Mike Marlar celebrates in victory lane after winning Friday night’s World of Outlaws CASE Late Model Series race at Ponderosa Speedway. Photo: Jacy Norgaard
Mike Marlar drove from 22nd to first, passing Bobby Pierce with five laps to go to win Friday night’s World of Outlaws CASE Late Model Series race at Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, Kentucky.
Chris Madden, the pole sitter, led the first seven laps of the 50-lap feature before Pierce took the lead on lap 8. Meanwhile, Marlar moved forward from his 22nd starting position.
When the race’s first caution fell for Zebulon, Georgia’s Shane Clanton on lap 25, Marlar had already gained 13 spots. He would moved up five more spots by the end of lap 31. Marlar moved to third on lap 34, and then took over second following a debris caution on lap 44.
Marlar only needed one more lap to catch Pierce, pulling even with him on the backstretch. He kept his momentum rolling on the bottom, passing Pierce as they exited turn 4.
From there, Marlar led the final five laps to score his second series win of 2023.
It’s a win that has special meaning for Marlar, honoring a man who helped his racing program in the past.
“Johnny Mulligan Plumbing was one of my sponsors,” Marlar said. “It’s one of the reasons I came to this race tonight. To win a race in his memory and with his family and my friends, and the way it all happened. Doing all that, it’s just amazing. It was just an amazing night. God’s sure been good to me today.”
Pierce finished in second, with Brandon Sheppard in third, Madden in fourth, and Tanner English in fifth.
The series was slated to compete on Sunday at Indiana’s Brownstown Speedway, but persistent morning rain in the area, along with more rain forecasted throughout the day, led officials to postpone the event. Series and track officials are working to find a new date for the event.
The World of Outlaws CASE Late Model Series next travels to Illinois’ Fairbury Speedway on Friday and Saturday, July 28-29. For more information, visit WorldofOutlaws.com.
World of Outlaws CASE Late Model Series
Ponderosa Speedway – Junction City, KY
Race Results – July 14, 2023
1. 157-Mike Marlar
2. 32-Bobby Pierce
3. B5-Brandon Sheppard
4. 44-Chris Madden
5. 96V-Tanner English
6. 28-Dennis Erb Jr
7. 97C-Michael Chilton
8. 19R-Ryan Gustin
9. D8-Dustin Linville
10. 9-Nick Hoffman
11. 11-Gordy Gundaker
12. 1ST-Johnny Scott
13. 16-Justin Rattliff
14. 3S-Brian Shirley
15. 2S-Stormy Scott
16. 97-Cade Dillard
17. 40B-Kyle Bronson
18. 25-Shane Clanton
19. B1-Brent Larson
20. 54-David Breazeale
21. 30-Todd Cooney
22. 14W-Dustin Walker
23. 15-James Rice
24. 13W-David Webb
25. 10-Joseph Joiner
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