Sitka, KY--The 2002 STARS Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Champion, Eddie Carrier Jr of Ona, WV scored his first series win of the 2003 campaign as he became the 10th different driver in 12 races to win a BoB race this year as he won the $3000 to win sanctioned event on Saturday Night, July 5 at the 201 Speedway in Sitka, KY. Carrier behind the wheel of the Carl Grover Motorsports entry out of Ona, WV led all but one lap in the 40 lap shootout to take his first win for his new car owner this year. The Rocket Chassis Ford Taurus #28 is sponsored by Railway Equipment Inc/American Race Tires/Real Wheels/AFCO Shocks and Springs/All-Star Performance/Simpson/Outerwears/Ringers Gloves/CGM Graphics/Racing Optics/Dyers Top Rods/Aviad Oil Systems and Grover Racing Engines took his fourth career STARS Battle of the Bluegrass Series win over last year's points runner-up, Timmy Yeager of Harrodsburg, KY who drove the Dale and Anita Clark Racing/Welfab Inc/Gary Spoon Excavating/C.J. Rayburn Monte Carlo to second place as he continues to gain in points. Taking third was a strong run for Brandon Kinzer of Allen, KY in the Jerry Kinzer/Kinzer Drilling Company/GRT Dodge Intrepid. Finishing fourth was the previous night's winner at Mountain Motor Speedway, Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN in the Wilson's Service Center/Wayne Bowen Racing Supply/C.J. Rayburn Grand Prix. Finishing in fifth was the 2-time and defending 201 Speedway Track Champion, David Powers of Salyersville, KY in the JMC Motorsports/Green's Lawnmower/Fannin's Sawmill/Stinger Chassis Grand Prix.
Carrier Jr would take the initial lead of the race upon the green flag start of the 40 lap main event with Brandon Kinzer in second followed by Chuckie May and Timmy Yeager. Kinzer would nip Carrier at the start finish line on the second lap and then a caution came out for a spin. When the race went green again Carrier would power past Kinzer and re-take the point. A torrid battle on a hot night for second would be shaping up between Kinzer, May, Yeager and David Powers as those drives would run nip and tuck in the race for second. Carrier would continue to stretch his lead out running the very inside of the race track against the inside retaining wall. On a night when three and sometimes four wide racing took place around one of racing's best kept secrets would see Kinzer and Yeager so side by side for second on several occasions with Yeager finally getting by for good on the 20th lap. At the halfway mark of the race it was Carrier still in front followed by Yeager, Kinzer, Marlar and Powers. May who was in the thick of things early, slowed and stopped on the track with a broken driveshaft eliminating him from the race on the 29th lap. With very little traffic to contend with carrier was slowly and methodically pulling away from the field, but with the caution for May, which would be the last of the race. Carrier would now have Yeager on his rear bumper to contend with.
On the last restart of the race Yeager would challenge Carrier briefly as the top two in last year's Battle of the Bluegrass points would have the end of the race now in sight but Carrier kept his low riding bottom groove line and that allowed him to go on to score his first win of the 2003 season. Yeager, Kinzer and Marlar would all come out of turn four side by side on the final lap with Yeager drifting up in front of Kinzer to shut the door on him and enable him to grab the runnerup money by a car length. Marlar almost was able to sneak by Kinzer at the stripe, but Kinzer got the spot just ahead of Marlar.
After the race Carrier thanked his entire crew and car owner for getting him to victory circle for the first time this year. "I want to thank Carl Grover for giving me this opportunity this year, we feel like we have finally got the monkey off of our backs," said the 32 year old racer who finished in second at the BoB race at Mountain Motor Speedway the previous night and appears to have turned around his season. "It just takes time for a team to jell once they come together," said Carrier afterwards, "We've struggled a little bit early on, but I feel we've turned the corner now." Carrier thanked his entire crew including his crew chief and father, Eddie Carrier, Sr.
Completing the top ten in Saturday's Night main event was Jackie Boggs (who started 14th), Michael Chilton, (who earned Hard Charger of the Race after starting 19th), Carnell Parker III, Mike Morris and Johnny Wheeler.
In preliminary action David Powers set fast time for the 31 entries on hand at 14.078 seconds to earn the Racing Optics/Bullzilla Graphics Fast Time. Heat races were won by Brandon Kinzer, Timmy Yeager, Eddie Carrier Jr and Chuckie May. The AFCO Racing Products B-Mains were won by Tyrel Todd and Jackie Boggs.
Race Summary
201 Speedway
Sitka, KY
STARS Battle of the Bluegrass
Racing Optics/Bullzilla Graphics Fast Time: David Powers 14.078 seconds
First Heat: Brandon Kinzer, David Powers, Jesse James Lay, Aaron Hatton
Second Heat: Timmy Yeager, Johnny Wheeler, Mike Marlar, Tyrel Todd
Third Heat: Eddie Carrier Jr., Herbie Barnett, Scott James, Jackie Boggs
Fourth Heat: Chuckie May, Mike Morris, Carnell Parker III, Paul Harris
AFCO 1st B-Main: Tyrel Todd, Aaron Hatton, Larry Martin Jr., John Blankenship
AFCO 2nd B-Main: Jackie Boggs, Paul Harris, Jim LeMaster, Terry Hicks
PBM Performance Products A-Main: Eddie Carrier Jr., Timmy Yeager, Brandon Kinzer, Mike Marlar, David Powers, Jackie Boggs, Michael Chilton, Carnell Parker III, Mike Morris, Johnny Wheeler, Terry Hicks, Jim LeMaster, Herbie Barnett, Larry Martin Jr., Chuckie May, Steven Ashby, Tyrel Todd, Scott James, Jesse James Lay, Tom Hall, Paul Harris, Aaron Hatton
Race Statistics
Entries: 31
STARS BoB Provisionals: Michael Chilton and Steven Ashby
Track Provisionals: Tom Hall and Terry Hicks
Lead Changes: 2 among 2 drivers
Lap Leaders: Eddie Carrier Jr -Lap 1 Brandon Kinzer-Lap 2 Carrier Laps 3-40
Laps Lead: Carrier 39 Kinzer 1
R&P Industrial Chimney Rookie of the Race: Mike Marlar
PPM Racing Products/Outlaw Race Cars Hard Charger of the Race: Michael Chilton
STARS Battle of the Bluegrass Points
After 12 events
1. Scott James 2430
2. Mike Marlar 2385
3. Timmy Yeager 2155
4. Jesse James Lay 2125
5. Michael Chilton 2120
6. Tyrel Todd 2075
7. Johnny Wheeler 1965
8. Aaron Hatton 1915
9. Carnell Parker III 1425
10. Eddie Carrier Jr 1355
11. Steven Ashby 1315
12. Darrell Lanigan 1090
13. Jim Curry 1065
14. Mike Jewell 950
15. Steve Barnett 940
R&P Industrial Chimney Rookie of the Year
1. Mike Marlar 2385
2. Michael Chilton 2120
3. Carnell Parker III 1425
4. Steven Ashby 1325
5. Joey Kramer 825
Next Events:
Friday Night, July 11
Richmond Raceway
Richmond, KY
Saturday Night, July 12
Bluegrass Speedway
Bardstown, KY
Both races pay $3000 to win/$250 to start
Carrier Jr would take the initial lead of the race upon the green flag start of the 40 lap main event with Brandon Kinzer in second followed by Chuckie May and Timmy Yeager. Kinzer would nip Carrier at the start finish line on the second lap and then a caution came out for a spin. When the race went green again Carrier would power past Kinzer and re-take the point. A torrid battle on a hot night for second would be shaping up between Kinzer, May, Yeager and David Powers as those drives would run nip and tuck in the race for second. Carrier would continue to stretch his lead out running the very inside of the race track against the inside retaining wall. On a night when three and sometimes four wide racing took place around one of racing's best kept secrets would see Kinzer and Yeager so side by side for second on several occasions with Yeager finally getting by for good on the 20th lap. At the halfway mark of the race it was Carrier still in front followed by Yeager, Kinzer, Marlar and Powers. May who was in the thick of things early, slowed and stopped on the track with a broken driveshaft eliminating him from the race on the 29th lap. With very little traffic to contend with carrier was slowly and methodically pulling away from the field, but with the caution for May, which would be the last of the race. Carrier would now have Yeager on his rear bumper to contend with.
On the last restart of the race Yeager would challenge Carrier briefly as the top two in last year's Battle of the Bluegrass points would have the end of the race now in sight but Carrier kept his low riding bottom groove line and that allowed him to go on to score his first win of the 2003 season. Yeager, Kinzer and Marlar would all come out of turn four side by side on the final lap with Yeager drifting up in front of Kinzer to shut the door on him and enable him to grab the runnerup money by a car length. Marlar almost was able to sneak by Kinzer at the stripe, but Kinzer got the spot just ahead of Marlar.
After the race Carrier thanked his entire crew and car owner for getting him to victory circle for the first time this year. "I want to thank Carl Grover for giving me this opportunity this year, we feel like we have finally got the monkey off of our backs," said the 32 year old racer who finished in second at the BoB race at Mountain Motor Speedway the previous night and appears to have turned around his season. "It just takes time for a team to jell once they come together," said Carrier afterwards, "We've struggled a little bit early on, but I feel we've turned the corner now." Carrier thanked his entire crew including his crew chief and father, Eddie Carrier, Sr.
Completing the top ten in Saturday's Night main event was Jackie Boggs (who started 14th), Michael Chilton, (who earned Hard Charger of the Race after starting 19th), Carnell Parker III, Mike Morris and Johnny Wheeler.
In preliminary action David Powers set fast time for the 31 entries on hand at 14.078 seconds to earn the Racing Optics/Bullzilla Graphics Fast Time. Heat races were won by Brandon Kinzer, Timmy Yeager, Eddie Carrier Jr and Chuckie May. The AFCO Racing Products B-Mains were won by Tyrel Todd and Jackie Boggs.
Race Summary
201 Speedway
Sitka, KY
STARS Battle of the Bluegrass
Racing Optics/Bullzilla Graphics Fast Time: David Powers 14.078 seconds
First Heat: Brandon Kinzer, David Powers, Jesse James Lay, Aaron Hatton
Second Heat: Timmy Yeager, Johnny Wheeler, Mike Marlar, Tyrel Todd
Third Heat: Eddie Carrier Jr., Herbie Barnett, Scott James, Jackie Boggs
Fourth Heat: Chuckie May, Mike Morris, Carnell Parker III, Paul Harris
AFCO 1st B-Main: Tyrel Todd, Aaron Hatton, Larry Martin Jr., John Blankenship
AFCO 2nd B-Main: Jackie Boggs, Paul Harris, Jim LeMaster, Terry Hicks
PBM Performance Products A-Main: Eddie Carrier Jr., Timmy Yeager, Brandon Kinzer, Mike Marlar, David Powers, Jackie Boggs, Michael Chilton, Carnell Parker III, Mike Morris, Johnny Wheeler, Terry Hicks, Jim LeMaster, Herbie Barnett, Larry Martin Jr., Chuckie May, Steven Ashby, Tyrel Todd, Scott James, Jesse James Lay, Tom Hall, Paul Harris, Aaron Hatton
Race Statistics
Entries: 31
STARS BoB Provisionals: Michael Chilton and Steven Ashby
Track Provisionals: Tom Hall and Terry Hicks
Lead Changes: 2 among 2 drivers
Lap Leaders: Eddie Carrier Jr -Lap 1 Brandon Kinzer-Lap 2 Carrier Laps 3-40
Laps Lead: Carrier 39 Kinzer 1
R&P Industrial Chimney Rookie of the Race: Mike Marlar
PPM Racing Products/Outlaw Race Cars Hard Charger of the Race: Michael Chilton
STARS Battle of the Bluegrass Points
After 12 events
1. Scott James 2430
2. Mike Marlar 2385
3. Timmy Yeager 2155
4. Jesse James Lay 2125
5. Michael Chilton 2120
6. Tyrel Todd 2075
7. Johnny Wheeler 1965
8. Aaron Hatton 1915
9. Carnell Parker III 1425
10. Eddie Carrier Jr 1355
11. Steven Ashby 1315
12. Darrell Lanigan 1090
13. Jim Curry 1065
14. Mike Jewell 950
15. Steve Barnett 940
R&P Industrial Chimney Rookie of the Year
1. Mike Marlar 2385
2. Michael Chilton 2120
3. Carnell Parker III 1425
4. Steven Ashby 1325
5. Joey Kramer 825
Next Events:
Friday Night, July 11
Richmond Raceway
Richmond, KY
Saturday Night, July 12
Bluegrass Speedway
Bardstown, KY
Both races pay $3000 to win/$250 to start
