CONCORD, N.C. — Mike Marlar took advantage of a late-race restart to win Wednesday night’s World of Outlaws Case Construction Late Model Series feature on the opening night of the World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.
Marlar started ninth on the four-tenths-mile dirt track and methodically worked his way toward the front of the field in the 40-lap event. He passed Trent Ivey for second on lap 36 and began chasing leader Shane Clanton.
Clanton started outside the front row and shut the door on polesitter Brandon Overton entering the third turn on the opening lap.
Marlar was closing on Clanton for the lead when Tyler Erb spun on lap 37, setting up a four-lap dash to the checkered flag.
Marlar charged under Clanton on the restart, but could not make the pass. However, the 2019 World of Outlaws champion wasn’t finished.
Pulling his familiar No. 157 under Clanton with two laps to go, the pair raced side by side until Marlar completed the pass as the pair raced to the white flag.
Marlar officially led the final two laps to win his second consecutive World of Outlaws feature and earn the $15,000 top prize.
“I didn’t want to see the caution come out when it did,” said the 44-year-old driver after his seventh WoO triumph of the campaign. “I raced Clanton really hard down here into the first turn on the restart. Man, that was a good car tonight. Rarely do you see a car go from ninth to first in a 40-lap race. Man, that car was fast.”
Clanton finished second in his best effort at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.
“I heard him down there,” Clanton said. “Overall, a good night. It was my best night here at Charlotte. We need to tweak on it here and there and make it a little bit better. My car was really fast at the beginning of the race and I hurt the left-rear tire there later in the race.”
Twenty-seven-year-old Ivey finished third.
“I’ve run a million laps here in iRacing,” said Ivey, who won a feature at The Dirt Track during last week’s Short Track World Championship. “I love this place. I love the way they pack this place and I’m actually camping right outside. I’m happy to be here.”
Overton came home fourth with two-time Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series champion Tim McCreadie, the 2006 World of Outlaws champion, fifth.
The late models will be back in action Thursday night during the World Finals, sharing the bill with the Super DIRTcar Series big-block modifieds.
The finish:
Mike Marlar, Shane Clanton, Trent Ivey, Brandon Overton, Tim McCreadie, Dennis Erb Jr., Jimmy Owens, Daulton Wilson, Max Blair, Tanner English, Ricky Weiss, Dale McDowell, Hudson O’Neal, Josh Richards, Gordy Gundaker, Michael Brown, Ryan Gustin, Kyle Strickler, Brent Larson, Dustin Mitchell, Chris Madden, Cla Knight, Tyler Erb, Ross Robinson, Boom Briggs, Carson Ferguson, Dale Hollidge.