Ponderosa Speedway
Neat's miscue lifts Marlar to $7,500 at Ponderosa
By Michael Despain
Ponderosa Speedway
Mike Marlar heads for his second Friday Night Rumble victory. (Derrick Strader)
JUNCTION CITY, KY. (Aug. 23) — Ninth-starting Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., inherited the lead when Dustin Neat of Dunnville, Ky., tangled with a lapped car with 12 laps remaining in Friday’s sixth annual Friday Night Rumble presented by Neat’s Service Center at Ponderosa Speedway and led the remainder of the 60-lap unsanctioned special event.
Marlar earned $7,500 in becoming the second two-time winner of the event for the 3/8-mile track’s Good Neighbor Pharmacy Super Late Model division. Brad Neat of Dunnville, Ky., finish second with Dustin Linville of Bryantsville, Ky., third.
Justin Rattliff of Campbellsville, Ky., advanced from 14th to fourth, while Chris Combs of Isom, Ky., used a final-lap pass to take the fifth spot from Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky. Early leader Jacke Boggs of Grayson, Ky., ended up 18th after retiring from the event on lap 28.
Boggs took the lead at the start of the 60-lap main event and built a comfortable lead before slower traffic came into play on lap nine. Marlar advanced to second by that point with, 11th-starting Dustin Neat third.
Marlar took the lead from Boggs to lead lap 12 before a caution waved when Victor Lee slowed on the front straightaway with smoke coming underneath his car. Boggs retook the lead from Marlar on the restart and held the top spot until Dustin Neat charged by on a lap-23 restart.
Marlar chased Neat after overtaking Boggs, who began to fade and slowed for a lap 28 caution before taking his car to the pit area.
Marlar and Brad Neat chased the leader following the restart with the front-runners catching traffic again on lap 42.
Dustin Neat had the misfortune of making contact with the slower car of Derek Fisher with 12 laps remaining exiting turn two, with Fisher spinning and Neat’s night finished with front end damage.
Marlar inherited the race lead and survive one final restart in leading Brad Neat to the finish.
Notes: Marlar drives a Norman Bryson-owned Bloomquist Race Car powered by a Clements Racing Engine with sponsorship from Bryson Motorsports, SEG, Midwest Sheet Metal, Hoosier, VP Race Fuels, Peterson Fluid Systems, Keyser Manufacturing and Ohlins Shocks. ... Marlar previously won the event in 2010. ... Marlar earned his third overall victory of the season; his previous wins came in Lucas Oil Series and Ultimate Series events. ... Ponderosa hosts the 23rd annual Fall Classic on Oct. 12 with $5,000 going to the winner of the Super Late Model feature.
Friday Night Rumble: (1) Mike Marlar, (2) Brad Neat, (3) Dustin Linville, (4) Justin Rattliff, (5) Chris Combs, (6) Steve Francis, (7) Josh McGuire, (8) Jeff Watson, (9) Dennis Erb, Jr., (10) Michael Chilton, (11) Todd Coffman, (12) Tim Tungate, (13) Dustin Neat, (14) Derek Fisher, (15) Greg Johnson, (16) Dennis Roberson, (17) David Webb, (18) Jackie Boggs, (19) John Gill, (20) Tommy Bailey, (21) Gary Christian, (22) Jerry Rutherford, (23) Victor Lee. Fast qualifier (among 33 entries): 12.932 seconds. Heat winners: Boggs, McGuire, Francis, Lee. Consolation winners: Fisher, Chilton.
