Mike Marlar
Mike Marlar comes from a racing family. His father and brothers are all accomplished racers. At the same time, however, he also counted one of his early mentors in the sport to be almost like family and on Friday night at the Brownstown(IN) Speedway, he dedicated his Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series feature win to that man.
C.J. Rayburn helped Marlar as a young man, showing him the way in a sport that can be a difficult one to find footing. Since then, the 45-year-old driver from Winfiled, Tennessee has always been quick to acknowledge what the legendary racer and car builder did for him throughout his career.
Rayburn passed away on January 1, 2022 from complications related to pneumonia leaving Marlar and the racing world saddened.
Last year, Brownstown Speedway began hosting the C.J. Rayburn Memorial. Friday night served as the second annual running of that honorary event.
After turning the second fastest lap in Group B qualifying on the quarter-mile clay oval, Marlar went on to win the fourth heat race of the night. In his FloRacing interview following that preliminary race, the driver of the No. 157 Ronnie Delk-owned Longhorn Chassis was asked about the importance of Rayburn in his racing career.
“It’s simple,” Marlar replied. “I wouldn’t be where I am now if it wasn’t for that man.”
The ‘Winfield Warrior’ started the feature from the outside of the second row but was immediately in contention for the top spot on the scoreboard. On lap 9, he passed early race leader Nick Hoffman to move into first place.
Once in the lead, Marlar had to survive a fierce battle with Hoffman and Brandon Overton to stay there during the first three-fourths of the feature. Over the closing laps, Lucas Oil points leader Ricky Thornton Jr. emerged as a challenger when he moved into second and began to apply pressure in hopes of earning yet another series victory.
However, Marlar was up to the challenge and fended off Thornton’s advances ultimately taking the checkered flag at the end of 40 hard fought laps. The win was worth a $10,000 payday but it was far more valuable to Marlar in another way.
“I’m going to try to keep it together here,” Marlar declared in his victory lane interview as his voice revealed his true emotions. “C.J. is special to us. When he passed away, I took it as hard as I would my granddad or anybody. I fought hard there, I didn’t have the best car but something was out there helping me out and making it happen.”
Marlar, a former World of Outlaws CASE Construction Late Model Series champion and three-time Knoxville Late Model Nationals winner, offered words of appreciation during the special moment.
“I’m just glad that C.J.’s family and all these supporters of Brownstown(were here), he means so much to all of us,” he related. “We hated to lose him but nobody ever lived as good as he did, probably. I just really miss him everyday, honestly. I was happy to get this race won in his name. It means a lot, it’s definitely one of the bigger ones for me.”
The feature winner then went on to describe the racing action and tell why he fought so hard to stay out front.
“I think I bent my bumper there early on a uke tire and it was giving me some fits, but yeah, the race track was really racy,” Marlar explained. “I had my neck on a swivel there in that whole race. I was moving around, honestly, putting the blocks on them. I’m ashamed to say that but I really wanted to win this race for C.J. Rayburn so bad, and my team, and my car owner- Ronnie Delk. It’s been an emotional week all the way around. I’m glad to win it.”
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will again be in action on Saturday night at Brownstown in the $30,000-to-win Jackson 100.
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