Sterling Marlin takes popular win in Nashville
Fairgrounds Season Underway for 2011
Series PR
The Ken Ten Pro Late Model Series opened its third season with a bang Saturday night as local hero Sterling Marlin charged from the back of the field to take the victory at Nashville’s Fairgrounds Speedway USA. Marlin had been involved in a practice incident, forcing the Columbia, Tenn., native to use a backup car for the race. Work on the backup car wasn’t completed by qualifying, and because he didn’t complete a qualifying run, Marlin had to start at the rear of the field.
“I wasn’t really worried about the backup,” Marlin said. “It is a good car. We tested it last week.”
Bobby Knox, Jr. captured the AR Bodies fast time award for his qualifying run.
Dakota Stroup was awarded the pole in the post-qualifying re-draw, and led the field to the green flag. On the third lap, Ken Ten veteran Davey Coble lost an engine in turn 4 and backed his car into the wall. Martin Belcher also spun in the incident but received no damage.
From there, the race went green until the 65th lap when Tyler Miles looped his car in turn 2 and Josh Weston pounded the wall trying to avoid him. Miles was able to continue and Weston was unhurt.
The final incident of the day happened on lap 83 as Knox and Michael House collided on the backstretch. House was able to continue, but Knox’s race was finished.
While incidents were happening around him, Marlin was quietly working his way through the field. By mid-race he was running in the top five.
“My crew was giving me lap times, so I knew I was gaining on the leader. The car was working well, so I was confident that I was going to catch them,” Marlin said.
By the time the final caution came out, Marlin had worked his way up to second place, putting him on the outside of leader Stroup as the cars came to the green flag. Marlin rocketed to the lead on the restart and never looked back.
“I’d like to think that we could have run with him if we had another restart, but I don’t know,” Stroup said. “I guess if you have to finish second, a Daytona 500 winner isn’t too bad to finish second to,” he added.
Marlin thanked his team after the victory, adding that they are essentially the same guys who helped him get his start racing at the Fairgrounds in the mid-1970s.
Ken Ten’s next race is at the historic Salem Speedway in Salem, Ind., on June 18.
Official Results:
DriverLaps1. Sterling Marlin100
1002. Dakota Stroup100
1003. Greg Boone100
1004. Michael House100
1005. Daniel Bolden100
1006. Dillon Oliver100
1007. Josh Brock100
1008. Tyler Miles100
1009. Jeff Berg100
10010. Brian Royalty99
9911. Tony Conway99
9912. Brandon Ussery99
9913. Kraig Hall99
9914. Bobby Wingo99
9915. Bobby Knox, Jr.82
8216. Mike Murray68
6817. Josh Weston65
6518. Jimmy Victory63
6319. Brian Bentley61
6120. Martin Belcher55
5521. Jeremy Levenson50
5022. Jared Smith49
4923. Ronnie Campbell40
4024. Chase Knox8
825. Terry Smith3
326. Reed White3
327. Davey Coble2
2Points Standings:
1. Sterling Marlin120
1202. Dakota Stroup116
1163. Greg Boone112
1124. Michael House108
1085. Daniel Bolden104
1046. Dillon Oliver100
1007. Josh Brock96
968. Tyler Miles92
929. Jeff Berg88
8810. Brian Royalty84
8411. Tony Conway80
8012. Brandon Ussery76
7613. Kraig Hall72
7214. Bobby Wingo68
6814. Bobby Knox, Jr.68
6816. Mike Murray60
6017. Josh Weston56
5618. Jimmy Victory52
5219. Brian Bentley48
4820. Martin Belcher44
4421. Jeremy Levenson40
4022. Jared Smith36
3623. Ronnie Campbell32
3224. Chase Knox28
2825. Terry Smith24
2426. Reed White20
2027. Davey Coble16
16
Sterling Marlin got the win at Nashville. (Ken Ten Photo)
