David Seibers and his team celebrate his $3,000 Clarksville victory.
What won the race: David Seibers of Chapel Hill, Tenn., was able to survive several early race cautions, along with a caution with three laps remaining, to lead all 30 laps of Friday's Tuckassee Toilet Bowl Classic. Seibers held off Tim Manville en route to a $3,000 payday on Plunger Night of the tour's 2018 opener. Home-track driver Caleb Ashby was third.
Quotable: “The longer I ran, I got in a better rhythm. There at the end, the 33 car (Tim Manville), I thought he was gonna pass me, but I just tried to hold on ‘cause I ran a little bit softer tire from what everybody else had, but we made it work,” said Seibers. “I knew as long as I held my line, he definitely had to have a whole lot better car than what I had to pass me on the outside.”
Key notes: It was the first career MARS victory for Seibers, who finished a half-second ahead of Manville. ... Seibers won in his third visit to Clarksville. ... It was the third race for Seibers in a new Black Diamond Race Car he acquired in November. ... Thirteen cars completed 30 laps. … The victory completed a clean sweep of the evening, as Seibers also set the fast time and won his heat. … It was the season opener for the MARS Racing Series, which is now under the direction of Chris Tilley, who purchased the tour during the offseason. … East Division champion Tanner English of Benton, Ky., finished fifth. English won seven MARS races at Clarksville last season. … Clarksville hosts two more MARS events this season, including Saturday’s $5,000-to-win weekend finale.
Winner's sponsors: Seibers drove a Black Diamond Race Car powered by a Custom Race Engine and sponsored by SMS Plumbing, GPS Motorsports, All Seasons Comfort Heating and Air Conditioning, Nunley’s Excavating, SCG and Circle E Farms.
Car count: 21
Fast qualifier: David Seibers
Time: 13.451 seconds
Heat race winners: David Seibers, Caleb Ashby, Austin Rettig, , , , ,
Next series race: May 4, Belle-Clair Speedway (Belleville, IL) $3,000