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Alberson Beats the Rain & Shirley for Thaw Brawl Win

LaSalle, IL (May 8, 2021) - Saturday the Mars Racing Series was racing against mother nature in order to get the 10th edition of the Thaw Brawl in. With a moved up start time the LaSalle officials pushed ahead to get in the 60-lap event before the rain came.

In Allstar Performance Qualifying it was Garrett Alberson who set overall fast time with a lap of 13.166 seconds. He bested Brian Shirley and Tanner English who were less than a tenth of a second off.

Arizona Sport Shirts Heat Race #1 got things underway. It was outside front row started Tanner English who got the lead early and held on for the heat win. Fast qualifier Garrett Alberson finished in second. Jason Feger and Mike Chasteen Jr finished third and fourth.

During Dirt Track Bank Heat Race #2 defending Mars Champion Brian Shirley walked away with the win. Jeremiah Hurst came home in second with Ryan Unzicker and Rich Bell third and fourth.

This set the stage for the 60-lap, $12,000 to win tenth edition of the Thaw Brawl at LaSalle Speedway. At the drop of the green flag Chatham, IL driver Brian Shirley took the lead early and led until a yellow flew just past the halfway point. On lap 32 during the restart Garrett Alberson was able to jump to the outside and pass Shirley for the lead. A few rain drops fell on the track during and after the caution. Alberson held off Shirley in the closing laps as they maneuvered through lap traffic.

Garrett Alberson and the Roberts Motorsports team was excited as Garrett picked up the biggest win of this career. "I knew if I was gonna beat Shirley I had to give it all I had on the top during the restart." "It was a small field here but a strong field, anytime you can beat Shirley, Tanner, Feger and Unzicker it is a feat." Alberson, not a member or regular on the Mars tour said he always seen this event on Dirt on Dirt and always thought it would be cool to race in it.

Brian Shirley came home with the runner up spot. For the second night in a row Tanner English filled out the podium with his third place finish. Shortly after the feature was finished the clouds broke loose and rained after the start of the Modified feature event.

The next events for the Mars Racing Series will be this Friday night at Farmer City Raceway for the Farmer City 74 paying $10,000 to win. On Saturday night the $15,000 Spring Showcase will take place at Fairbury Speedway.

Keep up-to-date with all the news and information of the Mars Racing Series at www.marsracingseries.com.

 

Fast Qualifier: Garrett Alberson 13.166 seconds

Heat 1: Tanner English, Garrett Alberson, Jason Feger, Mike Chasteen Jr., Travis Stemler, Bob Gardner, Jake Miller, Kilby Vandenbergh

Heat 2: Brian Shirley, Jeremiah Hurst, Ryan Unzicker, Rich Bell, Dale Markham, Jeff Riddell, Ryan Weistart, Kyle Cooper, Mike Mataragas

Feature (60 Laps): Garrett Alberson, Brian Shirley, Tanner English, Ryan Unzicker, Jason Feger, Jeremiah Hurst, Travis Stemler, Bob Gardner, Ryan Weistart, Dale Markham, Jake Miller, Jeff Riddell, Kyle Cooper, Rich Bell, Kolby Vandenbergh, Mike Mataragas, Mike Chasteen Jr.

Contingency Awards:

Allstar Performance Fast Time Award: Brian Shirley

Swift Springs Opposing Fast Time Award: Tanner English

Keyser Manufacturing Hard Charger Award: Bob Gardner

Wilwood Tough Brake Award: Kolby Vandenbergh

Ultrashield Non-Transfer Award: Kyle Cooper

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