O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Results
Friday Night, August 6, 2004
Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY
By Spencer Wilson
JUNCTION CITY, KY--Benji Lee of Raywick, KY scored his first career O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Presented by Arizona Sport Shirts event on Friday Night at the Ponderosa Speedway. Lee in his first full year of dirt late model racing led all the way in taking an impressive Lucas Oil A-Main event winning the 2nd Annual "John Bradshaw Memorial Race" to become the 13th different winner in 18 O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar races in 2004. Lee drove the Kenneth Harlow Racing out of Danville, KY owned #16 C.J. Rayburn Monte Carlo entry sponsored by Lafayette Engineering, Cliffside Farms, PPM Racing Products, A&A Mechanical Services, Curtis Graphics, CJ Slate Tobacco, Hoosier Racing Tires and powered by a Butch Smith Racing Engine grabbed the $3000 first place money over some heavy hitters. Current O'Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass point’s leader, Aaron Hatton of Mt. Sterling, KY finished second for the sixth time in 2004 padding his point lead as he drove the Hatton Racing/Jerry Hatton Used Cars/MasterSbilt Grand Prix to the runner-up position. Finishing third was Steve Barnett of Franklin, IN in his best O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar finish of the year driving the J.D. Byrider/Cornett Engines/GRT Monte Carlo. Finishing in fourth was Don O'Neal of Martinsville, IN behind the wheel of the C.J. Rayburn Race Cars #71 entry and completing the top five was Mike Jewell of Scottsburg, IN in the MPC Motorsports/Cornett Engines/MasterSbilt Grand Prix.
Benji Lee would be quick all night long starting on the outside of the front row as he took the lead right off the bat from another driver in his first full year of dirt late model racing, polesitter, Michael England. Aaron Hatton would start fourth and work his way quickly up to second past England by lap two. Lee would open up a lead on Hatton and the rest of the field in the early going as he set sail around the D-shaped track. Hatton, England, Steve Barnett and Greg Johnson were running in the top five by lap five. A car on the rise in the early going was Victor Lee. Lee started eighth in the field and was up to fourth by lap 11 passing Barnett for that spot. With Benji Lee in control of the race it was going to up to Hatton, England and Victor Lee to hunt down the leader. However on the 14th lap Victor Lee's night ended prematurely as he broke something on the car resulting in a hard collision into the turn four wall. Victor Lee's night ended with severe right front suspension damage on his car as he was towed to the pit area ending a strong run. When the race resumed it was still Benji Lee on the point looking strong in his bid for a career best win. Hatton was running in second trying to stay within contact of Lee after the caution flag. Once the race got going again Barnett would make a move past England to take over the third spot. While this was going on ninth place starter and 2004 Summernationals champion, Don O'Neal was headed to the front bringing Mike Jewell along with him.
With the halfway signal given it was Benji Lee, Hatton, Barnett, O'Neal and Jewell in what would become a track meet over the last half of the race. Lee would start to encounter some lapped traffic and that would allow the fans to get interested again in the race for the lead as Hatton and the rest of the top five would start to close in on Lee. With ten laps to go Hatton, Barnett, O’Neal and Jewell had closed right in on Lee's bumper. With five laps to go Lee would make a daring move in traffic splitting two lapped cars and that was the move that may have won him the race. Before the nice move Hatton and Barnett were bidding to make it a three wide battle for the lead coming off of turn number four, but Lee would hold his groove and when he went by the two lapped cars he had just enough breathing room at that point. Hatton, Barnett, O'Neal and Jewell would not let Lee get away from them keeping his close by in the waning laps of the 40 lapper. With two laps to go Lee was hanging on with some of the best dirt late model drivers in the country tagging on behind him, but he kept his cool and would hold them off in taking a thrilling and popular win with the fans in attendance. Lee thus becomes another new first time winner on the three year old Battle of the Bluegrass Series as he is the 13th different driver to post a win in 2004 for Kentucky's Premier Dirt Late Model Sanctioning Body. Hatton built his point lead up even more despite not winning yet this year he does have six second place finishes this season. Barnett led a trio of Hoosier State drivers across the line taking third followed by O'Neal and Jewell.
Completing the top ten were Jesse James Lay, Greg Johnson, Bobby Wolter Jr., Michael England and Johnny Wheeler.
Wheeler was the Racing Optics/Russell Baker Racing Engines Fast Timer for the 27 entries on hand with a lap of 13.301 seconds. The Crown Spray Power Heat Races went to England, Johnson and Benji Lee. Dennis Selby won the O'Reilly Auto Parts B-Main. Mike Jewell was the PPM Racing Products Hard Charger of the Race.
Race Summary
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Event #18
Ponderosa Speedway
Junction City, KY
Friday Night, August 6, 2004
Racing Optics/Russell Baker Race Engines Fast Time: Johnny Wheeler 13.301
Crown Spray Power Heat #1: Michael England, Aaron Hatton, Johnny Wheeler, Mike Jewell, Jimmy Crabtree
Crown Spray Power Heat 32: Greg Johnson, Jesse James Lay, Victor Lee, Bobby Wolter, Jr., Shannon Thornsberry
Crown Spray Power Heat #3: Benji Lee, Steve Barnett, Don O'Neal, Tyrel Todd, Brad Neat
O'Reilly Auto Parts B-Main: Dennis Selby, Michael Wooldridge, Doug Smith, P.J. Feistritzer, Larry Gray, Jr.
Lucas Oil A-Main (40 Laps): Benji Lee, Aaron Hatton, Steve Barnett, Don O'Neal, Mike Jewell, Jesse James Lay, Greg Johnson, Bobby Wolter, Jr., Michael England, Johnny Wheeler, Tyrel Todd, Dennis Selby, Brad Neat, Shannon Thornsberry, Jimmy Crabtree, P.J. Feistritzer, Doug Smith, Michael Wooldridge, Anthony Ferguson, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Victor Lee, Larry Gray, Jr., Jordan Bland, Jake Henry
Friday Night, August 6, 2004
Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY
By Spencer Wilson
JUNCTION CITY, KY--Benji Lee of Raywick, KY scored his first career O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Presented by Arizona Sport Shirts event on Friday Night at the Ponderosa Speedway. Lee in his first full year of dirt late model racing led all the way in taking an impressive Lucas Oil A-Main event winning the 2nd Annual "John Bradshaw Memorial Race" to become the 13th different winner in 18 O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar races in 2004. Lee drove the Kenneth Harlow Racing out of Danville, KY owned #16 C.J. Rayburn Monte Carlo entry sponsored by Lafayette Engineering, Cliffside Farms, PPM Racing Products, A&A Mechanical Services, Curtis Graphics, CJ Slate Tobacco, Hoosier Racing Tires and powered by a Butch Smith Racing Engine grabbed the $3000 first place money over some heavy hitters. Current O'Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass point’s leader, Aaron Hatton of Mt. Sterling, KY finished second for the sixth time in 2004 padding his point lead as he drove the Hatton Racing/Jerry Hatton Used Cars/MasterSbilt Grand Prix to the runner-up position. Finishing third was Steve Barnett of Franklin, IN in his best O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar finish of the year driving the J.D. Byrider/Cornett Engines/GRT Monte Carlo. Finishing in fourth was Don O'Neal of Martinsville, IN behind the wheel of the C.J. Rayburn Race Cars #71 entry and completing the top five was Mike Jewell of Scottsburg, IN in the MPC Motorsports/Cornett Engines/MasterSbilt Grand Prix.
Benji Lee would be quick all night long starting on the outside of the front row as he took the lead right off the bat from another driver in his first full year of dirt late model racing, polesitter, Michael England. Aaron Hatton would start fourth and work his way quickly up to second past England by lap two. Lee would open up a lead on Hatton and the rest of the field in the early going as he set sail around the D-shaped track. Hatton, England, Steve Barnett and Greg Johnson were running in the top five by lap five. A car on the rise in the early going was Victor Lee. Lee started eighth in the field and was up to fourth by lap 11 passing Barnett for that spot. With Benji Lee in control of the race it was going to up to Hatton, England and Victor Lee to hunt down the leader. However on the 14th lap Victor Lee's night ended prematurely as he broke something on the car resulting in a hard collision into the turn four wall. Victor Lee's night ended with severe right front suspension damage on his car as he was towed to the pit area ending a strong run. When the race resumed it was still Benji Lee on the point looking strong in his bid for a career best win. Hatton was running in second trying to stay within contact of Lee after the caution flag. Once the race got going again Barnett would make a move past England to take over the third spot. While this was going on ninth place starter and 2004 Summernationals champion, Don O'Neal was headed to the front bringing Mike Jewell along with him.
With the halfway signal given it was Benji Lee, Hatton, Barnett, O'Neal and Jewell in what would become a track meet over the last half of the race. Lee would start to encounter some lapped traffic and that would allow the fans to get interested again in the race for the lead as Hatton and the rest of the top five would start to close in on Lee. With ten laps to go Hatton, Barnett, O’Neal and Jewell had closed right in on Lee's bumper. With five laps to go Lee would make a daring move in traffic splitting two lapped cars and that was the move that may have won him the race. Before the nice move Hatton and Barnett were bidding to make it a three wide battle for the lead coming off of turn number four, but Lee would hold his groove and when he went by the two lapped cars he had just enough breathing room at that point. Hatton, Barnett, O'Neal and Jewell would not let Lee get away from them keeping his close by in the waning laps of the 40 lapper. With two laps to go Lee was hanging on with some of the best dirt late model drivers in the country tagging on behind him, but he kept his cool and would hold them off in taking a thrilling and popular win with the fans in attendance. Lee thus becomes another new first time winner on the three year old Battle of the Bluegrass Series as he is the 13th different driver to post a win in 2004 for Kentucky's Premier Dirt Late Model Sanctioning Body. Hatton built his point lead up even more despite not winning yet this year he does have six second place finishes this season. Barnett led a trio of Hoosier State drivers across the line taking third followed by O'Neal and Jewell.
Completing the top ten were Jesse James Lay, Greg Johnson, Bobby Wolter Jr., Michael England and Johnny Wheeler.
Wheeler was the Racing Optics/Russell Baker Racing Engines Fast Timer for the 27 entries on hand with a lap of 13.301 seconds. The Crown Spray Power Heat Races went to England, Johnson and Benji Lee. Dennis Selby won the O'Reilly Auto Parts B-Main. Mike Jewell was the PPM Racing Products Hard Charger of the Race.
Race Summary
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Event #18
Ponderosa Speedway
Junction City, KY
Friday Night, August 6, 2004
Racing Optics/Russell Baker Race Engines Fast Time: Johnny Wheeler 13.301
Crown Spray Power Heat #1: Michael England, Aaron Hatton, Johnny Wheeler, Mike Jewell, Jimmy Crabtree
Crown Spray Power Heat 32: Greg Johnson, Jesse James Lay, Victor Lee, Bobby Wolter, Jr., Shannon Thornsberry
Crown Spray Power Heat #3: Benji Lee, Steve Barnett, Don O'Neal, Tyrel Todd, Brad Neat
O'Reilly Auto Parts B-Main: Dennis Selby, Michael Wooldridge, Doug Smith, P.J. Feistritzer, Larry Gray, Jr.
Lucas Oil A-Main (40 Laps): Benji Lee, Aaron Hatton, Steve Barnett, Don O'Neal, Mike Jewell, Jesse James Lay, Greg Johnson, Bobby Wolter, Jr., Michael England, Johnny Wheeler, Tyrel Todd, Dennis Selby, Brad Neat, Shannon Thornsberry, Jimmy Crabtree, P.J. Feistritzer, Doug Smith, Michael Wooldridge, Anthony Ferguson, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Victor Lee, Larry Gray, Jr., Jordan Bland, Jake Henry
