Smoky Mountain Speedway hosted a rare doubleheader featuring the Southern All-Stars and the USCS sprint cars in front of a big crowd.
Mike Marlar grabbed the early lead from T.J. Reaid and never looked back in claiming the Southern All-Stars win at Smoky Mountain Speedway on Saturday night. The win was worth $5,000.
Marlar set fast time in groups A with a lap of 16.507 seconds. Reaid was fastest in group two with a lap of 16.316 seconds to start on the outside of the front row.
On the start, Marlar blasted to the lead over Reaid. Skip Arp battled Casey Roberts for third just behind the lead duo. Arp secured the spot and set his sights on Reaid. Riley Hickman moved past Chris Ferguson to take the fifth spot in the early laps.
A spin by Jeff Wolfenbarger on lap 6 slowed the field. Marlar took off from the field leaving Reaid and Arp to battle for second. Hickman worked past Roberts for fourth.
Several cars got together on lap 12 to bring out the race’s final caution. Before the field went green, Roberts went to the infield as crew members looked over the right front of his machine. Roberts retired for the night.
Marlar had no problem getting away from the ongoing battle between Reaid and Arp on the restart. Back in the pack, Chris Ferguson looked to capitalize on an opening by Tommy Kerr fifth. Ferguson overshot the corner and got into the side of Kerr. Ferguson lost several spots before rebounding later in the race.
Meanwhile, Arp finally got past Reaid for second and set his sights on Marlar. Arp, having his best run of the season, was too far behind Marlar to catch the Winfield, Tennessee driver.
When 40 laps were posted on the board, Marlar cruised to the win with Arp posting a season best second place finish. Reaid, Hickman, and Kerr rounded out the top 5.
Mike Marlar on his way to the SAS win
In preliminary action, Mark Douglas won the first of two last chance races over Shanon Buckingham and Roger Best. Dennis Franklin easily won last chance race number two over Jeff Wolfenbarger and Robby Moses.
Smoky Mountain Speedway also hosted the USCS sprint cars and mini sprints. Derek Hagar, a 2012 winner at SMS, held off a mid-race challenge from Anthony Nicholson to win the 30-lap A-main. Terry Gray and Morgan Turpen finished third and fourth.
Derek Hagar picked up his second USCS win at SMS
David Hall claimed the win in the mini sprint race.
David Hall (center) celebrates his mini sprint win
Early three-wide action
Mike Marlar and crew in victory lane
