Mike Marlar Now Three-Time "Butterball" Champion at Richmond Raceway

Richmond Raceway
328 Greens Crossing Road
Richmond, KY 40475

2015 Media Release #40- July 18, 2015: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact- Michael Despain (mgdespain@windstream.net; Twitter- @MichaelDespain; Facebook- Michael Despain)

Marlar Now Three-Time “Butterball” Memorial Champion at Richmond Raceway

Richmond, KY-July 18, 2015- Richmond Raceway would present the 28th Annual Sunoco Race Fuels Paul “Butterball” Wooldridge Memorial on Saturday evening sanctioned by the Southern National Bonus Series presented by Collins Signs and Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN would take the $10.028 payday and score his third event win in this contest in late race duel that saw the lead change three times in the final eight laps. Other feature winners included Jamey Adams of Laurelville, OH in KDRA Super Stocks, Delane Browning of East Bernstadt, KY in Modifieds, and Cole Bland of Campbellsville, KY in Warlock Race Cars Mini-Cup/Cyclones.

Tommy Bailey would lead the opening circuit of the 59 lap contest before Justin Rattliff would challenge for the lead and take the lead on lap 3 and pull away a bit from Bailey as would start working traffic on lap 9. Jason Jameson would roll into the third spot and pressure Bailey for second before finally working past him in lapped traffic on lap 21. A three car tangle involving Jason Barrett, Greg Johnson, and James Rice would slow the action on lap 25. After a Michael Chilton spin on the frontchute one lap after the restart, Rattliff would again motor away from the pack until lap 35 when Skylar Marlar and Duane Chambelain would tangle in turn one and Cody Mahoney would also be collected in the melee, ending all three drivers night. Rattliff would again keep Jameson about five cars away, while Mike Marlar would now pressure Jameson for second as the leader caught slower traffic on lap 47. The 50th circuit would see business pick up at the point as Marlar would work past Jameson and began to challenge Rattliff for the lead and would work under Rattliff for the top spot on lap 52 and Jameson would get by Rattliff as well. Jameson would work under Marlar for the lead off of turn four on lap 53 and the duo would battle side by side for lead, with Marlar retaking the race lead on lap 54 at the start/finish line. Marlar would drive on the score his third “Butterball” victory in the Ronnie Delk owned Delk Equipment/R&S Trading/VP Race Fuels/Speedy Towing sponsored #157 Rocket Chassis sporting a Cornett Race Engine. Jameson would finish second, with Rattliff taking the final podium position in third. Jackie Boggs and 23rd starting Josh Rice would complete the top five. The remainder of the top ten would be Bailey, Stephen Breeding, Chris Combs, 18th starting Johnny Wheeler, and 21st starting David Payne. Thirty-four entries would see Jameson as top qualifier at 15.099 seconds and win a heat, while Rattliff, Bailey, and Boggs would also be heat race winners. Skylar Marlar and Johnny Wheeler would be B-Main winners, while David Payne and Ross White were series provisional starters. Josh Rice earned the Butterball Tune-Up provisional, with Aaron Hatton and Greg Johnson taking track provisionals.

Jamey Adams would take the lead in the early going of the KDRA Super Stock main event and drive to the checkered flag first aboard Thomas Gas Service/Helterbran Trucking/Adams Motorsports sponsored #42A machine. Jeremie Bretz would take runner-up honors, while Randy Jones would finish in the third position. Travis Preston and Jeremy Howard completed the top five. Sixth through tenth would be Daniel Howard, Logan Preston, Bartley Grant, Bill Robinson, and John Cole. Twenty-one entries would see Jones as top qualifier at 17.087 seconds and win a heat, while Adams would be victorious in the other heat.

Delane Browning would lead wire to wire to score the Modified feature win in an event shortened due to the time limit after a false restart that stacked up several cars, with the finish reverting back to the previously scored lap. Browning’s victory came behind the wheel of the Skirting Solutions/Mobile Home Parts and More sponsored #B1 Lightning Chassis with a Bullock Race Engine. Russ Gabbert would work past Jeff Watson late in the race to finish second, with Watson claiming third. Dennis Roberson and Blake Brown rounded out the top five. Completing the top ten would be David Adams, Jimmy Robinson, Ben Petrey, Korey Cochran, and Keith Smith. Thirty-three entries would see Watson as top qualifier at 16.388 seconds, while heat wins fell to Watson, Browning, and Gabbert, while Keith Smith won the B-Main.

Cole Bland would score his first ever Warlock Race Cars Mini-Cup/Cyclone victory in only his start second-ever start in one of those machines, fending off Scott Crusenberry for the win. Bland’s winning entry would be the Wilson Plumbing/Kent Bland Logging sponsored #44 entry. Crusenberry would take second, with Jason Bell and Josh (not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)erson completing the runner order. Bland would also win the heat.

SUMMARY-Richmond Raceway-Richmond, KY-July 18, 2015

Southern Nationals Bonus Series presented by Collins Signs Super Late Models (34 entries)
FK Rod Ends Top Qualifier- Jason Jameson 15.099
1st Heat (top 4 transfer)- Jason Jameson, Mike Marlar, Walker Arthur, Ben Adkins, Skylar Marlar, Chris Johnson, Brandon Mason, Jerry Ellis, Jerry Rutherford
2nd Heat (top 4 transfer)- Justin Rattliff, Duane Chamberlain, Austin Smith, Chris Combs, James Rice, Greg Johnson, Tim Tungate, Aaron Hatton, J.L. Muse
3rd Heat (top 4 transfer)- Tommy Bailey, Stephen Breeding, Jason Barrett, Derek Fisher, Johnny Wheeler, Craig Vosbergen, Steve Stollings, David Payne
4th Heat (top 4 transfer)- Jackie Boggs, Cody Mahoney, Michael Chilton, Elliott Despain, Mark Frazier, Ross White, Dennis Barton, Josh Rice
1st B-Main (top 2 transfer)- Skylar Marlar, James Rice (remainder of finish not available)
2nd B-Main (top 2 transfer)- Johnny Wheeler, Mark Frazier, Ross White, Dennis Barton (DNS- Craig Vosbergen, Steve Stollings, David Payne, Josh Rice
Series Provisional Starters- David Payne, Ross White
Track Provisionals- Josh Rice (Butterball Tune-Up Winner), Aaron Hatton, Greg Johnson
28th Annual Sunoco Race Fuels Paul “Butterball” Wooldridge Memorial- Mike Marlar, Jason Jameson, Justin Rattliff, Jackie Boggs, Josh Rice, Tommy Bailey, Stephen Breeding, Chris Combs, Johnny Wheeler, David Payne, Derek Fisher, Greg Johnson, Jason Barrett, Elliott Despain, Duane Chamberlain, Skylar Marlar, Cody Mahoney, Walker Arthur, Ben Adkins, Ross White, Michael Chilton, James Rice, Aaron Hatton, Austin Smith, Mark Frazier

KDRA Super Stocks (21 entries)
Top Qualifier- Randy Jones 17.087
1st Heat- Randy Jones, Jeremie Bretz, Jeremy Howard, Johnny King, Pherman Stewart, Bartley Grant, Glen Branham, Doyle Hibbard, Rudi Strebeck, Logan Preston (DNS- Darrell Cain)
2nd Heat- Jamey Adams, Travis Preston, Daniel Howard, Chad Barrett, John Cole, Derek Bottoms, Martin Stacey, Anthony Wiseman, Eddie Stewart, Bill Robinson
Feature- Jamey Adams, Jeremie Bretz, Randy Jones, Travis Preston, Jeremy Howard, Daniel Howard, Logan Preston, Bartley Grant, Bill Robinson, John Cole, Johnny King, Doyle Hibbard, Darrell Cain, Glen Branham, Martin Stacey, Chad Barrett, Pherman Stewart, Rudi Strebeck, Derek Bottoms (DNS- Eddie Stewart)

Modifieds (33 entries)
Top Qualifier- Jeff Watson 16.388
1st Heat (top 6 transfer)- Jeff Watson, Dennis Roberson, Jimmy Robinson, Virgil Parriman, Korey Cochran, Wade Rookard, Keith Smith, Cody Smith, Eddie Stewart, Steven Brandenburg, Brent Estes
2nd Heat (top 6 transfer)- Delane Browning, David Adams, Jimmy Crabtree, Jared Reams, Ben Petrey, Mitchell Fields, Mike Pratt, Steven Eversole, Stevie Tipton, Brian Ramsey, Jerry Brandenburg
3rd Heat (top 6 transfer)- Russ Gabbert, Cameron Marlar, Blake Brown, Zach Powers, Matthew Jordan, Tommy Turner, Aaron Branham, Ulis Combs, Kevin Harkins, Ricky Brandenburg, Shawn Hibbard
B-Main (top 5 transfer)- Keith Smith, Cody Smith, Mike Pratt, Stevie Tipton, Aaron Branham, Eddie Stewart, Stephen Brandenburg, Jerry Brandenburg, Brian Ramsey, Ricky Brandenburg, Steven Eversole, Ulis Combs (DNS- Shawn Hibbard, Kevin Harkins, Brent Estes)
Feature- Delane Browning, Russ Gabbert, Jeff Watson, Dennis Roberson, Blake Brown, David Adams, Jimmy Robinson, Ben Petrey, Korey Cochran, Keith Smith, Cody Smith, Mike Pratt, Jimmy Crabtree, Aaron Branham, Virgil Parriman, Zach Powers, Matthew Jordan, Cameron Marlar, Wade Rookard, Jared Reams, Tommy Turner, Mitchell Fields, Stevie Tipton

Warlock Race Cars Mini-Cup/Cyclones (5 entries)
Heat- Cole Bland, Josh (not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)erson, Scott Crusenberry, Jason Bell (DNS- Tyler Smith)
Feature- Cole Bland, Scott Crusenberry, Jason Bell, Josh (not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)erson (DNS- Tyler Smith)