Junction City, KY-September 16- Eddie Carrier, Jr. of Salt Rock, WV took the lead from Mike Jewell on lap 32 of 40 and drove on to capture the 3rd Annual John Bradshaw Memorial at Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, KY. The win by the 2002 O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series champion marked only the second repeat winner on the Lexington, KY based series in 2005, who had previously won at Isom, KY two weeks earlier.
The start of the 40 lap O'Reilly A-Main got off to an extremely rocky beginning as outside polesitter Dustin Neat would smack the concrete in turn two, and Tim Tungate would make heavy contact with Neat, while Bryan Barber and Michael Chilton would also get involved, with Neat and Barber done for the night, with Chilton and series points leader able to continue, with Tungate minus several pieces of sheet metal.
Once action got the green again, Mike Jewell would jump to the race lead, with Wayne Chinn, Aaron Hatton, Anthony Adams, and Tungate in pursuit by lap 2. Michael Chilton would make his way into the top five past Tungate on lap 5, but action would be slowed again for a multi-car accident in turn one that involved Whitney McQueary, Benji Lee, Michael England, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Johnny Wheeler, and Chris Combs, with Lee and Wheeler not able to continue. The restart would see Jewell again motor away, only to be slowed again by caution on lap 8 for a stalled Chris Combs on the front chute, while fifth place running Chilton would pull pitside for the evening. Back underway, Eddie Carrier, Jr. would begin to flex his muscle somewhat as he drove past Tungate for fifth on lap 9, as Hatton pressured Wayne Chinn for the runner-up slot.
Lap 12 would see Carrier, Jr. grab fourth away from Anthony Adams, only to have the charge slowed by caution two laps later for debris on the racing surface. The restart would see Jewell pull away, while Hatton and Chinn renewed their second place battle, with Hatton going to second in turn three on lap 16, as Carrier, Jr. would move Chinn back to fourth one circuit later. As Jewell smoothly worked the topside of the racing surface in the lead, "Little Eddie" would bring the pain to Hatton for second and take the position on lap 20 and would set his sights on Jewell. Brad Neat was also beginning to make his presence felt at this point as would go from sixth to fourth in turn two on lap 27, passing Chinn and Adams. One round later, Carrier, Jr. was on the Jewell's bumper and the pair began to battle for the top spot, with Carrier, Jr. making what would be the winning pass in turn one on lap 32.
The final caution would wave on lap 33 as Timmy Yeager slowed on the back chute, bunching the field up for a short sprint to the finish. The final restart had Carrier, Jr. driving as away from the field, while Adams would drive past Chinn for fifth on lap 36, while Neat would scoot past Hatton for third on lap 38. The checkered flag would fall with Eddie Carrier, Jr. driving the Carl Grover Motorsports owned Rocket Taurus, E.I. RailCar Engines/Railway Equipment, Inc./Blue Ridge Machinery and Tools/ Simpson Race Products/Poske's Performance Parts #28 visiting victory lane. Mike Jewell would finish second, with Brad Neat finished third. Aaron Hatton and Anthony Adams completed the top five. The remainder of the top ten would be Wayne Chinn, Blake Chinn, Michael England, Frankie Coomer, and Whitney McQueary.
The event drew 38 entries and the start of race activities were delayed around 1 hour and 45 minutes due to rain showers before the drivers meeting. Mike Marlar was the Racing Optics fast qualifier with a 13.506 second lap. VP Racing Fuel Makin' Power heat events were scored by Mike Jewell, Tim Tungate, Anthony Adams, and Dustin Neat. B-Mains were won by Chris Combs and Bryan Barber. Series provisionals went Mike Luna and Johnny Wheeler, while Benji Lee and Bobby Carrier, Jr. were track provisional starters.
RACE SUMMARY
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY: September 16
Racing Optics Fast Time-Mike Marlar 13.506
VP Racing Fuel Makin' Power Heat #1- Mike Jewell, Shannon Thornsberry, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Chris Combs, Mike Marlar, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Doug Smith, Mike Luna, Mike Hawley, Jake Henry
VP Racing Fuel Makin' Power Heat #2- Tim Tungate, Wayne Chinn, Michael Chilton, Frankie Coomer, John Gill, Tyrel Todd, Johnny Wheeler, Jerry Rutherford, Victor Lee, Jordan Bland
VP Racing Fuel Makin' Power Heat #3- Anthony Adams, Blake Chinn, Brad Neat, Timmy Yeager, Benji Lee, Justin Rattliff, Donald Rayborn, Jason Hinkle, Billy Dever
VP Racing Fuel Makin' Power Heat #4- Dustin Neat, Aaron Hatton, Whitney McQueary, Bryan Barber, Michael England, Dan Deaton, Gary Yeager, Joe Ramey, Michael Luna
B-Main #1- Chris Combs, Mike Marlar, Frankie Coomer, John Gill, Johnny Wheeler, Victor Lee, Mike Hawley, Doug Smith, Jerry Rutherford, Jake Henry, Tyrel Todd, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Mike Luna, Jordan Bland
B-Main #2- Bryan Barber, Timmy Yeager, Michael England, Dan Deaton, Gary Yeager, Donald Rayborn, Joe Ramey, Jason Hinkle, Justin Rattliff, Benji Lee
Series Provisionals- Mike Luna, Johnny Wheeler
Track Provisionals- Benji Lee, Bobby Carrier, Jr.
O'Reilly Auto Parts A-Main 3rd Annual John Bradshaw Memorial- Eddie Carrier, Jr., Mike Jewell, Brad Neat, Aaron Hatton, Anthony Adams, Wayne Chinn, Blake Chinn, Michael England, Frankie Coomer, Whitney McQueary, Mike Luna, Shannon Thornsberry, Timmy Yeager, Tim Tungate, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Chris Combs, Michael Chilton, Johnny Wheeler, Benji Lee, Mike Marlar, Dustin Neat, Bryan Barber
Total Entries- 38
Race Leaders- 2 (Mike Jewell laps 1-31; Eddie Carrier, Jr. laps 32-40)
Caution Periods- 4 (lap 6, lap 8, lap 14, lap 33)
Red Flag Periods- 1 (Start)
Top Rookie Finish- Wayne Chinn (6th)
Hard Charger- Michael England (18th to 8th-advancing 10 positions)
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, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, Trailer Parts & Sales, Bullock Racing Engines, DJ Designs, Racing Optics, Smith Automotive and Machine, Cruise With The Champions and All-Star Performance
The start of the 40 lap O'Reilly A-Main got off to an extremely rocky beginning as outside polesitter Dustin Neat would smack the concrete in turn two, and Tim Tungate would make heavy contact with Neat, while Bryan Barber and Michael Chilton would also get involved, with Neat and Barber done for the night, with Chilton and series points leader able to continue, with Tungate minus several pieces of sheet metal.
Once action got the green again, Mike Jewell would jump to the race lead, with Wayne Chinn, Aaron Hatton, Anthony Adams, and Tungate in pursuit by lap 2. Michael Chilton would make his way into the top five past Tungate on lap 5, but action would be slowed again for a multi-car accident in turn one that involved Whitney McQueary, Benji Lee, Michael England, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Johnny Wheeler, and Chris Combs, with Lee and Wheeler not able to continue. The restart would see Jewell again motor away, only to be slowed again by caution on lap 8 for a stalled Chris Combs on the front chute, while fifth place running Chilton would pull pitside for the evening. Back underway, Eddie Carrier, Jr. would begin to flex his muscle somewhat as he drove past Tungate for fifth on lap 9, as Hatton pressured Wayne Chinn for the runner-up slot.
Lap 12 would see Carrier, Jr. grab fourth away from Anthony Adams, only to have the charge slowed by caution two laps later for debris on the racing surface. The restart would see Jewell pull away, while Hatton and Chinn renewed their second place battle, with Hatton going to second in turn three on lap 16, as Carrier, Jr. would move Chinn back to fourth one circuit later. As Jewell smoothly worked the topside of the racing surface in the lead, "Little Eddie" would bring the pain to Hatton for second and take the position on lap 20 and would set his sights on Jewell. Brad Neat was also beginning to make his presence felt at this point as would go from sixth to fourth in turn two on lap 27, passing Chinn and Adams. One round later, Carrier, Jr. was on the Jewell's bumper and the pair began to battle for the top spot, with Carrier, Jr. making what would be the winning pass in turn one on lap 32.
The final caution would wave on lap 33 as Timmy Yeager slowed on the back chute, bunching the field up for a short sprint to the finish. The final restart had Carrier, Jr. driving as away from the field, while Adams would drive past Chinn for fifth on lap 36, while Neat would scoot past Hatton for third on lap 38. The checkered flag would fall with Eddie Carrier, Jr. driving the Carl Grover Motorsports owned Rocket Taurus, E.I. RailCar Engines/Railway Equipment, Inc./Blue Ridge Machinery and Tools/ Simpson Race Products/Poske's Performance Parts #28 visiting victory lane. Mike Jewell would finish second, with Brad Neat finished third. Aaron Hatton and Anthony Adams completed the top five. The remainder of the top ten would be Wayne Chinn, Blake Chinn, Michael England, Frankie Coomer, and Whitney McQueary.
The event drew 38 entries and the start of race activities were delayed around 1 hour and 45 minutes due to rain showers before the drivers meeting. Mike Marlar was the Racing Optics fast qualifier with a 13.506 second lap. VP Racing Fuel Makin' Power heat events were scored by Mike Jewell, Tim Tungate, Anthony Adams, and Dustin Neat. B-Mains were won by Chris Combs and Bryan Barber. Series provisionals went Mike Luna and Johnny Wheeler, while Benji Lee and Bobby Carrier, Jr. were track provisional starters.
RACE SUMMARY
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY: September 16
Racing Optics Fast Time-Mike Marlar 13.506
VP Racing Fuel Makin' Power Heat #1- Mike Jewell, Shannon Thornsberry, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Chris Combs, Mike Marlar, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Doug Smith, Mike Luna, Mike Hawley, Jake Henry
VP Racing Fuel Makin' Power Heat #2- Tim Tungate, Wayne Chinn, Michael Chilton, Frankie Coomer, John Gill, Tyrel Todd, Johnny Wheeler, Jerry Rutherford, Victor Lee, Jordan Bland
VP Racing Fuel Makin' Power Heat #3- Anthony Adams, Blake Chinn, Brad Neat, Timmy Yeager, Benji Lee, Justin Rattliff, Donald Rayborn, Jason Hinkle, Billy Dever
VP Racing Fuel Makin' Power Heat #4- Dustin Neat, Aaron Hatton, Whitney McQueary, Bryan Barber, Michael England, Dan Deaton, Gary Yeager, Joe Ramey, Michael Luna
B-Main #1- Chris Combs, Mike Marlar, Frankie Coomer, John Gill, Johnny Wheeler, Victor Lee, Mike Hawley, Doug Smith, Jerry Rutherford, Jake Henry, Tyrel Todd, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Mike Luna, Jordan Bland
B-Main #2- Bryan Barber, Timmy Yeager, Michael England, Dan Deaton, Gary Yeager, Donald Rayborn, Joe Ramey, Jason Hinkle, Justin Rattliff, Benji Lee
Series Provisionals- Mike Luna, Johnny Wheeler
Track Provisionals- Benji Lee, Bobby Carrier, Jr.
O'Reilly Auto Parts A-Main 3rd Annual John Bradshaw Memorial- Eddie Carrier, Jr., Mike Jewell, Brad Neat, Aaron Hatton, Anthony Adams, Wayne Chinn, Blake Chinn, Michael England, Frankie Coomer, Whitney McQueary, Mike Luna, Shannon Thornsberry, Timmy Yeager, Tim Tungate, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Chris Combs, Michael Chilton, Johnny Wheeler, Benji Lee, Mike Marlar, Dustin Neat, Bryan Barber
Total Entries- 38
Race Leaders- 2 (Mike Jewell laps 1-31; Eddie Carrier, Jr. laps 32-40)
Caution Periods- 4 (lap 6, lap 8, lap 14, lap 33)
Red Flag Periods- 1 (Start)
Top Rookie Finish- Wayne Chinn (6th)
Hard Charger- Michael England (18th to 8th-advancing 10 positions)
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, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, Trailer Parts & Sales, Bullock Racing Engines, DJ Designs, Racing Optics, Smith Automotive and Machine, Cruise With The Champions and All-Star Performance
