Dirt on Dirt - Moran wins Florence semi after Marlar's downfall

August 8

Florence Speedway,

Union, KY

Sanction: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (North-South 100 Friday second semifeature) - $6,000

Information provided by: Kevin Kovac, series and track reports (last updated August 9, 2:29 pm)

Moran wins Florence semi after Marlar's downfall

North-South 100 Friday second semifeature

Devin Moran
Hudson O'Neal
Justin Rattliff
Garrett Alberson
Carson Ferguson
Logan Zarin
Jason Jameson
Kyle Bronson
Nick Hoffman
Kyle Strickler
Cory Lawler
Donald McIntosh
Brad Rickels
Ryan Montgomery
Tripp Gerrald
Trevor Landrum
Michael LeFevers
Derek Groomer
Daniel Hilsabeck
Josh Vinyard
Mike Marlar
Roger Williams
Donnie Jeschke
Brandon Hardgrove

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Devin Moran takes the checkers for a $6,000 payday.

What won the race: Inheriting the point after race-long leader Mike Marlar tangled with a lapped car, Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, led the final 11 laps at Florence Speedway to capture Friday's second 25-lap semifeature. Moran earned $6,000 in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event by taking the checkers 0.770 of a second ahead of sixth-starting Hudson O'Neal.

Quotable: "Unfortunate for Mikey. I really don't think we had anything for him there, but racing just happens like that sometime. He tried to squeeze in there by that lapped car and they, apparently didn't know he was there, I guess," Moran said, adding that the rest of the way he was "just trusting my guys on the back straightaway, telling me where to go. It was a nail-biter."

Key notes: Polesitter Mike Marlar led the first 14 laps, but the slower car of Roger Williams drifted high exiting turn four and collided with the leader, forcing Marlar to the infield pits. ... Third-place finisher Justin Rattliff has just two career North-South 100 starts, neither finishing better than 14th. ... Jason Jameson started eighth and ran as high as second before fading to seventh. ... Besides the lap-15 caution that forced Marlar out, five other cautions slowed the 25-lapper, the first on the seventh lap when Williams spun inside turn four. ... Donnie Jeschke spun on the lap-eight restart. ... Shortly after the lap-15 restart, Daniel Hilsabeck and Josh Vinyard tangled in turn two. ... Another caution fell on the 17th lap for Tripp Gerrald's turn-two spin. ... The final yellow dropped on the 22nd lap for a slowing Derek Groomer. ... Devin Gilpin (spark plug) scratched after hot laps. ... Driver performances from Thursday and Friday semifeatures set heat-race lineups for Saturday's program that's capped by the $75,000-to-win weekend finale.

On the move: Justin Rattliff of Campbellsville, Ky., started 10th and finished third.

Winner's sponsors: Moran’s Double Down Motorsports Longhorn Chassis carries a Clements Race Engine and sponsorship from Lazydays RV, Big River Steel, McHugh Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Ram Fiat, CarSourceAuto.com, Red Oak Pub, C&W Trucking & Sons, Inc., Bomag, Southeastern Equipment, VP Race Fuels, Eibach Springs, Bilstein Shocks, Accu-Force Dynos, Lucas Oil Products, Smoky Mountain Speedway, Haulin’ Haskel’s, Lincoln Smith Racing, GE Auto Sales and WME Detailing.

Points chase: Before Florence: 1. Jonathan Davenport (6,355); 2. Ricky Thornton Jr. (6,340); 3. Hudson O’Neal (6,065); 4. Devin Moran (5,960); 5. Garrett Alberson (5,810); 6. Brandon Sheppard (5,785); 7. Brandon Overton (5,505); 8. Daulton Wilson (5,150); 9. Carson Ferguson (4,840); 10. Donald McIntosh (4,765).

Current weather: Scattered Clouds, 82°F

Car count: 51

Fast qualifier: Mike Marlar

Time: 15.687 seconds

Polesitter: Mike Marlar

Heat race winners: Mike Marlar, Devin Moran, Garrett Alberson

Next series race: August 9, Florence Speedway (Union, KY) $75,000

Editor's note: Corrects 19th- to 21st-place finishers.

From staff reports

UNION, Ky. — Live updates from Friday’s 43rd annual North-South 100 second preliminary night, highlighted by two 25-lap, $6,000-to-win split-field semifeatures for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Semifeature

Inheriting the point after race-long leader Mike Marlar tangled with a lapped car, Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, led the final 11 laps at Florence Speedway to capture Friday's second 25-lap semifeature. Moran earned $6,000 in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event in taking the checkers 0.770 of a second ahead of sixth-starting Hudson O'Neal.

Semifeature lineup

(25 laps)

Row 1: Mike Marlar, Devin Moran
Row 2: Garrett Alberson, Carson Ferguson
Row 3: Nick Hoffman, Hudson O'Neal
Row 4: Donald McIntosh, Jason Jameson
Row 5: Logan Zarin, Justin Rattliff
Row 6: Kyle Strickler, Cory Lawler
Row 7: Ryan Montgomery, Kyle Bronson
Row 8: Trevor Landrum, Brad Rickels
Row 9: Tripp Gerrald, Derek Groomer
Row 10: Donnie Jeschke, Brandon Hardgrove
Row 11: Michael LeFevers, Daniel Hilsabeck
Row 12: Roger Williams, Josh Vinyard
Row 13: Devin Gilpin

Heat race results

(Eight laps; all transfer)

First heat: Mike Marlar, Carson Ferguson, Donald McIntosh, Justin Rattliff, Ryan Montgomery, Brad Rickels, Donnie Jeschke, Daniel Hilsabeck. Scratched: Devin Gilpin.

Second heat: Devin Moran, Nick Hoffman, Jason Jameson, Kyle Strickler, Kyle Bronson, Tripp Gerrald, Brandon Hardgrove, Roger Williams.

Third heat: Garrett Alberson, Hudson O'Neal, Logan Zarin, Cory Lawler, Trevor Landrum, Derek Groomer, Michael LeFevers, Josh Vinyard.

Time trials

Group B
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 15.687
2. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 15.936
3. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 15.990
4. Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 15.997
5. Nick Hoffman (9), Mooresville, N.C., 16.074
6. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 16.110
7. Daniel Hilsabeck (22), Earlham, Iowa, 16.122
8. Kyle Strickler (8k), Mooresville, N.C., 16.232
9. Logan Zarin (1z), Moon Township, Pa., 16.233
10. Justin Rattliff (16J), Campbelsville, Ky., 16.247
11. Tripp Gerrald (4), Versailles, Ky., 16.255
12. Cory Lawler (93L), Hanover, Pa., 16.257
13. Donald McIntosh (79), Dawsonville, Ga., 16.328
14. Jason Jameson (12), Lawrenceburg, Ind., 16.383
15. Derek Groomer (D48), Bloomington, Ind., 16.399
16. Ryan Montgomery (12m), Fairmont, W.Va., 16.517
17. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 16.579
18. Trevor Landrum (18), Florence, Ky., 16.643
19. Brad Rickels (15R), Verona, Ky., 16.861
20. Brandon Hardgrove (22B), Burnside, Ky., 16.870
21. Michael LeFevers (90), Cincinnati, Ohio, 17.169
22. Donnie Jeschke (99J), Dayton, Ohio, 17.738
23. Roger Williams (15w), Florence, Ky., 17.874
24. Josh Vinyard (96), Danville, Ky., 17.992
25. Devin Gilpin (1G), Columbus, Ind., no time

Friday’s schedule 

(All times local)
2 p.m. - Hall of Fame building opens
2:30 p.m. - Pits closed and cleared
3 p.m. - Pits reopen
3:15 p.m. - Tech and registration opens
5:30 p.m. - Grandstands closed and cleared
6 p.m. - Grandstands reopen
6:15 p.m. - Tech and registration closes
6:30 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
7 p.m. - On-track activity (Hall of Fame building closes)
- Late Model hot laps
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Late Model consolations (10 laps)
Intermission/track prep
- Late Model first semifeature (25 laps)
- Late Model second semifeature (25 laps)