MORGANTOWN, KY -- In the 2005 season opener for the NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Open Wheel Modifieds, Hanover, IN's Joey Kramer narrowly edged out defending series champion Kelly Warren for his first ever win with the series.
Russell Childress and Paul Miles led the field to the green with Childress jumping ahead of Miles, Joey Kramer, Jimmy Payne and Kelly Warren in fifth. Miles drifted high in turns one and two grabbing the tires with right rear of his car, nearly sending the Owensboro, KY driver on his lid. A red flag stopped the field as Miles was able to walk away from the accident uninjured.
When racing resume, Kramer hounded Childress for the top spot as Payne, Warren, and Shawn Simpson raced for third through fifth. Kramer made a pass for the lead twice in the first six laps of the race, but had to fall back to second both times after cautions vetoed his move into the top spot. After a lap six restart, Kramer pulled alongside Childress again and cleared the Morgantown, KY veteran on lap 8 to grab the point. Behind the lead duo, fast qualifier Trent Young and 21st-starting Jimmy Westerfield were riding the rim and working their way to the front. Westerfield cracked the top five on lap 13 and inherited another spot at the halfway point when third-place Jimmy Payne retired his car to the infield during a lap 15 caution.
A series of yellows at the midpoint of the race kept Kramer within striking distance of Childress as Young bobbled on the lap 15 restart allowing Westerfield to march into 3rd. Two circuits later, second-place Childress slowed on track with a flat tire. Although his crew was able to get the tire changed, the unfortunate turn of events ended his chances at the win. Childress' misfortune enabled Westerfield to move into second with Warren, Simpson, and 18th-starting Justin Rattliff now rounding out the top five.
On the restart, Kramer powered ahead leaving Westerfield and Warren to duke it out for second. Behind the race for second, Rattliff was looking high and low for a pass on Simpson. Rattliff finally grabbed the fourth spot with just six laps to go as Warren stormed into second with five laps remaining. Like he was shot out of a cannon, Warren wasted no time reeling in race-leader Kramer as he closed to the "Rocketman's" rear bumper with just two laps to go.
Coming down to take the white flag, Warren peeked under the Hanover, IN native in a bid for the lead, but tucked back in line as they raced into turns one and two for the final time. Warren shot into turn three a car length higher than Kramer, and then quickly dove to bottom in a drag race to the checkered flag. At the stripe, Kramer would be the winner by half a car length in his Hill's Historic Painting/Super Shine Auto Detail & Window Tint/Bilstein Shocks sponsored Lightning Chassis. The win was Kramer's first ever with the NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Open Wheel Modifieds.
"We've had a great start to the season so far," Kramer said after notching his fifth overall win of 2005. "This Lightning Chassis was actually our back-up car when we started the season, but it's quickly turned into our primary car. It's been great all year long."
Columbia, KY's Kelly Warren had to settle for second in his Dale Meers powered Bandit sponsored by PBM Products and Commonwealth Cancer Center. Third place went to Jimmy Westerfield, Hartford, KY, in the Westerfield's Body Shop/Deals On Wheels/Brannon Performance/WT Harris #M1. Campbellsville, KY driver Justin Rattliff took home fourth in his Rattliff Motors/Save-A-Lot/Dale Meers/Bandit. Rounding out the top five was Crofton, KY's Trent Young in a Brannon Performance powered DirtWorks Chassis sponsored by Edwin's Body Shop and Willhite Performance. Shawn Simpson, Russ Gabbert, Russell Childress, Hank Bradley, and Tommy Bailey completed the top 10.
This Friday, May 20th, the NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Open Wheel Modifieds will be in action at the Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, KY. The following night, May 21st, the BoB Mod Squad rolls into the Action Track, Richmond Raceway in Richmond, KY. For more information, visit our website at www.naradirtcar.com
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Race Summary
Soggy Bottom Speedway -- Morgantown, KY
Saturday, May 14, 2005
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier: Trent Young/15.755
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #1: Jimmy Payne, Kelly Warren, Trent Young, Ryan Hogue, Jason Perry, Eddie O'Neal, Jason Keltner
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #2: Paul Miles, Eric Adkins, Tim Walker, Danny Wilson, Justin Rattliff, Russ Gabbert, Adam Cole
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #3: Russell Childress, Shawn Simpson, Hank Bradley, Kevin Henderson, Jordan Matthews, Jimmy Westerfield, Kelly Riggs
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #4: Joey Kramer, Tommy Bailey, Don Adams, Josh Belcher, Brandon Wilson, Ronnie Falloway
Dale Meers Racing Engines/PBM Performance B-Main: Ronnie Falloway, Justin Rattliff, Jason Keltner, Jason Perry, Adam Cole, Brandon Wilson, Eddie O'Neal, Jimmy Westerfield
30-lap Rattliff Motors A-Main: Joey Kramer, Kelly Warren, Jimmy Westerfield, Justin Rattliff, Trent Young, Shawn Simpson, Russ Gabbert, Russell Childress, Hank Bradley, Tommy Bailey, Eric Adkins, Brandon Wilson, Ryan Hogue, Jimmy Payne, Josh Belcher, Don Adams, Adam Cole, Tim Walker, Ronnie Falloway, Paul Miles, Kevin Henderson, Danny Wilson
Race Statistics
Entries: 27
Lap Leaders: Russell Childress 1-7, Joey Kramer 8-30
BoB Provisionals: Russ Gabbert, Adam Cole
Track Provisionals: Jimmy Westerfield, Brandon Wilson
Russell Childress and Paul Miles led the field to the green with Childress jumping ahead of Miles, Joey Kramer, Jimmy Payne and Kelly Warren in fifth. Miles drifted high in turns one and two grabbing the tires with right rear of his car, nearly sending the Owensboro, KY driver on his lid. A red flag stopped the field as Miles was able to walk away from the accident uninjured.
When racing resume, Kramer hounded Childress for the top spot as Payne, Warren, and Shawn Simpson raced for third through fifth. Kramer made a pass for the lead twice in the first six laps of the race, but had to fall back to second both times after cautions vetoed his move into the top spot. After a lap six restart, Kramer pulled alongside Childress again and cleared the Morgantown, KY veteran on lap 8 to grab the point. Behind the lead duo, fast qualifier Trent Young and 21st-starting Jimmy Westerfield were riding the rim and working their way to the front. Westerfield cracked the top five on lap 13 and inherited another spot at the halfway point when third-place Jimmy Payne retired his car to the infield during a lap 15 caution.
A series of yellows at the midpoint of the race kept Kramer within striking distance of Childress as Young bobbled on the lap 15 restart allowing Westerfield to march into 3rd. Two circuits later, second-place Childress slowed on track with a flat tire. Although his crew was able to get the tire changed, the unfortunate turn of events ended his chances at the win. Childress' misfortune enabled Westerfield to move into second with Warren, Simpson, and 18th-starting Justin Rattliff now rounding out the top five.
On the restart, Kramer powered ahead leaving Westerfield and Warren to duke it out for second. Behind the race for second, Rattliff was looking high and low for a pass on Simpson. Rattliff finally grabbed the fourth spot with just six laps to go as Warren stormed into second with five laps remaining. Like he was shot out of a cannon, Warren wasted no time reeling in race-leader Kramer as he closed to the "Rocketman's" rear bumper with just two laps to go.
Coming down to take the white flag, Warren peeked under the Hanover, IN native in a bid for the lead, but tucked back in line as they raced into turns one and two for the final time. Warren shot into turn three a car length higher than Kramer, and then quickly dove to bottom in a drag race to the checkered flag. At the stripe, Kramer would be the winner by half a car length in his Hill's Historic Painting/Super Shine Auto Detail & Window Tint/Bilstein Shocks sponsored Lightning Chassis. The win was Kramer's first ever with the NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Open Wheel Modifieds.
"We've had a great start to the season so far," Kramer said after notching his fifth overall win of 2005. "This Lightning Chassis was actually our back-up car when we started the season, but it's quickly turned into our primary car. It's been great all year long."
Columbia, KY's Kelly Warren had to settle for second in his Dale Meers powered Bandit sponsored by PBM Products and Commonwealth Cancer Center. Third place went to Jimmy Westerfield, Hartford, KY, in the Westerfield's Body Shop/Deals On Wheels/Brannon Performance/WT Harris #M1. Campbellsville, KY driver Justin Rattliff took home fourth in his Rattliff Motors/Save-A-Lot/Dale Meers/Bandit. Rounding out the top five was Crofton, KY's Trent Young in a Brannon Performance powered DirtWorks Chassis sponsored by Edwin's Body Shop and Willhite Performance. Shawn Simpson, Russ Gabbert, Russell Childress, Hank Bradley, and Tommy Bailey completed the top 10.
This Friday, May 20th, the NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Open Wheel Modifieds will be in action at the Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, KY. The following night, May 21st, the BoB Mod Squad rolls into the Action Track, Richmond Raceway in Richmond, KY. For more information, visit our website at www.naradirtcar.com
=============================
Race Summary
Soggy Bottom Speedway -- Morgantown, KY
Saturday, May 14, 2005
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier: Trent Young/15.755
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #1: Jimmy Payne, Kelly Warren, Trent Young, Ryan Hogue, Jason Perry, Eddie O'Neal, Jason Keltner
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #2: Paul Miles, Eric Adkins, Tim Walker, Danny Wilson, Justin Rattliff, Russ Gabbert, Adam Cole
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #3: Russell Childress, Shawn Simpson, Hank Bradley, Kevin Henderson, Jordan Matthews, Jimmy Westerfield, Kelly Riggs
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #4: Joey Kramer, Tommy Bailey, Don Adams, Josh Belcher, Brandon Wilson, Ronnie Falloway
Dale Meers Racing Engines/PBM Performance B-Main: Ronnie Falloway, Justin Rattliff, Jason Keltner, Jason Perry, Adam Cole, Brandon Wilson, Eddie O'Neal, Jimmy Westerfield
30-lap Rattliff Motors A-Main: Joey Kramer, Kelly Warren, Jimmy Westerfield, Justin Rattliff, Trent Young, Shawn Simpson, Russ Gabbert, Russell Childress, Hank Bradley, Tommy Bailey, Eric Adkins, Brandon Wilson, Ryan Hogue, Jimmy Payne, Josh Belcher, Don Adams, Adam Cole, Tim Walker, Ronnie Falloway, Paul Miles, Kevin Henderson, Danny Wilson
Race Statistics
Entries: 27
Lap Leaders: Russell Childress 1-7, Joey Kramer 8-30
BoB Provisionals: Russ Gabbert, Adam Cole
Track Provisionals: Jimmy Westerfield, Brandon Wilson
