By Spencer Wilson
Friday Night, May 21, 2004
GLASGOW, KY--Current O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series points leader, Greg Johnson made it three wins in six starts this season as the Indiana native took the $3000 to win Lucas Oil "Barren River 40" on Friday Night at the Barren County Speedway in Glasgow, KY. It was the first Late Model event of the season at the track which is now under the new management team of Spencer Wilson, Tony and Debbie Rose and Josh King. With a great crowd on hand, Johnson led all 40 laps in taking the win in the Danny Ray and Diane Preston owned, R&P Industrial Chimney, American Scaffolding, Cox Properties, First Financial Mortgage Corporation, Heritage Closing Agency, Curtis Graphics, Hoosier Racing Tires, Dyer's Top Rods, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, Dairy Queen of Harrodsburg, Koni Shocks, Pro Power Engines sponsored C.J. Rayburn Monte Carlo. Trailing Johnson was Mike Jewell of Scottsburg, IN driving the Southern Indiana Rock Drilling/MasterSbilt Grand Prix. Third place was defending O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass champion, Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN in the Marlar and Sons Auto/C.J. Rayburn Grand Prix. Fourth place was 11th starting Terry English from Benton, KY in the AAA Fence/C.J. Rayburn Monte Carlo and completing the top five was John Gill of Mitchell, IN in the Jeff and Eddie Harrod/Central Painting/Rocket Grand Prix. A total of 29 cars were on hand for the event.
Johnson would grab the point at the start of the Lucas Oil 40 lapper with Bryan Barber going to second followed by John Gill and Victor Lee. Mike Marlar who started seventh was on the move in the early portion of the race as he was up to fifth by the second lap. Marlar then went to fourth around Lee on the third circuit. Up front Johnson was starting to pull away from the field with Barber running second just ahead of Gill, who was debuting a new ride for the Harrod Racing Team. Gill would then really put the heat on Barber as Barber was hanging on to second place. Marlar then made his move to third in front of Gill passing the veteran driver. So at this point it was Johnson still in front followed by Barber, Marlar, Gill and Lee. Lapped traffic started to come into play by the 11th circuit with cars running two and three wide easily all over the immaculately prepared race track. With 15 laps scored Johnson still showed the way with Barber still running a solid second until lap 17 when Marlar overhauled him taking the spot away from Barber. Marlar then would start to track down Johnson, who had built a comfortable lead over the field. Marlar was catching Johnson and had made a pass for the lead when the caution flag came out on the 26th lap as Johnson was having trouble negotiating traffic. Marlar's pass was negated with the caution flag and he had to go back to second place on the restart.
Withe the double file restarts in effect on every restart in the main event Marlar would get a run on Johnson a couple of times after lap 27 pulling even with him on a couple of occasions, but never was able to fully pass him. A driver who started to become a real player in the race was Mike Jewell. Jewell started in eighth place was up to third on the restart after the lap 26th spin by another driver. Jewell then raced Marlar hard grabbing second from Marlar on the 28th lap. Marlar returned the favor two laps later by re-taking second from Jewell. While the torrid duel for second was going on Johnson was quietly building his lead back up over the pack. A final caution for Barber would with three laps to go would set up a dash to the finish with Johnson, Jewell, Marlar, Gill and now Terry English all having a shot of stealing the win from Johnson, who had led all the way to this point. Enlish had methodically worked his way to fourth after starting in the 11th slot. With the green from chief starter Noel Hargis the race to the finish would see Johnson hold off the challenges of both Jewell and Marlar to take his third O'Reilly NARA Battle fo the Bluegrass win in six starts this season. Jewell would finish second followed by Marlar. English would pass Gill with two laps remaining to place fourth in his first ever start with the series.
Completing the top ten were Tyrel Todd, Victor Lee, Johnny Wheeler, Randle Sweeney and Joey Kramer.
Greg Johnson was the Racing Optics/Russell Baker Race Engines Fast timer at 13.27 seconds. The Crown Spray Power Heat winners were Johnson, Joey Kramer, John Gill and Bryan Barber. Aaron Hatton and Michael England won the O'Reilly Auto Parts B-Mains.
Race Summary
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Event #6
Barren County Speedway
Glasgow, KY
Friday Night, May 21, 2004
Racing Optics/Russell Baker Race Engines Fast Time: Greg Johnson 13.27
Crown Spray Power Heat #1: Greg Johnson, Victor Lee, Randle Sweeney, Aaron Hatton
Crown Spray Power Heat #2: Joey Kramer, Jay Brinkley, Scott James, Dustin Neat
Crown Spray Power Heat #3: John Gill, Mike Marlar, Terry English, Carnell Parker III
Crown Spray Power Heat #4: Bryan Barber, Mike Jewell, Tyrel Todd, Michael England
O'Reilly Auto Parts B-Main #1: Aaron Hatton, Johnny Wheeler, Dustin Neat, Steve Cornelius
O'Reilly Auto Parts B-Main #2: Michael England, Carnell Parker III, Spensor Watson, Doug Smith
Lucas Oil "Barren River 40": Greg Johnson, Mike Jewell, Mike Marlar, Terry English, John Gill, Tyrel Todd, Victor Lee, Johnny Wheeler, Randle Sweeney, Joey Kramer,. Michael England, Aaron Hatton, Jay Brinkley, Doug Smith, Dennis Selby, Michael Wooldridge, Spensor Watson, Scott James, Bryan Barber, Carnell Parker III, Dustin Neat, Steve Cornelius
Race Statistics
Entries: 29
Race Leaders: Johnson 1-40
Caution Flags: 3
Red Flags: 0
O'Reilly NARA BoB Provisionals: Dennis Selby and Michael Wooldridge
Friday Night, May 21, 2004
GLASGOW, KY--Current O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series points leader, Greg Johnson made it three wins in six starts this season as the Indiana native took the $3000 to win Lucas Oil "Barren River 40" on Friday Night at the Barren County Speedway in Glasgow, KY. It was the first Late Model event of the season at the track which is now under the new management team of Spencer Wilson, Tony and Debbie Rose and Josh King. With a great crowd on hand, Johnson led all 40 laps in taking the win in the Danny Ray and Diane Preston owned, R&P Industrial Chimney, American Scaffolding, Cox Properties, First Financial Mortgage Corporation, Heritage Closing Agency, Curtis Graphics, Hoosier Racing Tires, Dyer's Top Rods, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, Dairy Queen of Harrodsburg, Koni Shocks, Pro Power Engines sponsored C.J. Rayburn Monte Carlo. Trailing Johnson was Mike Jewell of Scottsburg, IN driving the Southern Indiana Rock Drilling/MasterSbilt Grand Prix. Third place was defending O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass champion, Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN in the Marlar and Sons Auto/C.J. Rayburn Grand Prix. Fourth place was 11th starting Terry English from Benton, KY in the AAA Fence/C.J. Rayburn Monte Carlo and completing the top five was John Gill of Mitchell, IN in the Jeff and Eddie Harrod/Central Painting/Rocket Grand Prix. A total of 29 cars were on hand for the event.
Johnson would grab the point at the start of the Lucas Oil 40 lapper with Bryan Barber going to second followed by John Gill and Victor Lee. Mike Marlar who started seventh was on the move in the early portion of the race as he was up to fifth by the second lap. Marlar then went to fourth around Lee on the third circuit. Up front Johnson was starting to pull away from the field with Barber running second just ahead of Gill, who was debuting a new ride for the Harrod Racing Team. Gill would then really put the heat on Barber as Barber was hanging on to second place. Marlar then made his move to third in front of Gill passing the veteran driver. So at this point it was Johnson still in front followed by Barber, Marlar, Gill and Lee. Lapped traffic started to come into play by the 11th circuit with cars running two and three wide easily all over the immaculately prepared race track. With 15 laps scored Johnson still showed the way with Barber still running a solid second until lap 17 when Marlar overhauled him taking the spot away from Barber. Marlar then would start to track down Johnson, who had built a comfortable lead over the field. Marlar was catching Johnson and had made a pass for the lead when the caution flag came out on the 26th lap as Johnson was having trouble negotiating traffic. Marlar's pass was negated with the caution flag and he had to go back to second place on the restart.
Withe the double file restarts in effect on every restart in the main event Marlar would get a run on Johnson a couple of times after lap 27 pulling even with him on a couple of occasions, but never was able to fully pass him. A driver who started to become a real player in the race was Mike Jewell. Jewell started in eighth place was up to third on the restart after the lap 26th spin by another driver. Jewell then raced Marlar hard grabbing second from Marlar on the 28th lap. Marlar returned the favor two laps later by re-taking second from Jewell. While the torrid duel for second was going on Johnson was quietly building his lead back up over the pack. A final caution for Barber would with three laps to go would set up a dash to the finish with Johnson, Jewell, Marlar, Gill and now Terry English all having a shot of stealing the win from Johnson, who had led all the way to this point. Enlish had methodically worked his way to fourth after starting in the 11th slot. With the green from chief starter Noel Hargis the race to the finish would see Johnson hold off the challenges of both Jewell and Marlar to take his third O'Reilly NARA Battle fo the Bluegrass win in six starts this season. Jewell would finish second followed by Marlar. English would pass Gill with two laps remaining to place fourth in his first ever start with the series.
Completing the top ten were Tyrel Todd, Victor Lee, Johnny Wheeler, Randle Sweeney and Joey Kramer.
Greg Johnson was the Racing Optics/Russell Baker Race Engines Fast timer at 13.27 seconds. The Crown Spray Power Heat winners were Johnson, Joey Kramer, John Gill and Bryan Barber. Aaron Hatton and Michael England won the O'Reilly Auto Parts B-Mains.
Race Summary
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Event #6
Barren County Speedway
Glasgow, KY
Friday Night, May 21, 2004
Racing Optics/Russell Baker Race Engines Fast Time: Greg Johnson 13.27
Crown Spray Power Heat #1: Greg Johnson, Victor Lee, Randle Sweeney, Aaron Hatton
Crown Spray Power Heat #2: Joey Kramer, Jay Brinkley, Scott James, Dustin Neat
Crown Spray Power Heat #3: John Gill, Mike Marlar, Terry English, Carnell Parker III
Crown Spray Power Heat #4: Bryan Barber, Mike Jewell, Tyrel Todd, Michael England
O'Reilly Auto Parts B-Main #1: Aaron Hatton, Johnny Wheeler, Dustin Neat, Steve Cornelius
O'Reilly Auto Parts B-Main #2: Michael England, Carnell Parker III, Spensor Watson, Doug Smith
Lucas Oil "Barren River 40": Greg Johnson, Mike Jewell, Mike Marlar, Terry English, John Gill, Tyrel Todd, Victor Lee, Johnny Wheeler, Randle Sweeney, Joey Kramer,. Michael England, Aaron Hatton, Jay Brinkley, Doug Smith, Dennis Selby, Michael Wooldridge, Spensor Watson, Scott James, Bryan Barber, Carnell Parker III, Dustin Neat, Steve Cornelius
Race Statistics
Entries: 29
Race Leaders: Johnson 1-40
Caution Flags: 3
Red Flags: 0
O'Reilly NARA BoB Provisionals: Dennis Selby and Michael Wooldridge
