ROSSBURG, Ohio — After a 19-year absence, Eldora Speedway’s Historical Big One returned to the limelight on Thursday night with Brent Marks claiming a spectacular victory.
Marks claimed the $100,000 top prize by rocketing from 14th-to-first and deterring the super sliders thrown his way by Indiana’s Tyler Courtney and California’s Rico Abreu to win his fourth World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series feature
Marks was driving into the top-10 by lap eight, scooting in the top five by lap 15, and already seized command of the race lead on lap 25.
“Holy shit,” Marks told the packed crowd at Eldora. “I didn’t think we would have anything at all through the first half, but then the car kept coming to me and changing each lap. I knew I had to take Tyler’s line away on that last restart if I wanted a chance, and I had to take it. I can’t tell you enough how badass this year has been. We were horrible last night, but came out tonight and the support has been unreal.”
Finishing second and third as the most dejected individuals on the night were Courtney and Abreu, who offered an insane fight for the lead near halfway.
Courtney led laps 1-18, Abreu controlled laps 19-21, and Courtney was back at front on laps 22-24. The Murray-Marks No. 19 team took the top spot on lap 25 at the half-mile and never looked back.
Courtney, the reigning Kings Royal champion, brought his No. 7bchome with a second-place finish, missing another six-figure payday by only .865 seconds.
“The only thing that matters is being up on that stage and we aren’t there,” Courtney said. “It was a great night, but it just sucks being that good and not winning. I killed that last restart and now I’m out $100,000. I don’t know what second-place pays, but the thing is we don’t have to wait too long to chase more money at Eldora.”
Abreu finished out on the podium after leading his first laps of the season.
“We’re building some confidence,” Abreu noted. “My changes have been making some big changes every time we hit the track, and they do a phenomenal job.”
Brad Sweet and Logan Schuchart, who started 21st, rounded out the top five.
The finish:
Feature (40 Laps): 1. 19-Brent Marks [14][$100,000]; 2. 7BC-Tyler Courtney [2][$25,000]; 3. 24-Rico Abreu [8][$15,000]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet [6][$12,500]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart [21][$10,000]; 6. 21-Brian Brown [19][$7,500]; 7. 2-David Gravel [5][$6,500]; 8. 41-Carson Macedo [17][$6,000]; 9. 57-Kyle Larson [3][$5,500]; 10. 15-Donny Schatz [9][$5,000]; 11. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [22][$4,750]; 12. 1-Logan Wagner [24][$4,650]; 13. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss [10][$4,625]; 14. 11-Parker Price-Miller [23][$4,600]; 15. 83JR-Kerry Madsen [4][$4,575]; 16. 19W-Chris Windom [11][$4,550]; 17. 1AU-Marcus Dumesny [12][$4,525]; 18. 35-Zach Hampton [16][$4,500]; 19. 1A-Jacob Allen [18][$4,475]; 20. 83-James McFadden [20][$4,450]; 21. 18-Giovanni Scelzi [13][$4,425]; 22. 11K-Kraig Kinser [7][$4,200]; 23. 42-Sye Lynch [1][$4,100]; 24. 10-Dave Blaney [15][$4,000] DNS – 8-Aaron Reutzel[$4,000]. Lap Leaders: Tyler Courtney 1-18, 22-24; Rico Abreu 19-21; Brent Marks 25-40. KSE Hard Charger Award: 1S-Logan Schuchart[+16]