Mike Marlar scored a popular win on Saturday Night, Oct. 12 as the Winfield, Tennessee, native picked up his first Jackson 100 Presented by Summit Racing Equipment win. He also became the 33rd different driver to win Brownstown Speedway’s most prestigious event.

Marlar collected $50,000 for the win in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-event, the richest in the 72-year-history of the track. Marlar led 58 of the 100 laps as he took the lead for good from Bobby Pierce on lap 48 in a race that saw only one caution flag.

Ricky Thornton Jr. moved into second around Pierce on lap 53 as he trailed Marlar to the finish line. Pierce, who led for 42 laps rounded, out the top three on the Big River Steel Podium in third. Tim McCreadie finished in fourth and Jonathan Davenport rounded out the top five,

Marlar’s 23rd career was hard earned as he led on two different occasions during the race and was out in front the first five laps of the race until Pierce, who started fourth, took over the point. Pierce then started to pull away from Marlar, but Marlar started to track down the driver who was looking for his 35th win of the season.

Marlar was able to catch up to Pierce passing him on lap with 48 laps scored.

In Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the second time this season, an emotional Marlar emerged from his car in front of an appreciative crowd.

“It’s been a trying season for sure,” he said. “I love my guys, there my family. It’s been rough. I mean usually I don’t get that emotional, but man we’ve been through it.

“I knew the track was going to clean up pretty fast I thought, I was in trouble when it cleaned up there. I had some good runs, but I didn’t want to be in that traffic, and I finally got the open track, and he (Pierce) was struggling a little bit, so I got by him there and you know he’s tough to beat. It’s fun racing with those guys. I am getting to be the old guy in the crowd, and you know them young kids can be better all the time still.”

Completing the top 10 were Devin Moran, Garrett Alberson, Drake Troutman, Max Blair and Devin Gilpin.

Branden Carr of Scottsburg got his second win of the year in Pewter Hall Super Stocks. Jamey Wilson and Branden Carr led the field to green. Carr would lead all 20 laps in a caution-free event to get the win. Tucker Chastain would battle Wilson in the closing laps of the feature event for the runner up spot. Tucker Chastain would edge Wilson on the last lap for second. Tanner Chastain and Austin Burton would complete the top five.

Preston Carr of Underwood would finish the year with his third straight Crossroads Truck Equipment Pure Stock victory. Hunter Perry jumped to the early lead.

Several cautions would slow the action in the early part of the race. Brent McMillan then took the lead with Carr following. Josh Turner would join the party, making it a three-car race for the lead.

After a caution with five laps remaining, McMillan and Carr would race side-by-side for the final three laps of the race. Carr would get his sixth win of the year by a nose in a near photo finish. Following Carr and McMillan at the checkers was Josh Turner, J.T. Huffman, and Dustin Foster.

Thornton wins Rayburn Memorial

Ricky Thornton Jr. of Martinsville passed race leader Bobby Pierce on lap 34 and then went on to win the Third Annual C.J. Rayburn Memorial on Friday night, Oct. 11, at the Brownstown Speedway. It was Thornton’s 14th win this season with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series as he collected $10,000 for the win leading the final seven circuits.

Mike Marlar, the defending Rayburn Memorial winner, edged out Pierce at the finish to finish second. Pierce, who led 33 of the 40 laps rounded out the Big River Steel Podium in third. Completing the top five were Tanner English and Hudson O’Neal.

In Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the 42nd time in his career Thornton earned his third career win at Brownstown with the triumph.

“It’s awesome to win a race with C.J.’s name on it. He was a pioneer in the sport,” Thornton said. “It’s super hard to be patient in traffic. I almost felt like I was in a better spot than Bobby just because I could slow down and see him move out to get around a lapped car and stuff like that.

“He would pass a lapped car, but never really get out so I knew there towards the end I got behind a couple of cars that were really good around the bottom. I felt like if I followed them and finished out the race, they were going to have to be really good around that middle. It worked out for us. The car was pretty awesome all night.”

Completing the top 10 were Dennis Erb Jr., Max Blair, Brandon Sheppard, Jonathan Davenport and Devin Moran.

Tyler Cain of Seymour found victory lane one more time in P3 Graphix Indiana Late Model Series Pro Late Models by winning the 13th annual Bowman Family 50. Cain recorded his sixth straight feature win and ninth overall win at the track for 2024. This was Cain’s third career Bowman 50 victory.

Justin Smith and Cain led the field to green with Smith jumping to the lead and Cain falling back to fourth. On a restart after a lap 7 yellow, Justin Shaw took over the lead and Cain started working his way back to the front. Cain took the lead on lap 19 and led the rest of the way for the win.

Rohn Moon from his ninth starting spot took second ahead of Tyler Neal, Chad Stapleton, and Justin Shaw. Completing the top 10 were Steve Peeden, Skyller Lewis, Patrick Shumaker, Zachary Stalker, and Zack Burton.

This week in racing history

From this weekend in 1974 at the 25th Street Fairgrounds Speedway in Columbus the final race ever held at the track saw Chuck Terry win the hobby stock feature over Jack Smith, Dick Butler, Ron Hoover, and Kenny Fields. Smith won the points championship for the year over Bob Olmsted, Terry, David Petro, and Russ Smiley.

Upcoming local racing schedule

Tonight – Eldora Speedway – Rossburg, Ohio – 44th Annual Dirt Track World Championship for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series – $100,000 to win – plus steel block late models. For more information eldroaspeedway.com

Tonight – Circle City Raceway – Indianapolis – Season Finale – For more information circlecityraceway.com.