Mike Marlar took the lead with 13 laps to go
The Schaeffer’s Oil Fall Nationals Series embarked on its second season as it opened the 2020 mini-tour with an event at Smoky Mountain Speedway. At the end of the evening on Saturday it was Mike Marlar who took the lead just after halfway then left the Maryville, TN facility as the victor. The Winfield, TN driver earned $5,000 for his efforts.
The top-5 in each of the two qualifying groups would be locked into the feature.
Vic Hill led the way in Group A qualifying with a lap of 16.119 seconds around the 4/10 mile clay oval bettering the efforts of Jensen Ford, T.J. Read, Pierce McCarter and Donald McIntosh.
Mike Marlar was quickest in Group B time-trials and overall with a time of 15.927 to outshine Dale McDowell, Michael Chilton, David Payne, and Austin Kirkpatrick.
Stacy Boles won the first B-main ahead of Robby Moses, Jadon Frame, Jeff Wolfenbarger and Derek Eillis while Camaron Marlar topped Zach Leonhardi, Clay Coghlan, Christian Hanger and Tommy Kerr.
The initial start saw a big collision which damaged the cars of Frame, Denby, Moses and Wolfenbarger.
Hill charged to the early lead at the start of the 40-lap feature ahead of Marlar, Ford, McDowell and Reaid. Just before a lap 2 caution Chilton got by Reaid to take the fifth position.
Dale McDowell (17m) and Jensen Ford (83) battled early for third.
On the lap 2 restart, Payne charged to fifth then was enjoined in that battle by Chilton and Reaid.
McDowell moved to second on a lap 9 restart then found himself in the middle of a tight three-way battle for the lead behind Hill and in front of Marlar. At the same time, tenth starting Kirkpatrick began to move forward as he took fifth from Ford on lap 12 then wrested fourth away from Payne two laps later.
On lap 16 Kirkpatrick continued to employ the bottom line around the track as he took third from McDowell.
Hill continued to lead the way with Marlar and Kirkpatrick in his tire tracks as the feature moved past the halfway mark. However, on lap 27 the leader jumped the cushion in turn two which allowed both Marlar and Kirkpatrick to get by.
Mike Marlar (157) pressures Vic Hill (1) for the lead.
Marlar led a tight pack that included Kirkpatrick, Hill and McDowell with 10 laps remaining. Over the final laps, the No. 157 tightened his grip on the race lead while McDowell was able to slip by Hill on lap 36.
Marlar went on to sail under the checkered flag to score the victory.
Feature Finish: 1. Mike Marlar, 2. Austin Kirkpatrick, 3. Dale McDowell, 4. Vic Hill, 5. David Payne, 6. Robby Moses, 7. Jensen Ford, 8. Stacy Boles, 9. Camaron Marlar, 10. Tommy Kerr, 11. Pierce McCarter, 12. Jeff Wolfenbarger, 13. Joseph Faulkner, 14. Derek Ellis, 15. Donald McIntosh, 16. Christian Hanger, 17. Joe Denby, 18. Michael Chilton, 19. T.J. Reaid, 20. Jadon Frame, 21. Clay Coghlan, 22. Zach Leonhardi
Austin Kilpatrick (11) pressures Mike Marlar (157).
Mike Marlar and crew celebrate their win.
