AUDIO/RECAP: Marinak Survives Closing Scramble for Outlaw Truck Victory in Atlanta

HAMPTON, Ga. — Recap and photo by Race Chaser Online Managing Editor Jacob Seelman for Real Sim Racing — LSRTV audio —

It took a wild closing scramble to make it happen, but Stefan Marinak finally broke a nearly six month winless drought in Real Sim Racing broadcast competition on Wednesday night.

Marinak slid past Jose Gonzalez on lap 94 and cruised through the last 17 laps of the Peach State 175 to notch his first Outlaw Truck victory of 2015, as well as his first career win in the series, after starting eighth on the grid at the outset of the night.

Marinak had to endure nearly losing the lead to Thomas George’s No. 53 Monster Energy Toyota Tundra with eight laps to go, but managed to use the high lane to keep the lead and never look back.

“That was awesome racing,” Marinak smiled in Victory Lane. “I think [Thomas] was faster than I was, and I thought I was done when he got by me in three and four [on lap 118] but I was thankfully able to get him loose and clear him again. From there I was mirror-driving, trying to see where he was beating me in turns one and two, and once I was able to defend that I could hold him off.”

George slapped the wall coming off of turn two on the final lap and ceded the runner-up spot to his teammate Jeff Ward, but was still satisfied with his overall result in the end — coming home third.

“I was pushing it to its limit there, and just crossed the line there at the end,” George said. “I wanted to win, but at that point, I decided [my teammate] Jeff Ward is running for points in this deal and I’m not, so I gave him the second spot there at the end to try and help him out. I definitely was going for it though.”

Chase Cabre charged from a provisional starting spot in 28th to finish fourth — his second straight =RSR= top-five — and Gonzalez hung on to round out the top five after leading the most laps (32) on the night.

Polesitter Nathan Little led 12 laps early, but faded to eighth by the checkered flag, while another early leader — C.J. LaVair — started third and led 14 laps before ultimately finishing 19th, the last car on the lead lap.

The race was slowed five times by the yellow flag for 20 laps, with 10 total lead changes between seven different drivers.

The =RSR= Outlaw Truck Series returns to action on April 22 for round four of their 2015 season, the Bluegrass Brawl from Kentucky Speedway (9:30 p.m. Eastern on LSRTV).

Audio with race winner Stefan Marinak: