LEXINGTON, KY - Following a thrilling Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event at the Florence Speedway, Bedford, IN's Greg Johnson was crowned the Champion of the inaugural Kentucky Speedweek. Johnson won the championship by a mere 55 points over Scott James, thus earning himself a guaranteed starting spot in the prestigious 24th Annual North-South 100 on August 11th and 12th at Florence Speedway.
Greg Johnson started the week off with a dominating win at the Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway over Terry English and Brad Neat. Then, following back-to-back rain outs at the Bluegrass Speedway, Johnson brought home a fourth place finish at the Richmond Raceway. Heading into the final event at the Florence Speedway, Johnson's lead was just 30 points over Mike Jewell and 45 points over Scott James. A wild night of racing at Florence saw Johnson win his Heat and bring home a 10th place finish in the 20th Annual Ralph Latham Memorial. The finish was good enough to net the Bedford, IN native the Kentucky Speedweek Championship Trophy and Check as well as the guaranteed starting spot in the $50,000 to win/$1500 to start North-South 100 at Florence Speedway on August 11th and 12th.
"This team worked hard all week," Johnson said after being crowned the Kentucky Speedweek Champion. "I have to thank my car owner, John Hall, for giving me this opportunity, as well as my sponsors Intimidator Race Cars, Pro Power Engines, Hall's Angus Farms, and J&H Construction."
Finishing second in the final Kentucky Speedweek points standings was defending Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Rookie of the Year Scott James of Greendale, IN. Third place honors went to defending O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Co-Champion Mike Jewell of Scottsburg, IN. The other defending O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Co-Champion, Tim Tungate, of Campbellsville, KY, would be fourth in the final points rundown. Rounding out the top five was Greenbrier, AR native Jack Sullivan and Campbellsville, KY youngster Justin Rattliff, each with 450 points.
Reviewing the weeklong festivities, Mother Nature was victor three times during the week. Rain washed out the program at the Bluegrass Speedway on two separate occasions as well as the Friday night show at the Ponderosa Speedway. The Kentucky Speedweek began with Greg Johnson's dominating win at the Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway on Monday, May 29th. Following Johnson to the stripe in that event was Terry English, Brad Neat, Don O’Neal, and Tim Brown. After the back-to-back rainouts at Bluegrass, the Kentucky Speedweek rolled into the Richmond Raceway where Mike Jewell picked up a hard-fought win over Tim Tungate, Scott James, Greg Johnson, and Mike Marlar. With Friday night's program at the Ponderosa Speedway washed out, the Speedweek came to a thrilling close at the Florence Speedway with Scott Bloomquist's last lap pass of Darrell Lanigan with Dan Schlieper, Wendell Wallace, and 19th-starting Earl Pearson Jr. completing the top five. Over 100 different drivers competed in the Kentucky Speedweek events.
For more information on the inaugural Kentucky Speedweek, visit the official website at www.kyspeedweek.com.
For more information on the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts, please log on to www.battleofthebluegrass.com or call the series office at (859) 433-5707.
For more information on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, please log on to www.lucasdirt.com or call the series office at (951) 532-2503.
Final 2006 Kentucky Speedweek Points Standings
1. Greg Johnson (Bedford, IN)-640
2. Scott James (Greendale, IN)-585
3. Mike Jewell (Scottsburg, IN)-555
4. Tim Tungate (Campbellsville, KY)-510
5. Jack Sullivan (Greenbrier, AR)-450
5. Justin Rattliff (Campbellsville, KY)-450
7. Chris Combs (Isom, KY)-415
8. Don O'Neal (Martinsville, IN)-400
9. Aaron Hatton (Mt. Sterling, KY)-340
10. Mike Marlar (Winfield, TN)-335
KENTUCKY LAKE (5/29/06): Greg Johnson, Terry English, Brad Neat, Don O’Neal, Tim Brown, Freddy Smith, Scott James, Jimmy Owens, John Tindal, Mike Jewell, Tim Tungate, Justin Rattliff, Damon Eller, Chris Combs, Michael Chilton, Michael England, Aaron Hatton, Bryan Barber, Kevin Cole, Randle Sweeney, Jack Sullivan, Dylan Thompson, Bobby Wolter Jr., Earl Pearson Jr.
BLUEGRASS (5/30/06): Rained Out
RICHMOND (6/1/06): Mike Jewell, Tim Tungate, Scott James, Greg Johnson, Mike Marlar, Victor Lee, Aaron Hatton, Johnny Wheeler, Jack Sullivan, Chris Combs, Justin Rattliff, Bobby Carrier Jr., Scotty Earl, Larry Gray Jr., Doug Horton, Scott Douglas, Marty Stepp, Bobby Wolter Jr., Dan Deaton, Jason Barrett, Bryan Barber, Tim Damron, Jeff Watson, Dennis Roberson
PONDEROSA (6/2/06): Rained Out
FLORENCE (6/3/06): Scott Bloomquist, Darrell Lanigan, Dan Schlieper, Wendell Wallace, Earl Pearson, Jr., Shane Clanton, Jerry Rice, Don O'Neal, Jesse James Lay, Greg Johnson, Matt Miller, Scott James, Rod Conley, Steve Hillard, Robby Hensley, Dan Hoard, Donnie Moran, Jack Sullivan, Bill Blair, Jr., Mike Marlar, Steve Landrum, Rick Eckert, Dale McDowell, Mike Jewell, Rick Corbin
2006 O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Dirt Car Series Sponsors
O’Reilly Auto Parts – Title Sponsor and “Official Auto Parts 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, Drive Smart Kentucky, Lucas Oil Products, Hoosier Race Tires, American Race Tires, PPM Performance Products, Bazell Fuels, Cruise With the Champions, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, Racing Optics, Mason Racin', Design 500, Trailer Parts & Sales, Honda of Prestonsburg, Bullock Race Engines, CJ Rayburn Race Cars, Bert Transmissions, Rick Schwallie Photography, DT52 Photos, and Real Wheels
Greg Johnson started the week off with a dominating win at the Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway over Terry English and Brad Neat. Then, following back-to-back rain outs at the Bluegrass Speedway, Johnson brought home a fourth place finish at the Richmond Raceway. Heading into the final event at the Florence Speedway, Johnson's lead was just 30 points over Mike Jewell and 45 points over Scott James. A wild night of racing at Florence saw Johnson win his Heat and bring home a 10th place finish in the 20th Annual Ralph Latham Memorial. The finish was good enough to net the Bedford, IN native the Kentucky Speedweek Championship Trophy and Check as well as the guaranteed starting spot in the $50,000 to win/$1500 to start North-South 100 at Florence Speedway on August 11th and 12th.
"This team worked hard all week," Johnson said after being crowned the Kentucky Speedweek Champion. "I have to thank my car owner, John Hall, for giving me this opportunity, as well as my sponsors Intimidator Race Cars, Pro Power Engines, Hall's Angus Farms, and J&H Construction."
Finishing second in the final Kentucky Speedweek points standings was defending Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Rookie of the Year Scott James of Greendale, IN. Third place honors went to defending O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Co-Champion Mike Jewell of Scottsburg, IN. The other defending O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Co-Champion, Tim Tungate, of Campbellsville, KY, would be fourth in the final points rundown. Rounding out the top five was Greenbrier, AR native Jack Sullivan and Campbellsville, KY youngster Justin Rattliff, each with 450 points.
Reviewing the weeklong festivities, Mother Nature was victor three times during the week. Rain washed out the program at the Bluegrass Speedway on two separate occasions as well as the Friday night show at the Ponderosa Speedway. The Kentucky Speedweek began with Greg Johnson's dominating win at the Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway on Monday, May 29th. Following Johnson to the stripe in that event was Terry English, Brad Neat, Don O’Neal, and Tim Brown. After the back-to-back rainouts at Bluegrass, the Kentucky Speedweek rolled into the Richmond Raceway where Mike Jewell picked up a hard-fought win over Tim Tungate, Scott James, Greg Johnson, and Mike Marlar. With Friday night's program at the Ponderosa Speedway washed out, the Speedweek came to a thrilling close at the Florence Speedway with Scott Bloomquist's last lap pass of Darrell Lanigan with Dan Schlieper, Wendell Wallace, and 19th-starting Earl Pearson Jr. completing the top five. Over 100 different drivers competed in the Kentucky Speedweek events.
For more information on the inaugural Kentucky Speedweek, visit the official website at www.kyspeedweek.com.
For more information on the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts, please log on to www.battleofthebluegrass.com or call the series office at (859) 433-5707.
For more information on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, please log on to www.lucasdirt.com or call the series office at (951) 532-2503.
Final 2006 Kentucky Speedweek Points Standings
1. Greg Johnson (Bedford, IN)-640
2. Scott James (Greendale, IN)-585
3. Mike Jewell (Scottsburg, IN)-555
4. Tim Tungate (Campbellsville, KY)-510
5. Jack Sullivan (Greenbrier, AR)-450
5. Justin Rattliff (Campbellsville, KY)-450
7. Chris Combs (Isom, KY)-415
8. Don O'Neal (Martinsville, IN)-400
9. Aaron Hatton (Mt. Sterling, KY)-340
10. Mike Marlar (Winfield, TN)-335
KENTUCKY LAKE (5/29/06): Greg Johnson, Terry English, Brad Neat, Don O’Neal, Tim Brown, Freddy Smith, Scott James, Jimmy Owens, John Tindal, Mike Jewell, Tim Tungate, Justin Rattliff, Damon Eller, Chris Combs, Michael Chilton, Michael England, Aaron Hatton, Bryan Barber, Kevin Cole, Randle Sweeney, Jack Sullivan, Dylan Thompson, Bobby Wolter Jr., Earl Pearson Jr.
BLUEGRASS (5/30/06): Rained Out
RICHMOND (6/1/06): Mike Jewell, Tim Tungate, Scott James, Greg Johnson, Mike Marlar, Victor Lee, Aaron Hatton, Johnny Wheeler, Jack Sullivan, Chris Combs, Justin Rattliff, Bobby Carrier Jr., Scotty Earl, Larry Gray Jr., Doug Horton, Scott Douglas, Marty Stepp, Bobby Wolter Jr., Dan Deaton, Jason Barrett, Bryan Barber, Tim Damron, Jeff Watson, Dennis Roberson
PONDEROSA (6/2/06): Rained Out
FLORENCE (6/3/06): Scott Bloomquist, Darrell Lanigan, Dan Schlieper, Wendell Wallace, Earl Pearson, Jr., Shane Clanton, Jerry Rice, Don O'Neal, Jesse James Lay, Greg Johnson, Matt Miller, Scott James, Rod Conley, Steve Hillard, Robby Hensley, Dan Hoard, Donnie Moran, Jack Sullivan, Bill Blair, Jr., Mike Marlar, Steve Landrum, Rick Eckert, Dale McDowell, Mike Jewell, Rick Corbin
2006 O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Dirt Car Series Sponsors
O’Reilly Auto Parts – Title Sponsor and “Official Auto Parts 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, Drive Smart Kentucky, Lucas Oil Products, Hoosier Race Tires, American Race Tires, PPM Performance Products, Bazell Fuels, Cruise With the Champions, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, Racing Optics, Mason Racin', Design 500, Trailer Parts & Sales, Honda of Prestonsburg, Bullock Race Engines, CJ Rayburn Race Cars, Bert Transmissions, Rick Schwallie Photography, DT52 Photos, and Real Wheels
