4/7/2024
Mike Marlar
Marlar sweeps XR's Spring Thaw at Volunteer Speedway
Mike Marlar broke out the broom over the weekend in Volunteer Speedway’s Spring Thaw with his Skyline Motorsports No. 157 / Truck Country / Bruening Rock Products / Mesilla Valley Transportation / Can-Am Auto Salvage / Petroff Towing / Longhorn Race Car Super Late Model.
Marlar won Saturday night’s $30,000 top prize before wiring Sunday afternoon’s $12,000-to-win program to complete the XR Super Series weekend sweep.
En route to his second win of the weekend on Sunday, Marlar had to turn back the advances of a hard-charging Devin Moran.
“We had a really good car there, and Devin (Moran), man, he made me work for it,” Marlar said in Victory Lane on Sunday evening. “He slid me down there and I got back by him, but that’s fun racing with Devin and his whole team. The track was awesome today, really smooth from top to bottom. Sunday, day race, you know, we raced all over pretty daggum good and had a cushion on one end and could run middle-to-bottom on the other end, so definitely a fun race and ol’ Devin had me sweating there.”
Mike Marlar returned to the driver’s seat of the Skyline Motorsports No. 157 Late Model over the weekend for a pair of XR Super Series sanctioned events at Volunteer Speedway (Bulls Gap, Tenn.).
After Friday’s opener was shifted by Mother Nature to Sunday, Mike timed in second-fastest in his qualifying group on Saturday before picking up a flag-to-flag victory in his heat race.
Starting the Spring Thaw A-Main in the fourth position, Marlar grabbed the lead on the 15th circuit after race leader Dale McDowell retired with mechanical issues, and never looked back, pacing the remainder of the 60-lapper to secure the $30,000 top prize. The win marked his fourth of the season and first of his career with the XR Super Series.
“We were in position to capitalize when Dale (McDowell) ran into trouble there, and from there this car was on point, and we got the win,” Marlar shared. “This Skyline Motorsports team is really strong, and we’re getting better every time out. Thanks to everyone who supports us and makes it all possible.”
Back at the 4/10-mile oval on Sunday, Marlar topped Ross Bailes in his heat to capturing a convincing heat win. Leading flag-to-flag in the 40-lap feature, Mike turned back a late challenge from Devin Moran to claim his second victory of the weekend and the $12,000 payday. He finished 0.806 seconds ahead of Moran with Jimmy Owens rounding out the podium.
Full results from the events are available at www.XRSuperSeries.com.
The team is currently evaluating their upcoming schedule for possible events before resuming Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series action later this month.
Article Credit: Wells Racing Photography
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