Alpha, KY--Jesse James Lay of Walton, KY came from the 16th starting spot to win his third career STARS Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series event on Friday Night at the Clinton County Speedway. Lay's brilliant charge earned him $3000 for his efforts and his first win of 2003. It was Lay's first win since taking two BoB wins in May of 2002. The 32 year old driver took the Outlaw Racing, Delta Faucet Company, Cox Outdoor Advertising, TNT Crane Service, Winnelson Company, Florence Speedway Home of the $50,000 to win North-South 100 on August 22 and 23, Muggbee's Grill and Bar, Joe Lay and Sons Plumbing, Albrecht Co. Promotional Advertising, Blue Beacon Truck Washes, Clines on the River, Hoosier Tires, Pennzoil, Glenn's Auto, WinLectric, Poske's Performance, Dargie Racing engines, Rocket Chassis Monte Carlo #33 to victory in his first ever appearance at Clinton County as the track hosted it's first ever sanctioned event. Brad Neat of Dunnville, KY finished second in the Neat's Service Center, Tarter Gate, MasterSbilt Monte Carlo. Taking third was Timmy Yeager of Harrodsburg, KY in the Clark Racing, Central KY Realty, PPM Racing Products, C.J. Rayburn Race Cars #C1 entry. Fourth went to Scott James of Lawrenceburg, IN in the Powell Motorsports, AFCO Racing Products, Lazer G2 Monte Carlo and completing the top five was Michael Chilton of Harrodsburg, KY driving the Harold Chilton, Chilton's Lawn Care, Central Painting, C.J. Rayburn Monte Carlo.
Brad Neat and Mike Marlar would lead the field of starters to the green flag but before one lap was complete a wreck on the back stretch involving Jay Mobley, Aaron Hatton, Junior Brown and Jared Terry knocked all four of those cars out of the race. Despite the hard impact that Hatton and Mobley took with the concrete retaining wall both drivers would be a little bit sore, but otherwise okay. When the race restarted, Neat would grab the point with Marlar trailing him in second place. Those two would run nose to tail until contact on the 10th lap would put Marlar on the tail and Neat back in front. Timmy Yeager would move into second with Dustin Neat in third and by the 11th lap Lay was moving up from his 16th starting position. Lay and Scott James were two drivers on the move using the second lane of the race track. Lay's impressive charge put him past Dustin Neat on the 27th lap taking third place. With Brad Neat still in front Yeager was all over him trying to pass him. While those two were dueling it out Lay would quietly go to the outside of both of them and pass them both on the 33rd lap in a great move. Lay then drove off to pick up his first win of the season as he became the eighth different event winner in nine races on the series this year.
Brad Neat would barely hold off Yeager for second. Current point's leader Scott James would zoom from 19th to fourth at the pay window with 17 year old Michael Chilton scoring another top five finish as he would hound James for position in the last half of the race.
Completing the top ten were Johnny Wheeler, Mike Marlar, Tyrel Todd, Steve Cornelius and Victor Lee.
In preliminary action Johnny Wheeler set a new track record with a 11.96 to earn the Racing Optics/Bullzilla Graphics Fast Time. Heat races were won by Mike Marlar, Dustin Neat and Brad Neat. Jesse James Lay beat Victor Lee at the flagstand to win the AFCO B-Main.
Race Summary
Event #9
STARS Battle of the Bluegrass
Friday Night, June 27, 2003
Clinton County Speedway
Alpha, KY
Racing Optics/Bullzilla Graphics Fast Time: Johnny Wheeler 11.96 (new track record)
First Heat: Mike Marlar, Jay Mobley, Michael Chilton, Johnny Wheeler
Second heat: Dustin Neat, Bobby Carrier Jr., Timmy Yeager, Carnell Parker III
Third Heat: Brad Neat, Aaron Hatton, Perry Delaney, Jared Terry
AFCO B-Main: Jesse James Lay, Victor Lee, Tyrel Todd, Scott James
PBM Performance Products A-Main: Jesse James Lay, Brad Neat, Timmy Yeager, Scott James, Michael Chilton, Johnny Wheeler, Mike Marlar, Tyrel Todd, Steve Cornelius, Victor Lee, Carnell Parker III, Tim Damron, Jonathon Durrett, Dustin Neat, Perry Delaney, Bobby Carrier Jr., Joe Patrick, Jim Curry, Jay Mobley, Aaron Hatton, Jared Terry, Junior Brown
Race Statistics:
Entries: 29
STARS BoB Provisionals: Scott James and Jim Curry
Track Provisionals: Tim Damron and Joe Patrick
Lead Changes: 2 among 2 drivers
Lap Leaders: Brad Neat 1-32 Jesse James Lay 33-40
R&P Industrial Chimney Rookie of the Race: Michael Chilton
PPM Racing Products/Outlaw Race Cars Hard Charger: Jesse James Lay
Brad Neat and Mike Marlar would lead the field of starters to the green flag but before one lap was complete a wreck on the back stretch involving Jay Mobley, Aaron Hatton, Junior Brown and Jared Terry knocked all four of those cars out of the race. Despite the hard impact that Hatton and Mobley took with the concrete retaining wall both drivers would be a little bit sore, but otherwise okay. When the race restarted, Neat would grab the point with Marlar trailing him in second place. Those two would run nose to tail until contact on the 10th lap would put Marlar on the tail and Neat back in front. Timmy Yeager would move into second with Dustin Neat in third and by the 11th lap Lay was moving up from his 16th starting position. Lay and Scott James were two drivers on the move using the second lane of the race track. Lay's impressive charge put him past Dustin Neat on the 27th lap taking third place. With Brad Neat still in front Yeager was all over him trying to pass him. While those two were dueling it out Lay would quietly go to the outside of both of them and pass them both on the 33rd lap in a great move. Lay then drove off to pick up his first win of the season as he became the eighth different event winner in nine races on the series this year.
Brad Neat would barely hold off Yeager for second. Current point's leader Scott James would zoom from 19th to fourth at the pay window with 17 year old Michael Chilton scoring another top five finish as he would hound James for position in the last half of the race.
Completing the top ten were Johnny Wheeler, Mike Marlar, Tyrel Todd, Steve Cornelius and Victor Lee.
In preliminary action Johnny Wheeler set a new track record with a 11.96 to earn the Racing Optics/Bullzilla Graphics Fast Time. Heat races were won by Mike Marlar, Dustin Neat and Brad Neat. Jesse James Lay beat Victor Lee at the flagstand to win the AFCO B-Main.
Race Summary
Event #9
STARS Battle of the Bluegrass
Friday Night, June 27, 2003
Clinton County Speedway
Alpha, KY
Racing Optics/Bullzilla Graphics Fast Time: Johnny Wheeler 11.96 (new track record)
First Heat: Mike Marlar, Jay Mobley, Michael Chilton, Johnny Wheeler
Second heat: Dustin Neat, Bobby Carrier Jr., Timmy Yeager, Carnell Parker III
Third Heat: Brad Neat, Aaron Hatton, Perry Delaney, Jared Terry
AFCO B-Main: Jesse James Lay, Victor Lee, Tyrel Todd, Scott James
PBM Performance Products A-Main: Jesse James Lay, Brad Neat, Timmy Yeager, Scott James, Michael Chilton, Johnny Wheeler, Mike Marlar, Tyrel Todd, Steve Cornelius, Victor Lee, Carnell Parker III, Tim Damron, Jonathon Durrett, Dustin Neat, Perry Delaney, Bobby Carrier Jr., Joe Patrick, Jim Curry, Jay Mobley, Aaron Hatton, Jared Terry, Junior Brown
Race Statistics:
Entries: 29
STARS BoB Provisionals: Scott James and Jim Curry
Track Provisionals: Tim Damron and Joe Patrick
Lead Changes: 2 among 2 drivers
Lap Leaders: Brad Neat 1-32 Jesse James Lay 33-40
R&P Industrial Chimney Rookie of the Race: Michael Chilton
PPM Racing Products/Outlaw Race Cars Hard Charger: Jesse James Lay
