Dustin Jarrett – NARA PR
JUNCTION CITY, KY -- Bryan Barber bagged his biggest career win Friday night at the Ponderosa Speedway as the Buffalo, KY native fended off the challenges of Steve Hillard to bring home the $3,000 paycheck in the Hugh "Junebug" Rowland Memorial. Barber became the 8th different winner in the series' first eight races of the 2005 season.
Five states made up the first six starting positions with an all-Kentucky front row featuring Bryan Barber on the pole and Brad Neat on the outside. Neat motored ahead into the early lead with Barber, Steve Hillard, Mike Marlar, and Eddie Carrier Jr. in tow. A lap 4 yellow slowed the pace and kept the field within striking distance of race leader Neat.
On the restart, Aaron Hatton used the Delaware double-file restart to his advantage as he worked past Carrier Jr. to slip into the top 5. Hatton the mounted a run on the outside of Marlar in a bid for fourth - a battle that saw the two former series champions race side-by-side nearly the entire length of the race. Up front, Neat remained just a few car length in front Barber, who had a rear view mirror full of Hillard.
Race leader Neat wasted no time closing in on the back of the field as he moved in on lapped traffic by lap 14. Things were beginning to heat up as Barber and Hillard pulled up to the rear decklid of Neat one lap later and the front trio could have been covered with a blanket. The race for the leaded came to end, however, on lap 16 when Neat saw his right rear tire go flat. Under the caution, quick work by his crew enabled Neat to get the tire changed as the Dunnville, KY native rejoined the field at the tail.
Barber now inherited the lead with Hillard still in second followed by Marlar, Hatton, and Carrier Jr. Behind the top five, 16th-starting Chris Combs and 18th-starting Frankie Coomer were quietly picking their way through the field. Meanwhile, Hatton and Marlar resumed their door-to-door race for the third spot allowing Barber and Hillard to slowly inch away. The front two started slicing through the back up the field on lap 27 with Hillard occasionally taking a look to the inside of Barber in a bid for the lead. A caution on lap 31 proved to be a close call for the race leaders with Shannon Thornsberry making contact with the wall in turn four as Barber and Hillard were working around him.
The restart saw Hillard again look to the inside of Barber, but the Buffalo, KY driver had more momentum on the high side of the speedway. Hillard continued to work the "Bluegrass Bandit" for the lead over the final nine laps but could not gain enough steam to make a run off the corners. With the checkered flag in the air, Barber crossed the stripe to get the win with Hillard taking home second as an accident in turns three and four scattered the field behind them at the checkered flag.
The win was the largest of Bryan Barber's career as the driver of the B&B Motorsports/PBM Performance Parts/Dart Heads/SpeeDecals sponsored Dale Meers powered MasterSbilt Monte Carlo became the 8th different winner in the series' first eight races of the season. For the third straight race, second spot went to Sedorus, IL's Steve Hillard in the S&B Cattle Company/Stephens Trucking/Estes powered Swartz Monte Carlo. Mike Marlar, Winfield, TN, finished third in the Wayne Bowen Racing Supply/Dart Engine Components/Pro Power Precision/Rayburn Monte Carlo. Salt Rock, WV's Eddie Carrier Jr. was fourth in the E.I. Rail Car Engines/Railway Equipment/Grover powered Rocket Taurus. Tipp City, OH native Wayne Chinn completed the top five in his Erwin Dealership/AWP Equipment Rentals/Dargie/Rayburn Intrepid. Whitney McQueary, Frankie Coomer, Chris Combs, Aaron Hatton, and Johnny Wheeler rounded out the top ten.
36 O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Late Models were on hand which included 21 of the top 23 in points. Eddie Carrier Jr. set fast time during Racing Optics Time Trials with a quick lap of 13.189. VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat Races were won by Steve Hillard, Mike Marlar, Bryan Barber, and Brad Neat. B-Main winners were Tyrel Todd and Bobby Wolter Jr.
Bluegrass Speedway's 4th Annual June Jam on Saturday, June 11th is the next stop for the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series. 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
Ponderosa Speedway - Junction City, KY
Friday, June 3, 2005
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier: Eddie Carrier Jr./13.189
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #1: Steve Hillard, Eddie Carrier Jr., Tim Tungate, Tyrel Todd, Benji Lee, Anthony Adams, Bobby Carrier Jr., Timmy Yeager, Jerry Rutherford
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #2: Mike Marlar, Wayne Chinn, Chuckie May, Mike Jewell, Billy Barber, Jordan Bland, Blake Chinn, Sandy Goddard Jr., Jake Henry
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #3: Bryan Barber, Whitney McQueary, Michael England, Chris Combs, Frankie Coomer, PJ Feistritzer, Shannon Thornsberry, Don Rayborn; (DNS - Rick Aukland)
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #4: Brad Neat, Aaron Hatton, Johnny Wheeler, Bobby Wolter Jr., Mike Luna, John Gill; (DNS - Dustin Neat, Jason Hinkle, Larry Coontz Jr.)
B-Main #1: Tyrel Todd, Mike Jewell, Benji Lee, Blake Chinn, Billy Barber, Timmy Yeager, Jordan Bland, Jake Henry Bobby Carrier Jr., Sandy Goddard Jr., Anthony Adams; (DNS - Jerry Rutherford)
B-Main #2: Bobby Wolter Jr., Chris Combs, Frankie Coomer, John Gill, RJ Feistritzer, Shannon Thornsberry, Mike Luna, Don Rayborn; (DNS - Rick Aukland, Dustin Neat, Jason Hinkle, Larry Coontz Jr.)
O'Reilly Auto Parts Hugh "Junebug" Rowland Memorial 40-Lap A-Main: Bryan Barber, Steve Hillard, Mike Marlar, Eddie Carrier Jr., Wayne Chinn, Whitney McQueary, Frankie Coomer, Chris Combs, Aaron Hatton, Johnny Wheeler, Mike Jewell, John Gill, Bobby Wolter Jr., Brad Neat, Tyrel Todd, Tim Tungate, Chuckie May, Michael England, Shannon Thornsberry, Blake Chinn, Benji Lee, Bobby Carrier Jr.
Race Statistics:
Entries: 36
Cautions: 5
Lap Leaders: Brad Neat 1-16, Bryan Barber 17-40
BoB Rookie of the Race: Wayne Chinn
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger of the Race: Frankie Coomer
BoB Provisionals: Shannon Thornsberry and Blake Chinn
Track Provisionals: Bobby Carrier Jr. and John Gill
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
JUNCTION CITY, KY -- Bryan Barber bagged his biggest career win Friday night at the Ponderosa Speedway as the Buffalo, KY native fended off the challenges of Steve Hillard to bring home the $3,000 paycheck in the Hugh "Junebug" Rowland Memorial. Barber became the 8th different winner in the series' first eight races of the 2005 season.
Five states made up the first six starting positions with an all-Kentucky front row featuring Bryan Barber on the pole and Brad Neat on the outside. Neat motored ahead into the early lead with Barber, Steve Hillard, Mike Marlar, and Eddie Carrier Jr. in tow. A lap 4 yellow slowed the pace and kept the field within striking distance of race leader Neat.
On the restart, Aaron Hatton used the Delaware double-file restart to his advantage as he worked past Carrier Jr. to slip into the top 5. Hatton the mounted a run on the outside of Marlar in a bid for fourth - a battle that saw the two former series champions race side-by-side nearly the entire length of the race. Up front, Neat remained just a few car length in front Barber, who had a rear view mirror full of Hillard.
Race leader Neat wasted no time closing in on the back of the field as he moved in on lapped traffic by lap 14. Things were beginning to heat up as Barber and Hillard pulled up to the rear decklid of Neat one lap later and the front trio could have been covered with a blanket. The race for the leaded came to end, however, on lap 16 when Neat saw his right rear tire go flat. Under the caution, quick work by his crew enabled Neat to get the tire changed as the Dunnville, KY native rejoined the field at the tail.
Barber now inherited the lead with Hillard still in second followed by Marlar, Hatton, and Carrier Jr. Behind the top five, 16th-starting Chris Combs and 18th-starting Frankie Coomer were quietly picking their way through the field. Meanwhile, Hatton and Marlar resumed their door-to-door race for the third spot allowing Barber and Hillard to slowly inch away. The front two started slicing through the back up the field on lap 27 with Hillard occasionally taking a look to the inside of Barber in a bid for the lead. A caution on lap 31 proved to be a close call for the race leaders with Shannon Thornsberry making contact with the wall in turn four as Barber and Hillard were working around him.
The restart saw Hillard again look to the inside of Barber, but the Buffalo, KY driver had more momentum on the high side of the speedway. Hillard continued to work the "Bluegrass Bandit" for the lead over the final nine laps but could not gain enough steam to make a run off the corners. With the checkered flag in the air, Barber crossed the stripe to get the win with Hillard taking home second as an accident in turns three and four scattered the field behind them at the checkered flag.
The win was the largest of Bryan Barber's career as the driver of the B&B Motorsports/PBM Performance Parts/Dart Heads/SpeeDecals sponsored Dale Meers powered MasterSbilt Monte Carlo became the 8th different winner in the series' first eight races of the season. For the third straight race, second spot went to Sedorus, IL's Steve Hillard in the S&B Cattle Company/Stephens Trucking/Estes powered Swartz Monte Carlo. Mike Marlar, Winfield, TN, finished third in the Wayne Bowen Racing Supply/Dart Engine Components/Pro Power Precision/Rayburn Monte Carlo. Salt Rock, WV's Eddie Carrier Jr. was fourth in the E.I. Rail Car Engines/Railway Equipment/Grover powered Rocket Taurus. Tipp City, OH native Wayne Chinn completed the top five in his Erwin Dealership/AWP Equipment Rentals/Dargie/Rayburn Intrepid. Whitney McQueary, Frankie Coomer, Chris Combs, Aaron Hatton, and Johnny Wheeler rounded out the top ten.
36 O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Late Models were on hand which included 21 of the top 23 in points. Eddie Carrier Jr. set fast time during Racing Optics Time Trials with a quick lap of 13.189. VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat Races were won by Steve Hillard, Mike Marlar, Bryan Barber, and Brad Neat. B-Main winners were Tyrel Todd and Bobby Wolter Jr.
Bluegrass Speedway's 4th Annual June Jam on Saturday, June 11th is the next stop for the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series. 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.
=============================
Race Summary
Ponderosa Speedway - Junction City, KY
Friday, June 3, 2005
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier: Eddie Carrier Jr./13.189
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #1: Steve Hillard, Eddie Carrier Jr., Tim Tungate, Tyrel Todd, Benji Lee, Anthony Adams, Bobby Carrier Jr., Timmy Yeager, Jerry Rutherford
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #2: Mike Marlar, Wayne Chinn, Chuckie May, Mike Jewell, Billy Barber, Jordan Bland, Blake Chinn, Sandy Goddard Jr., Jake Henry
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #3: Bryan Barber, Whitney McQueary, Michael England, Chris Combs, Frankie Coomer, PJ Feistritzer, Shannon Thornsberry, Don Rayborn; (DNS - Rick Aukland)
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #4: Brad Neat, Aaron Hatton, Johnny Wheeler, Bobby Wolter Jr., Mike Luna, John Gill; (DNS - Dustin Neat, Jason Hinkle, Larry Coontz Jr.)
B-Main #1: Tyrel Todd, Mike Jewell, Benji Lee, Blake Chinn, Billy Barber, Timmy Yeager, Jordan Bland, Jake Henry Bobby Carrier Jr., Sandy Goddard Jr., Anthony Adams; (DNS - Jerry Rutherford)
B-Main #2: Bobby Wolter Jr., Chris Combs, Frankie Coomer, John Gill, RJ Feistritzer, Shannon Thornsberry, Mike Luna, Don Rayborn; (DNS - Rick Aukland, Dustin Neat, Jason Hinkle, Larry Coontz Jr.)
O'Reilly Auto Parts Hugh "Junebug" Rowland Memorial 40-Lap A-Main: Bryan Barber, Steve Hillard, Mike Marlar, Eddie Carrier Jr., Wayne Chinn, Whitney McQueary, Frankie Coomer, Chris Combs, Aaron Hatton, Johnny Wheeler, Mike Jewell, John Gill, Bobby Wolter Jr., Brad Neat, Tyrel Todd, Tim Tungate, Chuckie May, Michael England, Shannon Thornsberry, Blake Chinn, Benji Lee, Bobby Carrier Jr.
Race Statistics:
Entries: 36
Cautions: 5
Lap Leaders: Brad Neat 1-16, Bryan Barber 17-40
BoB Rookie of the Race: Wayne Chinn
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger of the Race: Frankie Coomer
BoB Provisionals: Shannon Thornsberry and Blake Chinn
Track Provisionals: Bobby Carrier Jr. and John Gill
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
