Wednesday night’s action at Eldora Speedway produced several newsworthy items:
Scott Bloomquist arrived too late for the Dream restart
Scott Bloomquist too late to make the show: The Dirt Late Model Dream had originally been slated for June 11th but rain halted the 100-lap event on the 14th circuit. Ultimately, the decision was made to concluded the $128,000-to-win event as part of the World 100 weekend on September 7th. As a result, teams had the better part of three months to prepare their cars for the final 86 laps of the race.
Unfortunately, that apparently was not enough for Scott Bloomquist and his crew.
Drivers and teams were to bring their cars to pre-race technical inspection prior to rolling onto the track for the conclusion of the Dream. However, with cars already on track under caution just before they were to take the green flag, the familiar No. 0 Team Zero Race Car had just pulled up to the gate which is used to allow cars into the infield and then onto the racing surface. But it was too late by that time and Bloomquist was not allowed to enter thus ending his race on lap 14 and relegating the eight-time Dirt Late Model Dream winner to a 24th place finish.
Chris Madden denied Eldora crown jewel: Chris Madden took the green on lap 14 of the resumed Dirt Late Model Dream as the leader of the race and, after a brief exchange with Hudson O’Neal, held on to the top spot and appeared destined for victory until a lap 91 caution for a crash involving Devin Moran, Hudson O’Neal and Bobby Pierce re-set the field and ultimately gave Brandon Overton an opportunity to pass Madden then sail on to his third Dream win.
In his post-race interview with FloRacing.com, Madden pointed out that his car was at a disadvantage on the final restart.
“We were fine as long as we didn’t have a caution,” Madden declared. “I knew if we had a caution we were in trouble there. We were down a cylinder, we had a plug wire to fall off right there with probably 25-to-go so we were just on seven cylinders. I knew if we had a restart, I was a dead duck. It didn’t matter which line I chose, it just wouldn’t take off. I hate it, the best car didn’t win tonight.”
Madden ultimately finished in the runner-up position behind Brandon Overton.
Chris Madden looked like a wiiner until a late restart
Devin Moran, Hudson O’Neal & Bobby Pierce involved in big crash:
Three drivers who many would consider contenders for good finishes, if not wins, this weekend at Eldora were fighting for positions within the top-10 until disaster struck on lap 91. What was reported as a blown right front tire on Devin Moran’s car sent the No. 9 machine abruptly up the track into the car of early race leader Hudson O’Neal and then collected that of Bobby Pierce.
All three cars suffered significant damage and were knocked from the race. O’Neal was credited with a 13th place finish while Moran and Pierce ended their nights in 14th and 15th respectively.
Jonathan Davenport’s charge comes up a little short:
Due to troubles experienced on the original night of the Dirt Late Model Dream, Jonathan Davenport had make his way into the feature by way of a B-main race providing him with a starting position deep in the field. As a result, the driver who won the Eldora Million restarted on Wednesday night from 20th place but with a freshened race car.
During the second half of Wednesday’s action, Davenport began to move forward. But with no caution flags between laps 15 and 91, the field became a bit strung out which made gaining positions in bunches more difficult. When all was said and done, ‘Superman’ had still managed to rise to the 4th spot in the running order by the time of the checkered flag.
Chris Ferguson crashes out early: The driver of the No. 22 Team Zero Race Car has won a pair of $50,000-to-win events so far in 2022 and certainly was considered a threat to make some noise in the resumption of the Dirt Late Model Dream. After restarting the race in the 8th position, though, Ferguson was only able to complete one lap before losing control and backing hard into the outside wall.
The heavy damage inflicted on his car ended his night early and relegated the North Carolina driver to a 23rd place finishing position.
Mike Marlar wins first career Eldora feature: Mike Marlar has won big races over the course of a stellar career. As a matter of fact, the former World of Outlaws CASE Construction Late Model Series champion is the only driver to have won the Knoxville Late Model Nationals three times. Still, the ‘Winfield Warrior’ had never won a Late Model feature race at Dirt Late Model racing’s premier facility.
That all changed on Wednesday night when Marlar drove to victory in one of the three 25-lap ‘Chasing the Dream’ races allowing the veteran from Tennessee to pull onto the Eldora victory stage for the first time in his career as a Late Model driver.
Please consider also reading:
Brandon Overton regains Eldora form with another Dream victory
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