RICHMOND, KY – Defending O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series champion Aaron Hatton rolled to his first victory of the season Thursday night at the Richmond Raceway. Hatton became the seventh different winner in seven races for the series in 2005.
Eddie Carrier Jr. and Steve Hillard brought the field down to the green flag will Hillard taking the early lead. Behind the race leader, Carrier Jr., Bobby Wolter Jr., and Aaron Hatton diced it out for the runner-up spot as several early race cautions kept the field tight.
Following a lap 4 restart, Hillard maintained command as Hatton moved along side Carrier Jr. to stage a door-to-door duel for second. Hatton finally cleared the inaugural series champion on lap 10 to assume sole possession of second and set his sights on race leader Hillard. Meanwhile, 16th-starting Tim Tungate was quietly working his way through the field as was 13th-starting Whitney McQueary. A lap 11 caution slowed their charges and erased the lead Hillard had built.
On the restart, Hatton looked to the bottom for a pass on Hillard as Tungate cracked the top five and looked to slip by Wolter Jr. for fourth. With the fans on their feet, Hatton and Hillard raced side-by-side for the point with Carrier Jr. looking to make it three wide. Hatton edged Hillard at the line on lap 13 and cleared him for the lad one circuit later as Carrier Jr. looked to follow suit and Tungate joined the front trio now making it a four dog fight. One lap shy of the halfway point the battle for the lead intensified as Carrier Jr. and Hatton made contact going into turn three collecting Hillard in the accident as well.
With Eddie Carrier Jr. credited for the caution and both Hatton and Hillard able to continue, the restart saw the Mt. Sterling, KY native ahead of Hillard, Tungate, McQueary, and 11th-starting Benji Lee. As Hatton slowly inched ahead of the field, Hillard and Tungate ran doorhandle-to-doorhandle for second and Lee worked by McQueary to nab fourth with Tyrel Todd looking to crack the top five. Todd darted past McQueary on lap 28 and began working on Lee for fourth shortly thereafter.
As the final few laps ticked off, nobody could gain on Hatton as he rolled the Checkered Flag Auto Sales, Jerry Hatton Used Cars, Porter Tire Center, Russell Hatton Mobile Home Center, Speedseeker Performance, Pinetop Motors sponsored Draime powered Rayburn Monte Carlo into victory lane. The win was Hatton’s first of the season and he became the seventh different winner in as many races this season on the 2005 O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series tour.
Second spot went to Sedorus, IL's Steve Hillard in the Doyle Fertilizer/Crumps Lawn & Garden/Estes powered Swartz Monte Carlo. Campbellsville, KY native Tim Tungate finished third in his Guardian Mortgage/J<itle/AMS/Rayburn Monte Carlo. Eubank, KY's Tyrel Todd in grabbed fourth in his Gerald’s Auto Parts/Pulaski Steel & Supply sponsored Bullock powered Rayburn Monte Carlo. Benji Lee, Raywick, KY, rounded out the top five in the A&A Mechanical/Cliffside Farms/Smith/Rayburn Monte Carlo. Whitney McQueary, Bobby Wolter Jr., Eddie Carrier Jr., 19th-starting Michael England, and 17th-starting Chris Combs completed the top ten.
41 O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Late Models were on hand with Whitney McQueary setting fast time during Racing Optics Time Trials with a fast lap of 14.477. VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat Races were won by Aaron Hatton, Steve Hillard, Eddie Carrier Jr., and Mike Jewell.
For more information on the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts, visit our website at www.naradirtcar.com.
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Race Summary
Richmond Raceway - Richmond, KY
Thursday, June 2, 2005
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier: Whitney McQueary/14.477
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #1: Aaron Hatton, Bobby Wolter Jr., Timmy Yeager, Whitney McQueary, Blake Chinn, Bryan Barber, Jason Barrett, Chuckie May, Wayne Chinn, Jerry Rutherford, Sidney Sprague
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #2: Steve Hillard, Anthony Adams, John Gill, Freddy Smith, Chris Combs, Michael England, Shannon Thornsberry, Marty Stepp, Alan Haycraft, Jason Hinkle
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #3: Eddie Carrier Jr., Tyrel Todd, Benji Lee, Mike Luna, Bobby Carrier Jr., Brandon Witt, Doug Smith, Mike Hawley, Dwight Embree, Scott James
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #4: Mike Jewell, Rick Aukland, Mike Marlar, Tim Tungate, Jesse James Lay, Scott Douglas, Frankie Coomer, Ronnie Smith, Jordan Bland, Sandy Goddard Jr.
B-Main #1: Whitney McQueary, Chris Combs, Freddy Smith, Michael England, Blake Chinn, Marty Stepp, Wayne Chinn, Shannon Thornsberry, Jason Barrett, Sidney Sprague, Bryan Barber, Alan Haycraft, Jerry Rutherford, Jason Hinkle
B-Main #2: Jesse James Lay, Tim Tungate, Bobby Carrier Jr., Doug Smith, Mike Luna, Frankie Coomer, Mike Hawley, Brandon Witt, Scott Douglas, Ronnie Smith, Jordan Bland, Sandy Goddard Jr., Dwight Embree
O'Reilly Auto Parts 40-Lap A-Main: Aaron Hatton, Steve Hillard, Tim Tungate, Tyrel Todd, Benji Lee, Whitney McQueary, Bobby Wolter Jr., Eddie Carrier Jr., Michael England, Chris Combs, Jesse James Lay, Freddy Smith, Rick Aukland, Mike Marlar, Marty Stepp, Anthony Adams, Timmy Yeager, Bobby Carrier Jr., Mike Jewell, John Gill, Brandon Witt, Scott James
Race Statistics:
Entries: 41
Lap Leaders: Steve Hillard 1-12, Aaron Hatton 13-40
BoB Rookie of the Race: Chris Combs
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger of the Race: Tim Tungate
BoB Provisionals: Michael England and Scott James
Track Provisionals: Marty Stepp and Brandon Witt
2005 O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Sponsors
O’Reilly Auto Parts – Title Sponsor and “Official Auto Parts Store of the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series”
Lucas Oil - “Official Oil Products of the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series”
VP Racing Fuels - “Official Race Fuel of the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series”
2005 O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Sponsors include: O’Reilly Auto Parts, Lucas Oil Products, Arizona Sports Shirts, VP Racing Fuels, Oval Craft, Hoosier Racing Tires, Dart, PPM, BERT, Rayburn Chassis, American Race Tire, Real Wheels, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, Trailer Parts & Sales, DJ Designs, Racing Optics, Smith Automotive and Machine, Cruise With The Champions, Rattliff Motors, Honda of Prestonsburg, Bullock Racing Engines, and All-Star Performance
Eddie Carrier Jr. and Steve Hillard brought the field down to the green flag will Hillard taking the early lead. Behind the race leader, Carrier Jr., Bobby Wolter Jr., and Aaron Hatton diced it out for the runner-up spot as several early race cautions kept the field tight.
Following a lap 4 restart, Hillard maintained command as Hatton moved along side Carrier Jr. to stage a door-to-door duel for second. Hatton finally cleared the inaugural series champion on lap 10 to assume sole possession of second and set his sights on race leader Hillard. Meanwhile, 16th-starting Tim Tungate was quietly working his way through the field as was 13th-starting Whitney McQueary. A lap 11 caution slowed their charges and erased the lead Hillard had built.
On the restart, Hatton looked to the bottom for a pass on Hillard as Tungate cracked the top five and looked to slip by Wolter Jr. for fourth. With the fans on their feet, Hatton and Hillard raced side-by-side for the point with Carrier Jr. looking to make it three wide. Hatton edged Hillard at the line on lap 13 and cleared him for the lad one circuit later as Carrier Jr. looked to follow suit and Tungate joined the front trio now making it a four dog fight. One lap shy of the halfway point the battle for the lead intensified as Carrier Jr. and Hatton made contact going into turn three collecting Hillard in the accident as well.
With Eddie Carrier Jr. credited for the caution and both Hatton and Hillard able to continue, the restart saw the Mt. Sterling, KY native ahead of Hillard, Tungate, McQueary, and 11th-starting Benji Lee. As Hatton slowly inched ahead of the field, Hillard and Tungate ran doorhandle-to-doorhandle for second and Lee worked by McQueary to nab fourth with Tyrel Todd looking to crack the top five. Todd darted past McQueary on lap 28 and began working on Lee for fourth shortly thereafter.
As the final few laps ticked off, nobody could gain on Hatton as he rolled the Checkered Flag Auto Sales, Jerry Hatton Used Cars, Porter Tire Center, Russell Hatton Mobile Home Center, Speedseeker Performance, Pinetop Motors sponsored Draime powered Rayburn Monte Carlo into victory lane. The win was Hatton’s first of the season and he became the seventh different winner in as many races this season on the 2005 O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series tour.
Second spot went to Sedorus, IL's Steve Hillard in the Doyle Fertilizer/Crumps Lawn & Garden/Estes powered Swartz Monte Carlo. Campbellsville, KY native Tim Tungate finished third in his Guardian Mortgage/J<itle/AMS/Rayburn Monte Carlo. Eubank, KY's Tyrel Todd in grabbed fourth in his Gerald’s Auto Parts/Pulaski Steel & Supply sponsored Bullock powered Rayburn Monte Carlo. Benji Lee, Raywick, KY, rounded out the top five in the A&A Mechanical/Cliffside Farms/Smith/Rayburn Monte Carlo. Whitney McQueary, Bobby Wolter Jr., Eddie Carrier Jr., 19th-starting Michael England, and 17th-starting Chris Combs completed the top ten.
41 O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Late Models were on hand with Whitney McQueary setting fast time during Racing Optics Time Trials with a fast lap of 14.477. VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat Races were won by Aaron Hatton, Steve Hillard, Eddie Carrier Jr., and Mike Jewell.
For more information on the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts, visit our website at www.naradirtcar.com.
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Race Summary
Richmond Raceway - Richmond, KY
Thursday, June 2, 2005
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier: Whitney McQueary/14.477
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #1: Aaron Hatton, Bobby Wolter Jr., Timmy Yeager, Whitney McQueary, Blake Chinn, Bryan Barber, Jason Barrett, Chuckie May, Wayne Chinn, Jerry Rutherford, Sidney Sprague
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #2: Steve Hillard, Anthony Adams, John Gill, Freddy Smith, Chris Combs, Michael England, Shannon Thornsberry, Marty Stepp, Alan Haycraft, Jason Hinkle
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #3: Eddie Carrier Jr., Tyrel Todd, Benji Lee, Mike Luna, Bobby Carrier Jr., Brandon Witt, Doug Smith, Mike Hawley, Dwight Embree, Scott James
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #4: Mike Jewell, Rick Aukland, Mike Marlar, Tim Tungate, Jesse James Lay, Scott Douglas, Frankie Coomer, Ronnie Smith, Jordan Bland, Sandy Goddard Jr.
B-Main #1: Whitney McQueary, Chris Combs, Freddy Smith, Michael England, Blake Chinn, Marty Stepp, Wayne Chinn, Shannon Thornsberry, Jason Barrett, Sidney Sprague, Bryan Barber, Alan Haycraft, Jerry Rutherford, Jason Hinkle
B-Main #2: Jesse James Lay, Tim Tungate, Bobby Carrier Jr., Doug Smith, Mike Luna, Frankie Coomer, Mike Hawley, Brandon Witt, Scott Douglas, Ronnie Smith, Jordan Bland, Sandy Goddard Jr., Dwight Embree
O'Reilly Auto Parts 40-Lap A-Main: Aaron Hatton, Steve Hillard, Tim Tungate, Tyrel Todd, Benji Lee, Whitney McQueary, Bobby Wolter Jr., Eddie Carrier Jr., Michael England, Chris Combs, Jesse James Lay, Freddy Smith, Rick Aukland, Mike Marlar, Marty Stepp, Anthony Adams, Timmy Yeager, Bobby Carrier Jr., Mike Jewell, John Gill, Brandon Witt, Scott James
Race Statistics:
Entries: 41
Lap Leaders: Steve Hillard 1-12, Aaron Hatton 13-40
BoB Rookie of the Race: Chris Combs
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger of the Race: Tim Tungate
BoB Provisionals: Michael England and Scott James
Track Provisionals: Marty Stepp and Brandon Witt
2005 O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Sponsors
O’Reilly Auto Parts – Title Sponsor and “Official Auto Parts Store of the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series”
Lucas Oil - “Official Oil Products of the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series”
VP Racing Fuels - “Official Race Fuel of the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series”
2005 O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Sponsors include: O’Reilly Auto Parts, Lucas Oil Products, Arizona Sports Shirts, VP Racing Fuels, Oval Craft, Hoosier Racing Tires, Dart, PPM, BERT, Rayburn Chassis, American Race Tire, Real Wheels, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, Trailer Parts & Sales, DJ Designs, Racing Optics, Smith Automotive and Machine, Cruise With The Champions, Rattliff Motors, Honda of Prestonsburg, Bullock Racing Engines, and All-Star Performance
