PORTSMOUTH, Ohio — Mike Marlar ran away with the Independence 50 on Thursday night at Portsmouth Raceway Park, earning his third Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of the season.
Marlar sprinted to a comfortable lead and held the point for the entire race. Marlar had to withstand a five-lap shootout to the finish with second-place running Josh Richards and Jimmy Owens after a lap-45 caution.
Richards moved into the second spot on lap four and tried to stay within striking distance of Marlar, but at stages during the race Marlar held a more than a straightaway advantage over Richards.
Owens, who started sixth moved into third past Hudson O’Neal on lap 33 as he tried to track down Richards inside the last ten laps of the race before settling for the third spot. O’Neal and Jonathan Davenport completed the top five.
“I want to thank Jimmy for running me clean in that heat race,” Marlar said. “We went back-and-forth for most of the race. It was probably one of the best heat races you will ever see. Jimmy could be standing here right now if he would’ve won that race. He had a really good race car tonight as well.”
Owens finished second.
“We have been coming here a long time and I would say it’s the best I have seen this place,” he said. “I had a good race with Hudson and then I thought I could catch Josh then that caution with five to go came out. I am not sure if it helped me or not. But we hung in there and got another good finish.”
The finish:
Mike Marlar, Josh Richards, Jimmy Owens, Hudson O’Neal, Jonathan Davenport, Zack Dohm, Tyler Erb, Tim McCreadie, Shanon Buckingham, Michael Norris, Doug Drown, Jacob Hawkins, Rod Conley, Billy Moyer Jr., Devin Moran, Earl Pearson Jr., Kyle Bronson, Shannon Thornsberry, Stormy Scott, Chris Ferguson, Steve Casebolt, R.J. Conley, Gregg Satterlee, Jason Jameson, Jackie Boggs.