UNION, KY -- Hometown hero Darrell Lanigan closed out the 2005 O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series in style as the Union, KY veteran won the Fall 50 Saturday night at Florence Speedway. Lanigan became the 18th different winner in the 20 O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series events held throughout the 2005 season.
In the final points race of the 2005 season for the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series, the "race within the race" would prove to be just as exciting as the actual 50-lapper. Coming into this event, points leader Tim Tungate, 2nd place Whitney McQueary, and 3rd place Mike Jewell were separated by a mere 80 points.
Darrell Lanigan and Jesse Lay paced the 25-car field to the green flag with Lay powering ahead and into the early race lead. Lanigan tucked in line in second with Steve Casebolt, Whitney McQueary, and Audie McWilliams in hot pursuit. Lanigan wasted no time pressuring Lay for the top spot and was able to take the position on lap 8, only to have a caution nix his pass for the lead. The Delaware double-file restart saw Casebolt dart by Lanigan for second in turns one and two with Lanigan moving back by Casebolt in three and four. The Union, KY native then worked on Lay making a lap 11 pass for the point, only to see the caution veto the pass once again.
On the restart, Lanigan again had his hands full with Casebolt as that duo, along with fourth place Scott James, all challenged Lay for the lead in a four-way dance that brought the crowd to its feet. Lanigan charged his mount into the lead leaving Lay to fend off Casebolt and James in the battle for second. James would clear Casebolt on lap 14 and Lay on lap 17 as "The Silver Shark" now set his sight on race-leader Lanigan. Meanwhile, O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series points leader Tim Tungate, who had wrestled with various problems all night long, fell into the infield and out of the race on lap 19. Simultaneously, Mike Jewell, third in points heading into the race, was quietly picking his way through the field from his 21st-starting position as he cracked the top ten.
Back up front, Lanigan started weaving his way through the back-markers on lap 22 as James was slowly reeling in the race leader. Meanwhile, McWilliams had taken over the third spot with Freddy Smith now fourth and Steve Casebolt in fifth. Behind them, Lay had a rear view mirror full of Brad Neat as they swapped the sixth position back and forth with Neat finally grabbing sole possession of the spot just past the halfway point.
With less than 20 laps to go in the $5000 to win A-Main, James had finally closed up to the rear decklid of Lanigan. James would throw several challenges at Lanigan in a bid for the top spot, looking low in the corners as the lead duo sliced and diced through the lapped traffic. On lap 38, James was able to pull alongside the race leader in turns one and two, only to have Lanigan power back ahead down the backstretch and into three and four.
As the final ten laps ticked away, Lanigan slowly inched back ahead and, when the checkered flag fell, he was the first to cross the stripe in his Cornett powered Rocket Taurus sponsored by Darrell Lanigan Auto Sports, Accu-Tex Signs & Banners, and Gotta Race.
"The track was a little different tonight," Lanigan said in the victory lane interview. "It was a little faster and it didn't get quite as black as it usually does, but the guys who work on this car do a great job and we were able to hit the setup just right for the feature." Lanigan became the 18th different winner in the 20 O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series events held throughout the 2005 season.
Second spot went to Greendale, IN's Scott James in the Powell Motorsports/Baylor Trucking/Dargie/Rocket Monte Carlo. Walton, KY's Audie McWilliams was third in the C&J Logistics/Horsepower Ridge/Dargie/Rocket Grand Prix. Freddy Smith of Seymour, TN in the White Oaks Motorsports/Volunteer Trucking/Gaerte/GRT Intrepid. Rounding out the top five was Richmond, IN's Steve Casebolt in the Seubert Calf Ranches/All-Star Performance/Dargie/Rocket Taurus.
59 O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series drivers signed into the pits with Darrell Lanigan setting fast time during Racing optics Time Trials with a quick lap of 15.552. VP Fuels Makin' Power Heats went to Lanigan, Whitney McQueary, Audie McWilliams, Steve Casebolt, Josh Williams, and Jesse Lay. B-Main winners were Casey Noonan and Roger Williams.
A press release with the final O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series points will be released shortly.
For more information on the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts, please log onto our website at www.naradirtcar.com.
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Results Summary
Florence Speedway - Union, KY
October 1, 2005
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier: Darrell Lanigan/15.552
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #1: Darrell Lanigan, Bryan Barber, Rick Corbin, John Gill, Barry Doss, Tyrel Todd, Ted Nobbe, Devin Sebree, Jason Keltner, Chris Stilwell
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #2: Whitney McQueary, Scott James, Shannon Thornberry, Casey Noonan, Dan Hoard, Michael England, John Holt, Paul Davis, Adrian Nichols, Steve Hillard
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #3: Audie McWilliams, Freddy Smith, Johnny Wheeler, Mike Jewell, Jerry Rice, Jordan Bland, Duane Chamberlain, Robby Hensley, John Whitney; (DNS - Wayne Miller)
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #4: Steve Casebolt, Greg Johnson, Chis Combs, Roger Williams, Steve Landrum, Jeff Watson, Tim Tungate, Jeff Raisor, Mike Luna, Dustin Neat
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #5: Josh Williams, Scotty Earl, Brad Neat, Greg Lucas, Brad Eitniear, Larry Pickleheimer Jr., Don O'Neal, Wayne Chinn, Darren Litteral; (DNS - Frankie Coomer)
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #6: Jesse James Lay, Michael Chilton, Doug Dodd, Eric Myers, Bob Lanter, Chad Smith, Blake Chinn, Dan Deaton, Jeff Alsip
B-Main #1: Casey Noonan, Mike Jewell, John Gill, Jerry Rice, Tyrel Todd, Dan Hoard, Duane Chamberlain, Michael England, Ted Nobbe, Jordan Bland, Devin Sebree, Paul Davis, Robby Hensley, Adrian Nichols, Chris Stilwell, John Holt, Jason Keltner, Barry Doss
B-Main #2: Roger Williams, Greg Lucas, Eric Myers, Bob Lanter, Jeff Watson, Jeff Raisor, Chad Smith, Mike Luna, Blake Chinn, Dan Deaton, Larry Pickleheimer Jr., Jeff Alsip, Tim Tungate, Steve Landrum, Brad Eitniear, Don O'Neal, Dustin Neat
O'Reilly Auto Parts Fall 50: Darrell Lanigan, Scott James, Audie McWilliams, Freddy Smith, Steve Casebolt, Brad Neat, Mike Jewell, Jesse James Lay, Bryan Barber, Tyrel Todd, Chris Combs, Whitney McQueary, Scotty Earl, Casey Noonan, Roger Williams, Josh Williams, Doug Dodd, Greg Johnson, Rick Corbin, Steve Landrum, Tim Tungate, Johnny Wheeler, Michael Chilton, Shannon Thornsberry, Greg Lucas
Race Statistics:
Entries: 59
Cautions: 2
Red Flags: 0
Lap Leaders: Jesse Lay 1-10, Darrell Lanigan 11-50
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Rookie of the Race: Chris Combs
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger of the Race: Mike Jewell (started 21st, finished 7th); advanced 14 positions
BoB Provisionals: Tim Tungate and Tyrel Todd
Track Provisional: Steve Landrum
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”
Arizona Sport Shirts – Presenting Sponsor and “Official Apparel Supplier 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, PPM, BERT, Rayburn Chassis, Ratliff Motors, American Race Tire, Real Wheels, Allstar Performance, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, Trailer Parts & Sales, Bullock Racing Engines, DJ Designs, Racing Optics, Smith Automotive and Machine, Honda of Prestonsburg, and Cruise With The Champions
In the final points race of the 2005 season for the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series, the "race within the race" would prove to be just as exciting as the actual 50-lapper. Coming into this event, points leader Tim Tungate, 2nd place Whitney McQueary, and 3rd place Mike Jewell were separated by a mere 80 points.
Darrell Lanigan and Jesse Lay paced the 25-car field to the green flag with Lay powering ahead and into the early race lead. Lanigan tucked in line in second with Steve Casebolt, Whitney McQueary, and Audie McWilliams in hot pursuit. Lanigan wasted no time pressuring Lay for the top spot and was able to take the position on lap 8, only to have a caution nix his pass for the lead. The Delaware double-file restart saw Casebolt dart by Lanigan for second in turns one and two with Lanigan moving back by Casebolt in three and four. The Union, KY native then worked on Lay making a lap 11 pass for the point, only to see the caution veto the pass once again.
On the restart, Lanigan again had his hands full with Casebolt as that duo, along with fourth place Scott James, all challenged Lay for the lead in a four-way dance that brought the crowd to its feet. Lanigan charged his mount into the lead leaving Lay to fend off Casebolt and James in the battle for second. James would clear Casebolt on lap 14 and Lay on lap 17 as "The Silver Shark" now set his sight on race-leader Lanigan. Meanwhile, O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series points leader Tim Tungate, who had wrestled with various problems all night long, fell into the infield and out of the race on lap 19. Simultaneously, Mike Jewell, third in points heading into the race, was quietly picking his way through the field from his 21st-starting position as he cracked the top ten.
Back up front, Lanigan started weaving his way through the back-markers on lap 22 as James was slowly reeling in the race leader. Meanwhile, McWilliams had taken over the third spot with Freddy Smith now fourth and Steve Casebolt in fifth. Behind them, Lay had a rear view mirror full of Brad Neat as they swapped the sixth position back and forth with Neat finally grabbing sole possession of the spot just past the halfway point.
With less than 20 laps to go in the $5000 to win A-Main, James had finally closed up to the rear decklid of Lanigan. James would throw several challenges at Lanigan in a bid for the top spot, looking low in the corners as the lead duo sliced and diced through the lapped traffic. On lap 38, James was able to pull alongside the race leader in turns one and two, only to have Lanigan power back ahead down the backstretch and into three and four.
As the final ten laps ticked away, Lanigan slowly inched back ahead and, when the checkered flag fell, he was the first to cross the stripe in his Cornett powered Rocket Taurus sponsored by Darrell Lanigan Auto Sports, Accu-Tex Signs & Banners, and Gotta Race.
"The track was a little different tonight," Lanigan said in the victory lane interview. "It was a little faster and it didn't get quite as black as it usually does, but the guys who work on this car do a great job and we were able to hit the setup just right for the feature." Lanigan became the 18th different winner in the 20 O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series events held throughout the 2005 season.
Second spot went to Greendale, IN's Scott James in the Powell Motorsports/Baylor Trucking/Dargie/Rocket Monte Carlo. Walton, KY's Audie McWilliams was third in the C&J Logistics/Horsepower Ridge/Dargie/Rocket Grand Prix. Freddy Smith of Seymour, TN in the White Oaks Motorsports/Volunteer Trucking/Gaerte/GRT Intrepid. Rounding out the top five was Richmond, IN's Steve Casebolt in the Seubert Calf Ranches/All-Star Performance/Dargie/Rocket Taurus.
59 O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series drivers signed into the pits with Darrell Lanigan setting fast time during Racing optics Time Trials with a quick lap of 15.552. VP Fuels Makin' Power Heats went to Lanigan, Whitney McQueary, Audie McWilliams, Steve Casebolt, Josh Williams, and Jesse Lay. B-Main winners were Casey Noonan and Roger Williams.
A press release with the final O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series points will be released shortly.
For more information on the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts, please log onto our website at www.naradirtcar.com.
-------------------------
Results Summary
Florence Speedway - Union, KY
October 1, 2005
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier: Darrell Lanigan/15.552
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #1: Darrell Lanigan, Bryan Barber, Rick Corbin, John Gill, Barry Doss, Tyrel Todd, Ted Nobbe, Devin Sebree, Jason Keltner, Chris Stilwell
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #2: Whitney McQueary, Scott James, Shannon Thornberry, Casey Noonan, Dan Hoard, Michael England, John Holt, Paul Davis, Adrian Nichols, Steve Hillard
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #3: Audie McWilliams, Freddy Smith, Johnny Wheeler, Mike Jewell, Jerry Rice, Jordan Bland, Duane Chamberlain, Robby Hensley, John Whitney; (DNS - Wayne Miller)
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #4: Steve Casebolt, Greg Johnson, Chis Combs, Roger Williams, Steve Landrum, Jeff Watson, Tim Tungate, Jeff Raisor, Mike Luna, Dustin Neat
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #5: Josh Williams, Scotty Earl, Brad Neat, Greg Lucas, Brad Eitniear, Larry Pickleheimer Jr., Don O'Neal, Wayne Chinn, Darren Litteral; (DNS - Frankie Coomer)
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #6: Jesse James Lay, Michael Chilton, Doug Dodd, Eric Myers, Bob Lanter, Chad Smith, Blake Chinn, Dan Deaton, Jeff Alsip
B-Main #1: Casey Noonan, Mike Jewell, John Gill, Jerry Rice, Tyrel Todd, Dan Hoard, Duane Chamberlain, Michael England, Ted Nobbe, Jordan Bland, Devin Sebree, Paul Davis, Robby Hensley, Adrian Nichols, Chris Stilwell, John Holt, Jason Keltner, Barry Doss
B-Main #2: Roger Williams, Greg Lucas, Eric Myers, Bob Lanter, Jeff Watson, Jeff Raisor, Chad Smith, Mike Luna, Blake Chinn, Dan Deaton, Larry Pickleheimer Jr., Jeff Alsip, Tim Tungate, Steve Landrum, Brad Eitniear, Don O'Neal, Dustin Neat
O'Reilly Auto Parts Fall 50: Darrell Lanigan, Scott James, Audie McWilliams, Freddy Smith, Steve Casebolt, Brad Neat, Mike Jewell, Jesse James Lay, Bryan Barber, Tyrel Todd, Chris Combs, Whitney McQueary, Scotty Earl, Casey Noonan, Roger Williams, Josh Williams, Doug Dodd, Greg Johnson, Rick Corbin, Steve Landrum, Tim Tungate, Johnny Wheeler, Michael Chilton, Shannon Thornsberry, Greg Lucas
Race Statistics:
Entries: 59
Cautions: 2
Red Flags: 0
Lap Leaders: Jesse Lay 1-10, Darrell Lanigan 11-50
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Rookie of the Race: Chris Combs
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger of the Race: Mike Jewell (started 21st, finished 7th); advanced 14 positions
BoB Provisionals: Tim Tungate and Tyrel Todd
Track Provisional: Steve Landrum
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”
Arizona Sport Shirts – Presenting Sponsor and “Official Apparel Supplier 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, PPM, BERT, Rayburn Chassis, Ratliff Motors, American Race Tire, Real Wheels, Allstar Performance, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, Trailer Parts & Sales, Bullock Racing Engines, DJ Designs, Racing Optics, Smith Automotive and Machine, Honda of Prestonsburg, and Cruise With The Champions
