Mike Marlar, of Winfield, Tennessee, continued his mastery of Ponderosa Speedway on Friday night to earn his third Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing and fueled by Sunoco victory at the legendary Junction City, Kentucky facility! Mike, who also won with the tour at Ponderosa in 2014 and 2024, earned Fast Time honors during qualifying prior to securing the win in his heat race. After rolling off from the outside of the front row in the 40-lap ‘John Bradshaw Memorial,’ Mike overtook early race leader Garrett Smith on the tenth circuit and never looked back.
The popular driver known as the “Winfield Warrior” survived five caution flags while out front and reached the checkered flag 3.880 seconds ahead of his nearest competition to bag the $7,553 first place prize money. Zack Mitchell moved up two spots to finish a strong runner-up, while Kyle Strickler advanced past five competitors to round out the podium in third. Ninth-starting Michael Chilton also passed a handful of cars to land in the fourth position, while series point leader Garrett Smith rallied back up to fifth after suffering a flat tire on lap thirteen.
“It was a little hard on tires,” quoted Marlar in victory lane. “I don’t know about Zack Mitchell, but definitely on Garrett’s car. He might’ve been having a problem when I got by him, but I’m not sure. It was fun racing with him while it lasted – until he had that flat tire. There was definitely a lot going on there. I just have to thank everyone associated with our team and all of our great sponsors for their continued support!”
Mike Marlar’s eighth career Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series triumph came aboard a Ronnie Delk-owned #157 Longhorn Chassis with sponsorship in part from Delk Equipment Sales, Can-Am Auto Salvage, Langenfelder Mechanical Contractors, Petroff Towing, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Certainteed, VP Racing Fuels, Swift Springs, Midwest Sheet Metal, and Capital Sign Company.
A total of 18 Super Late Model competitors were in the pit area on Friday at Ponderosa Speedway for the annual running of the ‘John Bradshaw Memorial.’ Zack Mitchell was fast right off the liftgate, as he laid down the quickest time in MRP Fantasy Racing hot laps with a lap of 12.688 seconds. Mike Marlar then went fastest in FK Rod Ends qualifying with a time of 12.687 seconds, which earned him an extra $100 courtesy of Shelton’s Body Shop. Garrett Smith and Mike Marlar topped the pair of heat races and were awarded an extra $300 for their prelim wins courtesy of Caton Industrial Painting and American Racer Tires.
The weekend will wrap up in a big way on Saturday, May 9 with the $10,031 to win ‘Johnny Wheeler Memorial’ at Lake Cumberland Speedway. Along with the Spring Nationals Super Late Models on the card will be Pro Late Model ($1,531 to win), Modified ($1,031 to win), Hobby Stock ($531 to win), Mini Stock ($531 to win), and Crown Vic ($531 to win) divisions. The gates will open at 2:00pm with the drivers meeting scheduled for 6:00pm and hot laps to follow.
Grandstand admission at Lake Cumberland will be $30.00 for adults and FREE for kids ages 10 and under. A pit pass will be $45.00 for adults, $20.00 for kids ages 6-10, and FREE for children ages 5 and under. Lake Cumberland Speedway is located at 360 Racetrack Road in Burnside, Kentucky. The track phone number is 606-341-1228 or learn more about the facility online at www.lcspeedway.net.
Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing
Round 7 Race Summary
Friday, May 8, 2026
Ponderosa Speedway (Junction City, Kentucky)
Schaeffer’s Oil Feature Finish (40 Laps):
1. (2) Mike Marlar $7,553
2. (4) Zack Mitchell $3,500
3. (8) Kyle Strickler $2,000
4. (9) Michael Chilton $1,500
5. (1) Garrett Smith $1,200
6. (7) Jeremy Steele $900
7. (11) Jake O’Neil $700
8. (18) Jason Jameson $650
9. (10) Benji Hicks $600
10. (13) Jack Franklin $575
11. (16) Alex Vance $550
12. (3) Camaron Marlar $540
13. (5) Kaede Loudy $530
14. (6) Justin Rattliff $520
15. (12) David Webb $510
16. (14) Logan Walls $500
17. (15) Jimmy Smith $500
18. (17) Dustin Linville DNS
Entries: 18
Lap Leaders: Garrett Smith (Laps 1-9), Mike Marlar (Laps 10-40)
Caution Flags: 5
Deatherage Opticians 4th Place Finisher ($50.00 Product Certificate): Michael Chilton
Deatherage Opticians 13th Place Finisher ($50.00 Product Certificate): Kaede Loudy
MRP Fantasy Racing Hot Laps:
Fastest Lap Overall: Zack Mitchell 12.688
FK Rod Ends Time Trials:
Fast Time Overall: Mike Marlar 12.687
Qualifying – Group A: 1. 10-Garrett Smith, 12.781[2]; 2. 126-Kaede Loudy, 12.973[3]; 3. 57M-Camaron Marlar, 13.095[5]; 4. 0-Jake O’Neil, 13.289[6]; 5. 35-Dustin Linville, 13.306[8]; 6. 79-Jeremy Steele, 13.417[9]; 7. 12F-Jack Franklin, 13.472[1]; 8. 11-Michael Chilton, 13.655[4]; 9. (DNS) 7-Jimmy Smith
Qualifying – Group B: 1. 157-Mike Marlar, 12.687[3]; 2. 57-Zack Mitchell, 12.871[5]; 3. 12-Jason Jameson, 12.938[9]; 4. 16-Justin Rattliff, 13.065[2]; 5. 55-Benji Hicks, 13.111[7]; 6. 8-Kyle Strickler, 13.137[1]; 7. 13W-David Webb, 13.298[8]; 8. 14-Logan Walls, 13.915[4]; 9. (DNS) 95-Alex Vance
Caton Industrial Painting Heat #1 Finish (All Cars Transfer): 1. 10-Garrett Smith[1]; 2. 57M-Camaron Marlar[3]; 3. 126-Kaede Loudy[2]; 4. 79-Jeremy Steele[6]; 5. 11-Michael Chilton[8]; 6. 0-Jake O’Neil[4]; 7. 12F-Jack Franklin[7]; 8. 7-Jimmy Smith[9]; 9. 35-Dustin Linville[5]
American Racer Tires Heat #2 Finish (All Cars Transfer): 1. 157-Mike Marlar[1]; 2. 57-Zack Mitchell[2]; 3. 16-Justin Rattliff[4]; 4. 8-Kyle Strickler[6]; 5. 55-Benji Hicks[5]; 6. 13W-David Webb[7]; 7. 14-Logan Walls[8]; 8. 95-Alex Vance[9]; 9. 12-Jason Jameson[3]
Current Spring Nationals Series Point Standings:
1. Garrett Smith – 1358
2. Brandon Overton – 924
3. Tucker Anderson – 790
4. Benji Hicks – 740
5. Kaede Loudy – 724
6. Jack Franklin – 720
7. Hudson O’Neal – 588
8. Kendall Franklin – 586
9. Zack Mitchell – 586
10. Mike Marlar – 580
2026 Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series Schedule:
February 27 – Swainsboro Raceway (Swainsboro, GA) – RAINED OUT
February 28 – Senoia Raceway (Senoia, GA) – RAINED OUT
March 20 – Modoc Speedway (Modoc, SC) – BRANDON OVERTON
March 21 – Cherokee Speedway (Gaffney, SC) – CHRIS MADDEN
March 27 – Thunderhill Raceway (Summertown, TN) – RAINED OUT
March 28 – Thunderhill Raceway (Summertown, TN) – GARRETT SMITH
April 2 – I-75 Raceway (Sweetwater, TN) – DALE MCDOWELL
April 3 – Wythe Raceway (Rural Retreat, VA) – HUDSON O’NEAL
April 4 – Tazewell Speedway (Tazewell, TN) – BRANDON OVERTON
May 7 – Hidden Hollow Speedway (Colson, KY) – RAINED OUT
May 8 – Ponderosa Speedway (Junction City, KY) – MIKE MARLAR
May 9 – Lake Cumberland Speedway (Burnside, KY) – $10,031 to win
May 22 – Sugar Creek Raceway (Blue Ridge, GA) – $5,053 to win
May 23 – North Georgia Speedway (Chatsworth, GA) – $7,553 to win
May 24 – Duck River Raceway Park (Wheel, TN) – $10,053 to win
For more information on the Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series presented by Coltman Farms Racing and fueled by Sunoco, please point your Internet browser to www.SouthernNationalsSeries.
The tour would like to thank all of our valued marketing partners including: Schaeffer’s Oil & Specialized Lubricants, Coltman Farms Racing, Sunoco Race Fuels, American Race Tires, American Racer South, Delph Communications, E-Z-GO, Spring Pro Precision Equipment, Arizona Sport Shirts, Capital Race Cars, Collins Signs, Deatherage Opticians, DirtCarLift.com, DirtonDirt.com, FK Rod Ends, Interstate Welding & Steel Supply, JM Custom Laser, Knowles Race Parts and Bodies, MasterSbilt Race Cars, MyRacePass Fantasy Racing, SFP Performance Systems, The Joie of Seating, The Steering Buddy, Velocita-USA, Vic Hill Racing Engines, Vinson Sims Construction, and Wiles Driveshafts.
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