Defending STARS Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Champion, Eddie Carrier Jr of Ona, WV became the all-time event winner in the two year history of the series as he recorded his fifth series win on Sunday Night at the Half Mountain Speedway as he led 38 of the 40 laps in taking the $5000 win. Carrier Jr aboard the Carl Grover Motorsports #28 sponsored by Engines, Inc., Railway Equipment Inc, American Racer Tires, Real Wheels, AFCO Shocks and Springs, All Star Performance, Outwears, Ringers Gloves, Racing Optics, CGM Graphics, Aviad Oiling Systems, Dyers Top Rods, Grover Engines and Rocket Chassis won the event despite a couple of puffs of smoke coming from his car's oil filter in the final few laps but he held on for the win. Aaron Hatton of Mt. Sterling, KY finished off a strong weekend by posting a second place finish to Carrier in the Hatton Racing/Porter Tire Center/MasterSbilt Race Cars #33. Third place at Half Mountain went to Hall of Famer, Charlie Swartz of Grayson, KY in his first ever appearance with the series the veteran driver wheeled the Jeff Fields owned/Fields Excavating/Swartz Chassis #1 to third in front of fourth place finisher and current STARS Battle of the Bluegrass points leader, Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN in the Todd Truss Company/PBM Performance Products/C.J. Rayburn Grand Prix. Rounding out the top five was Jackie Boggs of Grayson, Ky in the Steve Cascio Racing/Miller Brothers Coal/McDonald's of Maysville, KY #4B. It was the first ever appearance at the Jim Branham promoted facility for the STARS Battle of the Bluegrass as 32 cars were on hand for the event before a large crowd of spectators.
Bucky Jackson making his first ever start with the series would lead the first lap of the race with Brandon Kinzer and Michael Chilton following. Jackson's lead would be short lived as the veteran driver would spin in turns three and four on the second lap handing the lead to Kinzer. Kinzer, would led one circuit until Eddie Carrier, Jr. who started third would storm by him to take over the point. Kinzer would remain in second until Aaron Hatton, who started fifth roared through the field passing Kinzer for second place on the eighth lap. The race was dotted with caution flags, one red flag and a slight rain delay, but was packed with plenty of racing action as several drivers were racing for the first time at Half Mountain as putting on a show for the fans. A car on the move as well during the first part of the race was veteran, Charlie Swartz. who has rejoined the dirt late model racing wars after a brief retirement. Swartz, who was inducted into the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame in 2001 and was the 1980 winner of the World 100 and the 1982 Dirt Track World Championship, started 10th in the strong field and was up to third by ninth lap. The trio of Carrier, Hatton and Swartz would stay that way the remainder of the race.
With the number of green flag laps and caution laps during the race fuel consumption might have become an issue, but the final 12 laps would go caution free and despite some puffs of smoke coming from the car's oil filter in the final few laps Carrier would bring his car home in victory lane for the second time this season in STARS Battle of the Bluegrass competition as the 32 year old racer would become the first driver to win five STARS BoB events in the 41 races the series has run since the series began in May of 2002.
Completing the top ten were Brandon Kinzer, Tyrel Todd, David Powers, John Blankenship and Raymond Nichols. In preliminary action Eddie Carrier Jr would take the Racing Optics/Bullzilla Graphics fast time at 17.361 seconds around the 4/10ths mile oval. Heat races were won by Carrier, Bucky Jackson and Kinzer. The AFCO B-Main was won by Mike Marlar.
Race Summary
STARS Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Event #21
Sunday Night, September 14, 2003
Half Mountain Speedway-Royalton, KY
Racing Optics Fast Time: Eddie Carrier Jr 17.261
First Heat: Eddie Carrier Jr., Michael Chilton, Jackie Boggs, Charlie Swartz
Second Heat: Bucky Jackson, Aaron Hatton, Shannon Thornsberry, Benny Feltner
Third Heat: Brandon Kinzer, Victor Lee, Tyrel Todd, Jim LeMaster
AFCO B-Main: Mike Marlar, Raymond Nichols, John Blankenship, Dennis Little
PBM Performance Products Main: Eddie Carrier Jr., Aaron Hatton, Charlie Swartz, Mike Marlar, Jackie Boggs, Brandon Kinzer, Tyrel Todd, David Powers, John Blankenship, Raymond Nichols, Richard Smith, Steve Cornelius, Jim LeMaster, Benny Feltner, Steven Ashby, Timmy Yeager, Michael Chilton, Bucky Jackson, Stanley Haddix, Dennis Little, Shannon Thornsberry, Paul Harris, Victor Lee, Chuckie May
Race Statistics
Entries: 32
STARS BoB Provisionals: Timmy Yeager and Steven Ashby
Track Provisionals: Paul Harris and Stanley Haddix
R&P Industrial Chimney Rookie of the Race: Mike Marlar
PPM Racing Products/Outlaw Race Cars Hard Charger of the Race: Mike Marlar
Lead Changes: 3 among 3 drivers
Lap Leaders: Bucky Jackson-Lap 1 Brandon Kinzer-Lap 2 Eddie Carrier Jr-Laps 3-40
Bucky Jackson making his first ever start with the series would lead the first lap of the race with Brandon Kinzer and Michael Chilton following. Jackson's lead would be short lived as the veteran driver would spin in turns three and four on the second lap handing the lead to Kinzer. Kinzer, would led one circuit until Eddie Carrier, Jr. who started third would storm by him to take over the point. Kinzer would remain in second until Aaron Hatton, who started fifth roared through the field passing Kinzer for second place on the eighth lap. The race was dotted with caution flags, one red flag and a slight rain delay, but was packed with plenty of racing action as several drivers were racing for the first time at Half Mountain as putting on a show for the fans. A car on the move as well during the first part of the race was veteran, Charlie Swartz. who has rejoined the dirt late model racing wars after a brief retirement. Swartz, who was inducted into the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame in 2001 and was the 1980 winner of the World 100 and the 1982 Dirt Track World Championship, started 10th in the strong field and was up to third by ninth lap. The trio of Carrier, Hatton and Swartz would stay that way the remainder of the race.
With the number of green flag laps and caution laps during the race fuel consumption might have become an issue, but the final 12 laps would go caution free and despite some puffs of smoke coming from the car's oil filter in the final few laps Carrier would bring his car home in victory lane for the second time this season in STARS Battle of the Bluegrass competition as the 32 year old racer would become the first driver to win five STARS BoB events in the 41 races the series has run since the series began in May of 2002.
Completing the top ten were Brandon Kinzer, Tyrel Todd, David Powers, John Blankenship and Raymond Nichols. In preliminary action Eddie Carrier Jr would take the Racing Optics/Bullzilla Graphics fast time at 17.361 seconds around the 4/10ths mile oval. Heat races were won by Carrier, Bucky Jackson and Kinzer. The AFCO B-Main was won by Mike Marlar.
Race Summary
STARS Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Event #21
Sunday Night, September 14, 2003
Half Mountain Speedway-Royalton, KY
Racing Optics Fast Time: Eddie Carrier Jr 17.261
First Heat: Eddie Carrier Jr., Michael Chilton, Jackie Boggs, Charlie Swartz
Second Heat: Bucky Jackson, Aaron Hatton, Shannon Thornsberry, Benny Feltner
Third Heat: Brandon Kinzer, Victor Lee, Tyrel Todd, Jim LeMaster
AFCO B-Main: Mike Marlar, Raymond Nichols, John Blankenship, Dennis Little
PBM Performance Products Main: Eddie Carrier Jr., Aaron Hatton, Charlie Swartz, Mike Marlar, Jackie Boggs, Brandon Kinzer, Tyrel Todd, David Powers, John Blankenship, Raymond Nichols, Richard Smith, Steve Cornelius, Jim LeMaster, Benny Feltner, Steven Ashby, Timmy Yeager, Michael Chilton, Bucky Jackson, Stanley Haddix, Dennis Little, Shannon Thornsberry, Paul Harris, Victor Lee, Chuckie May
Race Statistics
Entries: 32
STARS BoB Provisionals: Timmy Yeager and Steven Ashby
Track Provisionals: Paul Harris and Stanley Haddix
R&P Industrial Chimney Rookie of the Race: Mike Marlar
PPM Racing Products/Outlaw Race Cars Hard Charger of the Race: Mike Marlar
Lead Changes: 3 among 3 drivers
Lap Leaders: Bucky Jackson-Lap 1 Brandon Kinzer-Lap 2 Eddie Carrier Jr-Laps 3-40
