By Spencer Wilson
MORGANTOWN, KY--The "Wheelman" Johnny Wheeler of Campbellsville, KY became the 11th different driver this year to win a O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Event Presented by Arizona Sport Shirts on Saturday Night at the Soggy Bottom Speedway. Wheeler's fifth career series win came aboard the Larry Yantz Racing owned/Clayton Homes of Bowling Green, KY/PPM Racing Products/American Racer Tires/Wayne Bowen Racing Supply/Classic Homes/Cornett Racing Engines/C.J. Rayburn Monte Carlo. The 41 year old Wheeler who got married the week of the race earned $3000 for his win making for a nice wedding present. Current BoB point’s leader, Aaron Hatton of Mt. Sterling, KY finished second in the Hatton Racing/Russell Hatton Used Cars and Mobile Home Rentals/MasterSbilt Grand Prix. Third place went to Tyrel Todd of Eubank, KY in the Billy Todd, crew chiefed, Pulaski Steel and Supply Inc/MasterSbilt Monte Carlo. Completing the top five was Michael England of Glasgow, KY in the David England/Young's Oil Corporation/MasterSbilt Monte Carlo and Dennis Selby of Russell Springs, KY in the Selby Motorsports/Highway 80 Auto/MasterSbilt Ford Mustang. It was the best career finishes for England and Selby in the series' three year history.
Before a packed hillside of race fans it was Aaron Hatton who would take the lead at the beginning of the Lucas Oil A-Main which was 40 laps in length. Tyrel Todd quickly moved into second followed by Johnny Wheeler and Kevin Claycomb, who was making his last appearance at Soggy Bottom in his farewell tour as he will be retiring from racing at seasons end. In the early going it was Hatton, Todd and Wheeler as the top three in the current Battle of the Bluegrass points were looking to gain an advantage on each other at night's end by seeing who could finish the highest and gain the most points. Todd's second place run would come to an end as he slipped coming off of turn four and looped the car bringing out the caution flag. Todd would restart on the tail, but he would be heard from later in the race. When the race restarted Hatton was still on the point with Wheeler now in second followed by Claycomb and Michael England. Hatton's continuing lead would last for two more circuits as Wheeler was able to slip by him coming off of turn number four on the ninth lap to take over the lead. England, the 20 year old driver in his first full season of dirt late model racing would run the best race of his BoB career as he would get by the veteran Claycomb on the 13th lap to take over third place. England then set his sights on the two frontrunners in his quest for his first ever BoB win. A couple of back to back cautions would slow the action on the 15th lap. With Wheeler in front and double file restarts behind him Hatton and England would battle it out for second place. Also going door to door would be Dennis Selby and Mike Jewell for fourth. By the halfway mark of the race Wheeler was still out in front followed by Hatton, England, Jewell and Selby.
Todd, who had gone to the back from an early spin, would trek towards the front getting back to sixth by the 23rd lap. Todd then would pass Jewell for fifth on lap 28 to take over fifth place. Selby and Todd then raced side by side for a few laps with Todd getting by him with less than five laps remaining. Up front it was all Wheeler as he would cruise on to take his first Battle of the Bluegrass win of the season and his fifth career win with the three year old series. Hatton, would finish in second with Todd able to get around England with two laps to go coming all the way back from the tail to finish third and remain within striking distance of Hatton in the race for the 2004 championship. Both England and Selby put on impressive displays garnering their best career Battle of the Bluegrass finishes taking fourth and fifth place respectfully.
Completing the top ten were Mike Jewell, Doug Smith, Jason Koger, Kevin Claycomb and Victor Lee.
In preliminary events the Racing Optics/Russell Baker Racing Engines Fast Qualifier was Aaron Hatton at 15.374 seconds. The Crown Spray Power Heat Race winners were Hatton and Tyrel Todd.
Racing Summary
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Event #16
Racing Optics/Russell Baker Racing Engines Fast Time: Aaron Hatton 15.274
Crown Spray Power Heat #1: Aaron Hatton,, Victor Lee, Kevin Claycomb, Mike Jewell
Crown Spray Power Heat #2: Tyrel Todd, Johnny Wheeler, Dennis Selby, Doug Smith
Lucas Oil A-Main
40 Laps): Johnny Wheeler, Aaron Hatton, Tyrel Todd, Michael England, Dennis Selby, Mike Jewell, Doug Smith, Jason Koger, Kevin Claycomb, Victor Lee, James Huff, Shawn Martin, Spensor Watson, Mike Higdon (DNS)
Race Statistics:
Entries: 14
Lap Leaders: Hatton 1-8 Wheeler 9-40
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger of the Race: Michael England (started 9th and finished in 4th)
MORGANTOWN, KY--The "Wheelman" Johnny Wheeler of Campbellsville, KY became the 11th different driver this year to win a O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Event Presented by Arizona Sport Shirts on Saturday Night at the Soggy Bottom Speedway. Wheeler's fifth career series win came aboard the Larry Yantz Racing owned/Clayton Homes of Bowling Green, KY/PPM Racing Products/American Racer Tires/Wayne Bowen Racing Supply/Classic Homes/Cornett Racing Engines/C.J. Rayburn Monte Carlo. The 41 year old Wheeler who got married the week of the race earned $3000 for his win making for a nice wedding present. Current BoB point’s leader, Aaron Hatton of Mt. Sterling, KY finished second in the Hatton Racing/Russell Hatton Used Cars and Mobile Home Rentals/MasterSbilt Grand Prix. Third place went to Tyrel Todd of Eubank, KY in the Billy Todd, crew chiefed, Pulaski Steel and Supply Inc/MasterSbilt Monte Carlo. Completing the top five was Michael England of Glasgow, KY in the David England/Young's Oil Corporation/MasterSbilt Monte Carlo and Dennis Selby of Russell Springs, KY in the Selby Motorsports/Highway 80 Auto/MasterSbilt Ford Mustang. It was the best career finishes for England and Selby in the series' three year history.
Before a packed hillside of race fans it was Aaron Hatton who would take the lead at the beginning of the Lucas Oil A-Main which was 40 laps in length. Tyrel Todd quickly moved into second followed by Johnny Wheeler and Kevin Claycomb, who was making his last appearance at Soggy Bottom in his farewell tour as he will be retiring from racing at seasons end. In the early going it was Hatton, Todd and Wheeler as the top three in the current Battle of the Bluegrass points were looking to gain an advantage on each other at night's end by seeing who could finish the highest and gain the most points. Todd's second place run would come to an end as he slipped coming off of turn four and looped the car bringing out the caution flag. Todd would restart on the tail, but he would be heard from later in the race. When the race restarted Hatton was still on the point with Wheeler now in second followed by Claycomb and Michael England. Hatton's continuing lead would last for two more circuits as Wheeler was able to slip by him coming off of turn number four on the ninth lap to take over the lead. England, the 20 year old driver in his first full season of dirt late model racing would run the best race of his BoB career as he would get by the veteran Claycomb on the 13th lap to take over third place. England then set his sights on the two frontrunners in his quest for his first ever BoB win. A couple of back to back cautions would slow the action on the 15th lap. With Wheeler in front and double file restarts behind him Hatton and England would battle it out for second place. Also going door to door would be Dennis Selby and Mike Jewell for fourth. By the halfway mark of the race Wheeler was still out in front followed by Hatton, England, Jewell and Selby.
Todd, who had gone to the back from an early spin, would trek towards the front getting back to sixth by the 23rd lap. Todd then would pass Jewell for fifth on lap 28 to take over fifth place. Selby and Todd then raced side by side for a few laps with Todd getting by him with less than five laps remaining. Up front it was all Wheeler as he would cruise on to take his first Battle of the Bluegrass win of the season and his fifth career win with the three year old series. Hatton, would finish in second with Todd able to get around England with two laps to go coming all the way back from the tail to finish third and remain within striking distance of Hatton in the race for the 2004 championship. Both England and Selby put on impressive displays garnering their best career Battle of the Bluegrass finishes taking fourth and fifth place respectfully.
Completing the top ten were Mike Jewell, Doug Smith, Jason Koger, Kevin Claycomb and Victor Lee.
In preliminary events the Racing Optics/Russell Baker Racing Engines Fast Qualifier was Aaron Hatton at 15.374 seconds. The Crown Spray Power Heat Race winners were Hatton and Tyrel Todd.
Racing Summary
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Event #16
Racing Optics/Russell Baker Racing Engines Fast Time: Aaron Hatton 15.274
Crown Spray Power Heat #1: Aaron Hatton,, Victor Lee, Kevin Claycomb, Mike Jewell
Crown Spray Power Heat #2: Tyrel Todd, Johnny Wheeler, Dennis Selby, Doug Smith
Lucas Oil A-Main
40 Laps): Johnny Wheeler, Aaron Hatton, Tyrel Todd, Michael England, Dennis Selby, Mike Jewell, Doug Smith, Jason Koger, Kevin Claycomb, Victor Lee, James Huff, Shawn Martin, Spensor Watson, Mike Higdon (DNS)Race Statistics:
Entries: 14
Lap Leaders: Hatton 1-8 Wheeler 9-40
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger of the Race: Michael England (started 9th and finished in 4th)
