Mike Marlar made history on Saturday Night at Iowa’s famed Knoxville Raceway, as the 43-year-old Tennessee native became the first driver to win three Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals 100-lap main events.
Marlar started third and picked up the race lead on lap 41 from Tim McCreadie. Marlar was able to hold off the current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series point leader by .514 seconds at the finish, for a career-best $50,000 payday for himself and car owner Ronnie Delk.
Ricky Weiss finished in third followed by Earl Pearson, Jr. in fourth, and Brandon Sheppard in fifth.
McCreadie jumped to the lead and would pace the first nine laps of the race. Tyler Erb grabbed the lead on lap 11, but saw pressure from McCreadie and Marlar as Marlar moved to second on lap 22.
McCreadie regrouped and drove around Marlar by the 29th lap. With Erb out in front, a rear end gear broke heading to the lap 40 mark. Erb slowed, bringing out the caution. As the field went single-file and headed to the hot pit for the scheduled fuel-stop, Erb would have to restart from the back of the pack.
McCreadie picked up the lead again, but it lasted for just one lap as Marlar blasted around him for the top spot. Marlar and McCreadie battled back and forth for the race lead until the checkers flew.
“The car was good,” said Marlar. “Once I got out in front, the car was really, really good. My guys got me tuned in good this weekend. It was an awesome race. It was fun racing with Timmy there. He had me on pins and needles at the end of that thing.”
“You know Timmy’s a professional. He raced me as clean as he could without wrecking us both. We were all over each other and we made it through ok. I appreciate him racing me clean. He’s used to running on the hub in those big block modifieds out east. I was just glad to hold him off.”
Erb, Hudson O’Neal, Josh Richards, Chris Simpson, and Chad Simpson rounded out the top 10.
For more information on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, visit LucasDirt.com.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Knoxville Raceway – Knoxville, IA
Knoxville Late Model Nationals – September 18, 2021
| Pos | Start | Car # | Competitor | Hometown | Pay |
| 1 | 3 | 157 | Mike Marlar | Winfield, TN | $50,700 |
| 2 | 1 | 39 | Tim McCreadie | Watertown, NY | $25,800 |
| 3 | 6 | 7W | Ricky Weiss | Headingley, MB | $10,000 |
| 4 | 7 | 46 | Earl Pearson, Jr. | Jacksonville, FL | $9,550 |
| 5 | 5 | 1S | Brandon Sheppard | New Berlin, IL | $7,500 |
| 6 | 2 | 1T | Tyler Erb | New Waverly, TX | $7,700 |
| 7 | 11 | 71 | Hudson O’Neal | Martinsville, IN | $7,200 |
| 8 | 18 | 14 | Josh Richards | Shinnston, WV | $6,800 |
| 9 | 19 | 32S | Chris Simpson | Oxford, IA | $5,500 |
| 10 | 14 | 1C | Chad Simpson | Mt. Vernon, IA | $5,000 |
| 11 | 15 | 99JR | Frank Heckenast, Jr | Frankfort, IL | $4,500 |
| 12 | 17 | 66 | Kyle Bronson | Brandon, FL | $4,700 |
| 13 | 20 | 18 | Shannon Babb | Moweaqua, IL | $3,500 |
| 14 | 9 | 20RT | Ricky Thornton, Jr. | Adel, IA | $4,200 |
| 15 | 13 | 18J | Chase Junghans | Manhattan, KS | $3,300 |
| 16 | 21 | 25 | Shane Clanton | Zebulon, GA | $3,900 |
| 17 | 12 | 20 | Jimmy Owens | Newport, TN | $4,100 |
| 18 | 10 | 16 | Tyler Bruening | Decorah, IA | $3,000 |
| 19 | 4 | 8 | Kyle Strickler | Mooresville, NC | $3,000 |
| 20 | 28 | 59 | Garrett Alberson | Las Cruces, NM | $3,200 |
| 21 | 27 | 45 | Kyle Hammer | Clinton, IL | $3,200 |
| 22 | 16 | 11H | Spencer Hughes | Meridian, MS | $3,700 |
| 23 | 22 | 04 | Tad Pospisil | Norfolk, NE | $2,700 |
| 24 | 25 | 56JR | Tony Jackson Jr. | Lebanon, MO | $2,900 |
| 25 | 30 | 22M | Charlie McKenna | Ames, IA | $2,700 |
| 26 | 8 | 49 | Jonathan Davenport | Blairsville, GA | $3,300 |
| 27 | 24 | 36 | Logan Martin | West Plains, MO | $2,500 |
| 28 | 26 | 19R | Ryan Gustin | Marshalltown, IA | $2,700 |
| 29 | 23 | 41 | Jeremiah Hurst | Dubuque, IA | $2,500 |
| 30 | 29 | 48J | Jason Feger | Bloomington, IL | $2,700 |
http://accesswdun.com/article/2021/9/1040378/marlar-wins-lucas-oil-late-model-knoxville-nationals