By Michael Despain
Glasgow, KY-August 27-Before a standing room only crowd and with the strongest field in recent memory in attendance, Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, ILL made his first ever visit to Barren County Speedway a profitable one as he picked up the 23rd Annual Kentucky Klassic presented by the Lucas Oil NARA DirtCar Series. Babb also is now the 18th different winner of the prestigious, which coincides with his car number 18 as well. Other division winners on the evening were Ricky Arms of Moss, TN in Modifieds, Larry Greer of Bowling Green, KY in Pro Street, Jimmy Lyon of Glasgow, KY in Pure Street, and Jeremy Griggs of Cave City, KY in Chevettes.
Rick Aukland and Babb would bring the field to the green flag, with Billy Moyer, Victor Lee, and Terry English in pursuit. Caution would wave on lap 3 as John Gill would stop in turn four after jumping the berm of the infield in turn two, but Gill would be able to continue. Back under green, Babb would set a blistering pace at the point, as Moyer would pressure Aukland for second, with Don O'Neal now in the top five as well, battling Lee for fourth. Moyer would finally get second from Aukland, while O'Neal and Lee would continue to mix it up for fourth. Babb would catch slower traffic on lap 15 and this would allow Moyer to close on him for the race lead, as O'Neal had made his way to third and was just a few car lengths off of Moyer's bumper. The final caution of the event waved on lap 19 as Gill would spin in turn four and his night would be finished. On this double file restart, Babb would again get away, with O'Neal and Moyer getting it on for second, before O'Neal would slide by Moyer for the spot. As Babb again began to pull away, Terry English and R.J. Conley would battle for fourth, while Brad Neat and Mike Marlar were charging through the field as well. Marlar would finally get back Conley for fifth, and battle with English for fourth, while Neat and Conley would then mix it up for sixth. As the leaders got in heavy traffic with 15 laps, O'Neal would close in on Babb, with Moyer right there as well. Babb would hold off all charges to take the win in the Arkansas Motors owned Car City, J and J Steel, Watters Auto Land, Platinum Motors and RV, Hoosier Tires by Smash #18 C.J. Rayburn Race Cars, Jay Dickens Race Engines powered #18. O'Neal, Moyer, 20th starting Marlar, and English completed the top five. Rounding out the top ten were 14th starting Brad Neat, Conley, Greg Johnson, Lee, and Darrell Lanigan. Forty-six entries representing seven states saw John Gill be the Racing Optics/Russell Baker Race Engines fast qualifier with a 14.14 second lap. The Crown Spray Power Heats were scored by Moyer, Babb, Lee, and Aukland. The O'Reilly Auto Parts B-Mains were won by Steve Barnett and Brad Neat. NARA series provisionals went to Freddy Smith and Marlar, while Johnny Wheeler and Tim Tungate were track provisionals.
The 20 lap Modified feature would see Ricky Arms go flag to flag to take the win in his Honest Abe Log Homes, Crowe's Auto Sales, Arms Body Shop, Simpson, Trick Flow, Bilstein sponsored #4 Lightning Chassis, Scott Pass Competition Race Engines mount. Kelly Riggs would have his best career finish in his rookie second with a second, while Leonard Pierce, Roger Vincent, and Freddy Garmon completed the top five. Kevin Burt would head up the second five, followed by Stacey York, Justin Ratliff, Robbie Sanders, and Allan Matthews. Arms and York were heat winners.
Larry Greer made it two wins in a row by taking the 15 lap Pro Street feature win aboard his Quick Fuel Technologies, Elite Signs, Larco Truck Repair, Kendall Racing Oil, AFCO, TNT Race Cars #9 entry. Shawn Simpson would go second, followed by Clifton Wheeler, Dave Crawford, and Richard Biggs. The rest of the top ten were Daryl Butler, Robert Davis, Ronnie Rogers, Gary Robertson, and Ashley Coffey. Simpson and Crawford won the heats.
Jimmy Lyon scored another win in the 15 lap Pure Street main event in the Pedigo's Drive Inn, Southern KY Cylinder Heads, Sherfey's Shell, Auto Glass Express, Houchens Racing #21. Garnett Eldridge, Bryant Wilson, Jacob Harvey, and Mitchell Vernon rounded out the top five. Completing the top ten were Terry Kelsay, Josh Allen, David York, Robbie Houchens, and Nathan Butler. Heats were won by Lyon and Vernon.
The Chevettes ran a feature event only and Jeremy Griggs won this main event in his Taylor Auto Sales, 31E Bait and Tackle, 31E Antique Mall, Prime Home Entertainment #1 mount. Mark McFall and Chris Jennings completed the field.
SUMMARY-Barren County Speedway-Glasgow, KY-August 27, 2004
NARA LATE MODELS (46 entries)
Racing Optics/Russell Baker Race Engines Top Qualifier- John Gill 14.14
Crown Spray Power 1st Heat- Billy Moyer, Scott James, John Gill, Steve Barnett
Crown Spray Power 2nd Heat- Shannon Babb, Terry English, Don O'Neal, Johnny Wheeler
Crown Spray Power 3rd Heat- Victor Lee, Darrell Lanigan, Greg Johnson, Michael England
Crown Spray Power 4th Heat- Rick Aukland, R.J. Conley, Bryan Barber, Freddy Smith
O'Reilly Auto Parts 1st B Main- Barnett, Rick Eckert, Kevin Claycomb, Randle Chupp, Mike Marlar
O'Reilly Auto Parts 2nd B Main- Brad Neat, Michael England, Jimmy Owens, Mike Jewell, Smith
NARA Provisionals- Marlar and Smith
Track Provisionals- Wheeler and Tim Tungate
Lucas Oil A-Main 23rd Annual Kentucky Klassic- Babb, O'Neal, Moyer, Marlar, English, Neat, Conley, Johnson, Lee, Lanigan, Owens, James, Smith, Eckert, Aukland, Wheeler, England, Tungate, Barnett, Barber, Gill, Claycomb
MODIFIEDS (19 entries)
1st Heat- Ricky Arms, Roger Vincent, Leonard Pierce, Terry Edwards
2nd Heat- Stacey York, Kelly Riggs, Freddy Garmon, Aaron Coffey
Feature- Arms, Riggs, Pierce, Vincent, Garmon, Kevin Burt, York, Justin Ratliff, Robbie Sanders, Allan Matthews, Butch Shay, Bill Geiger, Coffey, Terrelton Young, Joe Gray, Jeff Jones, Edwards
PRO STREET (13 entries)
1st Heat- Shawn Simpson, Larry Greer, Gary Robertson, Robert Davis
2nd Heat- Dave Crawford, David Huff, Richard Biggs, Daryl Butler
Feature- Greer, Simpson, Clifton Wheeler, Crawford, Biggs, Butler, Davis, Ronnie Rogers, Robertson, Ashley Coffey, Huff, Jeff Lyon
PURE STREET (18 entries)
1st Heat- Jimmy Lyon, Bryant Wilson, Terry Kelsay, Jacob Harvey
2nd Heat- Mitchell Vernon, Joe Blair, Garnett Eldridge, Gary Brooks
Feature- Lyon, Eldridge, Bryant Wilson, Harvey, Vernon, Kelsay, Josh Allen, David York, Robbie Houchens, Nathan Butler, Thomas Sutton, Tyler Young, Gary Brooks, Blair
CHEVETTES (3 entries)
Feature- Jeremy Griggs, Mark McFall, Chris Jennings
Glasgow, KY-August 27-Before a standing room only crowd and with the strongest field in recent memory in attendance, Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, ILL made his first ever visit to Barren County Speedway a profitable one as he picked up the 23rd Annual Kentucky Klassic presented by the Lucas Oil NARA DirtCar Series. Babb also is now the 18th different winner of the prestigious, which coincides with his car number 18 as well. Other division winners on the evening were Ricky Arms of Moss, TN in Modifieds, Larry Greer of Bowling Green, KY in Pro Street, Jimmy Lyon of Glasgow, KY in Pure Street, and Jeremy Griggs of Cave City, KY in Chevettes.
Rick Aukland and Babb would bring the field to the green flag, with Billy Moyer, Victor Lee, and Terry English in pursuit. Caution would wave on lap 3 as John Gill would stop in turn four after jumping the berm of the infield in turn two, but Gill would be able to continue. Back under green, Babb would set a blistering pace at the point, as Moyer would pressure Aukland for second, with Don O'Neal now in the top five as well, battling Lee for fourth. Moyer would finally get second from Aukland, while O'Neal and Lee would continue to mix it up for fourth. Babb would catch slower traffic on lap 15 and this would allow Moyer to close on him for the race lead, as O'Neal had made his way to third and was just a few car lengths off of Moyer's bumper. The final caution of the event waved on lap 19 as Gill would spin in turn four and his night would be finished. On this double file restart, Babb would again get away, with O'Neal and Moyer getting it on for second, before O'Neal would slide by Moyer for the spot. As Babb again began to pull away, Terry English and R.J. Conley would battle for fourth, while Brad Neat and Mike Marlar were charging through the field as well. Marlar would finally get back Conley for fifth, and battle with English for fourth, while Neat and Conley would then mix it up for sixth. As the leaders got in heavy traffic with 15 laps, O'Neal would close in on Babb, with Moyer right there as well. Babb would hold off all charges to take the win in the Arkansas Motors owned Car City, J and J Steel, Watters Auto Land, Platinum Motors and RV, Hoosier Tires by Smash #18 C.J. Rayburn Race Cars, Jay Dickens Race Engines powered #18. O'Neal, Moyer, 20th starting Marlar, and English completed the top five. Rounding out the top ten were 14th starting Brad Neat, Conley, Greg Johnson, Lee, and Darrell Lanigan. Forty-six entries representing seven states saw John Gill be the Racing Optics/Russell Baker Race Engines fast qualifier with a 14.14 second lap. The Crown Spray Power Heats were scored by Moyer, Babb, Lee, and Aukland. The O'Reilly Auto Parts B-Mains were won by Steve Barnett and Brad Neat. NARA series provisionals went to Freddy Smith and Marlar, while Johnny Wheeler and Tim Tungate were track provisionals.
The 20 lap Modified feature would see Ricky Arms go flag to flag to take the win in his Honest Abe Log Homes, Crowe's Auto Sales, Arms Body Shop, Simpson, Trick Flow, Bilstein sponsored #4 Lightning Chassis, Scott Pass Competition Race Engines mount. Kelly Riggs would have his best career finish in his rookie second with a second, while Leonard Pierce, Roger Vincent, and Freddy Garmon completed the top five. Kevin Burt would head up the second five, followed by Stacey York, Justin Ratliff, Robbie Sanders, and Allan Matthews. Arms and York were heat winners.
Larry Greer made it two wins in a row by taking the 15 lap Pro Street feature win aboard his Quick Fuel Technologies, Elite Signs, Larco Truck Repair, Kendall Racing Oil, AFCO, TNT Race Cars #9 entry. Shawn Simpson would go second, followed by Clifton Wheeler, Dave Crawford, and Richard Biggs. The rest of the top ten were Daryl Butler, Robert Davis, Ronnie Rogers, Gary Robertson, and Ashley Coffey. Simpson and Crawford won the heats.
Jimmy Lyon scored another win in the 15 lap Pure Street main event in the Pedigo's Drive Inn, Southern KY Cylinder Heads, Sherfey's Shell, Auto Glass Express, Houchens Racing #21. Garnett Eldridge, Bryant Wilson, Jacob Harvey, and Mitchell Vernon rounded out the top five. Completing the top ten were Terry Kelsay, Josh Allen, David York, Robbie Houchens, and Nathan Butler. Heats were won by Lyon and Vernon.
The Chevettes ran a feature event only and Jeremy Griggs won this main event in his Taylor Auto Sales, 31E Bait and Tackle, 31E Antique Mall, Prime Home Entertainment #1 mount. Mark McFall and Chris Jennings completed the field.
SUMMARY-Barren County Speedway-Glasgow, KY-August 27, 2004
NARA LATE MODELS (46 entries)
Racing Optics/Russell Baker Race Engines Top Qualifier- John Gill 14.14
Crown Spray Power 1st Heat- Billy Moyer, Scott James, John Gill, Steve Barnett
Crown Spray Power 2nd Heat- Shannon Babb, Terry English, Don O'Neal, Johnny Wheeler
Crown Spray Power 3rd Heat- Victor Lee, Darrell Lanigan, Greg Johnson, Michael England
Crown Spray Power 4th Heat- Rick Aukland, R.J. Conley, Bryan Barber, Freddy Smith
O'Reilly Auto Parts 1st B Main- Barnett, Rick Eckert, Kevin Claycomb, Randle Chupp, Mike Marlar
O'Reilly Auto Parts 2nd B Main- Brad Neat, Michael England, Jimmy Owens, Mike Jewell, Smith
NARA Provisionals- Marlar and Smith
Track Provisionals- Wheeler and Tim Tungate
Lucas Oil A-Main 23rd Annual Kentucky Klassic- Babb, O'Neal, Moyer, Marlar, English, Neat, Conley, Johnson, Lee, Lanigan, Owens, James, Smith, Eckert, Aukland, Wheeler, England, Tungate, Barnett, Barber, Gill, Claycomb
MODIFIEDS (19 entries)
1st Heat- Ricky Arms, Roger Vincent, Leonard Pierce, Terry Edwards
2nd Heat- Stacey York, Kelly Riggs, Freddy Garmon, Aaron Coffey
Feature- Arms, Riggs, Pierce, Vincent, Garmon, Kevin Burt, York, Justin Ratliff, Robbie Sanders, Allan Matthews, Butch Shay, Bill Geiger, Coffey, Terrelton Young, Joe Gray, Jeff Jones, Edwards
PRO STREET (13 entries)
1st Heat- Shawn Simpson, Larry Greer, Gary Robertson, Robert Davis
2nd Heat- Dave Crawford, David Huff, Richard Biggs, Daryl Butler
Feature- Greer, Simpson, Clifton Wheeler, Crawford, Biggs, Butler, Davis, Ronnie Rogers, Robertson, Ashley Coffey, Huff, Jeff Lyon
PURE STREET (18 entries)
1st Heat- Jimmy Lyon, Bryant Wilson, Terry Kelsay, Jacob Harvey
2nd Heat- Mitchell Vernon, Joe Blair, Garnett Eldridge, Gary Brooks
Feature- Lyon, Eldridge, Bryant Wilson, Harvey, Vernon, Kelsay, Josh Allen, David York, Robbie Houchens, Nathan Butler, Thomas Sutton, Tyler Young, Gary Brooks, Blair
CHEVETTES (3 entries)
Feature- Jeremy Griggs, Mark McFall, Chris Jennings
