Winfield, TN hotshoe Mike Marlar became the fifth different winner in as many races for the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series after Saturday night’s win in the 10th Annual Spring Sizzler at Bluegrass Speedway. Marlar now finds himself atop a very tight battle in the 2007 Championship points chase.
Mike Marlar and Cody Mahoney brought the field down to the green with Marlar immediately jumping ahead of the pack. Before a complete lap was in the books, a caution would wave when defending Series Champion Mike Jewell got up on the backstretch wall. On the restart, Marlar again shot out front with Aaron Hatton, Michael Chilton, Victor Lee, and Mahoney in tow. Lee got by Chilton on lap 5 as 8th-starting Dustin Neat wasted no time cracking the top five as he worked past Mahoney. Lee continued his assault passing Hatton just a few circuits later and setting his sights on race leader Mike Marlar.
A caution for Jordan Bland’s flat right rear tire brought out the caution on lap 10 and kept the field tight with Marlar leading Lee, Hatton, Chilton, and Neat. When racing resumed, Neat bolted past both Chilton and Hatton as the front three cars separated themselves from the rest of the field. Behind the lead trio, a highly entertaining battle for sixth found Jason Keltner, David Webb, and Jerry Rice racing three-wide for that position. A lap 15 caution spoiled that battle when Bryan Barber rode the wall in turn two.
On the restart, Dustin Neat used the Delaware double-file restart to his advantage, powering ahead of Lee to take 2nd and challenge Marlar for the top spot. Meanwhile, 16th-starting Tyrel Todd was quietly picking his way through the field on the bottom of the race track. Todd grabbed 6th on lap 17 as Doug Smith slowed on the track one lap later to bring out the final caution of the race.
When racing resumed, Victor Lee would benefit from the Delaware double-file restart, charging back by Neat to reclaim the bridesmaid position. Seemingly out of nowhere, Jerry Rice suddenly looked like he was shot from a cannon. Rice, utilizing the very top side of the speedway, went from 8th to 6th on lap 19 and cracked the top 5 just one lap later. Rice wasn’t finished as he grabbed 4th on lap 22 and looked to chase down the lead trio of Marlar, Lee, and Neat.
As time was running out for Rice, Lee found his groove and made the final five laps worth the price of admission. Lee got a phenomenal run on Marlar going into the corners to close the gap between himself and the race-long leader. With just 3 laps to go, Lee looked under Marlar in a bid for the lead, but Marlar powered ahead of the Stanford, KY native off the corners. Over the final three circuits, Lee continued to challenge Marlar for the lead, but simply could not muster up enough momentum off the corners to take sole possession of the top spot. And, when the checkered flag waved, Mike Marlar became the fifth different winner in five races in 2007 for the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series. After the win, Marlar took the checkered flag around the Bluegrass Speedway for a victory lap in remembrance of his late car owner Owen “Junior” Stephens.
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