SITKA, KY -- Hanover, IN's Joey Kramer extended his series points lead by winning the NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Open Wheel Modified Saturday night at the 201 Speedway. The win was Kramer's third of the season on the 2005 BoB Modified Tour.
Chris Click and Joey Kramer brought the field down to the green flag with Kramer getting the early advantage in the 25-lap feature for the NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Open Wheel Modifieds. Despite several early race cautions, a fierce battle behind Kramer and Click found Kelly Warren, Tim Moore, and Justin Rattliff swapping positions three through five seemingly in every corner. Just before a lap 5 caution, Moore finally gained control of third with Rattliff and Warren following.
On the restart, Kramer again rocketed ahead of the field as Moore set his sights on second place Click. Moore, last Saturday's winner at 201, used a lap 8 caution and restart to engage in a door-to-door war for the runner-up slot. The Logan, WV native finally nabbed sole possession of second at the halfway point and looked to close in on race long leader Kramer. Moore got the break he needed when a lap 15 yellow erased Kramer's advantage and tightened the field with ten laps remaining.
When racing resumed, Moore immediately looked under Kramer in turns one and two, but the "Rocketman" powered ahead off the second corner and kept Moore at bay for the time being. Behind them, third-place Click had a rear view mirror full of Rattliff while defending series champion Warren was fending off the challenges thrown at him by the likes of Hank Bradley, Keith Denny, and Darren Muncy.
With just five laps remaining, Rattliff was able to move past Click into third and he wasted no time tracking down Moore, who had fallen slightly off Kramer's torrid pace. Rattliff pulled even with Moore with four laps to go and took the second spot away just one circuit later.
With two to go, a spin in turns three and four brought out the caution and set the stage for a two lap dash to the finish with Rattliff now glued to Kramer's rear bumper. The Campbellsville, KY youngster darted to the inside of Kramer on the restart but Kramer's momentum on the high side of the track allowed him to motor ahead. Kramer turned away one more Rattliff challenge on the final circuit as the Hanover, IN driver picked up his third NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Modified Series win on the season in the Kramer powered Lightning Chassis sponsored by Hill's Historic Painting/Super Shine Auto Detail & Window Tinting/Bilstein Shocks/Perry's Auto Sales/Mom & Dad.
In an interview in the pits after the race, Kramer was quick to thank his team. "This is the first time we've been here (201 Speedway) and we weren't really sure how good we would be. My crew, they're really good about knowing what set-ups work at different types of race tracks and it looks like we hit it right this evening. I'd also like to thank all my sponsors and the fans. Their support means a lot to me."
9th-starting Justin Rattliff finished second in his Gowen's Auto Glass/Community Trust Bank/Dale Meers powered Bandit. Tim Moore grabbed the third place honors in an H&K/Harris combination sponsored by GM Thornhill Superstore/Mike Harley-Davidson. In his first appearance of the 2005 season with the series, polesitter Chris Click of Martin, KY wound up fourth. Fifth place was Columbia, KY native Kelly Warren in the AR Coating/NAPA Auto Parts/Dale Meers/Bandit. Hank Bradley, Darren Muncy, Keith Denny, Brian Meade, and 22nd-starting Jason Perry rounded out the top five.
Of the 35 entries on hand at 201 Speedway, Joey Kramer was the Racing Optics Fast Qualifier with a time 15.864. Kramer, Jimmy Crabtree, and Chris Click won the VP Fuels Makin' Power Heats while Kevin Copher found victory lane in the Dale Meers Racing Engines/PBM Performance B-Main.
The next event for the NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Open Wheel Modifieds is Saturday, June 25th at Union, KY's Florence Speedway. For more information on the series, visit our website at www.naradirtcar.com and click on the Battle of the Bluegrass Open Wheel Modified icon.
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Race Summary
201 Speedway - Sitka, KY
Saturday, June 4, 2005
NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Open Wheel Modified Series (35 entries)
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier: Joey Kramer/15.864
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #1: Joey Kramer, Rob Stambaugh, Hank Bradley, Keith Denny, Brandon Osborne, Lee McKEnzie, Kevin Copher, Michael Osborne, Bobby Tackett, Willie Blackman, Walt Mayabb, John Bowlin
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #2: Jimmy Crabtree, Kelly Warren, Shon Flanary, Darren Muncy, Adam Cole, Randy Fouts, Jason Perry, Bruce Jennings, Andrew Chaffin, Marty Meade, Kevin Mayabb, Michael Branham
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #3: Chris Click, Tim Moore, Justin Rattliff, Joe Turner, Dustin Linville, Brian Meade, Arlie Daniels, Mikey Butcher, John Holland, Jimmy Collins, Keith Sansom
Dale Meers Racing Engines/PBM Performance B-Main: Kevin Copher, Randy Fouts, Brian Meade, Lee McKenzie, Michael Osborne, Arlie Daniels, Willie Blackman, Andrew Chaffin, Bobby Tackett, John Bowlin, Jason Perry, Mikey Butcher, Kevin Mayabb, John Holland, Walt Mayabb, Bruce Jennings
Rattliff Motors 25-Lap A-Main: Joey Kramer, Justin Rattliff, Tim Moore, Chris Click, Kelly Warren, Hank Bradley, Darren Muncy, Keith Denny, Brian Meade, Jason Perry, Adam Cole, Willie Blackman, Brandon Osborne, Randy Fouts, Shon Flanary, Kevin Copher, Dustin Linville, Rob Stambaugh, Joe Turner, Jimmy Crabtree, Arlie Daniels, Mikey Butcher
Chris Click and Joey Kramer brought the field down to the green flag with Kramer getting the early advantage in the 25-lap feature for the NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Open Wheel Modifieds. Despite several early race cautions, a fierce battle behind Kramer and Click found Kelly Warren, Tim Moore, and Justin Rattliff swapping positions three through five seemingly in every corner. Just before a lap 5 caution, Moore finally gained control of third with Rattliff and Warren following.
On the restart, Kramer again rocketed ahead of the field as Moore set his sights on second place Click. Moore, last Saturday's winner at 201, used a lap 8 caution and restart to engage in a door-to-door war for the runner-up slot. The Logan, WV native finally nabbed sole possession of second at the halfway point and looked to close in on race long leader Kramer. Moore got the break he needed when a lap 15 yellow erased Kramer's advantage and tightened the field with ten laps remaining.
When racing resumed, Moore immediately looked under Kramer in turns one and two, but the "Rocketman" powered ahead off the second corner and kept Moore at bay for the time being. Behind them, third-place Click had a rear view mirror full of Rattliff while defending series champion Warren was fending off the challenges thrown at him by the likes of Hank Bradley, Keith Denny, and Darren Muncy.
With just five laps remaining, Rattliff was able to move past Click into third and he wasted no time tracking down Moore, who had fallen slightly off Kramer's torrid pace. Rattliff pulled even with Moore with four laps to go and took the second spot away just one circuit later.
With two to go, a spin in turns three and four brought out the caution and set the stage for a two lap dash to the finish with Rattliff now glued to Kramer's rear bumper. The Campbellsville, KY youngster darted to the inside of Kramer on the restart but Kramer's momentum on the high side of the track allowed him to motor ahead. Kramer turned away one more Rattliff challenge on the final circuit as the Hanover, IN driver picked up his third NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Modified Series win on the season in the Kramer powered Lightning Chassis sponsored by Hill's Historic Painting/Super Shine Auto Detail & Window Tinting/Bilstein Shocks/Perry's Auto Sales/Mom & Dad.
In an interview in the pits after the race, Kramer was quick to thank his team. "This is the first time we've been here (201 Speedway) and we weren't really sure how good we would be. My crew, they're really good about knowing what set-ups work at different types of race tracks and it looks like we hit it right this evening. I'd also like to thank all my sponsors and the fans. Their support means a lot to me."
9th-starting Justin Rattliff finished second in his Gowen's Auto Glass/Community Trust Bank/Dale Meers powered Bandit. Tim Moore grabbed the third place honors in an H&K/Harris combination sponsored by GM Thornhill Superstore/Mike Harley-Davidson. In his first appearance of the 2005 season with the series, polesitter Chris Click of Martin, KY wound up fourth. Fifth place was Columbia, KY native Kelly Warren in the AR Coating/NAPA Auto Parts/Dale Meers/Bandit. Hank Bradley, Darren Muncy, Keith Denny, Brian Meade, and 22nd-starting Jason Perry rounded out the top five.
Of the 35 entries on hand at 201 Speedway, Joey Kramer was the Racing Optics Fast Qualifier with a time 15.864. Kramer, Jimmy Crabtree, and Chris Click won the VP Fuels Makin' Power Heats while Kevin Copher found victory lane in the Dale Meers Racing Engines/PBM Performance B-Main.
The next event for the NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Open Wheel Modifieds is Saturday, June 25th at Union, KY's Florence Speedway. For more information on the series, visit our website at www.naradirtcar.com and click on the Battle of the Bluegrass Open Wheel Modified icon.
=============================
Race Summary
201 Speedway - Sitka, KY
Saturday, June 4, 2005
NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Open Wheel Modified Series (35 entries)
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier: Joey Kramer/15.864
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #1: Joey Kramer, Rob Stambaugh, Hank Bradley, Keith Denny, Brandon Osborne, Lee McKEnzie, Kevin Copher, Michael Osborne, Bobby Tackett, Willie Blackman, Walt Mayabb, John Bowlin
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #2: Jimmy Crabtree, Kelly Warren, Shon Flanary, Darren Muncy, Adam Cole, Randy Fouts, Jason Perry, Bruce Jennings, Andrew Chaffin, Marty Meade, Kevin Mayabb, Michael Branham
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #3: Chris Click, Tim Moore, Justin Rattliff, Joe Turner, Dustin Linville, Brian Meade, Arlie Daniels, Mikey Butcher, John Holland, Jimmy Collins, Keith Sansom
Dale Meers Racing Engines/PBM Performance B-Main: Kevin Copher, Randy Fouts, Brian Meade, Lee McKenzie, Michael Osborne, Arlie Daniels, Willie Blackman, Andrew Chaffin, Bobby Tackett, John Bowlin, Jason Perry, Mikey Butcher, Kevin Mayabb, John Holland, Walt Mayabb, Bruce Jennings
Rattliff Motors 25-Lap A-Main: Joey Kramer, Justin Rattliff, Tim Moore, Chris Click, Kelly Warren, Hank Bradley, Darren Muncy, Keith Denny, Brian Meade, Jason Perry, Adam Cole, Willie Blackman, Brandon Osborne, Randy Fouts, Shon Flanary, Kevin Copher, Dustin Linville, Rob Stambaugh, Joe Turner, Jimmy Crabtree, Arlie Daniels, Mikey Butcher
