Friday, July 15th, 2022
Marks holds off Courtney for Historical Big One
By Mike Ernst
Photo by Roger Grevenkamp/The Daily Standard
Tyler Courtney (7) had a strong start, but Brent Marks held him off down the stretch to win the 2022 Historical Big One at Eldora Speedway on Thursday night.
ROSSBURG - Brent Marks came to Eldora Speedway this weekend as one of the favorites and Thursday night he answered that speculation, charging from 14th starting position to capture the $100,000 to-win Historical Big One.
Marks, Myerstown, Pennsylvania, passed Tyler Courtney on lap 24 and then held off Courtney over the final 16 laps to capture the largest payday of his career.
"I can't believe this," Marks said from victory lane. "I really didn't think we could do it from that deep but once the track slicked off we started moving forward and the cautions fell at just the right time to help us."
Courtney and Rico Abreu swapped the lead through the mid portions of the race allowing Marks to close in and eventually to take the lead on lap 24.
Courtney charged late but settled for second place.
"Second place (is disappointing)," Courtney said. "It doesn't pay $100,000 but the good news is we come back in a couple days and get to try again."
Abreu finished third ahead of Brad Sweet and 22nd starter Logan Schuchart. Brian Brown, David Gravel, Carson Macedo, Kyle Larson, who pitted under an early caution flag and Donny Schatz completed the top 10.
Sweet, Gravel, Kerry Madsen, Larson, Courtney and Sye Lynch won heat races, Anthony Macri won the C-main and James McFadden captured the B-main.
The big World of Outlaw weekend at Eldora continues tonight with the Knight Before the Kings Royal. Hot laps begin at 6:30 p.m. with the racing beginning at 8 p.m.
