Whitney McQueary Nets Biggest Career Win in O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Action at 201 Speedway
SITKA, KY – The largest crowd in 201 Speedway history waited out a two hour rain delay and the wait was well worth it as Dunnville, KY's Whitney McQueary netted his biggest career win in Saturday night's O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series event at 201 Speedway.
Anthony Adams and Tim Tungate brought the field down to the green flag with Tungate launching ahead to grab the lead. Less than two car lengths behind the leader, Adams, Mike Marlar, and fast qualifier Eddie Carrier Jr. raced three-wide for the runner-up spot. When Adams slipped high on lap 4, Marlar and Carrier continue to dice it out with Marlar, the 2003 O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Champion, finally grabbing the position. The Winfield, TN native quickly set his sights on race-leader Tungate and challenged for the lead on lap five. After a doorhandle-to-doorhandle battle for the point, Marlar took control of the field on lap 6 with Carrier working his way by Tungate one circuit later. Marlar's lead would be short lived, however, as he lost a driveshaft on lap 9 ending his evening and bringing out the first caution flag of the event. During the caution, 3rd-place Tungate also retired from the event.
Eddie Carrier Jr. inherited the top spot with 8th-starting Whitney McQueary and Frankie Coomer lurking in the shadows on the Delaware double-file restart. McQueary used the high side of the multi-grooved track to his advantage to power ahead of the leader and take over the top spot. An accident in turns three and four, however, vetoed the pass for the lead and moved Carrier, the 2002 O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Champion, back to the front of the pack. During the lap 10 caution, the Salt Rock, WV driver pulled the Grover Motorsports #28 into the infield with a flat tire. Carrier's crew was able to get the tire changed as he rejoined the field at the tail.
Whitney McQueary now assumed the point with Coomer, Chris Combs, Benny Feltner, Brandon Kinzer, Chuckie May, and 14th-starting Michael England in hot pursuit. As McQueary darted ahead on the restart, Coomer, Combs, and the others remained within striking distance. As the field reached the halfway point, McQueary held a narrow lead over an outstanding battle for second between Combs, Kinzer, and May. Behind the race for second, Michael England had worked his way into 6th with Raymond Nichols and Aaron Hatton glued to his back bumper. Like the cars in front of them, they often raced two and even three-wide the entire way around the high-banked 3/8-mile track.
With 10 laps to go, McQueary was closing in on the rear of the field and Combs was closing in on McQueary. As the crowd watched in anticipation of a potential battle for the lead, May and Kinzer, still engaged in their side-by-side battle, moved up to the rear deck lid of Combs. Meanwhile, Eddie Carrier Jr. had quietly worked his way back up to the top 8. Just as Combs pulled to within a car length of the race leader, a caution on lap 35 set the stage for a five-lap dash to the finish with McQueary leading Combs, Kinzer, Carrier, and Coomer.
On the restart, Combs dove to the bottom of the track as he raced side-by-side with McQueary for the lead. McQueary inched ahead down the backstretch and around turns three and four as Kinzer hounded Combs for the 2nd spot and Carrier rode the rim looking for a pass on Kinzer. Behind the top 5, Michael England, Chuckie May, Raymond Nichols, Tyrel Todd and others jockeyed for position using every inch of the race track. Back up front, it would be Dunnville, KY's Whitney McQueary taking the checkered flag in his Bigg Dawg Motorsports/Kelco Metals/Tarter Gate/Tarter Tube sponsored, Bullock powered Rocket Monte Carlo. It would be the biggest win of McQueary's career and his first ever with the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series as well as his first ever at 201 Speedway. Crew Chief Dennis Selby and the rest of the Bigg Dawg Motorsports team celebrated in style in victory lane as a jubilant McQueary came back onto the speedway and stood on top of his car, much to the enjoyment of the packed house in attendance.
Isom, KY's Chris Combs recorded his career best finish with the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series as his Bub's Trucking/Tim Short Automotive/Cropper/Swart Grand Prix crossed the stripe in 2nd. 3rd place went to Allen, KY native Brandon Kinzer in the Eastco Supply/Ranger Contracting/Gaerte/Barry Wright Intrepid. Eddie Carrier Jr. came back to finish 4th in the E.I. Rail Car Engines/Railway Equipment/Grover/Rocket Taurus. Rounding out the top five was Austin, IN's Frankie Coomer in his Chuck's Auto Repair/Carquest Auto Parts/Bullock/MasterSbilt Grand Prix. Michael England, Tyrel Todd, Raymond Nichols, David Powers, and Anthony Adams completed the top 10.
38 O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Late Models were on hand with Eddie Carrier Jr. setting fast time during Racing Optics Time Trials with a quick lap of 14.012. VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat Races were won by Carrier Jr., Mike Marlar, Tim Tungate, and Anthony Adams with B-Main victories going to Brandon Kinzer and Michael England.
The O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts will make stop #6 of the 2005 tour this Saturday, May 14th, at the Soggy Bottom Speedway in Morgantown, KY. A complete show will take place with Racing Optics Time Trials, VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat Races, B-Mains and the $3,000 to win O’Reilly Auto Parts A-Main. For more information on the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series, visit our website at www.naradirtcar.com.
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Race Summary
201 Speedway - Sitka, KY
Saturday, May 7, 2005
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier: Eddie Carrier Jr./14.012
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #1: Eddie Carrier Jr., Frankie Coomer, Raymond Nichols, Tyrel Todd, Mike Jewell, Jordan Bland, Alan Haycraft, Mike Luna, Mike Estep, Aaron Hatton
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #2: Mike Marlar, Chris Combs, David Powers, Brandon Kinzer, Shannon Thornsberry, Paul Harris, Johnny Wheeler, David Webb, Jamie Ferguson
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #3: Tim Tungate, Benny Feltner, Bryan Barber, Wayne Chinn, Terry Hicks, Scott Hall, Steve Stollings, Jimmy David Hall, David Smith
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #4: Anthony Adams, Whitney McQueary, Chuckie May, Michael England, Blake Chinn, Randy Boggs, Corey McKenzie, Daniel Williams, James Butcher
B-Main #1: Brandon Kinzer, Tyrel Todd, Shannon Thornsberry, Paul Harris, Mike Jewell, Jamie Ferguson, Mike Estep, Jordan Bland, Johnny Wheeler, David Webb, Alan Haycraft, Aaron Hatton, Mike Luna
B-Main #2: Michael England, Wayne Chinn, Terry Hicks, Blake Chinn, Randy Boggs, Scott Hall, Daniel Williams, Steve Stollings, Corey McKenzie, Jimmy David Hall, James Butcher
40-lap O'Reilly Auto Parts A-Main: Whitney McQueary, Chris Combs, Brandon Kinzer, Eddie Carrier Jr., Frankie Coomer, Michael England, Tyrel Todd, Raymond Nichols, David Powers, Anthony Adams, Blake Chinn, Shannon Thornsberry, Chuckie May, Aaron Hatton, Wayne Chinn, Bryan Barber, Benny Feltner, Mike Jewell, Steve Stollings, Paul Harris, Terry Hicks, Tim Tungate, Mike Marlar
Race Statistics:
Entries: 38
Lap Leaders: Tim Tungate 1-5, Mike Marlar 6-9, Eddie Carrier Jr. 10, Whitney McQueary 11-40
Cautions: 7
BoB Provisionals: Mike Jewell and Aaron Hatton
Track Provisional: Steve Stollings
BoB Rookie of the Race: Chris Combs
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger of the Race: Michael England
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Point Standings (after 5/7/05)
1. 5m Whitney McQueary 890
2. 9 Mike Jewell 870
3. 5e Michael England 860
4. 47 Chris Combs 830
5. 18 Tim Tungate 750
6. 33 Aaron Hatton 705
7. 99 Rick Combs 690
8. 28 Chuckie May 685
9. 83 Scott James 655
10. 1 Wayne Chinn 615
2005 O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Sponsors
O’Reilly Auto Parts – Title Sponsor and “Official Auto Parts Store of the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series”
Lucas Oil- “Official Oil Products of the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series”
VP Racing Fuels- “Official Race Fuel of the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series”
2005 O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Sponsors include: O’Reilly Auto Parts, Lucas Oil Products, Arizona Sports Shirts, VP Racing Fuels, Oval Craft, Hoosier Racing Tires, Dart, PPM, BERT, Rayburn Chassis, American Race Tire, Real Wheels, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, Trailer Parts & Sales, DJ Designs, Racing Optics, Smith Automotive and Machine, Cruise With The Champions, Ratliff Motors, and Honda of Prestonsburg
SITKA, KY – The largest crowd in 201 Speedway history waited out a two hour rain delay and the wait was well worth it as Dunnville, KY's Whitney McQueary netted his biggest career win in Saturday night's O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series event at 201 Speedway.
Anthony Adams and Tim Tungate brought the field down to the green flag with Tungate launching ahead to grab the lead. Less than two car lengths behind the leader, Adams, Mike Marlar, and fast qualifier Eddie Carrier Jr. raced three-wide for the runner-up spot. When Adams slipped high on lap 4, Marlar and Carrier continue to dice it out with Marlar, the 2003 O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Champion, finally grabbing the position. The Winfield, TN native quickly set his sights on race-leader Tungate and challenged for the lead on lap five. After a doorhandle-to-doorhandle battle for the point, Marlar took control of the field on lap 6 with Carrier working his way by Tungate one circuit later. Marlar's lead would be short lived, however, as he lost a driveshaft on lap 9 ending his evening and bringing out the first caution flag of the event. During the caution, 3rd-place Tungate also retired from the event.
Eddie Carrier Jr. inherited the top spot with 8th-starting Whitney McQueary and Frankie Coomer lurking in the shadows on the Delaware double-file restart. McQueary used the high side of the multi-grooved track to his advantage to power ahead of the leader and take over the top spot. An accident in turns three and four, however, vetoed the pass for the lead and moved Carrier, the 2002 O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Champion, back to the front of the pack. During the lap 10 caution, the Salt Rock, WV driver pulled the Grover Motorsports #28 into the infield with a flat tire. Carrier's crew was able to get the tire changed as he rejoined the field at the tail.
Whitney McQueary now assumed the point with Coomer, Chris Combs, Benny Feltner, Brandon Kinzer, Chuckie May, and 14th-starting Michael England in hot pursuit. As McQueary darted ahead on the restart, Coomer, Combs, and the others remained within striking distance. As the field reached the halfway point, McQueary held a narrow lead over an outstanding battle for second between Combs, Kinzer, and May. Behind the race for second, Michael England had worked his way into 6th with Raymond Nichols and Aaron Hatton glued to his back bumper. Like the cars in front of them, they often raced two and even three-wide the entire way around the high-banked 3/8-mile track.
With 10 laps to go, McQueary was closing in on the rear of the field and Combs was closing in on McQueary. As the crowd watched in anticipation of a potential battle for the lead, May and Kinzer, still engaged in their side-by-side battle, moved up to the rear deck lid of Combs. Meanwhile, Eddie Carrier Jr. had quietly worked his way back up to the top 8. Just as Combs pulled to within a car length of the race leader, a caution on lap 35 set the stage for a five-lap dash to the finish with McQueary leading Combs, Kinzer, Carrier, and Coomer.
On the restart, Combs dove to the bottom of the track as he raced side-by-side with McQueary for the lead. McQueary inched ahead down the backstretch and around turns three and four as Kinzer hounded Combs for the 2nd spot and Carrier rode the rim looking for a pass on Kinzer. Behind the top 5, Michael England, Chuckie May, Raymond Nichols, Tyrel Todd and others jockeyed for position using every inch of the race track. Back up front, it would be Dunnville, KY's Whitney McQueary taking the checkered flag in his Bigg Dawg Motorsports/Kelco Metals/Tarter Gate/Tarter Tube sponsored, Bullock powered Rocket Monte Carlo. It would be the biggest win of McQueary's career and his first ever with the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series as well as his first ever at 201 Speedway. Crew Chief Dennis Selby and the rest of the Bigg Dawg Motorsports team celebrated in style in victory lane as a jubilant McQueary came back onto the speedway and stood on top of his car, much to the enjoyment of the packed house in attendance.
Isom, KY's Chris Combs recorded his career best finish with the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series as his Bub's Trucking/Tim Short Automotive/Cropper/Swart Grand Prix crossed the stripe in 2nd. 3rd place went to Allen, KY native Brandon Kinzer in the Eastco Supply/Ranger Contracting/Gaerte/Barry Wright Intrepid. Eddie Carrier Jr. came back to finish 4th in the E.I. Rail Car Engines/Railway Equipment/Grover/Rocket Taurus. Rounding out the top five was Austin, IN's Frankie Coomer in his Chuck's Auto Repair/Carquest Auto Parts/Bullock/MasterSbilt Grand Prix. Michael England, Tyrel Todd, Raymond Nichols, David Powers, and Anthony Adams completed the top 10.
38 O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Late Models were on hand with Eddie Carrier Jr. setting fast time during Racing Optics Time Trials with a quick lap of 14.012. VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat Races were won by Carrier Jr., Mike Marlar, Tim Tungate, and Anthony Adams with B-Main victories going to Brandon Kinzer and Michael England.
The O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts will make stop #6 of the 2005 tour this Saturday, May 14th, at the Soggy Bottom Speedway in Morgantown, KY. A complete show will take place with Racing Optics Time Trials, VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat Races, B-Mains and the $3,000 to win O’Reilly Auto Parts A-Main. For more information on the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series, visit our website at www.naradirtcar.com.
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Race Summary
201 Speedway - Sitka, KY
Saturday, May 7, 2005
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier: Eddie Carrier Jr./14.012
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #1: Eddie Carrier Jr., Frankie Coomer, Raymond Nichols, Tyrel Todd, Mike Jewell, Jordan Bland, Alan Haycraft, Mike Luna, Mike Estep, Aaron Hatton
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #2: Mike Marlar, Chris Combs, David Powers, Brandon Kinzer, Shannon Thornsberry, Paul Harris, Johnny Wheeler, David Webb, Jamie Ferguson
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #3: Tim Tungate, Benny Feltner, Bryan Barber, Wayne Chinn, Terry Hicks, Scott Hall, Steve Stollings, Jimmy David Hall, David Smith
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #4: Anthony Adams, Whitney McQueary, Chuckie May, Michael England, Blake Chinn, Randy Boggs, Corey McKenzie, Daniel Williams, James Butcher
B-Main #1: Brandon Kinzer, Tyrel Todd, Shannon Thornsberry, Paul Harris, Mike Jewell, Jamie Ferguson, Mike Estep, Jordan Bland, Johnny Wheeler, David Webb, Alan Haycraft, Aaron Hatton, Mike Luna
B-Main #2: Michael England, Wayne Chinn, Terry Hicks, Blake Chinn, Randy Boggs, Scott Hall, Daniel Williams, Steve Stollings, Corey McKenzie, Jimmy David Hall, James Butcher
40-lap O'Reilly Auto Parts A-Main: Whitney McQueary, Chris Combs, Brandon Kinzer, Eddie Carrier Jr., Frankie Coomer, Michael England, Tyrel Todd, Raymond Nichols, David Powers, Anthony Adams, Blake Chinn, Shannon Thornsberry, Chuckie May, Aaron Hatton, Wayne Chinn, Bryan Barber, Benny Feltner, Mike Jewell, Steve Stollings, Paul Harris, Terry Hicks, Tim Tungate, Mike Marlar
Race Statistics:
Entries: 38
Lap Leaders: Tim Tungate 1-5, Mike Marlar 6-9, Eddie Carrier Jr. 10, Whitney McQueary 11-40
Cautions: 7
BoB Provisionals: Mike Jewell and Aaron Hatton
Track Provisional: Steve Stollings
BoB Rookie of the Race: Chris Combs
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger of the Race: Michael England
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Point Standings (after 5/7/05)
1. 5m Whitney McQueary 890
2. 9 Mike Jewell 870
3. 5e Michael England 860
4. 47 Chris Combs 830
5. 18 Tim Tungate 750
6. 33 Aaron Hatton 705
7. 99 Rick Combs 690
8. 28 Chuckie May 685
9. 83 Scott James 655
10. 1 Wayne Chinn 615
2005 O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Sponsors
O’Reilly Auto Parts – Title Sponsor and “Official Auto Parts Store of the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series”
Lucas Oil- “Official Oil Products of the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series”
VP Racing Fuels- “Official Race Fuel of the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series”
2005 O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Sponsors include: O’Reilly Auto Parts, Lucas Oil Products, Arizona Sports Shirts, VP Racing Fuels, Oval Craft, Hoosier Racing Tires, Dart, PPM, BERT, Rayburn Chassis, American Race Tire, Real Wheels, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, Trailer Parts & Sales, DJ Designs, Racing Optics, Smith Automotive and Machine, Cruise With The Champions, Ratliff Motors, and Honda of Prestonsburg
