fast qualifier (among 38 cars): Claycomb, 15.724 seconds. Heat race winners: Claycomb, Keltner, O'Neal, D. Neat. Consolation winners: Watson, Combs. Provisional starters: Carney, Gray, Woodcock.
