By Michael Despain
Bardstown, KY-September 25- Brad Neat of Dunnville, KY scored the biggest win of his career by capturing the 6th Annual Bluegrass 50 worth $5,000 sanctioned by the O'Reilly Auto Parts NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts. It was Neat's first win with the BOB Late Model tour and made him the 15th different winner in 21 BOB events in the 2004 season. Other division winners were Bo Wilson of Bloomfield, KY in Sportsman and Avral Thompson of Loretto, KY in Street Stocks.
The 50 lap Lucas Oil A-Main 6th Annual Bluegrass 50 would see Brad Neat take the initial lead, with Scott James, Steve Barnett, and Mike Marlar going three wide for second. The caution would show quickly as Whitney McQueary would spin in mount in turn two on lap 2. The restart would have Neat still at the point, with Mike Marlar taking second from Scott James on lap 3, as Dustin Neat taking fourth from Barnett. Marlar would close in Brad Neat and the pair would race door to door for the lead, with Marlar grabbing the top spot on lap 10. Bryan Barber would ease his way into the top five at this point and would slip by Barnett for fourth on lap 15, after Barnett had passed Dustin Neat back for fourth two circuits earlier. Marlar would begin to stretch his lead to almost a full straightaway only to that advantage erased as a slowed Tim Tungate in turn three would bring out the caution flag on lap 23. As the field was being realigned under caution, race leader Marlar would experience a deflating right rear tire that would see the leader duck in and make a change for fresh rubber. This would put Neat back at the point on the restart, but the restart would be voided when Joey Daniel, Rick Corbin, Jesse James Lay, and Johnny Wheeler all tangled in turn four. Once the race resumed, Barber would take advantage of the double file restarts and would take second from James on lap 24, only to see James retake the spot on lap 26 with a turn four slidejob, while Jerry Rice was quietly charging to the front as well, as he would slip past Barnett for fourth on lap 26 as well. As James attempted to run down Brad Neat, he would get the help of what would be the final caution flag as Aaron Hatton got crossed up in turn one and the rides on Victor Lee and Tyrel Todd would crash hard in turn one attempting to avoid the spinning Hatton with 31 lap completed. Brad Neat would still be on the point as Barnett would work under Barber and take third on lap 33. Neat and James would distance themselves from the rest of the pack as Rice would slip by Barber for fourth on lap 39, with Mike Jewell going to fifth past Barber one lap later. The final 10 circuits would see James peak beneath Neat on several occasions, with James making one last stab at Neat for the point in turn three on the final lap, with Neat holding off James to take the win in the Greg Neat owned NWN Distributing, Neat, Wilson, and Roberts, Inc., Neat's Service Center, Tarter Gate Company, Stephens Pipe and Steel, Harvey Ellis Motors, Hoosier Tire sponosored #41 MasterSbilt Race Cars, Cornett Race Engines powered entry. James would finish second, with Barnett nipping Rice for third, with 19th starting Jewell completing the top five. The remainder of the top ten would be Barber, 14th starting Timmy Yeager, 13th starting Tim Tungate, 20th starting Corbin, and Hatton. Fifty-seven entries would see James be the Racing Optics/Russell Baker Race Engines fast qualifier at 15.301 seconds. The five Crown Spray Power heat wins went to James, McQueary, Marlar, Barnett, and Neat. Three O'Reilly Auto Parts/ Skillsaw Designs B-Mains were scored by Brandon Kinzer, Jesse James Lay, and Josh Williams. Series provisionals were taken by Tyrel Todd and Johnny Wheeler, while Joey Daniel and Jeff Watson were track provisionals.
Bo Wilson completed his driving career as he announced his retirement after winning the 15 lap Sportsman feature and claiming his fifth Sportsman track championship aboard his Creekside Marine and NAPA, Bart's Mart, Wilson's Used Auto Parts, Rock Drilling, Jayco Contractors, Hannick Home Improvements, Debbie's Day Care, AMS Race Engines #83 entry. Mike Basham would take second, with Pat Hagan, Kevin Wilson, and Daroyl Samples completing the top five. Rounding out the top ten were Timmy Glazer, Jenna Chesser, Russell Martin, Mike Bailey, and Derek Bottoms. Bo Wilson won the dash, with Kevin Wilson winning the heat among the 18 entries that saw Darrell Gaddis set fast time.
Avral Thompson made it two straight wins in taking the 12 lap Street Stock feature behind the wheel of his Cozy Corner, Bluegrass Remodeling, Groucho Barx Internet Service, Teamsters Local 89, Nalley's Exhaust, Maywood Chevron #44 mount. Doug Estep would taking a season best runner-up honor, with Tim Leake, Boss Leake, and Jaime Downs rounding out the top five. Completing the top ten were Daniel Dial, Roy Skaggs, Brian Workman, Perry Robertson, and Scott Hunn. Twenty two entries saw heats go to Estep and Thompson.
SUMMARY-Bluegrass Speedway-Bardstown, KY-September 25, 2004
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCars (57 entries)
Racing Optics/Russell Baker Race Engines Top Qualifier- Scott James 15.301
Crown Spray Power 1st Heat- James, Dustin Neat, Shannon Thornsberry, Joey Kramer
Crown Spray Power 2nd Heat- Whitney McQueary, Patrick Sheltra, Lee Devasier, Chris Carlson
Crown Spray Power 3rd Heat- Mike Marlar, Bryan Barber, Timmy Yeager, Josh Williams
Crown Spray Power 4th Heat- Steve Barnett, Aaron Hatton, Tim Tungate, Brandon Kinzer
Crown Spray Power 5th Heat- Brad Neat, Jerry Rice, Victor Lee, Jesse James Lay
O'Reilly Auto Parts 1st B-Main: Kinzer, Mike Jewell, Kramer, Bobby Wolter, Jr., Tyrel Todd
O'Reilly Auto Parts 2nd B-Main: Lay, Rick Corbin, Tony Traficant, Carlson, Frankie Coomer
O'Reilly Auto Parts 3rd B-Main: Williams, Michael England, James Huff, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Brad Erwin
Series Provisionals- Tyrel Todd, Johnny Wheeler
Track Provisionals- Joey Daniel, Jeff Watson
Lucas Oil A-Main (6th Annual Bluegrass 50)- Brad Neat, James, Barnett, Rice, Jewell, Barber, Yeager, Tungate, Corbin, Hatton, Kinzer, Sheltra, Daniel, Devasier, Watson, Lay, Wheeler, Thornsberry, Williams, Marlar, Lee, Todd, England, McQueary, Dustin Neat
SPORTSMAN (18 entries)
Top Qualifier- Darrell Gaddis
Dash- Bo Wilson, Gaddis, Mike Basham, Billy Benningfield, Timmy Glazer, Pat Hagan
Heat- Kevin Wilson, Brian Wilson, Mike Bailey, Randy Riley
Feature- Bo Wilson, Basham, Hagan, Kevin Wilson, Daroyl Samples, Glazer, Jenna Chesser, Russell Martin, Bailey, Derek Bottoms, Sam Huffer, Doug Wells, Riley, Brian Wilson, Benningfield (DNS-Gaddis)
STREET STOCKS (22 entries)
1st Heat- Doug Estep, Shane Litton, Tim Leake, Lee Gray
2nd Heat- Avral Thompson, Willie Edelen, Daniel Dial, Brian Settles
Feature- Thompson, Estep, Tim Leake, Boss Leake, Jaime Downs, Dial, Roy Skaggs, Brian Workman, Perry Robertson, Scott Hunn, Pat Goodman, Edelen, Joe Blair, Johnny Cecil, Chad Chaney, Brian Chesser, Gray, Settles, Brian McCubbins, Litton (DNS- Casey Payton, Terry Bartley)
Bardstown, KY-September 25- Brad Neat of Dunnville, KY scored the biggest win of his career by capturing the 6th Annual Bluegrass 50 worth $5,000 sanctioned by the O'Reilly Auto Parts NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts. It was Neat's first win with the BOB Late Model tour and made him the 15th different winner in 21 BOB events in the 2004 season. Other division winners were Bo Wilson of Bloomfield, KY in Sportsman and Avral Thompson of Loretto, KY in Street Stocks.
The 50 lap Lucas Oil A-Main 6th Annual Bluegrass 50 would see Brad Neat take the initial lead, with Scott James, Steve Barnett, and Mike Marlar going three wide for second. The caution would show quickly as Whitney McQueary would spin in mount in turn two on lap 2. The restart would have Neat still at the point, with Mike Marlar taking second from Scott James on lap 3, as Dustin Neat taking fourth from Barnett. Marlar would close in Brad Neat and the pair would race door to door for the lead, with Marlar grabbing the top spot on lap 10. Bryan Barber would ease his way into the top five at this point and would slip by Barnett for fourth on lap 15, after Barnett had passed Dustin Neat back for fourth two circuits earlier. Marlar would begin to stretch his lead to almost a full straightaway only to that advantage erased as a slowed Tim Tungate in turn three would bring out the caution flag on lap 23. As the field was being realigned under caution, race leader Marlar would experience a deflating right rear tire that would see the leader duck in and make a change for fresh rubber. This would put Neat back at the point on the restart, but the restart would be voided when Joey Daniel, Rick Corbin, Jesse James Lay, and Johnny Wheeler all tangled in turn four. Once the race resumed, Barber would take advantage of the double file restarts and would take second from James on lap 24, only to see James retake the spot on lap 26 with a turn four slidejob, while Jerry Rice was quietly charging to the front as well, as he would slip past Barnett for fourth on lap 26 as well. As James attempted to run down Brad Neat, he would get the help of what would be the final caution flag as Aaron Hatton got crossed up in turn one and the rides on Victor Lee and Tyrel Todd would crash hard in turn one attempting to avoid the spinning Hatton with 31 lap completed. Brad Neat would still be on the point as Barnett would work under Barber and take third on lap 33. Neat and James would distance themselves from the rest of the pack as Rice would slip by Barber for fourth on lap 39, with Mike Jewell going to fifth past Barber one lap later. The final 10 circuits would see James peak beneath Neat on several occasions, with James making one last stab at Neat for the point in turn three on the final lap, with Neat holding off James to take the win in the Greg Neat owned NWN Distributing, Neat, Wilson, and Roberts, Inc., Neat's Service Center, Tarter Gate Company, Stephens Pipe and Steel, Harvey Ellis Motors, Hoosier Tire sponosored #41 MasterSbilt Race Cars, Cornett Race Engines powered entry. James would finish second, with Barnett nipping Rice for third, with 19th starting Jewell completing the top five. The remainder of the top ten would be Barber, 14th starting Timmy Yeager, 13th starting Tim Tungate, 20th starting Corbin, and Hatton. Fifty-seven entries would see James be the Racing Optics/Russell Baker Race Engines fast qualifier at 15.301 seconds. The five Crown Spray Power heat wins went to James, McQueary, Marlar, Barnett, and Neat. Three O'Reilly Auto Parts/ Skillsaw Designs B-Mains were scored by Brandon Kinzer, Jesse James Lay, and Josh Williams. Series provisionals were taken by Tyrel Todd and Johnny Wheeler, while Joey Daniel and Jeff Watson were track provisionals.
Bo Wilson completed his driving career as he announced his retirement after winning the 15 lap Sportsman feature and claiming his fifth Sportsman track championship aboard his Creekside Marine and NAPA, Bart's Mart, Wilson's Used Auto Parts, Rock Drilling, Jayco Contractors, Hannick Home Improvements, Debbie's Day Care, AMS Race Engines #83 entry. Mike Basham would take second, with Pat Hagan, Kevin Wilson, and Daroyl Samples completing the top five. Rounding out the top ten were Timmy Glazer, Jenna Chesser, Russell Martin, Mike Bailey, and Derek Bottoms. Bo Wilson won the dash, with Kevin Wilson winning the heat among the 18 entries that saw Darrell Gaddis set fast time.
Avral Thompson made it two straight wins in taking the 12 lap Street Stock feature behind the wheel of his Cozy Corner, Bluegrass Remodeling, Groucho Barx Internet Service, Teamsters Local 89, Nalley's Exhaust, Maywood Chevron #44 mount. Doug Estep would taking a season best runner-up honor, with Tim Leake, Boss Leake, and Jaime Downs rounding out the top five. Completing the top ten were Daniel Dial, Roy Skaggs, Brian Workman, Perry Robertson, and Scott Hunn. Twenty two entries saw heats go to Estep and Thompson.
SUMMARY-Bluegrass Speedway-Bardstown, KY-September 25, 2004
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCars (57 entries)
Racing Optics/Russell Baker Race Engines Top Qualifier- Scott James 15.301
Crown Spray Power 1st Heat- James, Dustin Neat, Shannon Thornsberry, Joey Kramer
Crown Spray Power 2nd Heat- Whitney McQueary, Patrick Sheltra, Lee Devasier, Chris Carlson
Crown Spray Power 3rd Heat- Mike Marlar, Bryan Barber, Timmy Yeager, Josh Williams
Crown Spray Power 4th Heat- Steve Barnett, Aaron Hatton, Tim Tungate, Brandon Kinzer
Crown Spray Power 5th Heat- Brad Neat, Jerry Rice, Victor Lee, Jesse James Lay
O'Reilly Auto Parts 1st B-Main: Kinzer, Mike Jewell, Kramer, Bobby Wolter, Jr., Tyrel Todd
O'Reilly Auto Parts 2nd B-Main: Lay, Rick Corbin, Tony Traficant, Carlson, Frankie Coomer
O'Reilly Auto Parts 3rd B-Main: Williams, Michael England, James Huff, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Brad Erwin
Series Provisionals- Tyrel Todd, Johnny Wheeler
Track Provisionals- Joey Daniel, Jeff Watson
Lucas Oil A-Main (6th Annual Bluegrass 50)- Brad Neat, James, Barnett, Rice, Jewell, Barber, Yeager, Tungate, Corbin, Hatton, Kinzer, Sheltra, Daniel, Devasier, Watson, Lay, Wheeler, Thornsberry, Williams, Marlar, Lee, Todd, England, McQueary, Dustin Neat
SPORTSMAN (18 entries)
Top Qualifier- Darrell Gaddis
Dash- Bo Wilson, Gaddis, Mike Basham, Billy Benningfield, Timmy Glazer, Pat Hagan
Heat- Kevin Wilson, Brian Wilson, Mike Bailey, Randy Riley
Feature- Bo Wilson, Basham, Hagan, Kevin Wilson, Daroyl Samples, Glazer, Jenna Chesser, Russell Martin, Bailey, Derek Bottoms, Sam Huffer, Doug Wells, Riley, Brian Wilson, Benningfield (DNS-Gaddis)
STREET STOCKS (22 entries)
1st Heat- Doug Estep, Shane Litton, Tim Leake, Lee Gray
2nd Heat- Avral Thompson, Willie Edelen, Daniel Dial, Brian Settles
Feature- Thompson, Estep, Tim Leake, Boss Leake, Jaime Downs, Dial, Roy Skaggs, Brian Workman, Perry Robertson, Scott Hunn, Pat Goodman, Edelen, Joe Blair, Johnny Cecil, Chad Chaney, Brian Chesser, Gray, Settles, Brian McCubbins, Litton (DNS- Casey Payton, Terry Bartley)
