CALVERT CITY, KY – The inaugural Kentucky Speedweek kicked off in thrilling fashion as Bedford, IN’s Greg Johnson claimed the Memorial Day win in the first ever O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series event held at the Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway. The win was Johnson’s third with the Series in 2006.
Local favorites Terry English and Tim Brown brought the strong field of cars to the green with Brown inching ahead of English and Johnson to lead the first circuit. A multi-car accident in turns one and two blocked the race track and brought the field under the red flag. When racing resumed, Johnson stormed ahead of Brown to take command of the field as a caution for Chris Combs fell one lap later.
On the restart, Johnson watched an entertaining battle for second in his rearview mirror as Brown was busy fending off the challenges of English. Behind them, Freddy Smith held the fourth spot with Don O’Neal, Brad Neat, and Scott James all jockeying for position. On lap 5, 15th-starting Jimmy Owens cracked the top ten and soon joined the fierce, three-way dance for seventh.
The long run of green flag action provided great racing behind Johnson as Brown and English continuously raced side-by-side for the bridesmaid honors. Meanwhile, Smith, O’Neal, and Neat were in an absolute dogfight for fourth with each driver sticking a nose under the others in the corners.
Despite closing in on the back of the field at the halfway point, Johnson’s torrid pace could not be slowed. Slicing and dicing through the backmarkers, Johnson made a power move on lap 15 putting three lapped cars between himself and the side-by-side battle for second between Brown and English. On lap 18, the final caution of the night would fly when Aaron Hatton slowed in turns three and four.
The restart saw Brown dive to the bottom of the race track in a bid for the top spot. When Johnson motored back ahead of Brown off the second corner, the door was open for English to make his move. English again pulled alongside Brown in a race for second as, simultaneously, Smith, O’Neal, and Neat went three-wide for fourth. With five laps to go, English completed his pass for second and Neat catapulted himself from sixth to fourth.
Over the final five laps, English tried his best to chase down race-leader Johnson, but to no avail. Behind them, Neat charged into third with just three laps to go, but he too couldn’t track down Johnson. When the checkered flag waved, Bedford, IN’s Greg Johnson was the first to cross the stripe in the John Hall owned, J&H Construction/Hall’s Angus Farms/Outlaw Graphics sponsored, Pro Power/Intimidator Grand Prix.
Second place went to Benton, KY’s Terry English driving the AAA Fence Inc./Larry Seay Chevy/Runion/Rayburn Monte Carlo. Dunnville, KY native Brad Neat took home third in his Cornett powered MasterSbilt Monte Carlo sponsored by Neat’s Service Center and NWN Distributing. Don O’Neal’s last lap pass netted the Martinsville, IN driver a fourth place finish in the Independence Lumber/Foxfire Realty/Jay Dickens/MasterSbilt Monte Carlo. Rounding out the top five was Benton, KY’s Tim Brown in a Custom powered MasterSbilt Monte Carlo sponsored by Parkway Chrysler and Ultra Custom Wheels.
Tonight, the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series will be in action at the Bluegrass Speedway just south of Bardstown, KY for Night #2 of the Kentucky Speedweek. For more information on the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts, visit our new website at www.battleofthebluegrass.com. For more information on the Kentucky Speedweek, visit the official Speedweek website at www.kyspeedweek.com.
Results Summary
Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway – Calvert City, KY
May 29, 2006
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier: Jeremy Williams/14.840
Mason Racin’ Heat #1: Freddy Smith, Randle Sweeney, Jack Sullivan, Jeremy Williams, Michael Steele, Bryan Barber, Mike Jewell, Charles LaPlant, Chris Shelton
Mason Racin’ Heat #2: Tim Brown, Brad Neat, John Tindal, Earl Pearson Jr., Ronny Lee Hollingsworth, Aaron Hatton, Justin Rattliff, Dan Deaton, Michael England
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #3: Terry English, Scott James, Don O’Neal, Jimmy Owens, Tim Tungate, William Simmons, Wendell Wallace, Scott Dedwylder
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #4: Greg Johnson, Chris Combs, Kevin Cole, Dylan Thompson, Damon Eller, Michael Chilton, Jordan Bland, Bobby Wolter Jr.
Design 500 B-Main #1: Michael England, Mike Jewell, Aaron Hatton, Justin Rattliff, Charles LaPlant, Bryan Barber, Michael Steele, Chris Shelton, Dan Deaton
Design 500 B-Main #2: Tim Tungate, Damon Eller, Bobby Wolter Jr., Michael Chilton, Jordan Bland, William Simmons (DNS – Wendell Wallace, Scott Dedwylder)
O’Reilly Auto Parts A-Main: 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.
Race Statistics
Lap Leaders: Tim Brown 1, Greg Johnson 2-25
Cautions: 2
Red Flags: 1
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger: Justin Rattliff (started 24th, finished 12th)
Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Race: Justin Rattliff
Series Provisionals: Bryan Barber, Justin Rattliff
Entries: 36
Kentucky Speedweek Current Points Standings
1. 19 Greg Johnson - 250
2. 96 Terry English – 230
3. 41 Brad Neat – 220
4. 71 Don O’Neal – 210
5. T14 Tim Brown – 205
6. 00 Freddy Smith – 200
7. 83 Scott James – 195
8. 20 Jimmy Owens – 190
9. 7 John Tindal – 185
10. 9 Mike Jewell – 180
2006 O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Upcoming Schedule
May 30 - KENTUCKY SPEEDWEEK - Bluegrass Speedway, Bardstown, KY - $3000 to win
June 1 – KENTUCKY SPEEDWEEK – Richmond Raceway, Richmond, KY - $3000 to win
June 2 – KENTUCKY SPEEDWEEK – Ponderosa Speedway, Junction City, KY - $5000 to win
June 16 – Ponderosa Speedway, Junction City, KY - $3000 to win
June 17 – Bluegrass Speedway, Bardstown, KY - $3000 to win
June 24 – Brownstown Speedway, Brownstown, IN - $3000 to win
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, Drive Smart Kentucky, DART Machinery, 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, DT52 Photos, Bert Transmissions, Rick Schwallie Photography, and Real Wheels
Local favorites Terry English and Tim Brown brought the strong field of cars to the green with Brown inching ahead of English and Johnson to lead the first circuit. A multi-car accident in turns one and two blocked the race track and brought the field under the red flag. When racing resumed, Johnson stormed ahead of Brown to take command of the field as a caution for Chris Combs fell one lap later.
On the restart, Johnson watched an entertaining battle for second in his rearview mirror as Brown was busy fending off the challenges of English. Behind them, Freddy Smith held the fourth spot with Don O’Neal, Brad Neat, and Scott James all jockeying for position. On lap 5, 15th-starting Jimmy Owens cracked the top ten and soon joined the fierce, three-way dance for seventh.
The long run of green flag action provided great racing behind Johnson as Brown and English continuously raced side-by-side for the bridesmaid honors. Meanwhile, Smith, O’Neal, and Neat were in an absolute dogfight for fourth with each driver sticking a nose under the others in the corners.
Despite closing in on the back of the field at the halfway point, Johnson’s torrid pace could not be slowed. Slicing and dicing through the backmarkers, Johnson made a power move on lap 15 putting three lapped cars between himself and the side-by-side battle for second between Brown and English. On lap 18, the final caution of the night would fly when Aaron Hatton slowed in turns three and four.
The restart saw Brown dive to the bottom of the race track in a bid for the top spot. When Johnson motored back ahead of Brown off the second corner, the door was open for English to make his move. English again pulled alongside Brown in a race for second as, simultaneously, Smith, O’Neal, and Neat went three-wide for fourth. With five laps to go, English completed his pass for second and Neat catapulted himself from sixth to fourth.
Over the final five laps, English tried his best to chase down race-leader Johnson, but to no avail. Behind them, Neat charged into third with just three laps to go, but he too couldn’t track down Johnson. When the checkered flag waved, Bedford, IN’s Greg Johnson was the first to cross the stripe in the John Hall owned, J&H Construction/Hall’s Angus Farms/Outlaw Graphics sponsored, Pro Power/Intimidator Grand Prix.
Second place went to Benton, KY’s Terry English driving the AAA Fence Inc./Larry Seay Chevy/Runion/Rayburn Monte Carlo. Dunnville, KY native Brad Neat took home third in his Cornett powered MasterSbilt Monte Carlo sponsored by Neat’s Service Center and NWN Distributing. Don O’Neal’s last lap pass netted the Martinsville, IN driver a fourth place finish in the Independence Lumber/Foxfire Realty/Jay Dickens/MasterSbilt Monte Carlo. Rounding out the top five was Benton, KY’s Tim Brown in a Custom powered MasterSbilt Monte Carlo sponsored by Parkway Chrysler and Ultra Custom Wheels.
Tonight, the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series will be in action at the Bluegrass Speedway just south of Bardstown, KY for Night #2 of the Kentucky Speedweek. For more information on the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts, visit our new website at www.battleofthebluegrass.com. For more information on the Kentucky Speedweek, visit the official Speedweek website at www.kyspeedweek.com.
Results Summary
Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway – Calvert City, KY
May 29, 2006
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier: Jeremy Williams/14.840
Mason Racin’ Heat #1: Freddy Smith, Randle Sweeney, Jack Sullivan, Jeremy Williams, Michael Steele, Bryan Barber, Mike Jewell, Charles LaPlant, Chris Shelton
Mason Racin’ Heat #2: Tim Brown, Brad Neat, John Tindal, Earl Pearson Jr., Ronny Lee Hollingsworth, Aaron Hatton, Justin Rattliff, Dan Deaton, Michael England
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #3: Terry English, Scott James, Don O’Neal, Jimmy Owens, Tim Tungate, William Simmons, Wendell Wallace, Scott Dedwylder
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #4: Greg Johnson, Chris Combs, Kevin Cole, Dylan Thompson, Damon Eller, Michael Chilton, Jordan Bland, Bobby Wolter Jr.
Design 500 B-Main #1: Michael England, Mike Jewell, Aaron Hatton, Justin Rattliff, Charles LaPlant, Bryan Barber, Michael Steele, Chris Shelton, Dan Deaton
Design 500 B-Main #2: Tim Tungate, Damon Eller, Bobby Wolter Jr., Michael Chilton, Jordan Bland, William Simmons (DNS – Wendell Wallace, Scott Dedwylder)
O’Reilly Auto Parts A-Main: 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.
Race Statistics
Lap Leaders: Tim Brown 1, Greg Johnson 2-25
Cautions: 2
Red Flags: 1
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger: Justin Rattliff (started 24th, finished 12th)
Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Race: Justin Rattliff
Series Provisionals: Bryan Barber, Justin Rattliff
Entries: 36
Kentucky Speedweek Current Points Standings
1. 19 Greg Johnson - 250
2. 96 Terry English – 230
3. 41 Brad Neat – 220
4. 71 Don O’Neal – 210
5. T14 Tim Brown – 205
6. 00 Freddy Smith – 200
7. 83 Scott James – 195
8. 20 Jimmy Owens – 190
9. 7 John Tindal – 185
10. 9 Mike Jewell – 180
2006 O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Upcoming Schedule
May 30 - KENTUCKY SPEEDWEEK - Bluegrass Speedway, Bardstown, KY - $3000 to win
June 1 – KENTUCKY SPEEDWEEK – Richmond Raceway, Richmond, KY - $3000 to win
June 2 – KENTUCKY SPEEDWEEK – Ponderosa Speedway, Junction City, KY - $5000 to win
June 16 – Ponderosa Speedway, Junction City, KY - $3000 to win
June 17 – Bluegrass Speedway, Bardstown, KY - $3000 to win
June 24 – Brownstown Speedway, Brownstown, IN - $3000 to win
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, Drive Smart Kentucky, DART Machinery, 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, DT52 Photos, Bert Transmissions, Rick Schwallie Photography, and Real Wheels
