FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 28, 2010

Mike Marlar takes Magnolia State 100 Victory at Columbus (MS) Speedway Worth $25,010

WINFIELD, TN (September 25, 2010)-A heavily damaged race car and a stout field of 71 competitors could not keep “The Winfield Warrior” from claiming the 21st Annual Magnolia State 100 victory and the $25,010 payday at Columbus Speedway in Columbus, Mississippi.

Two-time event champion and pole sitter Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Georgia bolted to the lead as the green flag waved with outside front row starter David Breazeale of Four Corners, Mississippi giving chase followed by Steve Francis, Mike Marlar, Bub McCool, and Billy Moyer.

Clanton would maintain the lead as he caught the tail of the field by lap ten allowing Breazeale and Francis to close on the leader when the trio began to work heavy lapped traffic. Six circuits later Clanton and Breazeale began to wage a heated battle for the lead with Breazeale pulling the slider to take the lead off turn four on lap 16 as Marlar followed to grab second. Clanton would quickly move back to second on the next round then staging his own slide job for the lead sending Breazeale into the turn four wall ending his night.

Reverting to the previous completed lap would award Marlar with the lead on the restart with Clanton, Francis, Clint Smith, and Bub McCool making up the top five. Marlar held a comfortable leave for the next 13 laps when disaster struck for the leaders as the lap car of Tommy Kerr slammed into the turn four wall collecting Marlar and Clanton causing damage on the top two cars with Marlar receiving the most damage. Marlar was reinstated the lead but with heavy right side damage and half of his spoiler missing his chances of winning looked slim.

Despite the heavy damage, Marlar would hold off a late race charge from Steve Francis and Shane Clanton to claim $25,010 payday in his second career Magnolia State 100 victory. Second place runner, Francis, saw his night end with four laps remaining as his camshaft broke. Clanton went on to finish second with Billy Moyer, 21st starting Chris Madden, and Terry English rounding out the top five.

“If this had four wheels on it, I was going to drive it till it fell apart,” said Marlar in his victory lane interview when asked about the turn four incident with Kerr. “If it wasn’t for David Wells, I might be at the movies tonight,” Marlar added.

Marlar drove the David Wells owned, Well Motorsports, Valley View Enterprises, VP Racing Fuels, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply sponsored to his Magnolia State 100 victory.