Marlar Wins It For CJ Takes Rayburn Memorial at Brownstown

Photo Credit - Ryan Roberts Photography

C.J. Rayburn meant a lot to many many drivers and people throughout his life especially for last nights Rayburn Memorial winner Mike Marlar. "The Winfield Warrior" wanted this win bad last night for his friend that helped Marlar get into racing in the Super Late Model world. He would slip under leader Nick Hoffman on lap 8 as Hoffman slipped over the edge just past the flagstand then held off Thornton Jr, to take the $10,000 win. Devin Moran took third while Davenport and Hoffman rounded out the top 5.

45 Lucas Oil Late Models took time with Brandon Overton , making only his third ever visit to the Brownstown 1/4 speedway , topping the field. He would go on and win his heat race to start the 40 lap main event from the pole position. Other heats went to Thornton,Hoffman,and Marlar. James Rice and Hudson O'Neal took the B Main wins.

After an extensive track rework before the CJ Rayburn Memorial Nick Hoffman would jump out to the early race lead with Overton Marlar Thornton and Moran chasing down the World of Outlaws Rookie candidate. Hoffman quickly got into the rear of the 26 car starting field moving around putting cars a lap down. The track was in great racing shape as the field had three racing lanes to choose from.

At the halfway mark Marlar led Hoffman , Overton , Moran , and Thornton Jr. as the battles on the track was starting to heat up with no caution flag slowing the action down. Lap 27 saw Thornton starting to make some noise making his way up to third as Hoffman and Marlar were dicing their way through the lapped cars.

The last ten laps the top four under a blanket with Marlar holding off the challenges of Hoffman before Hoffman's right rear was slowly going away as he would later say that he chose the wrong tire as it would go down as he crossed the checkered flags in fifth.

With three to go Moran was working the bottom line as he was using the high line most of the race. He closed up on the lead duo as Marlar , who admitted in his victory lane interview , blocking Thornton to hold on to win the Memorial for his good friend CJ.

Marlar and the rest of the drivers will do it all again tonight this time for 100 laps paying $30,000 to the winner for the 44th Annual Jackson 100. The weather is going to be perfect but if you aren't able to make it you can catch all the action on FloRacing

CJ Rayburn Memorial Results

1. MIKE MARLAR

2. Thornton Jr.

3. Moran

4. Davenport

5. Hoffman

6. Overton

7. McCreadie

8. Jameson

9. Josh Rice

10. Wilson

11. O'Neal

12. Pearson

13. Alberson

14. Chilton

15. Blair

16. Robinson

17. English

18. James Rice

19. Erb Jr.

20. Hughes

21. Chamberlain

22. Erb

23. Lewis

24. Stapleton

25. Gilpin

26. Briggs