By Bob Wilson

KNOXVILLE, IA (September 28) – Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tennessee,  picked a good night to capture his first feature win at Knoxville Raceway Friday night.  It was the second night of qualifications for Saturday’s Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals.  The win paid Marlar $7,000 for the 25-lap main event run on this historic fairgrounds oval.

The start of the feature event saw Marlar race to the lead on lap one as he forged through the two cars which started ahead of him on lap one.  Right away Steve Francis, who started right behind Marlar fell in behind him.  It would be Francis who would chase the leader for the distance in what would be record time for a 25-lap distance.  Brady Smith raced into third and Jimmy Owens trailed in forth.

Just after the five-mile mark Marlar entered into lap traffic but Francis was not able to use any of it for the remainder of the race to make a challenge for the lead.  Marlar was masterful charging through the back markers and seemed not to lose any momentum on this historical half-mile oval.  Just as Francis would get by a lap car Marlar would put yet another car between himself and the runner-up driver.

With twenty laps in the books Marlar could enjoy nearly a twenty car-length advantage over the game Francis.  Smith continued his pace and kept the show position.  With Owens in fourth, these front running cars had pulled away from the pack.

In the final three laps Smith made several valiant charges to take the second place spot from Francis but each time the second running car was able to pull away running down the chutes.  It was a great, late show in the waning laps but Marlar came across the stripe by some forty yards ahead of that twosome.  Francis was paid $4,000 for his efforts and Smith received $3,000 for the third place finish.  Owens held for fourth and Jonathan Davenport rounded out the top five.

Five qualifying heats saw Donnie Moran, Earl Pearson Jr., Will Vought, Terry Phillips and Shannon Babb as the winners.  Tyler Bruening won the D Main, Bill Moyer was the victor in the C Main and Denny Eckrich led Brian Birkhofer, Frank Heckenast and John Anderson to win the B Main as those four drivers qualified for the finale.

Seventy-nine cars took qualifying time trials.

KNOXVILLE RACEWAY, Knoxville, IA

September 28, 2012

Late Models RESULTS

Time Trial , 1 laps,  1. 3s, Brian Shirley, Chatham, IL (6), 17.48;  2. 21JR, Billy Moyer Jr., Batesville, AR (10), 17.746;  4. 50, Denny Eckrich, Oxford, IA (4), 17.784;  5. 93M, Ray Moore, Houghton, LA (18), 17.895;  6. 21, Billy Moyer, Batesville, AR (14), 17.899;  7. 58E, Dave Eckrich, Oxford, IA (20), 17.899;  9. 15, Steve Francis, Ashland, KY (23), 17.975;  10. 7R, Kent Robinson, Bloomington, IN (7), 17.997;  11. 71, Don ONeal, Martinsville, IN (22), 18.141;  12. 5B, Mike Marlar, Winfield, TN (41), 18.158;  13. 2, John Anderson, Omaha, NE (25), 18.199;  13. 2, John Anderson, Omaha, NE (11), 18.199;  14. 23, John Blankenship, Morristown, TN (32), 18.221;  15. 24, Ryan Unzicker, El Paso, IL (5), 18.242;  16. 14m, Morgan Bagley, Kilgore, TX (17), 18.283;  17. 15R, Mark Burgtorf, Quincy, IL (2), 18.29;  18. 28M, Jimmy Mars, Menomonie, WI (69), 18.319;  19. 28, Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, IL (26), 18.32;  20. 11T, Tyler Reddick, Corning, CA (44), 18.333;  21. 25s, Chad Simpson, Mount Vernon, IA (43), 18.356;  22. 99JR, Frank Heckenast Jr., Frankfurt, IL (31), 18.361;  23. 15B, Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine, IA (39), 18.363;  24. 90, Lance Matthees, Winona, MN (3), 18.364;  25. 98, Jason Rauen, Farley, IA (9), 18.383;  26. 16, Tyler Bruening, Decorah, IA (15), 18.419;  27. 15D, Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, GA (12), 18.448;  28. 1m, Rob Moss, Iowa City, IA (21), 18.526;  29. 0, Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, TN (55), 18.543;  30. 25, Jason Feger, Bloomington, IL (49), 18.557;  31. 18E, Eric Wells, Hazard, KY (64), 18.567;  32. 56, Chris Spieker, Massena, IA (24), 18.581;  33. 1V, Will Vaught, Crane, MO (53), 18.582;  34. 75, Terry Phillips, Springfield, MO (1), 18.661;  35. 18, Shannon Babb, Moweaqua, IL (78), 18.677;  36. 99, Donnie Moran, Dresden, OH (58), 18.681;  37. 36, Jeff Larson, Freeport, IL (35), 18.683;  38. 32, Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, IL (30), 18.684;  39. 57J, Bub McCool, Vicksburg, MS (36), 18.69;  42. 44, Earl Pearson Jr., Trinity, NC (34), 18.777;  43. 5m, Mike Fryer, Freeport, IL (40), 18.857;  44. 39, Tim McCreadie, Watertown, NY (52), 18.858;  45. 31, Jason Utter, Columbus Junction, IA (74), 18.877;  46. 89, Mike Spatola III, Manhattan, IL (37), 18.951;  47. 6, Jesse Stovall, Republic, MO (13), 18.968;  48. 13, JR Hotovy, Hartford, MI (67), 18.997;  49. 78, Rick Wendling, Hazelton, IA (27), 19.004;  50. 5D, John Duty, Happy Valley, OR (48), 19.043;  51. 21B, Rich Bell, Sheffield, IL (75), 19.108;  52. 48, Tim Lance, Brimfield, IL (62), 19.123;  54. 1QT, Brian Diede, Huron, SD (19), 19.16;  55. 20, Jake Meier, Tipton, IA (46), 19.222;  55. 20, Jake Meier, Tipton, IA (8), 19.222;  56. 33, Paul Glendenning, Mt. Ayr, IA (38), 19.227;  57. 42, Terry Casey, New London, WI (66), 19.24;  58. 55, Duane Treadwell, La Grange, GA (47), 19.248;  59. 87, Walker Arthur, Forest, VA (45), 19.307;  60. 72, John Mason, Millersburg, OH (57), 19.334;  61. 56E, Andy Eckrich, Iowa City, IA (63), 19.365;  62. 22M, Charlie McKenna, Clear Lake, IA (72), 19.395;  63. 3, Kevin Sather, Ankeny, IA (76), 19.412;  64. 3x, Skip Frey, Ely, IA (29), 19.418;  65. 58, Ray Guss Jr., East Moline, IL (54), 19.422;  66. 93, Jay Johnson, West Burlington, IA (79), 19.43;  67. 9T, Tim Isenberg, Marshfield, WI (50), 19.432;  68. 25L, Steve Lance Jr., Cuba, IL (28), 19.446;  69. 51, Matt Furman, Columbus, OH (59), 19.559;  70. 14w, Dustin Walker, Peculiar, MO (42), 19.636;  71. 56w, Mike Wallace, Carter Lake, IA (61), 19.654;  72. 19L, Scott Lewis, Brighton, CO (70), 19.707;  73. 15c, Curt Schroeder, Ames, IA (33), 19.958;  74. 44zo, Alonzo Grosse, Council Bluffs, IA (56), 20.129;  76. 18J, Chase Junghans, Manhattan, KS (60), 20.575;  77. 10, Junior Coover, Norfolk, NE (68), 31.358;  78. 99D, Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown, IA (16), No Time;

Heat 1, 12 laps, 3:53.70:  1. Donnie Moran (3);  2. Morgan Bagley (7);  3. Klint Byars (2);  4. Brian Shirley (10);  6. Eric Wells (4);  7. Andy Eckrich (13);  8. Mike Spatola III (1);  9. Don ONeal (8);  10. Rich Bell (11);  11. Dave Eckrich (9);  14. Chase Junghans (16);  15. Mike Wallace (15);

Heat 2, 12 laps, No Time:  1. Earl Pearson Jr. (2);  2. Mike Marlar (8);  3. Mark Burgtorf (7);  4. Jonathan Davenport (5);  6. Frank Heckenast Jr. (6);  7. Jesse Stovall (1);  8. Tim Lance (11);  9. Billy Moyer (9);  10. Rob Moss (4);  11. Billy Moyer Jr. (10);  12. Tim Isenberg (14);  13. Scott Lewis (15);  14. Charlie McKenna (13);  15. Jeff Larson (3);  16. Junior Coover (16);

Heat 3, 12 laps, No Time:  1. Will Vaught (4);  2. Brady Smith (9);  3. Jake Meier (10);  4. JR Hotovy (1);  7. John Anderson (8);  8. Brian Birkhofer (6);  10. Steve Lance Jr. (14);  11. Curt Schroeder (15);  13. Mike Fryer (2);  14. Jimmy Mars (7);  16. Duane Treadwell (12);

Heat 4, 12 laps, 4:01.38:  1. Tim McCreadie (2);  2. Scott Bloomquist (5);  3. Steve Francis (9);  4. Bub McCool (3);  6. Denny Eckrich (10);  7. John Blankenship (8);  8. Matt Furman (14);  9. Lance Matthees (6);  10. Rick Wendling (1);  11. Brian Diede (11);  12. Skip Frey (13);  13. Alonzo Grosse (15);  14. Walker Arthur (12);  15. Terry Phillips (4);

Heat 5, 12 laps, 4:07.65:  1. Shannon Babb (4);  3. Tyler Reddick (7);  4. Kent Robinson (9);  5. Jason Utter (2);  8. Jason Rauen (6);  9. John Duty (1);  10. Ray Moore (10);  12. John Mason (12);  15. Dustin Walker (14);

D Feature, 12 laps, No Time:  1. Tyler Bruening (2);  2. Jeff Larson (5);  3. Chris Spieker (3);  3. Chris Spieker (13);  5. Chase Junghans (16);  6. Duane Treadwell (9);  7. Scott Lewis (14);  9. Dustin Walker (12);  11. Alonzo Grosse (15);  12. Charlie McKenna (11);  13. Junior Coover (17);  14. Paul Glendenning (8);

C Feature, 15 laps, No Time:  1. Billy Moyer (3);  4. Billy Moyer Jr. (1);  5. John Duty (11);  6. Lance Matthees (6);  8. Rob Moss (8);  10. Tim Isenberg (17);  13. Kevin Sather (15);  14. Rick Wendling (10);  15. Brian Diede (12);  16. John Mason (13);  17. Steve Lance Jr. (18);  18. Curt Schroeder (19);  20. Skip Frey (16);  22. Jay Johnson (2);  23. Jill George (20);  24. Ryan Unzicker (4);

B Feature , 20 laps, No Time:  1. Denny Eckrich (1);  2. John Anderson (4);  3. John Blankenship (5);  8. Jason Rauen (9);  10. Bobby Pierce (10);  11. Chris Simpson (11);  12. Jason Utter (12);  14. Jesse Stovall (13);  15. Tim Lance (15);  20. Matt Furman (20);  22. Don ONeal (3);  23. Dave Eckrich (2);

A Feature , 25 laps, 9:03.19 (NEW TRACK RECORD):  1. Mike Marlar (3);  2. Steve Francis (5);  3. Brady Smith (6);  5. Jonathan Davenport (10);  6. Brian Shirley (8);  7. Scott Bloomquist (11);  8. Earl Pearson Jr. (18);  9. Tyler Reddick (9);  10. Jason Feger (12);  11. Bub McCool (16);  12. Brian Birkhofer (22);  13. Kent Robinson (4);  14. Shannon Babb (14);  15. Will Vaught (13);  16. Morgan Bagley (2);  17. Tim McCreadie (19);  18. Frank Heckenast Jr. (23);  19. Mark Burgtorf (1);  21. Donnie Moran (15);  23. Denny Eckrich (21);  24. JR Hotovy (20); lap leader:  Marlar 1-25