Burnside, KY--John Gill of Mitchell, IN rode into the Lake Cumberland Speedway in Burnside, KY and walked away with the $3000 first place money as he dominated the "Mello Yello 40" Saturday Night for the STARS Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts. It was Gill's first career Battle of the Bluegrass Series win, as he became the ninth different winner in ten races this season and the 16th different driver in 30 races over the last year and half to win a series event. The two time UMP National Champion and two time Brownstown (IN) Speedway track champion led all 40 laps in claiming the win as the 43 year old driver took the Terry Eaglin Motorsports, Helena Chemicals, Cyclone One Products, Penske Shocks, Wildside Signs, A Reliable Auto Parts, Performance Plus Car Wash, Stealth Carburetors, Hoosier Tires, All-Star Performance, Base Fuels, Racetek Race Engines, Rocket Chassis #75 to victory circle for the first time ever at Lake Cumberland Speedway. Timmy Yeager of Harrodsburg, KY finished in second driving the Clark Racing/Welfab Inc/Spoon Auto, C.J. Rayburn entry. Third went to Duane Chamberlain of Richmond, IN in his first ever BoB feature race behind the wheel of the Quality Tool and Gage, Inc/Tom Raper RV's/Warrior Monte Carlo. Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN placed fourth after starting 19th in the Wayne Bowen Racing Supply/CarCosmetics.Net/C.J. Rayburn Grand Prix. Rounding out the top five was Brandon Hardgrove of Burnside, KY driving the Tommy Brummett/Coca-Cola Bottling/Cumberland Liquidators/C.J. Rayburn Grand Prix.
It took three attempts to start the 40 lap main with a single file start putting Gill on the point with Yeager in second followed by Chamberlain, Aaron Hatton and Tim Tungate. The race would go green flag the entire distance once it began for real with Gill holding a commanding lead for most of the race. Gill was lapping cars by the 10th lap with Yeager trying his best to stay with eyesight of Gill. Gill would start to build immediately a comfortable lead over Yeager as a good battle would be taking place for third between Chamberlain, Hatton and Tungate. Tungate's night would last ten laps as overheating problems would take him pit side and out of the race after running as high as fourth. Brandon Hardgrove, who had started 12th, was on the move taking the fourth spot from Tungate, when Tungate left the race. Another driver in the mix was Jay Mobley subbing for Dustin Neat in the number 19 Danny Ray and Diane Preston owned entry. Mobley was in fifth pressuring the two drivers in front of him. Mobley would take Hardgrove for fourth on the 15th circuit running there until he suddenly slowed and dropped out of the race on the 31st lap.
Up front it was Gill even though with ten to go he was racing in heavy traffic lapping cars at a productive pace. In fact Gill lapped everyone up to the seventh place car at the finish. While Gill was slowed a little by the traffic Yeager was starting to gain a little ground on him, but Gill was not to be caught this night as he would storm on to take his first BoB win. Yeager continues to rack up higher place finishes and points in his quest to make the 2003 points race very interesting. Chamberlain's first ever BoB feature and first ever visit to Lake Cumberland proved worthwhile as the Sunoco American Late Model Series regular took third. Marlar's run was also impressive. After having his qualifying time disallowed after failing to cross the scale before he headed to his pit, Marlar started on tail of his heat and did not transfer, started 7th in the consy and did not transfer after dropping and after using his first provisional of the season started 19th on the grid and drove his way to fourth place at the finish passing Hardgrove at the start-finish line. Hardgrove had his best career BoB finish with a fifth place.
Completing the top ten were Shawn Negangard, Tyrel Todd, Scott James, Michael Chilton and Aaron Hatton. James and Chilton started the race on the tail after pitting for a multi car pileup on the second restart of the feature race.
In preliminary action Scott James took the Racing Optics/Bullzilla Graphics fast time at 13.32 seconds over the 27 entries on hand. Heat race winners were Duane Chamberlain, John Gill and Timmy Yeager. Tyrel Todd won the AFCO B-Main.
The next two STARS Battle of the Bluegrass events will be Friday, July 4 at the Mountain Motor Speedway in Isom, KY and Saturday Night, July 5 at the 201 Speedway in Sitka, KY. Both events will pay $3000 to win. The scheduled event at the Thunder Ridge Raceway in Prestonsburg, KY on July 3 has been cancelled due to the fact the track has closed.
Race Summary
STARS Battle of the Bluegrass
Event #10
Lake Cumberland Speedway
Burnside, KY
Saturday Night, June 28, 2003
Racing Optics/Bullzilla Graphics Fast Time: Scott James 13.32
First Heat: Duane Chamberlain, Aaron Hatton, Shawn Negangard, Scott James
Second Heat: John Gill, Tim Tungate, Victor Lee, John Whitney
Third Heat: Timmy Yeager, Jay Mobley, Tim Taylor, Brandon Hardgrove
AFCO B-Main: Tyrel Todd, Bobby Wolter, Jr., Jesse James Lay, Steve Barnett
PBM Performance Products A-Main: John Gill, Timmy Yeager, Duane Chamberlain, Mike Marlar, Brandon Hardgrove, Shawn Negangard, Tyrel Todd, Scott James, Michael Chilton, Aaron Hatton, Victor Lee, Jesse James Lay, John Whitney, Tim Taylor, Steve Cornelius, Johnny Wheeler, Doug Smith, Jay Mobley, Carnell Parker III, Tim Tungate, Bobby Wolter Jr
Race Statistics
Entries: 27
STARS BoB Provisionals: Mike Marlar and Carnell Parker III
Track Provisional: Steve Cornelius
Lap Leader: John Gill 1-40
R&P Industrial Chimney Rookie of the Race: Marlar
PPM Racing Products/Outlaw Race Cars Hard Charger: Marlar
Current Points after 10 events
As of June 29, 2003
1. Scott James 2080
2. Mike Marlar 1925
3. Jesse James Lay 1785
4. Michael Chilton 1775
5. Tyrel Todd 1745
6. Timmy Yeager 1705
7. Aaron Hatton 1645
8. Johnny Wheeler 1605
9. Darrell Lanigan 1090
10. Jim Curry 1065
R&P Industrial Chimney Rookie of the Year
1. Mike Marlar 1925
2. Michael Chilton 1775
3. Carnell Parker 1035
4. Steven Ashby 995
5. Joey Kramer 825
6. John Whitney 565
7. Chris Wilson 550
8. Tim Tungate 540
9. Larry Martin Jr 530
It took three attempts to start the 40 lap main with a single file start putting Gill on the point with Yeager in second followed by Chamberlain, Aaron Hatton and Tim Tungate. The race would go green flag the entire distance once it began for real with Gill holding a commanding lead for most of the race. Gill was lapping cars by the 10th lap with Yeager trying his best to stay with eyesight of Gill. Gill would start to build immediately a comfortable lead over Yeager as a good battle would be taking place for third between Chamberlain, Hatton and Tungate. Tungate's night would last ten laps as overheating problems would take him pit side and out of the race after running as high as fourth. Brandon Hardgrove, who had started 12th, was on the move taking the fourth spot from Tungate, when Tungate left the race. Another driver in the mix was Jay Mobley subbing for Dustin Neat in the number 19 Danny Ray and Diane Preston owned entry. Mobley was in fifth pressuring the two drivers in front of him. Mobley would take Hardgrove for fourth on the 15th circuit running there until he suddenly slowed and dropped out of the race on the 31st lap.
Up front it was Gill even though with ten to go he was racing in heavy traffic lapping cars at a productive pace. In fact Gill lapped everyone up to the seventh place car at the finish. While Gill was slowed a little by the traffic Yeager was starting to gain a little ground on him, but Gill was not to be caught this night as he would storm on to take his first BoB win. Yeager continues to rack up higher place finishes and points in his quest to make the 2003 points race very interesting. Chamberlain's first ever BoB feature and first ever visit to Lake Cumberland proved worthwhile as the Sunoco American Late Model Series regular took third. Marlar's run was also impressive. After having his qualifying time disallowed after failing to cross the scale before he headed to his pit, Marlar started on tail of his heat and did not transfer, started 7th in the consy and did not transfer after dropping and after using his first provisional of the season started 19th on the grid and drove his way to fourth place at the finish passing Hardgrove at the start-finish line. Hardgrove had his best career BoB finish with a fifth place.
Completing the top ten were Shawn Negangard, Tyrel Todd, Scott James, Michael Chilton and Aaron Hatton. James and Chilton started the race on the tail after pitting for a multi car pileup on the second restart of the feature race.
In preliminary action Scott James took the Racing Optics/Bullzilla Graphics fast time at 13.32 seconds over the 27 entries on hand. Heat race winners were Duane Chamberlain, John Gill and Timmy Yeager. Tyrel Todd won the AFCO B-Main.
The next two STARS Battle of the Bluegrass events will be Friday, July 4 at the Mountain Motor Speedway in Isom, KY and Saturday Night, July 5 at the 201 Speedway in Sitka, KY. Both events will pay $3000 to win. The scheduled event at the Thunder Ridge Raceway in Prestonsburg, KY on July 3 has been cancelled due to the fact the track has closed.
Race Summary
STARS Battle of the Bluegrass
Event #10
Lake Cumberland Speedway
Burnside, KY
Saturday Night, June 28, 2003
Racing Optics/Bullzilla Graphics Fast Time: Scott James 13.32
First Heat: Duane Chamberlain, Aaron Hatton, Shawn Negangard, Scott James
Second Heat: John Gill, Tim Tungate, Victor Lee, John Whitney
Third Heat: Timmy Yeager, Jay Mobley, Tim Taylor, Brandon Hardgrove
AFCO B-Main: Tyrel Todd, Bobby Wolter, Jr., Jesse James Lay, Steve Barnett
PBM Performance Products A-Main: John Gill, Timmy Yeager, Duane Chamberlain, Mike Marlar, Brandon Hardgrove, Shawn Negangard, Tyrel Todd, Scott James, Michael Chilton, Aaron Hatton, Victor Lee, Jesse James Lay, John Whitney, Tim Taylor, Steve Cornelius, Johnny Wheeler, Doug Smith, Jay Mobley, Carnell Parker III, Tim Tungate, Bobby Wolter Jr
Race Statistics
Entries: 27
STARS BoB Provisionals: Mike Marlar and Carnell Parker III
Track Provisional: Steve Cornelius
Lap Leader: John Gill 1-40
R&P Industrial Chimney Rookie of the Race: Marlar
PPM Racing Products/Outlaw Race Cars Hard Charger: Marlar
Current Points after 10 events
As of June 29, 2003
1. Scott James 2080
2. Mike Marlar 1925
3. Jesse James Lay 1785
4. Michael Chilton 1775
5. Tyrel Todd 1745
6. Timmy Yeager 1705
7. Aaron Hatton 1645
8. Johnny Wheeler 1605
9. Darrell Lanigan 1090
10. Jim Curry 1065
R&P Industrial Chimney Rookie of the Year
1. Mike Marlar 1925
2. Michael Chilton 1775
3. Carnell Parker 1035
4. Steven Ashby 995
5. Joey Kramer 825
6. John Whitney 565
7. Chris Wilson 550
8. Tim Tungate 540
9. Larry Martin Jr 530
