LEXINGTON, KY – In the highly entertaining 7th Annual Hugh “Junebug” Rowland Memorial at Ponderosa Speedway, Joey Daniel bested Mother Nature as well as a stout field of cars to win his first ever O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series event. Daniel becomes the 38th different winner in the five-year history of the series.
After an aborted start, Eddie Carrier Jr. got the jump on outside pole sitter Brad Neat to take early command of the race with Neat, Michael Chilton, and Joey Daniel in hot pursuit. When a lap five caution for Brent Londeree slowed the pace, Lady Luck dealt race leader Carrier Jr. a bad hand as the 2002 Series Champion retired from the event with a flat right rear tire.
On the restart, the excitement at the front of the field continued as Neat had a rear view mirror full of Michael Chilton. For several laps, the lead duo raced side-by-side through the corners with Neat powering back ahead on the straight-aways. Behind them, the racing was intense from fourth on back as Bobby Carrier Jr. was busy fending off the challenges of Chris Combs, Aaron Hatton, Wayne Chinn, and Justin Rattliff.
Up front, the leaders were putting on a show with Chilton still ducking underneath Neat in every corner, trying to find a clean pass. 14 laps into the event, Neat, Chilton, and Daniel caught the back of the field as Chilton made slight contact with a slower car enabling Daniel to close upon his rear decklid. Just three circuits later, a caution for Aaron Jenkins would tighten the field back up. When racing resumed, Combs shot by Bobby Carrier Jr. to move into fourth with Wayne Chinn following suit and cracking the top five.
The complexion of the race changed drastically on lap 23 with two cautions and a red flag. The first caution fell when race leader Brad Neat slowed coming down the front stretch with a flat right rear tire. With Joey Daniel inheriting the point, the already stellar battle for second grew even more intense as the restart saw Combs and Chilton come together, but continue racing, going into turn three as both drivers were challenging for the same piece of real estate. Fourth running Wayne Chinn grabbed the outside wall when the duo in front of him made contact, thus bringing out the yellow. The restart saw a multi-car accident on the front stretch involving Bobby Carrier Jr., Dustin Neat, Bryan Barber, Brad Neat, and Tim Tungate among others. With the track being blocked, the red flag was displayed to clean up the damage.
When racing resumed, it was Joey Daniel on the point followed by Michael Chilton, Chris Combs, 13th-starting Justin Rattliff, and Aaron Hatton. Chilton would scrape the wall shortly after the restart catapulting Combs into the runner-up spot and Rattliff to third. Combs immediately began applying pressure to Daniel sticking a nose under the Liberty, KY veteran in every corner. The race’s final caution would fall on lap 29 when Shannon Thornsberry grabbed the wall in turns one and two.
On the Delaware double-file restart, fans rose to their feet as Combs made a bold move crossing over from his outside lane and darting down to the inside of Daniel in a bid for the top spot. Daniel maintained the advantage momentarily as Combs would repeat the same move throughout the final stages of the event. As the lead duo put a couple car lengths between themselves and the rest of the field, Tungate and Mike Jewell went door-to-door for the fifth spot.
With just five laps to go, Combs was still glued to the back bumper of Daniel, trying to build enough steam to power a run off the corner. Daniel remained on the cushion, holding the preferred line, and fought off a valiant effort by Combs to nab his first-ever O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series victory in the Louis and Phyllis Brady owned #77. The AMS powered Rayburn Grand Prix carries sponsorship from Mountain View Golf Course, Anthony's Auto Sales, Sam's Restaurant, Hometown Auto Value, Higdon's Food Town, Gregory Graphics, S & T Market, Ed Buis Appliance & Furniture, Cundiff Steel, and Lewis’ Grocery.
2005 O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Rookie of the Year Chris Combs of Isom, KY finished 2nd in the Bub’s Trucking/Tim Short Automotive sponsored Cropper/Swartz GTO. 2006 Rookie of the Year candidate Justin Rattliff of Campbellsville, KY finished 3rd, in the Rattliff Motors/Gowen’s Auto Glass/ProPower/Rayburn Monte Carlo, thus earning him the PPM Racing Products Hard Charger Award. 4th spot went to Mt. Sterling, KY native Aaron Hatton in the Russell Hatton Mobile Home Center/Speedseeker Performance sponsored Draime/Rayburn Monte Carlo. Campbellsville, KY’s Tim Tungate completed the top five in the Mulch Madness/Guardian Mortgage/Bullock/Rayburn Monte Carlo. They were followed across the line by Mike Jewell, Michael Chilton, Brad Neat, Marty O’Neal, and Bobby Carrier Jr. rounding out the top ten.
Justin Rattliff was the fast qualifier during Racing Optics Time Trials with a fast lap of 13.121, just .08 off the track record. Brad Neat was the winner of Mason Racin’ Heat #1 with Eddie Carrier Jr. winning Mason Racin’ Heat #2 and Michael Chilton winning Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #3.
This Saturday, May 20th, the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts visits the Lake Cumberland Speedway in Burnside, KY for the Coca-Cola 40 paying $3000
to win. Then, on Monday May 29th, the series heads west to the KY Lake Motor Speedway for the first leg of the inaugural Kentucky Speedweek.
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.
Race Summary
Ponderosa Speedway
May 13, 2006
O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Racing Optics Fast Time: Justin Rattliff/13.121
Mason Racin’ Heat #1: Brad Neat, Joey Daniel, Shannon Thornsberry, Aaron Hatton, Justin Rattliff, Dan Deaton, Bobby Wolter, Jr.
Mason Racin’ Heat #2: Eddie Carrier, Jr., Chris Combs, Mike Jewell, Dustin Neat, Brent Londeree, Jason Hinkle, Aaron Jenkins
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #3: Michael Chilton, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Wayne Chinn, Tim Tungate, Marty O’Neal, Blake Chinn, Bryan Barber
O’Reilly A-Main 7th Annual Hugh “Junebug” Rowland Memorial: Joey Daniel, Chris Combs, Justin Rattliff, Aaron Hatton, Tim Tungate, Mike Jewell, Michael Chilton, Brad Neat, Marty O’Neal, Bobby Carrier, Jr.,
Dan Deaton, Shannon Thornsberry, Wayne Chinn, Dustin Neat, Bryan Barber, Blake Chinn, Aaron Jenkins, Jason Hinkle, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Brent Londeree (DNS-Bobby Wolter, Jr.)
Race Statistics
Lap Leaders: Eddie Carrier Jr. 1-4, Brad Neat 5-22, Joey Daniel 23-40
Cautions: 6
Red Flags: 1
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger: Justin Rattliff (started 13th, finished 3rd)
Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Race: Justin Rattliff
Entries: 21
Upcoming O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Schedule
May 20 - Lake Cumberland Speedway, Burnside, KY - $3000 to win
(Coco-Cola 40)
May 29 - KY Lake Motor Speedway, Calvert City, KY - $3000 to win
(KENTUCKY SPEEDWEEK)
May 30 - Bluegrass Speedway, Bardstown, KY - $3000 to win (KENTUCKY
SPEEDWEEK)
May 31 - Off
June 1 - Richmond Raceway, Richmond, KY - $3000 to win (KENTUCKY
SPEEDWEEK)
June 2 - Ponderosa Speedway, Junction City, KY - $5000 to win (KENTUCKY
SPEEDWEEK)
Current O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Points
1. 9 Mike Jewell (Scottsburg, IN) - 1175
2. 47 Chris Combs (Isom, KY) - 1110
3. 18 Tim Tungate (Campbellsville, KY) - 1100
4. 10 Bryan Barber (Buffalo, KY) - 1085
5. 16 Justin Rattliff (Campbellsville, KY) - 1020
6. 41 Brad Neat (Dunnville, KY) - 1010
7. 33 Aaron Hatton (Mt. Sterling, KY) - 880
8. 11 Bobby Wolter Jr. (Lexington, KY) - 810
9. 83 Scott James (Greendale, IN) - 730
9. 17 Shannon Thornsberry (Martin, KY) - 730
9. D2 Dan Deaton (Georgetown, KY) - 730
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, 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, and Real Wheels
After an aborted start, Eddie Carrier Jr. got the jump on outside pole sitter Brad Neat to take early command of the race with Neat, Michael Chilton, and Joey Daniel in hot pursuit. When a lap five caution for Brent Londeree slowed the pace, Lady Luck dealt race leader Carrier Jr. a bad hand as the 2002 Series Champion retired from the event with a flat right rear tire.
On the restart, the excitement at the front of the field continued as Neat had a rear view mirror full of Michael Chilton. For several laps, the lead duo raced side-by-side through the corners with Neat powering back ahead on the straight-aways. Behind them, the racing was intense from fourth on back as Bobby Carrier Jr. was busy fending off the challenges of Chris Combs, Aaron Hatton, Wayne Chinn, and Justin Rattliff.
Up front, the leaders were putting on a show with Chilton still ducking underneath Neat in every corner, trying to find a clean pass. 14 laps into the event, Neat, Chilton, and Daniel caught the back of the field as Chilton made slight contact with a slower car enabling Daniel to close upon his rear decklid. Just three circuits later, a caution for Aaron Jenkins would tighten the field back up. When racing resumed, Combs shot by Bobby Carrier Jr. to move into fourth with Wayne Chinn following suit and cracking the top five.
The complexion of the race changed drastically on lap 23 with two cautions and a red flag. The first caution fell when race leader Brad Neat slowed coming down the front stretch with a flat right rear tire. With Joey Daniel inheriting the point, the already stellar battle for second grew even more intense as the restart saw Combs and Chilton come together, but continue racing, going into turn three as both drivers were challenging for the same piece of real estate. Fourth running Wayne Chinn grabbed the outside wall when the duo in front of him made contact, thus bringing out the yellow. The restart saw a multi-car accident on the front stretch involving Bobby Carrier Jr., Dustin Neat, Bryan Barber, Brad Neat, and Tim Tungate among others. With the track being blocked, the red flag was displayed to clean up the damage.
When racing resumed, it was Joey Daniel on the point followed by Michael Chilton, Chris Combs, 13th-starting Justin Rattliff, and Aaron Hatton. Chilton would scrape the wall shortly after the restart catapulting Combs into the runner-up spot and Rattliff to third. Combs immediately began applying pressure to Daniel sticking a nose under the Liberty, KY veteran in every corner. The race’s final caution would fall on lap 29 when Shannon Thornsberry grabbed the wall in turns one and two.
On the Delaware double-file restart, fans rose to their feet as Combs made a bold move crossing over from his outside lane and darting down to the inside of Daniel in a bid for the top spot. Daniel maintained the advantage momentarily as Combs would repeat the same move throughout the final stages of the event. As the lead duo put a couple car lengths between themselves and the rest of the field, Tungate and Mike Jewell went door-to-door for the fifth spot.
With just five laps to go, Combs was still glued to the back bumper of Daniel, trying to build enough steam to power a run off the corner. Daniel remained on the cushion, holding the preferred line, and fought off a valiant effort by Combs to nab his first-ever O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series victory in the Louis and Phyllis Brady owned #77. The AMS powered Rayburn Grand Prix carries sponsorship from Mountain View Golf Course, Anthony's Auto Sales, Sam's Restaurant, Hometown Auto Value, Higdon's Food Town, Gregory Graphics, S & T Market, Ed Buis Appliance & Furniture, Cundiff Steel, and Lewis’ Grocery.
2005 O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Rookie of the Year Chris Combs of Isom, KY finished 2nd in the Bub’s Trucking/Tim Short Automotive sponsored Cropper/Swartz GTO. 2006 Rookie of the Year candidate Justin Rattliff of Campbellsville, KY finished 3rd, in the Rattliff Motors/Gowen’s Auto Glass/ProPower/Rayburn Monte Carlo, thus earning him the PPM Racing Products Hard Charger Award. 4th spot went to Mt. Sterling, KY native Aaron Hatton in the Russell Hatton Mobile Home Center/Speedseeker Performance sponsored Draime/Rayburn Monte Carlo. Campbellsville, KY’s Tim Tungate completed the top five in the Mulch Madness/Guardian Mortgage/Bullock/Rayburn Monte Carlo. They were followed across the line by Mike Jewell, Michael Chilton, Brad Neat, Marty O’Neal, and Bobby Carrier Jr. rounding out the top ten.
Justin Rattliff was the fast qualifier during Racing Optics Time Trials with a fast lap of 13.121, just .08 off the track record. Brad Neat was the winner of Mason Racin’ Heat #1 with Eddie Carrier Jr. winning Mason Racin’ Heat #2 and Michael Chilton winning Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #3.
This Saturday, May 20th, the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts visits the Lake Cumberland Speedway in Burnside, KY for the Coca-Cola 40 paying $3000
to win. Then, on Monday May 29th, the series heads west to the KY Lake Motor Speedway for the first leg of the inaugural Kentucky Speedweek.
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.
Race Summary
Ponderosa Speedway
May 13, 2006
O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Racing Optics Fast Time: Justin Rattliff/13.121
Mason Racin’ Heat #1: Brad Neat, Joey Daniel, Shannon Thornsberry, Aaron Hatton, Justin Rattliff, Dan Deaton, Bobby Wolter, Jr.
Mason Racin’ Heat #2: Eddie Carrier, Jr., Chris Combs, Mike Jewell, Dustin Neat, Brent Londeree, Jason Hinkle, Aaron Jenkins
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #3: Michael Chilton, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Wayne Chinn, Tim Tungate, Marty O’Neal, Blake Chinn, Bryan Barber
O’Reilly A-Main 7th Annual Hugh “Junebug” Rowland Memorial: Joey Daniel, Chris Combs, Justin Rattliff, Aaron Hatton, Tim Tungate, Mike Jewell, Michael Chilton, Brad Neat, Marty O’Neal, Bobby Carrier, Jr.,
Dan Deaton, Shannon Thornsberry, Wayne Chinn, Dustin Neat, Bryan Barber, Blake Chinn, Aaron Jenkins, Jason Hinkle, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Brent Londeree (DNS-Bobby Wolter, Jr.)
Race Statistics
Lap Leaders: Eddie Carrier Jr. 1-4, Brad Neat 5-22, Joey Daniel 23-40
Cautions: 6
Red Flags: 1
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger: Justin Rattliff (started 13th, finished 3rd)
Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Race: Justin Rattliff
Entries: 21
Upcoming O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Schedule
May 20 - Lake Cumberland Speedway, Burnside, KY - $3000 to win
(Coco-Cola 40)
May 29 - KY Lake Motor Speedway, Calvert City, KY - $3000 to win
(KENTUCKY SPEEDWEEK)
May 30 - Bluegrass Speedway, Bardstown, KY - $3000 to win (KENTUCKY
SPEEDWEEK)
May 31 - Off
June 1 - Richmond Raceway, Richmond, KY - $3000 to win (KENTUCKY
SPEEDWEEK)
June 2 - Ponderosa Speedway, Junction City, KY - $5000 to win (KENTUCKY
SPEEDWEEK)
Current O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Points
1. 9 Mike Jewell (Scottsburg, IN) - 1175
2. 47 Chris Combs (Isom, KY) - 1110
3. 18 Tim Tungate (Campbellsville, KY) - 1100
4. 10 Bryan Barber (Buffalo, KY) - 1085
5. 16 Justin Rattliff (Campbellsville, KY) - 1020
6. 41 Brad Neat (Dunnville, KY) - 1010
7. 33 Aaron Hatton (Mt. Sterling, KY) - 880
8. 11 Bobby Wolter Jr. (Lexington, KY) - 810
9. 83 Scott James (Greendale, IN) - 730
9. 17 Shannon Thornsberry (Martin, KY) - 730
9. D2 Dan Deaton (Georgetown, KY) - 730
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, 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, and Real Wheels
