TAZEWELL, TN (6/9/07) - Joey Kramer loves to go fast. Saturday night, the Hanover, IN driver did just that, as he scored his second NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Modifieds Series victory of 2007 in the Series' inaugural event in the state of Tennessee at the bad-fast Tazewell Speedway. "This is the fastest little racetrack I've ever seen!" said an elated Kramer in victory lane. "I love to go fast, and I love this place! It's a shame we're 5 ½ hours away, but my hat's off to the guys that race here every week."
The 30 lap A-Main got underway with Wayne James and Ricky Boahn leading the 23-car field down to the green flag with James getting the lead in turn one followed by Boahn, Jerry Broyles, Kramer, and Dustin Linville. The man on the move in the early laps was Broyles, who quickly passed Boahn for 2nd and began to pressure James for the lead on lap 3. The lead duo raced side by side for the top spot for two laps before Broyles powered by on the inside coming down to complete lap 5.
As the action raged on up front, a number of drivers began to charge forward from the middle of the pack. By lap 6, Victor Lee had moved up to 4th from his 7th starting position, followed by Kevin Copher in 5th, who started 10th. As James and Kramer dueled for the 2nd position, caution fell on the speedway for a slowed Aaron Ogle.
On the ensuing double-file restart, Kramer would use the high groove to propelling himself into 2nd behind Broyles, then driving to the inside of Broyles on lap 8 in a very exciting battle that would see the two drivers race side by side for several laps, bringing the capacity crowd to its feet. Kramer would eventually race into the lead on lap 10, and began to put distance on the heated battle for second between Broyles, Lee, and Copher.
The second caution of the event for the slowing Jason Bowers came out on lap 17, once again bunching up the field. The complexion of the top 5 changed as both Victor Lee and Dustin Linville took their cars to the pits under yellow. Neither would return, as both drivers' retired from the race with mechanical failures.
When the green flag waved Kramer, Broyles, Copher, Boahn, and a 9th starting Russ Gabbert made up the top 5. Copher would get the jump as the field roared to life, powering into 2nd leaving Broyles to contend with Gabbert and a 12th starting Jimmy Payne. The trio put on a highly entertaining battle for the 3rd position for the next several laps, using every inch of the ultra-fast Tazewell Speedway.
Caution would again come out on lap 23, leaving the field with a seven lap shootout to the checkers. Kramer now led Copher, followed by Broyles, Gabbert, 8th starting Shon Flanary, and 17th starting Kelly Warren.
As the race went back to green, Kramer wasted little time putting distance between himself and the field, Gabbert began to put heat on Copher for 2nd followed closely by Broyles and Flanary.
As the balance of the top 5 battled for position, Kramer began to pull away, building as much as a full straightaway advantage over 2nd. Just when it appeared that the Hanover, IN driver would cruise to victory, disaster nearly struck. As Kramer quickly approached the lapped car of Jason Bowers on lap 27, Bowers started to drift up the track into the path of the much faster leader. With nowhere to go, Kramer slammed into the rear of Bowers' machine, hooking the two cars together. In an amazing display of driving, both competitors recovered from the contact and managed to keep their cars under control, allowing the race to stay green.
The Hanover, IN driver would maintain his lead over the final laps, and become the first driver to score multiple victories in the NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Modified Series' 2007 season. Copher, Gabbert, Broyles, and Flanary rounded out the top 5.
"I'm not sure who that lapped car was, but I'm real sorry I hit him. You come up on traffic so fast here," said Kramer, regarding the incident in the final laps. "But it was a fun race. I love this track!"
Kramer's #77 Lightning Chassis is sponsored by Hills Historic Painting/Super Shine Auto Detailing/Perry's Auto Sales/PBM Performance Products.
Don Adams set fast time during time trials with a quick lap of 12.970 seconds around the 1/3 mile ultra-fast high banked oval. The night's three heat races went to Jerry Broyles, Wayne James, and Ricky Boahn.
After taking a week off, the next NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Modified Series event will take place at Jerry and Mona King's Florence Speedway on Saturday June 23rd after a one year absence at the Cincinnati-area track. 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
Tazewell Speedway - Tazewell, TN
June 9, 2007
Fast Qualifier: Don Adams - 12.970 seconds
Heat #1: Jerry Broyles, Joey Kramer, Victor Lee, Kevin Copher, Don Adams, Walt Mayabb, Josh Lucas, Mickey Sansom
Heat #2: Wayne James, Dustin Linville, Shon Flanary, Dennis Roberson, Kevin Mayabb, Kelly Warren, Aaron Ogle, John Harrell
Heat #3: Ricky Boahn, Tim York, Russ Gabbert, Jimmy Payne, Danny James, Troy Teegarden, Jason Bowers
O'Reilly A-Main: Joey Kramer, Kevin Copher, Russ Gabbert, Jerry Broyles, Shon Flanary, Kelly Warren, Dennis Roberson, Jimmy Payne, Ricky Boahn, Walt Mayabb, Mickey Sansom, Aaron Ogle, Jason Bowers, Troy Teegarden, Wayne James, Kevin Mayabb, Tim York, Danny James, Victor Lee, Josh Lucas, Dustin Linville, Don Adams, John Harrell
Race Statistics
Entries: 23
Lap Leaders: Wayne James 1-3, Jerry Broyles 4-9, Joey Kramer 10-30
Hard Charger: Kelly Warren (started 17th, finished 6th)
Upcoming NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Modified Events
June 23 - Florence Speedway ($1,500)
June 29 - Ponderosa Speedway ($1,500)
June 30 - Lake Cumberland Speedway ($1,500)
July 27 - Richmond Raceway ($1,500)
Current NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Modified Series Points Standings
1. 77 Joey Kramer 953
2. 11 Russ Gabbert 873
3. 41t Dennis Roberson 871
4. 6 Jimmy Payne 816
5. 98 Shon Flanary 790
6. 07 Don Adams 781
7. 0 Kelly Warren 774
8. 12 Kevin Copher 736
9. 78 Josh Lucas 692
10. d8 Dustin Linville 683
2007 NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Modified Series Winners
Richmond Raceway (April 21st) - Dennis Roberson
Bluegrass Speedway (May 19th) - Joey Kramer
201 Speedway (June 2nd) - Don Adams
Tazewell Speedway (June 9th) - Joey Kramer
The 30 lap A-Main got underway with Wayne James and Ricky Boahn leading the 23-car field down to the green flag with James getting the lead in turn one followed by Boahn, Jerry Broyles, Kramer, and Dustin Linville. The man on the move in the early laps was Broyles, who quickly passed Boahn for 2nd and began to pressure James for the lead on lap 3. The lead duo raced side by side for the top spot for two laps before Broyles powered by on the inside coming down to complete lap 5.
As the action raged on up front, a number of drivers began to charge forward from the middle of the pack. By lap 6, Victor Lee had moved up to 4th from his 7th starting position, followed by Kevin Copher in 5th, who started 10th. As James and Kramer dueled for the 2nd position, caution fell on the speedway for a slowed Aaron Ogle.
On the ensuing double-file restart, Kramer would use the high groove to propelling himself into 2nd behind Broyles, then driving to the inside of Broyles on lap 8 in a very exciting battle that would see the two drivers race side by side for several laps, bringing the capacity crowd to its feet. Kramer would eventually race into the lead on lap 10, and began to put distance on the heated battle for second between Broyles, Lee, and Copher.
The second caution of the event for the slowing Jason Bowers came out on lap 17, once again bunching up the field. The complexion of the top 5 changed as both Victor Lee and Dustin Linville took their cars to the pits under yellow. Neither would return, as both drivers' retired from the race with mechanical failures.
When the green flag waved Kramer, Broyles, Copher, Boahn, and a 9th starting Russ Gabbert made up the top 5. Copher would get the jump as the field roared to life, powering into 2nd leaving Broyles to contend with Gabbert and a 12th starting Jimmy Payne. The trio put on a highly entertaining battle for the 3rd position for the next several laps, using every inch of the ultra-fast Tazewell Speedway.
Caution would again come out on lap 23, leaving the field with a seven lap shootout to the checkers. Kramer now led Copher, followed by Broyles, Gabbert, 8th starting Shon Flanary, and 17th starting Kelly Warren.
As the race went back to green, Kramer wasted little time putting distance between himself and the field, Gabbert began to put heat on Copher for 2nd followed closely by Broyles and Flanary.
As the balance of the top 5 battled for position, Kramer began to pull away, building as much as a full straightaway advantage over 2nd. Just when it appeared that the Hanover, IN driver would cruise to victory, disaster nearly struck. As Kramer quickly approached the lapped car of Jason Bowers on lap 27, Bowers started to drift up the track into the path of the much faster leader. With nowhere to go, Kramer slammed into the rear of Bowers' machine, hooking the two cars together. In an amazing display of driving, both competitors recovered from the contact and managed to keep their cars under control, allowing the race to stay green.
The Hanover, IN driver would maintain his lead over the final laps, and become the first driver to score multiple victories in the NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Modified Series' 2007 season. Copher, Gabbert, Broyles, and Flanary rounded out the top 5.
"I'm not sure who that lapped car was, but I'm real sorry I hit him. You come up on traffic so fast here," said Kramer, regarding the incident in the final laps. "But it was a fun race. I love this track!"
Kramer's #77 Lightning Chassis is sponsored by Hills Historic Painting/Super Shine Auto Detailing/Perry's Auto Sales/PBM Performance Products.
Don Adams set fast time during time trials with a quick lap of 12.970 seconds around the 1/3 mile ultra-fast high banked oval. The night's three heat races went to Jerry Broyles, Wayne James, and Ricky Boahn.
After taking a week off, the next NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Modified Series event will take place at Jerry and Mona King's Florence Speedway on Saturday June 23rd after a one year absence at the Cincinnati-area track. 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
Tazewell Speedway - Tazewell, TN
June 9, 2007
Fast Qualifier: Don Adams - 12.970 seconds
Heat #1: Jerry Broyles, Joey Kramer, Victor Lee, Kevin Copher, Don Adams, Walt Mayabb, Josh Lucas, Mickey Sansom
Heat #2: Wayne James, Dustin Linville, Shon Flanary, Dennis Roberson, Kevin Mayabb, Kelly Warren, Aaron Ogle, John Harrell
Heat #3: Ricky Boahn, Tim York, Russ Gabbert, Jimmy Payne, Danny James, Troy Teegarden, Jason Bowers
O'Reilly A-Main: Joey Kramer, Kevin Copher, Russ Gabbert, Jerry Broyles, Shon Flanary, Kelly Warren, Dennis Roberson, Jimmy Payne, Ricky Boahn, Walt Mayabb, Mickey Sansom, Aaron Ogle, Jason Bowers, Troy Teegarden, Wayne James, Kevin Mayabb, Tim York, Danny James, Victor Lee, Josh Lucas, Dustin Linville, Don Adams, John Harrell
Race Statistics
Entries: 23
Lap Leaders: Wayne James 1-3, Jerry Broyles 4-9, Joey Kramer 10-30
Hard Charger: Kelly Warren (started 17th, finished 6th)
Upcoming NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Modified Events
June 23 - Florence Speedway ($1,500)
June 29 - Ponderosa Speedway ($1,500)
June 30 - Lake Cumberland Speedway ($1,500)
July 27 - Richmond Raceway ($1,500)
Current NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Modified Series Points Standings
1. 77 Joey Kramer 953
2. 11 Russ Gabbert 873
3. 41t Dennis Roberson 871
4. 6 Jimmy Payne 816
5. 98 Shon Flanary 790
6. 07 Don Adams 781
7. 0 Kelly Warren 774
8. 12 Kevin Copher 736
9. 78 Josh Lucas 692
10. d8 Dustin Linville 683
2007 NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Modified Series Winners
Richmond Raceway (April 21st) - Dennis Roberson
Bluegrass Speedway (May 19th) - Joey Kramer
201 Speedway (June 2nd) - Don Adams
Tazewell Speedway (June 9th) - Joey Kramer
