BURNSIDE, KY - Although he led all 40 laps of the Coca-Cola 40, Campbellsville, KY veteran Johnny Wheeler's win Saturday night at the Lake Cumberland Speedway was anything but easy. Wheeler fended off several late-race challenges by Chris Combs to nab his first Series victory in nearly two years. After his thrilling win, Wheeler becomes the 5th different victor in 7 races for the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts in 2006.
Tyrel Todd and Fast Qualifier Bobby Wolter Jr. brought the field around to the green with Chris Combs and Johnny Wheeler behind in row two. In a drag race into turns one and two, Wheeler boldly shot to the outside of the track and was three-wide with Todd and Wolter coming off the second corner. After several laps of jockeying back and forth, Wheeler commanded a tight field with Bryan Barber, Todd, Combs, and Aaron Hatton in hot pursuit. Wolter slowed on the track on lap 6 to bring out the first caution of the night.
On the restart, Todd, Hatton, and Combs staged a three-way dance for third with Hatton eventually grabbing the spot with Combs in tow. Behind them, positions six through ten were changing every lap as Justin Rattliff, Mike Marlar, 13th-starting Michael Chilton, Mike Jewell, and 16th-starting Tim Tungate raced side-by-side and often times three-wide. A lap 12 yellow spoiled the action, but kept the field tight with Wheeler holding off Barber, Combs, Hatton, and Todd.
When racing resumed, Todd got shuffled back, allowing Rattliff and a hard-charging Chilton to get by. Up front, Barber stuck a nose under Wheeler in a bid for the lead, only to have Wheeler motor back ahead. The racing from sixth on back didn't miss a beat as Marlar, Jewell, Tungate, and Steve Hillard put on a show for the fans, trading positions lap after lap. Shortly before the crossed flags were displayed to the field, Wheeler had his biggest lead of the night at a mere six car lengths over Barber and Combs, who grabbed the fans attention with their own side-by-side duel for the bridesmaid position. Meanwhile, Chilton continued to be the man on the move, as he slipped past Rattliff to crack the top five on lap 18.
Wheeler's advantage would be short lived as the Campbellsville, KY driver caught the back of the field on lap 23. Just one circuit later, Combs would finally complete a pass on Barber to move the 2005 Rookie of the Year into the second position. As the lead trio diced in and out of lapped traffic, Chilton continued to impress by working his way around Hatton for fourth. A lap 28 caution slowed the field and, on the restart, a multi-car accident involving David Webb, Tim York, Steve Hillard, and Greg Lucas among others brought the red flag out to clear the blocked race track.
The final caution of the night waved just a few circuits later when York looped his mount in turns one and two. An eight-lap dash to the finish would see Wheeler leading Combs, Barber, Chilton, and Hatton. When the green flag waved, Combs immediately shot to the inside of Wheeler in a bid for the lead. The move brought the standing-room-only crowd to its feet as Wheeler and Combs raced side-by-side for the lead. Wheeler inched ahead ever so slightly on the straight-aways, but Combs was able to get a better run into the corners and pull along the race-long leader in the turns.
When the "two to go" signal was given to the field, the crowd was still on its feet as Wheeler and Combs were doorhandle-to-doorhandle for the lead. Wheeler would nose ahead and, as the white flag was displayed, Chilton pulled alongside Barber in a bid for third. Into turns three and four for the final time, Combs made one last ditch effort to get a run on Wheeler, but it wasn't enough. Johnny Wheeler would be victorious in Coca-Cola 40, driving the Robert Earl Motorsports/Certified Construction & Asphalt/All-Star Trucking/E.T. Sharp/United Check Cashing/Hicks Equipment/CVR Performance Bodies sponsored, Cropper powered, Rocket GTO. Wheeler becomes the 5th different winner in 7 races for the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts in 2006.
For the second race in a row, Isom, KY's Chris Combs settled for a close 2nd in the D&D Dairy/R&P Industrial Chimney/Cropper/Swartz GTO. Buffalo, KY's Bryan Barber held on for 3rd in the Revel Motorsports/PBM Performance sponsored, Bullock-Christopher powered, Rayburn GTO. Hard Charger Michael Chilton of Salvisa, KY took 4th in the Chilton's Garden Center/Bus Station Restaurant/AMS/Rayburn Monte Carlo. Completing the top five was Mt. Sterling, KY's Aaron Hatton in his Draime powered Rayburn Monte Carlo sponsored by Checkered Flag Auto Sales and Russell Hatton Mobile Home Center. 6th spot went to Mike Marlar with Tyrel Todd, Justin Rattliff, Mike Jewell, and Tim Tungate rounding out the top ten.
Bobby Wolter Jr. was the fast qualifier during Racing Optics Time Trials with a quick lap 14.192, just .002 faster than Just Rattliff. Mason Racin' Heat #1 went to Wolter while Chris Combs won Mason Racin' Heat #2 and Tyrel Todd won Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #3. Tim Tungate nabbed the win in the Design 500 B-Main.
Next up for the nation's most competitive regional racing series will be the first ever Kentucky Speedweek. Monday, May 29th, the series heads west to KY Lake Motor Speedway for a $3000 to win event. Tuesday, May 30th, the series will visit Bluegrass Speedway for the 9th Annual Spring Sizzler, also paying $3000 to win. After and off night Wednesday, the series rolls into the Richmond Raceway on Thursday, June 1st for another $3000 to win show. Then on Friday, June 2nd, Ponderosa Speedway will host a $5000 to win race for the series. The inaugural Kentucky Speedweek wraps up on Saturday, June 3rd with Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series sanctioned Ralph Latham Memorial at the Florence Speedway. For more information on the Kentucky Speedweek, log on to www.kyspeedweek.com.
For more information on the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts please log on to www.battleofthebluegrass.com or call the series office at (859)433-5707.
Results Summary
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Lake Cumberland Speedway
May 20, 2006
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier: Bobby Wolter Jr./14.192
Mason Racin' Heat #1: Bobby Wolter Jr., Johnny Wheeler, Aaron Hatton, Larry Gray Jr., Michael Chilton, Brandon Hardgrove, Tim York, Shannon Thornsberry, Joe Patrick, Jay Mobley
Mason Racin' Heat #2: Chris Combs, Bryan Barber, Justin Rattliff, Mike Marlar, Greg Lucas, David Webb, Russell Brinson, Greg Hansford, Jerry Fuson
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #3: Tyrel Todd, Sidney Sprague, Mike Jewell, Scotty Earl, Steve Hillard, Tim Tungate, John Jackson, Chris Ruble, Dan Deaton
Design 500 B-Main: Tim Tungate, David Webb, Shannon Thornsberry, Tim York, Brandon Hardgrove, John Jackson, Dan Deaton, Joe Patrick, Jerry Fuson, Russell Brinson, Chris Ruble, Greg Hansford
O'Reilly Auto Parts/Coca-Cola 40: Johnny Wheeler, Chris Combs, Bryan Barber, Michael Chilton, Aaron Hatton, Mike Marlar, Tyrel Todd, Justin Rattliff, Mike Jewell, Tim Tungate, Scotty Earl, Steve Hillard, David Webb, Greg Lucas, Shannon Thornsberry, Brandon Hardgrove, Bobby Wolter Jr., Tim York, John Jackson, Larry Gray Jr., Sidney Sprague
Race Statistics
Lap Leaders: Johnny Wheeler 1-40
Cautions: 4
Red Flags: 1
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger: Michael Chilton (started 13th, finished 4th)
Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Race: Justin Rattliff
Track Provisional: John Jackson
Entries: 29
Upcoming O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Schedule
May 29 - KY Lake Motor Speedway, Calvert City, KY - $3000 to win (KENTUCKY SPEEDWEEK)
May 30 - Bluegrass Speedway, Bardstown, KY - $3000 to win (KENTUCKY SPEEDWEEK)
May 31 - Off
June 1 - Richmond Raceway, Richmond, KY - $3000 to win (KENTUCKY SPEEDWEEK)
June 2 - Ponderosa Speedway, Junction City, KY - $5000 to win (KENTUCKY SPEEDWEEK)
June 16 - Ponderosa Speedway, Junction City, KY - $3000 to win (Rescheduled 3rd Annual Spring 40)
June 17 - Bluegrass Speedway, Bardstown, KY - $3000 to win (5th Annual June Jam)
June 24 - Brownstown Speedway, Brownstown, IN - $3000 to win (8th Annual Lee Fleetwood Memorial)
Current O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Points
1. 9 Mike Jewell (Scottsburg, IN) - 1360
2. 47 Chris Combs (Isom, KY) - 1340
3. 10 Bryan Barber (Buffalo, KY) - 1305
4. 18 Tim Tungate (Campbellsville, KY) - 1280
5. 16 Justin Rattliff (Campbellsville, KY) - 1210
6. 33 Aaron Hatton (Mt. Sterling, KY) - 1085
7. 41 Brad Neat (Dunnville, KY) - 1010
8. 11 Bobby Wolter Jr. (Lexington, KY) - 970
9. 97 Michael Chilton (Salvisa, KY) - 895
10. 17 Shannon Thornsberry (Martin, KY) - 885
2006 O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Dirt Car Series Sponsors
O’Reilly Auto Parts – Title Sponsor and “Official Auto Parts Retailer of the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Dirt Car Series”
Arizona Sport Shirts – Presenting Sponsor and “Official Souvenir Manufacturer & Vendor of the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Dirt Car Series”
Sunoco Race Fuels – “Official Race Fuel of the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Dirt Car Series”
2006 O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Supporters Include: O’Reilly Auto Parts, Arizona Sport Shirts, Sunoco Race Fuels, DART Machinery, Lucas Oil Products, Hoosier Race Tires, American Race Tires, PPM Performance Products, Bazell Fuels, Cruise With the Champions, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, Racing Optics, Mason Racin', Design 500, Trailer Parts & Sales, Honda of Prestonsburg, Bullock Race Engines, CJ Rayburn Race Cars, Bert Transmissions, Rick Schwallie Photography, and Real Wheels
Tyrel Todd and Fast Qualifier Bobby Wolter Jr. brought the field around to the green with Chris Combs and Johnny Wheeler behind in row two. In a drag race into turns one and two, Wheeler boldly shot to the outside of the track and was three-wide with Todd and Wolter coming off the second corner. After several laps of jockeying back and forth, Wheeler commanded a tight field with Bryan Barber, Todd, Combs, and Aaron Hatton in hot pursuit. Wolter slowed on the track on lap 6 to bring out the first caution of the night.
On the restart, Todd, Hatton, and Combs staged a three-way dance for third with Hatton eventually grabbing the spot with Combs in tow. Behind them, positions six through ten were changing every lap as Justin Rattliff, Mike Marlar, 13th-starting Michael Chilton, Mike Jewell, and 16th-starting Tim Tungate raced side-by-side and often times three-wide. A lap 12 yellow spoiled the action, but kept the field tight with Wheeler holding off Barber, Combs, Hatton, and Todd.
When racing resumed, Todd got shuffled back, allowing Rattliff and a hard-charging Chilton to get by. Up front, Barber stuck a nose under Wheeler in a bid for the lead, only to have Wheeler motor back ahead. The racing from sixth on back didn't miss a beat as Marlar, Jewell, Tungate, and Steve Hillard put on a show for the fans, trading positions lap after lap. Shortly before the crossed flags were displayed to the field, Wheeler had his biggest lead of the night at a mere six car lengths over Barber and Combs, who grabbed the fans attention with their own side-by-side duel for the bridesmaid position. Meanwhile, Chilton continued to be the man on the move, as he slipped past Rattliff to crack the top five on lap 18.
Wheeler's advantage would be short lived as the Campbellsville, KY driver caught the back of the field on lap 23. Just one circuit later, Combs would finally complete a pass on Barber to move the 2005 Rookie of the Year into the second position. As the lead trio diced in and out of lapped traffic, Chilton continued to impress by working his way around Hatton for fourth. A lap 28 caution slowed the field and, on the restart, a multi-car accident involving David Webb, Tim York, Steve Hillard, and Greg Lucas among others brought the red flag out to clear the blocked race track.
The final caution of the night waved just a few circuits later when York looped his mount in turns one and two. An eight-lap dash to the finish would see Wheeler leading Combs, Barber, Chilton, and Hatton. When the green flag waved, Combs immediately shot to the inside of Wheeler in a bid for the lead. The move brought the standing-room-only crowd to its feet as Wheeler and Combs raced side-by-side for the lead. Wheeler inched ahead ever so slightly on the straight-aways, but Combs was able to get a better run into the corners and pull along the race-long leader in the turns.
When the "two to go" signal was given to the field, the crowd was still on its feet as Wheeler and Combs were doorhandle-to-doorhandle for the lead. Wheeler would nose ahead and, as the white flag was displayed, Chilton pulled alongside Barber in a bid for third. Into turns three and four for the final time, Combs made one last ditch effort to get a run on Wheeler, but it wasn't enough. Johnny Wheeler would be victorious in Coca-Cola 40, driving the Robert Earl Motorsports/Certified Construction & Asphalt/All-Star Trucking/E.T. Sharp/United Check Cashing/Hicks Equipment/CVR Performance Bodies sponsored, Cropper powered, Rocket GTO. Wheeler becomes the 5th different winner in 7 races for the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts in 2006.
For the second race in a row, Isom, KY's Chris Combs settled for a close 2nd in the D&D Dairy/R&P Industrial Chimney/Cropper/Swartz GTO. Buffalo, KY's Bryan Barber held on for 3rd in the Revel Motorsports/PBM Performance sponsored, Bullock-Christopher powered, Rayburn GTO. Hard Charger Michael Chilton of Salvisa, KY took 4th in the Chilton's Garden Center/Bus Station Restaurant/AMS/Rayburn Monte Carlo. Completing the top five was Mt. Sterling, KY's Aaron Hatton in his Draime powered Rayburn Monte Carlo sponsored by Checkered Flag Auto Sales and Russell Hatton Mobile Home Center. 6th spot went to Mike Marlar with Tyrel Todd, Justin Rattliff, Mike Jewell, and Tim Tungate rounding out the top ten.
Bobby Wolter Jr. was the fast qualifier during Racing Optics Time Trials with a quick lap 14.192, just .002 faster than Just Rattliff. Mason Racin' Heat #1 went to Wolter while Chris Combs won Mason Racin' Heat #2 and Tyrel Todd won Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #3. Tim Tungate nabbed the win in the Design 500 B-Main.
Next up for the nation's most competitive regional racing series will be the first ever Kentucky Speedweek. Monday, May 29th, the series heads west to KY Lake Motor Speedway for a $3000 to win event. Tuesday, May 30th, the series will visit Bluegrass Speedway for the 9th Annual Spring Sizzler, also paying $3000 to win. After and off night Wednesday, the series rolls into the Richmond Raceway on Thursday, June 1st for another $3000 to win show. Then on Friday, June 2nd, Ponderosa Speedway will host a $5000 to win race for the series. The inaugural Kentucky Speedweek wraps up on Saturday, June 3rd with Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series sanctioned Ralph Latham Memorial at the Florence Speedway. For more information on the Kentucky Speedweek, log on to www.kyspeedweek.com.
For more information on the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts please log on to www.battleofthebluegrass.com or call the series office at (859)433-5707.
Results Summary
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Lake Cumberland Speedway
May 20, 2006
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier: Bobby Wolter Jr./14.192
Mason Racin' Heat #1: Bobby Wolter Jr., Johnny Wheeler, Aaron Hatton, Larry Gray Jr., Michael Chilton, Brandon Hardgrove, Tim York, Shannon Thornsberry, Joe Patrick, Jay Mobley
Mason Racin' Heat #2: Chris Combs, Bryan Barber, Justin Rattliff, Mike Marlar, Greg Lucas, David Webb, Russell Brinson, Greg Hansford, Jerry Fuson
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #3: Tyrel Todd, Sidney Sprague, Mike Jewell, Scotty Earl, Steve Hillard, Tim Tungate, John Jackson, Chris Ruble, Dan Deaton
Design 500 B-Main: Tim Tungate, David Webb, Shannon Thornsberry, Tim York, Brandon Hardgrove, John Jackson, Dan Deaton, Joe Patrick, Jerry Fuson, Russell Brinson, Chris Ruble, Greg Hansford
O'Reilly Auto Parts/Coca-Cola 40: Johnny Wheeler, Chris Combs, Bryan Barber, Michael Chilton, Aaron Hatton, Mike Marlar, Tyrel Todd, Justin Rattliff, Mike Jewell, Tim Tungate, Scotty Earl, Steve Hillard, David Webb, Greg Lucas, Shannon Thornsberry, Brandon Hardgrove, Bobby Wolter Jr., Tim York, John Jackson, Larry Gray Jr., Sidney Sprague
Race Statistics
Lap Leaders: Johnny Wheeler 1-40
Cautions: 4
Red Flags: 1
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger: Michael Chilton (started 13th, finished 4th)
Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Race: Justin Rattliff
Track Provisional: John Jackson
Entries: 29
Upcoming O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Schedule
May 29 - KY Lake Motor Speedway, Calvert City, KY - $3000 to win (KENTUCKY SPEEDWEEK)
May 30 - Bluegrass Speedway, Bardstown, KY - $3000 to win (KENTUCKY SPEEDWEEK)
May 31 - Off
June 1 - Richmond Raceway, Richmond, KY - $3000 to win (KENTUCKY SPEEDWEEK)
June 2 - Ponderosa Speedway, Junction City, KY - $5000 to win (KENTUCKY SPEEDWEEK)
June 16 - Ponderosa Speedway, Junction City, KY - $3000 to win (Rescheduled 3rd Annual Spring 40)
June 17 - Bluegrass Speedway, Bardstown, KY - $3000 to win (5th Annual June Jam)
June 24 - Brownstown Speedway, Brownstown, IN - $3000 to win (8th Annual Lee Fleetwood Memorial)
Current O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Points
1. 9 Mike Jewell (Scottsburg, IN) - 1360
2. 47 Chris Combs (Isom, KY) - 1340
3. 10 Bryan Barber (Buffalo, KY) - 1305
4. 18 Tim Tungate (Campbellsville, KY) - 1280
5. 16 Justin Rattliff (Campbellsville, KY) - 1210
6. 33 Aaron Hatton (Mt. Sterling, KY) - 1085
7. 41 Brad Neat (Dunnville, KY) - 1010
8. 11 Bobby Wolter Jr. (Lexington, KY) - 970
9. 97 Michael Chilton (Salvisa, KY) - 895
10. 17 Shannon Thornsberry (Martin, KY) - 885
2006 O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Dirt Car Series Sponsors
O’Reilly Auto Parts – Title Sponsor and “Official Auto Parts Retailer of the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Dirt Car Series”
Arizona Sport Shirts – Presenting Sponsor and “Official Souvenir Manufacturer & Vendor of the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Dirt Car Series”
Sunoco Race Fuels – “Official Race Fuel of the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Dirt Car Series”
2006 O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Supporters Include: O’Reilly Auto Parts, Arizona Sport Shirts, Sunoco Race Fuels, DART Machinery, Lucas Oil Products, Hoosier Race Tires, American Race Tires, PPM Performance Products, Bazell Fuels, Cruise With the Champions, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, Racing Optics, Mason Racin', Design 500, Trailer Parts & Sales, Honda of Prestonsburg, Bullock Race Engines, CJ Rayburn Race Cars, Bert Transmissions, Rick Schwallie Photography, and Real Wheels
