SITKA, KY (09/22/2007) - With a healthy points lead late in the season, one might expect to Joey Kramer to play it safe. For Kramer, the safest place Saturday night at 201 Speedway was up front, as the Hanover, IN driver led 22 of 25 laps to take his 4th NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Modified Series win of 2007.
Pete Castle and Josh Lucas set the pace for the 20-car starting grid in Saturday night's 25 lap A-Main. After several first lap cautions, Series officials elected to utilize a single-file start to prevent further yellow flags, allowing Castle to have the front row to himself. At the drop of the green flag, Castle jumped out to a 3 car length advantage, leaving Lucas to battle with Joey Kramer for the runner-up position. Kramer eventually fought his way past the Bardstown, KY driver on lap 3. Before Kramer had a chance to attempt to track down Castle, the race leader suddenly spun in turn 4, forcing the field to take evasive action to avoid hitting the Martin, KY driver. The incident forced Castle to restart from the tail, allowing Kramer to inherit the lead.
On the ensuing restart, Kramer wasted no time jumping out to a 5 car length lead. Behind the leaders, the man on the move was fast qualifier Darren Muncy. The Turkey Creek, KY driver charged from his 9th place starting position to join the battle for 5th by lap 6. Just as the field began to spread out, Pritchard, WV's Jason Perry spun his #20 machine in turn 4, bringing out the caution flag.
On the restart it was Shon Flanary getting the jump on the high side, powering past Lucas to take 2nd on lap 9. As Flanary set his sights on running down Kramer for the race lead, one of the most entertaining battles of the race was shaping up for the 4th position. John Harrell, Darren Muncy, and Jason Hall exchanged the position several times between themselves, even stacking up 3-wide on lap 13. That battle would quickly be put on hold as the caution waved again for a 3-car incident in turn 4 involving Ronnie Whitt, Jeremy Hayes, and Pete Castle.
With 12 laps remaining, the running order would see Kramer, Flanary, Lucas, Harrell, and Muncy occupy the top 5. As the field took the green, Harrell and Muncy resumed their furious battle for 4th. As the two drivers raced for position, both slipped past a fading Lucas on lap 15 to move into 3rd and 4th, respectively. The duo continued to scrap for position as the laps wound down.
Enjoying a healthy lead, Kramer suddenly found himself in heavy lapped traffic late in the race. As the Hanover, IN driver worked his up through the back of the field on lap 20, Flanary began to close in. As the Mt. Carmel, TN driver began to chop away at the lead, the event's final caution would wave on lap 22 for a spin involving Walt Mayabb and Jason Perry in turn 4.
Despite having his lead erased, the clear track would be all "The Rocketman" would need to drive away from the field in the final 4 laps to take his 4th Series win of 2007. Flanary would hang on to post a solid 2nd place finish, followed by Darren Muncy, John Harrell, and a 12th place starting Jim LeMaster to round out the top 5.
Kramer's #77 Lightning Chassis is sponsored by Hills Historic Painting/Super Shine Auto Detailing/Perry's Auto Sales/PBM Performance Products.
Preliminary action saw Darren Muncy set fast time with a lap of 15.260 seconds around the 3/8 mile high-banked oval. Four 10 lap Heat Races were won by Shon Flanary, Josh Lucas, Pete Castle, and Joey Kramer. Jason Perry and Marty Meade took wins in the night's two 12 lap B-Mains.
For more information on the NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Open Wheel Modified Series you can log on to www.battleofthebluegrass.com or call the Series office at (859) 433-5707.
Race Results
NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Modified Series
201 Speedway - Sitka, KY
September 22, 2007
Fast Qualifier: Darren Muncy / 15.260 seconds
Heat #1: Joey Kramer, John Harrell, Darren Muncy, Jason Perry, Jeremy Hayes, Leslie Johnson, Dennis Roberson
Heat #2: Josh Lucas, Jimmy Collins, Kevin Copher, Kelly Warren, Mickey Sansom, Derek Powers, Randy Boggs
Heat #3: Shon Flanary, Ronnie Whitt, Dennis DeBoard, Marty Meade, Walt Mayabb, Glenn Patton, Brandon Mason
Heat #4: Pete Castle, Jason Hall, Jim Lemaster, Corey McKenzie, Bryan Salisbury, Kevin Mayabb, Courtney Conley
B-Main #1: Jason Perry, Kelly Warren, Mickey Sansom, Randy Boggs, Jeremy Hayes, Derek Powers, Leslie Johnson, Dennis Roberson
B-Main #2: Marty Meade, Brandon Mason, Walt Mayabb, Kevin Mayabb, Bryan Salisbury, Corey McKenzie, Courtney Conley, Glenn Patton
25 Lap A-Main: Joey Kramer, Shon Flanary, Darren Muncy, John Harrell, Jim LeMaster, Jason Hall, Josh Lucas, Kevin Copher, Mickey Sansom, Pete Castle, Jeremy Hayes, Walt Mayabb, Kevin Mayabb, Jimmy Collins, Jason Perry, Dennis Roberson, Ronnie Whitt, Dennis DeBoard, Marty Meade, Bryan Salisbury, Brandon Mason
Race Statistics
Entries: 29
Cautions: 9
Lap Leaders: Pete Castle 1-3, Joey Kramer 4-25
Hard Charger: Mickey Sansom (started 17th, finished 9th)
Current NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Modified Series Points Standings
1. Joey Kramer 2793
2. Shon Flanary 2505
3. Dennis Roberson 2285
4. Josh Lucas 2064
5. Kelly Warren 1989
6. Russ Gabbert 1908
7. Walt Mayabb 1734
8. Don Adams 1682
9. Kevin Mayabb 1452
10. Kevin Copher 1330
- Matt Noonan - Battle of the Bluegrass PR (mnoonan@battleofthebluegrass.com)
Pete Castle and Josh Lucas set the pace for the 20-car starting grid in Saturday night's 25 lap A-Main. After several first lap cautions, Series officials elected to utilize a single-file start to prevent further yellow flags, allowing Castle to have the front row to himself. At the drop of the green flag, Castle jumped out to a 3 car length advantage, leaving Lucas to battle with Joey Kramer for the runner-up position. Kramer eventually fought his way past the Bardstown, KY driver on lap 3. Before Kramer had a chance to attempt to track down Castle, the race leader suddenly spun in turn 4, forcing the field to take evasive action to avoid hitting the Martin, KY driver. The incident forced Castle to restart from the tail, allowing Kramer to inherit the lead.
On the ensuing restart, Kramer wasted no time jumping out to a 5 car length lead. Behind the leaders, the man on the move was fast qualifier Darren Muncy. The Turkey Creek, KY driver charged from his 9th place starting position to join the battle for 5th by lap 6. Just as the field began to spread out, Pritchard, WV's Jason Perry spun his #20 machine in turn 4, bringing out the caution flag.
On the restart it was Shon Flanary getting the jump on the high side, powering past Lucas to take 2nd on lap 9. As Flanary set his sights on running down Kramer for the race lead, one of the most entertaining battles of the race was shaping up for the 4th position. John Harrell, Darren Muncy, and Jason Hall exchanged the position several times between themselves, even stacking up 3-wide on lap 13. That battle would quickly be put on hold as the caution waved again for a 3-car incident in turn 4 involving Ronnie Whitt, Jeremy Hayes, and Pete Castle.
With 12 laps remaining, the running order would see Kramer, Flanary, Lucas, Harrell, and Muncy occupy the top 5. As the field took the green, Harrell and Muncy resumed their furious battle for 4th. As the two drivers raced for position, both slipped past a fading Lucas on lap 15 to move into 3rd and 4th, respectively. The duo continued to scrap for position as the laps wound down.
Enjoying a healthy lead, Kramer suddenly found himself in heavy lapped traffic late in the race. As the Hanover, IN driver worked his up through the back of the field on lap 20, Flanary began to close in. As the Mt. Carmel, TN driver began to chop away at the lead, the event's final caution would wave on lap 22 for a spin involving Walt Mayabb and Jason Perry in turn 4.
Despite having his lead erased, the clear track would be all "The Rocketman" would need to drive away from the field in the final 4 laps to take his 4th Series win of 2007. Flanary would hang on to post a solid 2nd place finish, followed by Darren Muncy, John Harrell, and a 12th place starting Jim LeMaster to round out the top 5.
Kramer's #77 Lightning Chassis is sponsored by Hills Historic Painting/Super Shine Auto Detailing/Perry's Auto Sales/PBM Performance Products.
Preliminary action saw Darren Muncy set fast time with a lap of 15.260 seconds around the 3/8 mile high-banked oval. Four 10 lap Heat Races were won by Shon Flanary, Josh Lucas, Pete Castle, and Joey Kramer. Jason Perry and Marty Meade took wins in the night's two 12 lap B-Mains.
For more information on the NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Open Wheel Modified Series you can log on to www.battleofthebluegrass.com or call the Series office at (859) 433-5707.
Race Results
NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Modified Series
201 Speedway - Sitka, KY
September 22, 2007
Fast Qualifier: Darren Muncy / 15.260 seconds
Heat #1: Joey Kramer, John Harrell, Darren Muncy, Jason Perry, Jeremy Hayes, Leslie Johnson, Dennis Roberson
Heat #2: Josh Lucas, Jimmy Collins, Kevin Copher, Kelly Warren, Mickey Sansom, Derek Powers, Randy Boggs
Heat #3: Shon Flanary, Ronnie Whitt, Dennis DeBoard, Marty Meade, Walt Mayabb, Glenn Patton, Brandon Mason
Heat #4: Pete Castle, Jason Hall, Jim Lemaster, Corey McKenzie, Bryan Salisbury, Kevin Mayabb, Courtney Conley
B-Main #1: Jason Perry, Kelly Warren, Mickey Sansom, Randy Boggs, Jeremy Hayes, Derek Powers, Leslie Johnson, Dennis Roberson
B-Main #2: Marty Meade, Brandon Mason, Walt Mayabb, Kevin Mayabb, Bryan Salisbury, Corey McKenzie, Courtney Conley, Glenn Patton
25 Lap A-Main: Joey Kramer, Shon Flanary, Darren Muncy, John Harrell, Jim LeMaster, Jason Hall, Josh Lucas, Kevin Copher, Mickey Sansom, Pete Castle, Jeremy Hayes, Walt Mayabb, Kevin Mayabb, Jimmy Collins, Jason Perry, Dennis Roberson, Ronnie Whitt, Dennis DeBoard, Marty Meade, Bryan Salisbury, Brandon Mason
Race Statistics
Entries: 29
Cautions: 9
Lap Leaders: Pete Castle 1-3, Joey Kramer 4-25
Hard Charger: Mickey Sansom (started 17th, finished 9th)
Current NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Modified Series Points Standings
1. Joey Kramer 2793
2. Shon Flanary 2505
3. Dennis Roberson 2285
4. Josh Lucas 2064
5. Kelly Warren 1989
6. Russ Gabbert 1908
7. Walt Mayabb 1734
8. Don Adams 1682
9. Kevin Mayabb 1452
10. Kevin Copher 1330
- Matt Noonan - Battle of the Bluegrass PR (mnoonan@battleofthebluegrass.com)
