By Dustin Jarrett
Union, KY -- In a tune-up for Saturday Night's Spring 50, Don O'Neal beat Mother Nature and a stellar field of 58 entries to capture the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series 2006 Season Opener Friday night at the Florence Speedway. The caution-free, 30-lap main event was completed in less than 10 minutes.
Brian Birkhofer and Dan Schlieper brought the field to green with Schlieper getting the early edge. Birkhofer continued to hound Schlieper for the point as Timmy Yeager fought off 7th-starting Don O'Neal for third. O'Neal soon moved past Yeager as Birkhofer raced door-to-door with Schlieper for the top spot. O'Neal wasted no time tracking down the lead duo as the Martinsville, IN native made it a three-way dance by lap 4. Simultaneously, "Birky" nosed ahead of Schlieper to credit himself with the lead. Meanwhile, behind the front three, Yeager, Darrell Lanigan, Scott James, and Jerry Rice were dicing back and forth.
After several side-by-side laps, O'Neal finally cleared Schlieper on lap 8 and began to work on Birkhofer for the point. With Schlieper still knocking on the door, the leaders closed up to the back of the field on lap 12. On the next circuit, O'Neal used the back markers to his advantage and pulled even with Birkhofer in a bid for the top spot. Birkhofer quickly closed the door, but "The Real Deal" fought back as Dan Schlieper watched patiently from 3rd.
O'Neal officially grabbed the lead on lap 16, but only after several laps of doorhandle-to-doorhandle racing with Birkhofer. Not giving up without a fight, Birkhofer continuously looked high and low on O'Neal in an effort to reassume command of the race. Behind them, a fierce fight for 5th saw James working on Lanigan with Rice in tow. And just behind them, an equally entertaining show saw Brad Neat and Tim Tungate dancing for the 9th position.
With less than 10 laps remaining, Birkhofer and Schlieper closed the already small margin between themselves and race leader O'Neal as the veterans continued to slice and dice through lapped traffic. Birkhofer made another challenge for the lead in turns three and four with just seven laps to go, but O'Neal quickly
shut the door. As the final few laps ticked away, both Birkhofer and Schlieper stayed glued to O'Neal, but neither driver could muster up quite enough momentum to complete a pass.
When the checkered flag waved, Don O'Neal was the first to cross the stripe in the Eller Motorsports, Independence Lumber, Firefox Reality/Grayson Farm & Leasing, Jay Dickens powered, MasterSbilt Chevy Monte Carlo.
Muscatine, IA's Brian Birkhofer was second in his Pro Power/Rocket Chevy Cobalt. Third went to Dan Schlieper of Sullivan, WI in a Pro Power/Rayburn Chevy Monte Carlo.
Harrodsburg, KY native Timmy Yeager took fourth in the Pro Power/Rayburn Chevy Monte Carlo. Rounding out the top five was Scott James of Greendale, IN in his Jay Dickens powered Rocket Pontiac GTO.
Dating back to 2004, Don O'Neal's win made it 28 different in the last 31 races for the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts.
The nation's most competitive regional racing series heads back to Florence on Saturday, April 15th, for the Spring 50 paying $5000 to win. Another complete program will be on tap with Racing Optics Time Trials, Mason Racin'/Arizona Sport Shirts Heat Races, Design 500 B-Mains, and the 50-lap O’Reilly Auto Parts A-Main. Pit gates will once again open at 4pm with the General Admission gates opening at 5pm. Racing Optics Time Trials on Saturday night will begin at 6:30pm with Racing at 7:30pm. Adult General Admission for the Spring 50 is just $15 with kids ages 6-11 being admitted for just $2. Pit Admission is just $27.
Florence Speedway is a 1/2-mile, high-banked, clay oval located just south of Union, KY on US 42. For more information on Florence Speedway, visit their website at www.florencespeedway.com or call the track office at (859)485-7591.
For more information on the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts, visit us on the web at www.battleofthebluegrass.com or call the Series office at (859) 271-4501.
Race Summary
Florence Speedway (Union, KY)
April 14, 2006
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier: Steve Landrum/16.027
Mason Racin' Heat #1: Brian Birkhofer, Don O'Neal, RJ Conley, Steve Landrum, Justin Rattliff, Jesse Lay, Mike McWilliams, Jeff Raisor, Joel Ortberg, Dan Deaton
Mason Racin' Heat #2: Bob Lanter, Darrell Lanigan, Chris Combs, Doug Dodd, Whitney McQueary, Eric Myers, Eric Wells, Robby Hensley, Dan Hoard, Gary Engle
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #3: Scott James, Jerry Rice, Tim Tungate, Rod Conley, Garrett Durrett, Joey Tackett, Ryan Markham, Joe Ramey, Mike Amell
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #4: Brad Neat, Steve Casebolt, Wayne Chinn, Kenny Christy, Mike Marlar, Greg Lucas, Mike Jewell, Bryan Barber, Larry Pickleheimer Jr.
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #5: Timmy Yeager, Josh McGuire, Roger Williams, Blake Chinn, Tyrel Todd, Josh Williams, Jordan Bland, John Mason
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #6: Dan Schlieper, Rick Corbin, Ted Nobbe, Jeff Alsip, Shannon Thornsberry, Bobby Wolter Jr., Audie McWilliams, Adrian Nichols, Aaron Bapst
Design 500 B-Main #1: Steve Landrum, Rod Conley, Garrett Durrett, Jesse Lay, Justin Rattliff, Whitney McQueary, Joey Tackett, Doug Dodd, Mike McWilliams, Ryan Markham, Eric Myers, Dan Hoard, Robby Hensley, Jeff Eaisor, Eric Wells, Gary Engle, Joe Ramey, Jeff Ortberg
Design 500 B-Main #2: Kenny Christy, Mike Marlar, Blake Chinn, Tyrel Todd, Bryan Barber, Mike Jewell, Josh Williams, Greg Lucas, Audie McWilliams, John Mason, Bobby Wolter Jr., Jordan Bland, Larry Pickleheimer Jr., Shannon Thornsberry, Jeff Alsip, Adrian Nichols
O'Reilly Auto Parts Spring 50 Tune-Up: Don O'Neal, Brian Birkhofer, Dan Schlieper, Timmy Yeager, Scott James, Darrell Lanigan, Jerry Rice, Steve Casebolt, Tim Tungate, Brad Neat, Josh McGuire, Wayne Chinn, RJ Conley, Rick Corbin, Chris Combs, Jesse Lay, Rod Conley, Mike Jewell, Mike Marlar, Bob Lanter, Whitney McQueary, Kenny Christy, Steve Landrum, Ted Nobbe, Roger Williams
Race Statistics
Entries: 58
Cautions: 0
Lap Leaders: Dan Schlieper 1-3, Brian Birkhofer 4-15, Don O'Neal 16-30
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger of the Race: Jesse Lay
Series Provisionals: Mike Jewell and Whitney McQueary
Track Provisional: Jesse Lay
2006 O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Upcoming Schedule
April 15 - Florence Speedway, Union, KY - $5,000 to Win (Spring 50)
April 21 - Ponderosa Speedway, Junction City, KY - $3,000 to Win (3rd Annual
Spring 40)
April 22 - Brownstown Speedway, Brownstown, IN - $3,000 to Win (23rd Annual
Hoosier Dirt Classic)
April 28 - Richmond Raceway, Richmond, KY - $3,000 to Win (Spring Shootout)
April 29 - Bluegrass Speedway, Bardstown, KY - $3,000 to Win (9th Annual
Spring Sizzler)
May 6 - 201 Speedway, Sitka, KY - $3000 to Win
2006 O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Dirt Car Series Sponsors
O’Reilly Auto Part – Title Sponsor and “Official Auto Part Retailer of the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Dirt Car Series”
Arizona Sport Shirts – Presenting Sponsor and “Official Souvenir Manufacturer & Vendor of the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Dirt Car Series”
Sunoco Race Fuels – “Official Race Fuel of the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Dirt Car Series”
2006 O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Supporters Include: O’Reilly Auto Parts, Arizona Sport Shirts, Sunoco Race Fuels, DART Machinery, Hoosier Race Tires, American Race Tires, PPM Performance Products, Bazell Fuels, Cruise With the Champions, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, Racing Optics, Mason Racing, Trailer Parts & Sales, Honda of Prestonsburg, Bullock Race Engines, CJ Rayburn Race Cars, Bert Transmissions, Rick Schwallie Photography and Real Wheels
Union, KY -- In a tune-up for Saturday Night's Spring 50, Don O'Neal beat Mother Nature and a stellar field of 58 entries to capture the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series 2006 Season Opener Friday night at the Florence Speedway. The caution-free, 30-lap main event was completed in less than 10 minutes.
Brian Birkhofer and Dan Schlieper brought the field to green with Schlieper getting the early edge. Birkhofer continued to hound Schlieper for the point as Timmy Yeager fought off 7th-starting Don O'Neal for third. O'Neal soon moved past Yeager as Birkhofer raced door-to-door with Schlieper for the top spot. O'Neal wasted no time tracking down the lead duo as the Martinsville, IN native made it a three-way dance by lap 4. Simultaneously, "Birky" nosed ahead of Schlieper to credit himself with the lead. Meanwhile, behind the front three, Yeager, Darrell Lanigan, Scott James, and Jerry Rice were dicing back and forth.
After several side-by-side laps, O'Neal finally cleared Schlieper on lap 8 and began to work on Birkhofer for the point. With Schlieper still knocking on the door, the leaders closed up to the back of the field on lap 12. On the next circuit, O'Neal used the back markers to his advantage and pulled even with Birkhofer in a bid for the top spot. Birkhofer quickly closed the door, but "The Real Deal" fought back as Dan Schlieper watched patiently from 3rd.
O'Neal officially grabbed the lead on lap 16, but only after several laps of doorhandle-to-doorhandle racing with Birkhofer. Not giving up without a fight, Birkhofer continuously looked high and low on O'Neal in an effort to reassume command of the race. Behind them, a fierce fight for 5th saw James working on Lanigan with Rice in tow. And just behind them, an equally entertaining show saw Brad Neat and Tim Tungate dancing for the 9th position.
With less than 10 laps remaining, Birkhofer and Schlieper closed the already small margin between themselves and race leader O'Neal as the veterans continued to slice and dice through lapped traffic. Birkhofer made another challenge for the lead in turns three and four with just seven laps to go, but O'Neal quickly
shut the door. As the final few laps ticked away, both Birkhofer and Schlieper stayed glued to O'Neal, but neither driver could muster up quite enough momentum to complete a pass.
When the checkered flag waved, Don O'Neal was the first to cross the stripe in the Eller Motorsports, Independence Lumber, Firefox Reality/Grayson Farm & Leasing, Jay Dickens powered, MasterSbilt Chevy Monte Carlo.
Muscatine, IA's Brian Birkhofer was second in his Pro Power/Rocket Chevy Cobalt. Third went to Dan Schlieper of Sullivan, WI in a Pro Power/Rayburn Chevy Monte Carlo.
Harrodsburg, KY native Timmy Yeager took fourth in the Pro Power/Rayburn Chevy Monte Carlo. Rounding out the top five was Scott James of Greendale, IN in his Jay Dickens powered Rocket Pontiac GTO.
Dating back to 2004, Don O'Neal's win made it 28 different in the last 31 races for the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts.
The nation's most competitive regional racing series heads back to Florence on Saturday, April 15th, for the Spring 50 paying $5000 to win. Another complete program will be on tap with Racing Optics Time Trials, Mason Racin'/Arizona Sport Shirts Heat Races, Design 500 B-Mains, and the 50-lap O’Reilly Auto Parts A-Main. Pit gates will once again open at 4pm with the General Admission gates opening at 5pm. Racing Optics Time Trials on Saturday night will begin at 6:30pm with Racing at 7:30pm. Adult General Admission for the Spring 50 is just $15 with kids ages 6-11 being admitted for just $2. Pit Admission is just $27.
Florence Speedway is a 1/2-mile, high-banked, clay oval located just south of Union, KY on US 42. For more information on Florence Speedway, visit their website at www.florencespeedway.com or call the track office at (859)485-7591.
For more information on the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts, visit us on the web at www.battleofthebluegrass.com or call the Series office at (859) 271-4501.
Race Summary
Florence Speedway (Union, KY)
April 14, 2006
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier: Steve Landrum/16.027
Mason Racin' Heat #1: Brian Birkhofer, Don O'Neal, RJ Conley, Steve Landrum, Justin Rattliff, Jesse Lay, Mike McWilliams, Jeff Raisor, Joel Ortberg, Dan Deaton
Mason Racin' Heat #2: Bob Lanter, Darrell Lanigan, Chris Combs, Doug Dodd, Whitney McQueary, Eric Myers, Eric Wells, Robby Hensley, Dan Hoard, Gary Engle
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #3: Scott James, Jerry Rice, Tim Tungate, Rod Conley, Garrett Durrett, Joey Tackett, Ryan Markham, Joe Ramey, Mike Amell
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #4: Brad Neat, Steve Casebolt, Wayne Chinn, Kenny Christy, Mike Marlar, Greg Lucas, Mike Jewell, Bryan Barber, Larry Pickleheimer Jr.
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #5: Timmy Yeager, Josh McGuire, Roger Williams, Blake Chinn, Tyrel Todd, Josh Williams, Jordan Bland, John Mason
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #6: Dan Schlieper, Rick Corbin, Ted Nobbe, Jeff Alsip, Shannon Thornsberry, Bobby Wolter Jr., Audie McWilliams, Adrian Nichols, Aaron Bapst
Design 500 B-Main #1: Steve Landrum, Rod Conley, Garrett Durrett, Jesse Lay, Justin Rattliff, Whitney McQueary, Joey Tackett, Doug Dodd, Mike McWilliams, Ryan Markham, Eric Myers, Dan Hoard, Robby Hensley, Jeff Eaisor, Eric Wells, Gary Engle, Joe Ramey, Jeff Ortberg
Design 500 B-Main #2: Kenny Christy, Mike Marlar, Blake Chinn, Tyrel Todd, Bryan Barber, Mike Jewell, Josh Williams, Greg Lucas, Audie McWilliams, John Mason, Bobby Wolter Jr., Jordan Bland, Larry Pickleheimer Jr., Shannon Thornsberry, Jeff Alsip, Adrian Nichols
O'Reilly Auto Parts Spring 50 Tune-Up: Don O'Neal, Brian Birkhofer, Dan Schlieper, Timmy Yeager, Scott James, Darrell Lanigan, Jerry Rice, Steve Casebolt, Tim Tungate, Brad Neat, Josh McGuire, Wayne Chinn, RJ Conley, Rick Corbin, Chris Combs, Jesse Lay, Rod Conley, Mike Jewell, Mike Marlar, Bob Lanter, Whitney McQueary, Kenny Christy, Steve Landrum, Ted Nobbe, Roger Williams
Race Statistics
Entries: 58
Cautions: 0
Lap Leaders: Dan Schlieper 1-3, Brian Birkhofer 4-15, Don O'Neal 16-30
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger of the Race: Jesse Lay
Series Provisionals: Mike Jewell and Whitney McQueary
Track Provisional: Jesse Lay
2006 O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Upcoming Schedule
April 15 - Florence Speedway, Union, KY - $5,000 to Win (Spring 50)
April 21 - Ponderosa Speedway, Junction City, KY - $3,000 to Win (3rd Annual
Spring 40)
April 22 - Brownstown Speedway, Brownstown, IN - $3,000 to Win (23rd Annual
Hoosier Dirt Classic)
April 28 - Richmond Raceway, Richmond, KY - $3,000 to Win (Spring Shootout)
April 29 - Bluegrass Speedway, Bardstown, KY - $3,000 to Win (9th Annual
Spring Sizzler)
May 6 - 201 Speedway, Sitka, KY - $3000 to Win
2006 O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Dirt Car Series Sponsors
O’Reilly Auto Part – Title Sponsor and “Official Auto Part Retailer of the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Dirt Car Series”
Arizona Sport Shirts – Presenting Sponsor and “Official Souvenir Manufacturer & Vendor of the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Dirt Car Series”
Sunoco Race Fuels – “Official Race Fuel of the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Dirt Car Series”
2006 O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Supporters Include: O’Reilly Auto Parts, Arizona Sport Shirts, Sunoco Race Fuels, DART Machinery, Hoosier Race Tires, American Race Tires, PPM Performance Products, Bazell Fuels, Cruise With the Champions, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, Racing Optics, Mason Racing, Trailer Parts & Sales, Honda of Prestonsburg, Bullock Race Engines, CJ Rayburn Race Cars, Bert Transmissions, Rick Schwallie Photography and Real Wheels
