Jeff Marcum wins 40^th Raintree

Jeff Marcum of Morristown picked up the biggest win of his career by winning the 40^th running of Mt Lawn’s prestigious Raintree 100.

Only 15 cars started the event but the race was action packed throughout. Bill Clark of Rushville started on the pole and led the first 9 laps. Clark gave up the lead to Scott Knepley on lap 10. Knepley said in a post race interview “I hated to get the lead that early in the race; I wanted to sit back save my tires for the end.” The first yellow of the race came out on lap 15 when part of the bumper cover from Knightstown’s Brandon Mefford car came off and got lodged under the car of Wes Russell Jr. Russell is from Muncie. Russell, who was running in 4^th place at the time of the yellow, was sent to the tail of the field for the restart. On lap 17 the second yellow flew when William Mefford of Knightstown lost his nose cover when he and Eric Evans tangled on track. Mefford’s nose piece was stuck on the rear bumper of Evans mount for two laps then came off and lodged under the front wheel of Meffords mount. Mefford, who started 14^th, was running in 6^th position at the time of the yellow. The next yellow came out on lap 18 when Brandon Mefford and Knepley spun in turn one. The incident sent Mefford to the pits with a busted radiator and Knepley restarted the race at the rear of the field. That gave the lead to defending champion Kevin Claborn of Cambridge City. Claborn built a sizeable lead on second place Evans and appeared to be on his way to victory as the green stayed out for the next 52 laps. On lap 71 William Mefford stopped at the entrance to the pit area brining out the caution. On the restart Marcum lined up third on the track immediately behind Claborn. It took only 4 laps for Marcum to take the lead from Claborn. Claborn later revealed that he lost his brakes about midway through the race and when the field bunched up behind him he knew his lead was in jeopardy. Marcum led the rest of the way under green for his first Raintree victory. Marcum said after the race “My race strategy was just sort of take it easy until about 30 to go. That yellow made my job a lot easier, but I think I would have caught Kevin even without it.” Claborn did hold on to second followed by Ryan Amonett of New Castle, Terry Cater of New Castle, Evans, Knepley, Russell, Joe Woodring of Muncie, Ralph Lane of Greensburg, William Mefford, Bill Pierce of New Castle, Clark, Brock Anderson of Albany, Brandon Mefford and Johnny Fugate of Cambridge City. There were no preliminary races with the Late Models.

In Thompson Builders Thunder Car action Neil Marcum of Morristown won for the sixth time in as many starts. Jesse Bilbrey of Markleville got the lead of the race from the pole and led the first 21 laps. On lap 1 Colby Lane of Knightstown hammered the short turn wall bringing out a red flag to attend to Lane. Lane climbed out of wrecked racer uninjured to a big round of applause from the fans. Donnie Mandrell of Markleville led lap 22 but Bilbrey came right back and led 23. On lap 23 Mandrell struck the short turn wall bringing out a yellow. That yellow allowed Marcum to line up on the outside of Bilbrey for the restart and that is all he needed to get the lead and a win. Eddie Claborn of Cambridge City finished second followed by Andrew Walker of Sulphur Springs, Bilbrey, Paul Starks of Fortville, Chris Bolyard of Rushville, Mandrell, Pam Neal of Sulphur Springs and Lane. Marcum set fast time at 17.814, Claborn won the Thompson Builders Dash for Cash and Marcum won the heat.

Brian Slavey of New Castle went into victory lane for the first time in several years by winning the MC Auto Repair Hornet feature. Tracey Boroughs of Noblesville took the lead at the drop of the green flag and led the first 5 laps. Slavey led lap 6 but gave way to Jeremy Boling of New Castle on lap 7. Slavey took the lead for good on lap 8 but got heavy pressure for cars behind him and the race was not decided until the final lap. Chase Lane of Knightstown finished second followed by Brian Reynolds of Mooreland, Keith Morris of New Castle, Jared Keller of Anderson, Brian Lewis of Indianapolis, Joyce Dyer of Greenfield, Ryan Claborn of Cambridge City, Steve Durwin of Fort Wayne and Jeff Sorrell of New Castle. Keller set fast time for the Hornets at 19.634 and won the MC Auto Repair Dash for Cash. Claborn, Boling and Durwin won the heats.

Josh McQueary of Middletown won again in the Indy FasKarts and Scott Razor of New Castle pick up the trophy in the street drags.

CARQUEST Auto Parts of New Castle presented each feature winner with an engine hoist as part of their continued support for the drivers at Mt Lawn.