Casey Roberts collected $6,000 for his Smoky Mountain win
The weather plagued Spring Nationals series was finally able to race on Saturday night at Smoky Mountain Speedway after a multitude of postponements over the past few weeks at a locations from Georgia to Kentucky. And after braving a prediction from local forecasters that another wash out was eminent, the Ray Cook promoted mini-series paid Georgia’s Casey Roberts a winner’s check for $6,000.
This event had been rained out earlier in the season and was made up as part of a doubleheader with a Southern All Stars show that ran at the Maryville, Tenn. track on Friday night.
Mike Marlar led the way in qualifying when he posted a lap of 16.533 seconds around the 4/10 mile clay oval. Also earning spots in the dash race that would set the starting grid’s first two rows were Roberts, Stacy Boles and Tommy Kerr.
Roberts earned the pole for the feature by winning the dash ahead of Kerr, Boles and Marlar.
Jimmy Owens and Dale McDowell were victorious in the two heat races that were used to set the remainder of the starting lineup for the main event.
It would be Kerr who would jump to the early lead when the 50-lap feature got underway. Roberts, Marlar, Boles, McDowell and Owens chased the hometown driver during the early laps on a track that initially favored the top groove.
As the early laps clicked off without a caution to slow the action, the front runners found themselves in heavy traffic by the tenth circuit. It was then that Roberts pounced on the opportunity to grab the top spot away from Kerr.
The No. 101 machine moved to the front of the pack on lap 11 while at the same time McDowell and Marlar waged a battle for the third position. Owens was also finding his way forward as he employed a lower line than the other competitors.
The first caution of the night regrouped the field on lap 19. On the ensuing restart, McDowell wrested the runner-up spot away from Kerr while Owens moved around Marlar to grab fourth. Donald McIntosh and Chris Madden also began to show signs of strength as they moved into the top-10 after starting further back.
On lap 22, Marlar attempted to retake fourth from Owens. That move served as the beginning of an eight lap duel that would see the drivers put on an exhibition of skill as they raced side-by-side without touching each other through every turn and down each straightaway. Ultimately, Owens emerged with the position.
Meanwhile, Roberts continued to lead with McDowell trailing.
Early front runner Kerr brought out a lap 42 yellow flag when he had a tire to blow out on the front straightaway. His car had been fading while that of his teammate, McIntosh, had been on the move. The No. 7 machine had passed by both Marlar and Owens to take the third position just before the caution.
Jimmy Owens offered a late race challenge to Casey Roberts
However, the young driver bobbled in turn two on the restart and gave up several spots in the process. On that same restart Owens jumped up to second and suddenly looked like a threat to challenge Roberts for the win.
Another caution on lap 44 provided one last chance for the field ruin Roberts’ evening, but it was not to be as he separated himself from the pack during the closing laps to take the checkered flag.
Feature Finish: 1. Casey Roberts, 2. Jimmy Owens, 3. Dale McDowell, 4. Mike Marlar, 5. Chris Madden, 6. Donald McIntosh, 7. Billy Ogle, Jr., 8. Roger Best, 9. Jeff Wolfenbarger, 10. Mark Dotson, 11. Joey Coulter, 12. Ryan King, 13. Stacy Boles, 14. Skylar Marlar, 15. Tommy Kerr, 16. Chris Wilson, 17. Chad Ogle, 18. David Payne, 19. Skip Arp, 20. David Crabtree, 21. Mark Vineyard, 22. Jason Welshan, 23. Austin Smith
