Lanigan Two-For-Two In Bubba Army Late Model Winter Nationals After Dramatic Saturday Victory Over Marlar
Defending World of Outlaws Late Model Series Champion Scores Fifth Win In Seven Career Starts At Bubba Raceway Park
By Kevin Kovac, WoO LMS P.R. Director
OCALA, FL – Feb. 16, 2013 – Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., continued his mastery of Bubba Raceway Park, winning Saturday night’s 50-lap Bubba Army Late Model Winter Nationals A-Main in dramatic fashion.
The defending World of Outlaws Late Model Series champion slipped his Cornett-powered Rocket car past Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., for the lead coming to the white flag, propelling him to his second Winter Nationals triumph in as many evenings. The $10,150 victory was his fifth in seven career starts over the past four years at the three-eighths-mile, D-shaped oval.
Lanigan, 42, became the first driver to win twice during the young 2013 WoO LMS season. He is coming off a championship season that saw him establish numerous records on the national tour, including a new single-season mark of 15 A-Mains victories.
Marlar, 35, settled for a runner-up finish in the Bryson Motorsports Rocket, 0.499 of a second behind Lanigan. He appeared headed to his first-ever WoO LMS win after grabbing the lead from Lanigan on lap 11, but his slight slip out of the preferred inside groove rounding turns three and four on the 48th circuit gave Lanigan the opportunity he needed to register his circuit-leading 43rd career victory.
Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., finished third in the Sweeteners Plus Warrior, advancing from the sixth starting spot to nab his second consecutive top-three run. Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., remained atop the WoO LMS points standings after moving forward from the eighth starting position to place fourth in the Rocket Chassis house car and third-starter Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga., was fifth in the Kennedy Motorsports Capital Race Car.
Lanigan, who started from the outside pole and assumed command at the initial green flag, thought he might have allowed the race to slip through his fingers when he watched Marlar surge underneath him off turn four to take the lead on lap 11. But Lanigan drew close to Marlar late in the event, which ran caution-free from lap 20 to the finish, and was able to steal the checkered flag.
“We gave (the lead) up there early,” said Lanigan. “I just didn’t get down quick enough (to the bottom). I thought the top (lane) was still good, and (Marlar) got around.
“I just screwed up myself there. Right there when I got passed the bottom was coming in good, and I just had to get down there and get in line.”
Lanigan never resigned himself to a runner-up finish, however. He was ready to seize the moment when Marlar ceded the inside line on lap 48.
“He went down there (in turns three and four) and just slipped out of the rubber,” said Lanigan. “He got bent a little too hard, slipped up and left a hole open.
“He had a really good car and I feel for him,” added Lanigan, who discussed the race with Marlar after the Victory Lane ceremonies. “He’s trying to get an Outlaw win, but I gotta take what I can get and he left the bottom open down there and I just put the door in there. Your car’s gotta be good, but you gotta have luck on your side too.”
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Marlar was gracious in the wake of the difficult defeat, which came one year after he fell short of winning the Bubba Army Late Model Winter Nationals finale in heartbreaking fashion. His bid for the victory in 2012 ended when he got squeezed into the turn-three wall while attempting to pass eventual winner Rick Eckert of York, Pa., on the final lap.
“Within the last 10 laps I got to where I could hardly even keep up with the lapped cars off turn four,” said Marlar, who started fourth. “I guess a combination of my car going away and my tires going away hurt me, but ultimately I had the lead and I’m disappointed I didn’t win. I should’ve been able to fend (Lanigan) off a little better.
“But honestly, he was just a little faster. Basically, I passed him (on lap 11) because I found the groove faster than he did. Then he passed me because he could stay in it better.
“My first World of Outlaws win here is starting to feel elusive,” he added, “so I don’t like that at all. But even though I’m disappointed, I just try to look at the mental mistake and the chassis (tuning) mistake, and try to figure out why I didn’t win and why I lost. Tonight Darrell was definitely better, but I still maybe should have won because I was in the right position to capitalize.”
McCreadie, 38, had a front-row seat for Lanigan’s deciding pass of Marlar, racing only a few car lengths behind the leaders.
“Mikey didn’t mess up that bad,” analyzed McCreadie. “It’s just that Darrell happened to find that little bit of brown down the straightaway on the bottom and that was it. Darrell just happened to find it the lap Mikey went in just a touch wide.”
Four caution flags slowed the A-Main. Three were needed for slowing cars – Casey Roberts of Toccoa, Ga. (lap three), Scott James of Bright, Ind. (lap 17) and Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark. (lap 20) – and one was put out on lap four after a turn-four tangle involving Gregg Satterlee of Rochester Mills, Pa., and WoO LMS rookie Eric Wells of Hazard, Ky.
Eckert finished sixth after briefly climbing as high as fifth from the 10th starting spot. Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis., advanced from 12th to place seventh; Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., scored a season-high finish of eighth after starting 18th; and WoO LMS rookies Morgan Bagley of Longview, Texas, and Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., were ninth and 10th, respectively.
Thirty-eight cars were entered in the evening’s action.
Richards was quickest in Ohlins Shocks Time Trials with a lap of 15.046 seconds. It was his third fast-time honor in four events this season and the 34th of his career, moving him ahead of Eckert for the honor of the most WoO LMS fast times since 2004.
Heat winners were Richards, Marlar, James and Lanigan. The B-Mains were captured by Moyer and Frank, and Dave Hess Jr. of Waterford, Pa., earned a starting berth in the A-Main by winning the 10-lap Keyser Manufacturing Last Chance Showdown.
The Bubba Army Late Model Winter Nationals conclude on Sunday (Feb. 17) with the inaugural 75-lap ‘Super Sunday Showdown,’ which offers a $20,000 first-place prize. Hot laps are scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m.
Results of World of Outlaws Late Model Series ‘Bubba Army Late Model Winter Nationals’ Night 2 at Bubba Raceway Park (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):
1. (2) Darrell Lanigan/50 $10,150
2. (4) Mike Marlar/50 $5,500
3. (6) Tim McCreadie/50 $3,200
4. (8) Josh Richards/50 $2,650
5. (3) Shane Clanton/50 $2,050
6. (10) Rick Eckert/50 $1,900
7. (12) Brady Smith/50 $1,450
8. (18) Chub Frank/50 $1,450
9. (11) Morgan Bagley/50 $1,250
10. (9) Brandon Sheppard/50 $1,150
11. (14) Clint Smith/50 $1,100
12. (20) Tim Fuller/50 $1,050
13. (1) Jonathan Davenport/50 $950
14. (23) Dave Hess Jr./50 $950
15. (19) Bub McCool/50 $900
16. (22) Dillon Wood/49 $800
17. (21) Tyler Ivey/49 $820
18. (25) Kent Robinson/19 $800
19. (17) Billy Moyer/19 $730
20. (5) Scott James/15 $700
21. (24) Pat Doar/8 $750
22. (15) Eric Wells/3 $700
23. (16) Gregg Satterlee/3 $700
24. (7) Casey Roberts/3 $700
25. (17) Ivedent Lloyd Jr./3 $725
* Earnings include cash contingency award bonuses
Time of Race: 22 Mins., 57.451 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 0.499 Secs.
Yellow Flags: 4 (laps 3, 4, 17, 20)
Lap Leaders: Lanigan (1-10); Marlar (11-48); Lanigan (49-50)
Provisional Starters: Doar, Robinson
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Marlar ($500)
Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):
1. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 15.046
2. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 15.098
3. 5b-Mike Marlar/Winfield, TN 15.179
4. 2-Brady Smith/Solon Springs, WI 15.199
5. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 15.244
6. 1G-Scott James/Bright, IN 15.246
7. 18-Eric Wells/Hazard, KY 15.260
8. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 15.271
9. b5-Brandon Sheppard/New Berlin, IL 15.352
10. 25-Shane Clanton/Fayetteville, GA 15.358
11. 101-Casey Roberts/Toccoa, GA 15.389
12. 49-Jonathan Davenport/Blairsville, GA 15.403
13. 57J-Bub McCool/Vicksburg, MS 15.421
14. 25z-Mason Zeigler/Chalk Hill, PA 15.426
15. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 15.427
16. 44H-Dave Hess Jr./Waterford, PA 15.448
17. 21L-Ivedent Lloyd Jr./Ocala, FL 15.457
18. 5-Chip Brindle/Chatsworth, GA 15.472
19. 14M-Morgan Bagley/Longview, TX 15.481
20. 22-Gregg Satterlee/Rochester Mills, PA 15.488
21. 47-Tyler Ivey/Tallahassee, FL 15.496
22. 25B-Mike Benedum/Salem, WV 15.507
23. 1W-Dillon Wood/New Smyrna Beach, FL 15.543
24. 71d-Ron Davies/Warren, PA 15.546
25. 21-Billy Moyer/Batesville, AR 15.631
26. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 15.666
27. 58-Mark Whitener/Middlebourne, FL 15.670
28. 11-Pat Doar/New Richmond, WI 15.675
29. 7R-Kent Robinson/Bloomington, IN 15.686
30. 1×1-Sonny Conley/New Martinsville, WV 15.686
31. 38-Kenny Pettyjohn/Millsboro, DE 15.761
32. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 15.809
33. 48-Tim Lance/Brimfield, IL 15.952
34. 21d-Dan Stone/Thompson, PA 15.980
35. 2M-Allen Murray/San Antonio, TX 16.091
36. 35-Christian Augspurger/Palm Beach Gardens, FL 16.128
37. 11b-Stacy Boles/Clinton, TN 16.162
38. 16H-Mike Hammerle/St. Charles, MO 16.790
Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Richards, McCreadie, Sheppard, Lloyd, Moyer, McCool, Ivey, Robinson, Boles, Lance
Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): James, Clanton, Eckert, C. Smith, Brindle, Benedum, Zeigler, Stone, Conley, Hammerle
Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Marlar, Roberts, Bagley, Wells, Wood, Fuller, Whitener, Pettyjohn, Murray
Heat No. 4 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Lanigan, Davenport, B. Smith, Satterlee, Frank, Hess, Augspurger, Davies, Doar
B-Main No. 1 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Moyer, McCool, Ivey, Brindle, Robinson, Benedum, Conley, Stone, Lance, Hammerle, Zeigler (DNS) Boles
B-Main No. 2 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Frank, Fuller, Wood, Whitener, Hess, Pettyjohn, Doar, Augspurger, Murray (DNS) Davies
Keyser Manufacturing Last Chance Showdown (Winner transfers): Hess, Robinson, Benedum, Pettyjohn, Conley, Stone, Lance
World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners (awards presented to noted finisher/qualifier or next highest displaying decal):
Ohlins Shocks ($50 cash to fast qualifier): Rick Eckert
Eibach Springs (one free spring to each B-Main winner): Billy Moyer/Mark Whitener
VP Race Fuels ‘Nice Jugs’ Award: (One VP 5-gallon container to fastest qualifier who misses A-Main): Chip Brindle
Wrisco Aluminum (3 sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner only): Darrell Lanigan
Armor All (One case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main): Morgan Bagley
Comp Cams ($50 certificate to A-Main winner): Josh Richards
QuarterMaster ($100 certificate to A-Main winner, $50 certificate to 15th-place finish): Darrell Lanigan/Bub McCool
MSD Ignition ($50 cash to A-Main winner): Tim McCreadie
STP ($50 cash to 2nd-place finisher in A-Main): Tim McCreadie
XS Power ($50 cash to 3rd-place finisher in A-Main): Chub Frank
Roush Yates ($50 cash to 4th-place finisher in A-Main): Josh Richards
JE Pistons ($50 cash to 5th-place finisher in A-Main): Rick Eckert
Dominator ($50 cash to 6th-place finisher in A-Main): Chub Frank
American Race Wheels ($50 cash to 7th-place finisher in A-Main): Brady Smith
VP Race Fuels ($50 cash to 8th-place finisher in A-Main): Chub Frank
Edelbrock Manifolds ($50 cash to 9th-finisher in A-Main): Morgan Bagley
Comp Cams ($50 cash to 10th-place finisher in A-Main): Brandon Sheppard
XS Power ($60 product certificate to 11th-place finisher in A-Main): Dave Hess Jr.
Cometic Gasket ($50 cash to 12th-place finisher in A-Main): Tim Fuller
JRI Shocks ($50 cash to 13th-place finisher in A-Main): Bub McCool
Super Flow Dynos ($50 cash to 14th-place finisher in A-Main): Dave Hess Jr.
JE Pistons (one complete set of JE Pro Seal rings to 16th-place finisher in A-Main, redeemable w/next purchase of set): Tyler Ivey
Klotz Lubricants ($50 cash to 17th-place finisher in A-Main): Tyler Ivey
Roush Yates ($50 gift card to 18th-place finisher in A-Main): Gregg Satterlee
QuarterMaster ($50 certificate to 19th-place finisher in A-Main): Billy Moyer
Arizona Sport Shirts ($100 certificate to 20th-place finisher in A-Main): Pat Doar
JE Pistons (one complete set of JE Pro Seal rings to 21st-place finisher in A-Main, redeemable w/next purchase of set): Pat Doar
Roush Yates ($50 gift card to 22nd-place finisher in A-Main): Gregg Satterlee
MSD Ignition ($25 cash to 24th-place finisher in A-Main): Ivedent Lloyd Jr.
XS Power ‘Power Move of the Race’ ($60 product certificate): Darrell Lanigan
Roush Yates ($25 gift card to driver who leads most laps in the A-Main): Mike Marlar
2013 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of Feb. 16 – 4 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):
1. Josh Richards 582
2. Shane Clanton 574 (-8)
3. Darrell Lanigan 572 (-10)
4. Rick Eckert 520 (-62)
5. Morgan Bagley 516 (-66)
6. Tim Fuller 506 (-76)
7. Tim McCreadie 504 (-78)
8. Scott James 502 (-80)
9. Eric Wells 494 (-88)
10. Chub Frank 492 (-90)
11. Clint Smith 490 (-92)
12. Mike Marlar 486 (-96)
13. Dillon Wood 480 (-102)
14. Pat Doar 478 (-104)
15. Bub McCool 458 (-124)
16. Gregg Satterlee 452 (-130)
17. Brandon Sheppard 434 (-148)
18. Kent Robinson 428 (-154)
19. Casey Roberts 426 (-156)
20. Kenny Pettyjohn 376 (-206)
The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Gravely Tractors (Official Lawn Equipment), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), Vicci (Official Uniform), VP Racing Fuel (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and McCarthy’s One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning (Raye Vest Memorial Pill Draw Award); in addition to contingency sponsors Butlerbuilt, Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Dominator Race Products, Edelbrock, Eibach Springs, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, QuarterMaster, Roush Yates Performance Parts, Superflow Dynos, Wrisco Aluminum and XS Power Racing Batteries; along with manufacturer sponsors Capital Race Cars, Integra Shocks, GRT Chassis, Jake’s Carts, Longacre, Racing Electronics, Rocket Chassis, TNT Rescue, and Warrior Chassis.
LIVE UPDATES 2/16: World of Outlaws Late Model Series ‘Bubba Army Late Model Winter Nationals’ Night 2 At Bubba Raceway Park
OCALA, FL – Feb. 16, 2013 – The World of Outlaws Late Model Series ‘Bubba Army Late Model Winter Nationals’ tripleheader continues tonight at Bubba Raceway Park with a 50-lap, $10,000-to-win A-Main.
Following a highly-competitive 35-lap opener last night that saw Darrell Lanigan reach Victory Lane for the fourth time in six career starts at the three-eighths-mile, D-shaped oval, this evening’s middle event will set the stage for tomorrow night’s inaugural 75-lap, $20,000-to-win ‘Super Sunday Showdown.’
For live updates of all the news, pit notes and results from tonight’s action, click the ‘Full Story’ link below. Be sure to refresh your browser throughout the night to see the latest information.
Darrell does it again
10:15 p.m. – Darrell Lanigan is at this trailer celebrating his second Winter Nationals victory in as many nights and the fifth win of his career at Bubba Raceway Park — but this one certainly didn’t come easy.
Lanigan lost the lead to Mike Marlar on lap 11 of the 50-lap A-Main, and with passing becoming increasingly difficult on the wind-swept track surface it appeared that the defending WoO LMS champion was in trouble. But Marlar slipped slightly out of the groove rounding turns three and four heading to the white flag, allowing Lanigan to fill the gap and regain the top spot as lap 49 was scored. Lanigan held on over the remaining circuit to beat a disappointed Marlar by 0.499 of a second.
A-Main Finish: 1. Darrell Lanigan, 2. Mike Marlar, 3. Tim McCreadie, 4. Josh Richards, 5. Shane Clanton, 6. Rick Eckert, 7. Brady Smith, 8. Chub Frank, 9. Morgan Bagley, 10. Brandon Sheppard, 11. Clint Smith, 12. Tim Fuller, 13. Jonathan Davenpoprt, 14. Dave Hess Jr., 15. Bub McCool, 16. Dillon Wood, 17. Tyler Ivey, 18. Kent Robinson, 19. Billy Moyer, 20. Scott James, 21. Pat Doar, 22. Eric Wells, 23. Gregg Satterlee, 24. Casey Roberts, 25. Ivedent Lloyd Jr.
Feature coming up
9:05 p.m. – Qualifying is complete after B-Main victories were claimed by Billy Moyer and Chub Frank and the Keyser Manufacturing Last Chance Showdown went to Dave Hess Jr., who earned the final transfer spot into the 50-lap A-Main.
Teams are now making final preparations for the headliner, which will be heading onto the track in roughly 10 minutes.
A-Main Lineup:
Row 1: Jonathan Davenport/Darrell Lanigan
Row 2: Shane Clanton/Mike Marlar
Row 3: Scott James/Tim McCreadie
Row 4: Casey Roberts/Josh Richards
Row 5: Brandon Sheppard/Rick Eckert
Row 6: Morgan Bagley/Brady Smith
Row 7: Ivedent Lloyd Jr./Clint Smith
Row 8: Eric Wells/Gregg Satterlee
Row 9: Billy Moyer/Chub Frank
Row 10: Bub McCool/Tim Fuller
Row 11: Tyler Ivey/Dillon Wood
Row 12: Dave Hess Jr./Pat Doar
Row 13: Kent Robinson
Non-stop prelims
7:35 p.m. – The four 10-lap heat races were spun off in rapid fashion without a single caution flag, with victories going to Josh Richards, Scott James, Mike Marlar and Darrell Lanigan.
Only one driver, Texan Allen Murray, failed to finish a heat. He dropped out on lap six of the third qualifier.
The track crew is currently doing some work on the surface before the twin 12-lap B-Mains begin.
Heat race finishes can be seen here.
Record-breaker
7:05 p.m. – Josh Richards was fastest in Ohlins Shocks Time Trials for the second consecutive night and third time in four events this season, turning a lap of 15.046 seconds. It was his 34th career fast-time honor on the WoO LMS, moving him out of tie with Rick Eckert for the number one spot as the tour’s alltime leader in the category.
Ironically, Eckert was second-fastest in time trials with a lap of 15.098 seconds.
For full results from qualifying, click here.
Usual suspects
6:35 p.m. – There were no surprises among the five fastest drivers in tonight’s hot laps. Last night’s winner, Darrell Lanigan, led the way with a lap of 14.874 seconds — a full second slower than last night’s top qualifying lap, indicating that drier track conditions are prevailing with the wind blowing steadily. Josh Richards was second-fastest in practice at 14.900 seconds, followed by Tim McCreadie (15.004), Scott James (15.080) and Mike Marlar (15.110).
Ohlins Shocks Time Trials are now underway…
Additions, subtractions
5:55 p.m. – Two drivers who competed in last night’s program have not returned tonight: Jimmy Mars, who left the track after dropping out of last night’s A-Main, and Ray Cook, who discovered terminal engine problems earlier this afternoon and does not have a backup available.
A new face in the pit area is Christian Augspurger, a 17-year-old up-and-comer from Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. The teenager was unable to compete last night because he’s a junior in high school and couldn’t take a day off from classes.
Considering that Augspurger’s home is three-and-a-half hours southeast of Ocala, Fla., and just an hour-and-a-half north of Miami, it’s quite possible that he is the the Southernmost Dirt Late Model Driver in the Continental United States. Anybody know who would be more southern than him?
Time to roll
5:45 p.m. – A field of 38 cars is ready to compete in tonight’s program, which is about to begin with the completion of the drivers’ meeting. Engines are firing and hot laps will hit the racetrack shortly.
Chill in the air
3:40 p.m. – Conditions will be a bit un-Florida like tonight at Bubba Raceway Park, with Bubba Raceway Park officials, race teams and fans dealing with wind and cool temperatures. WoO LMS officials will work with the BRP gang to push the show along tonight in order to get the action completed as early as possible.
Last night’s A-Main ended at 10:10 p.m. Tonight’s program will begin one hour earlier (racing at 7 o’clock), so it’s expected that the final checkered flag should fall before temperatures become uncomfortable for attendees.
