By James Essex
RICHMOND, KY--Mike Jewell took advantage of Bryan Barber's misfortune as he captured the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts event on Thursday Night at the Richmond Raceway. Jewell's second series win of '06 added to his all-time series win total with nine victories in the record books as the 47 year old Scottsburg, IN native took home $3,000 for the win. Jewell inherited the lead on lap 28 when Barber, who was leading the race, saw his night end with a water pump problem. Jewell then led the rest of the race taking the win in the Don Powell crew-chiefed, Southern Indiana Rock Drilling/Morgan Foods/MPC Motorsports/Jewell TV Service/PBM Performance Products/Scott Co. Tire/Shelton Angus Farms/ KP Radio Sales and Service/Sunoco Race Fuels/Bazell Oil Company/Hoosier Tires/Wilwood/Braswell/Bullock Race Engines powered/MasterSbilt Grand Prix. Finishing second was last year's Series co-Champion, Tim Tungate of Campbellsville, KY in the J&L Motorsports/Guardian Mortgage/Bullock Engines/C.J. Rayburn Grand Prix. Taking third was Scott James of Lawrenceburg, IN in the Powell Motorsports/Jay Dickens Racing Engines/Rocket GTO and completing the top five was Greg Johnson of Bedford, IN in the John Hall/J&H Construction/Intimidator Grand Prix and Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN in the PBM Performance Products/Pro Power Engines/C.J. Rayburn Monte Carlo. A total of 30 cars were on hand for the second completed event of the '06 Kentucky Speedweek.
After an initial start which saw a caution flag before a lap was scored the race would restart with Tungate grabbing the point heading into turn one with Bryan Barber, Jewell, Marlar and Johnson in the top five. They stayed that way in the running order until lap three when Barber overhauled Tungate for the top spot. On lap four Jewell would race his way past Tungate to take over the second slot. Scott James would make his way into the top five on the fifth circuit passing Johnson. Barber would start to pick up the tail end of the field by lap nine. A more cluttered pack of cars would await the leaders by lap 13 as Jewell had closed on Barber on heavy traffic.
Jewell would make a run on Barber for the lead heading into the turns, but Barber would power off the corners pulling away from Jewell just when it looked like Jewell was going to make the pass for the lead. A yellow on lap 19 would slow the race for the lead and clear lapped traffic in front of Barber and Jewell. On the restart Barber would sprint out to a five car length advantage over Jewell with a clear track in front of him. Another caution on lap 22 would again bunch the field up for a Delaware double file restart behind race leader Barber. Another terrific restart by Barber would see him stretch his lead to a seven car length lead over Jewell by lap 26.
With 27 laps scored the complexion of the race would change dramatically for Barber as his fan blade would break and knock off the water pump which allowed water to go underneath the car and onto his right rear tire forcing him into the turn four guardrail. Jewell who was some six lengths behind Barber at this point also brushed the guardrail, which caused minimal damage to his car. But unfortunately for Barber his night was done and after a strong run his car was parked for the night.
After Barber's car was cleared from the track Jewell would now be the man up front with Tungate, James, Johnson and Marlar the top five runners. Without any more caution flags Jewell would extend his lead over Tungate to a comfortable margin which he would take to the checkers. Even though Jewell had picked up a few cars on the tail end of the field he was able to finish off the 40 lap race in an unchallenged ending. Tungate would take second with James barely edging out Johnson for fourth as Marlar would cross the finish line in fifth.
"I hate to win them like that" said Jewell afterwards. "I feel bad for Bryan, he had a strong car and I don't think I was going to able to pass him for the lead, I was content the way it looked there for a while to run second, but that's racing sometimes and tonight we were on the fortunate end of things."
Completing the top ten were Victor Lee, Aaron Hatton, Johnny Wheeler, Jack Sullivan and Chris Combs.
In preliminary action Bryan Barber was the Racing Optics Fast Qualifier for the 30 entries on hand with a lap of 15.339 seconds. The winners of the Mason Racin' Heat Races were Tim Tungate and Mike Marlar and Mike Jewell won the Arizona Sport Shirts Heat Race. The Design 500 B-Main was taken by Tim Damron.
Coming up on Friday Night, June 2 will be race number three for the 2006 edition of the Kentucky Speedweek as a visit to Larry Yantz' Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, KY is on tap with a $5,000 to win payoff awaiting the winner. For updated information on the Kentucky Speedweek you can log onto www.kyspeedweek.com.
Race Summary
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Thursday Night, June 1, 2006
Richmond Raceway-Richmond, KY
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier: Bryan Barber 15.339
Mason Racin' First Heat: (10 Laps-Top 5 Advance): Tim Tungate, Bryan Barber, Doug Horton, Jack Sullivan, Larry Gray Jr., Brett Wyatt, Tim Damron, Jeff Watson, Dan Deaton, Jamie Ferguson
Mason Racin' Second Heat: (10 Laps-Top 5 Advance): Mike Marlar, Scott James, Victor Lee, Bobby Carrier Jr., Chris Combs, Scotty Earl, Johnny Wheeler, Anthony Ferguson, Marty Stepp, John Jackson
Arizona Sport Shirts Third Heat: (10 Laps-Top 5 Advance): Mike Jewell, Greg Johnson, Justin Rattliff, Aaron Hatton, Scott Douglas, Dennis Roberson, Bobby Wolter Jr., Jason Barrett, Daryl Rucker, (DNS) Michael Chilton
Design 500 B-Main: (12 Laps-Top 5 Advance): Tim Damron, Johnny Wheeler, Scotty Earl, Jeff Watson, Jason Barrett, Anthony Ferguson, Brett Wyatt, Dan Deaton, Jamie Ferguson, Bobby Wolter Jr., Dennis Roberson
O'Reilly Auto Parts A-Main: (40 Laps): Mike Jewell, Tim Tungate, Scott James, Greg Johnson, Mike Marlar, Victor Lee, Aaron Hatton, Johnny Wheeler, Jack Sullivan, Chris Combs, Justin Rattliff, Bobby Carrier Jr., Scotty Earl, Larry Gray Jr., Doug Horton, Scott Douglas, Marty Stepp, Bobby Wolter Jr., Dan Deaton, Jason Barrett, Bryan Barber, Tim Damron, Jeff Watson, Dennis Roberson
Race Statistics:
Entries: 30
Caution Flags: 4
Red Flags: 0
Lap Leaders: Tim Tungate 1-2, Bryan Barber 3-27, Mike Jewell 28-40
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger of the Race: Johnny Wheeler (Started 17th and finished 8th-advanced 9 positions)
Cruise with the Champions Rookie of the Race: Justin Rattliff
Series Provisionals: Bobby Wolter Jr. and Dan Deaton
Track Provisionals: Dennis Roberson and Marty Stepp
2006 Kentucky Speedweek Points Standings (After June 1 event)
1. Greg Johnson-460
2. Mike Jewell-430
3. Scott James-415
4. Tim Tungate-405
5. Justin Rattliff-345
6. Aaron Hatton-340
6. Chris Combs-340
8. Jack Sullivan-310
9. Bobby Wolter Jr-265
9. Bryan Barber-265
2006 Kentucky Speedweek Schedule
May 29--Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway-Calvert City, KY Winner-Greg Johnson
May 30-31-Bluegrass Speedway-Bardstown, KY Rained Out
June 1--Richmond Raceway-Richmond, KY Winner-Mike Jewell
June 2--Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY $5,000 to win
June 3--Florence Speedway-Union, KY $10,000 to win
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, Drive Smart Kentucky, 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, DT52 Photos, and Real Wheels
RICHMOND, KY--Mike Jewell took advantage of Bryan Barber's misfortune as he captured the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts event on Thursday Night at the Richmond Raceway. Jewell's second series win of '06 added to his all-time series win total with nine victories in the record books as the 47 year old Scottsburg, IN native took home $3,000 for the win. Jewell inherited the lead on lap 28 when Barber, who was leading the race, saw his night end with a water pump problem. Jewell then led the rest of the race taking the win in the Don Powell crew-chiefed, Southern Indiana Rock Drilling/Morgan Foods/MPC Motorsports/Jewell TV Service/PBM Performance Products/Scott Co. Tire/Shelton Angus Farms/ KP Radio Sales and Service/Sunoco Race Fuels/Bazell Oil Company/Hoosier Tires/Wilwood/Braswell/Bullock Race Engines powered/MasterSbilt Grand Prix. Finishing second was last year's Series co-Champion, Tim Tungate of Campbellsville, KY in the J&L Motorsports/Guardian Mortgage/Bullock Engines/C.J. Rayburn Grand Prix. Taking third was Scott James of Lawrenceburg, IN in the Powell Motorsports/Jay Dickens Racing Engines/Rocket GTO and completing the top five was Greg Johnson of Bedford, IN in the John Hall/J&H Construction/Intimidator Grand Prix and Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN in the PBM Performance Products/Pro Power Engines/C.J. Rayburn Monte Carlo. A total of 30 cars were on hand for the second completed event of the '06 Kentucky Speedweek.
After an initial start which saw a caution flag before a lap was scored the race would restart with Tungate grabbing the point heading into turn one with Bryan Barber, Jewell, Marlar and Johnson in the top five. They stayed that way in the running order until lap three when Barber overhauled Tungate for the top spot. On lap four Jewell would race his way past Tungate to take over the second slot. Scott James would make his way into the top five on the fifth circuit passing Johnson. Barber would start to pick up the tail end of the field by lap nine. A more cluttered pack of cars would await the leaders by lap 13 as Jewell had closed on Barber on heavy traffic.
Jewell would make a run on Barber for the lead heading into the turns, but Barber would power off the corners pulling away from Jewell just when it looked like Jewell was going to make the pass for the lead. A yellow on lap 19 would slow the race for the lead and clear lapped traffic in front of Barber and Jewell. On the restart Barber would sprint out to a five car length advantage over Jewell with a clear track in front of him. Another caution on lap 22 would again bunch the field up for a Delaware double file restart behind race leader Barber. Another terrific restart by Barber would see him stretch his lead to a seven car length lead over Jewell by lap 26.
With 27 laps scored the complexion of the race would change dramatically for Barber as his fan blade would break and knock off the water pump which allowed water to go underneath the car and onto his right rear tire forcing him into the turn four guardrail. Jewell who was some six lengths behind Barber at this point also brushed the guardrail, which caused minimal damage to his car. But unfortunately for Barber his night was done and after a strong run his car was parked for the night.
After Barber's car was cleared from the track Jewell would now be the man up front with Tungate, James, Johnson and Marlar the top five runners. Without any more caution flags Jewell would extend his lead over Tungate to a comfortable margin which he would take to the checkers. Even though Jewell had picked up a few cars on the tail end of the field he was able to finish off the 40 lap race in an unchallenged ending. Tungate would take second with James barely edging out Johnson for fourth as Marlar would cross the finish line in fifth.
"I hate to win them like that" said Jewell afterwards. "I feel bad for Bryan, he had a strong car and I don't think I was going to able to pass him for the lead, I was content the way it looked there for a while to run second, but that's racing sometimes and tonight we were on the fortunate end of things."
Completing the top ten were Victor Lee, Aaron Hatton, Johnny Wheeler, Jack Sullivan and Chris Combs.
In preliminary action Bryan Barber was the Racing Optics Fast Qualifier for the 30 entries on hand with a lap of 15.339 seconds. The winners of the Mason Racin' Heat Races were Tim Tungate and Mike Marlar and Mike Jewell won the Arizona Sport Shirts Heat Race. The Design 500 B-Main was taken by Tim Damron.
Coming up on Friday Night, June 2 will be race number three for the 2006 edition of the Kentucky Speedweek as a visit to Larry Yantz' Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, KY is on tap with a $5,000 to win payoff awaiting the winner. For updated information on the Kentucky Speedweek you can log onto www.kyspeedweek.com.
Race Summary
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Thursday Night, June 1, 2006
Richmond Raceway-Richmond, KY
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier: Bryan Barber 15.339
Mason Racin' First Heat: (10 Laps-Top 5 Advance): Tim Tungate, Bryan Barber, Doug Horton, Jack Sullivan, Larry Gray Jr., Brett Wyatt, Tim Damron, Jeff Watson, Dan Deaton, Jamie Ferguson
Mason Racin' Second Heat: (10 Laps-Top 5 Advance): Mike Marlar, Scott James, Victor Lee, Bobby Carrier Jr., Chris Combs, Scotty Earl, Johnny Wheeler, Anthony Ferguson, Marty Stepp, John Jackson
Arizona Sport Shirts Third Heat: (10 Laps-Top 5 Advance): Mike Jewell, Greg Johnson, Justin Rattliff, Aaron Hatton, Scott Douglas, Dennis Roberson, Bobby Wolter Jr., Jason Barrett, Daryl Rucker, (DNS) Michael Chilton
Design 500 B-Main: (12 Laps-Top 5 Advance): Tim Damron, Johnny Wheeler, Scotty Earl, Jeff Watson, Jason Barrett, Anthony Ferguson, Brett Wyatt, Dan Deaton, Jamie Ferguson, Bobby Wolter Jr., Dennis Roberson
O'Reilly Auto Parts A-Main: (40 Laps): Mike Jewell, Tim Tungate, Scott James, Greg Johnson, Mike Marlar, Victor Lee, Aaron Hatton, Johnny Wheeler, Jack Sullivan, Chris Combs, Justin Rattliff, Bobby Carrier Jr., Scotty Earl, Larry Gray Jr., Doug Horton, Scott Douglas, Marty Stepp, Bobby Wolter Jr., Dan Deaton, Jason Barrett, Bryan Barber, Tim Damron, Jeff Watson, Dennis Roberson
Race Statistics:
Entries: 30
Caution Flags: 4
Red Flags: 0
Lap Leaders: Tim Tungate 1-2, Bryan Barber 3-27, Mike Jewell 28-40
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger of the Race: Johnny Wheeler (Started 17th and finished 8th-advanced 9 positions)
Cruise with the Champions Rookie of the Race: Justin Rattliff
Series Provisionals: Bobby Wolter Jr. and Dan Deaton
Track Provisionals: Dennis Roberson and Marty Stepp
2006 Kentucky Speedweek Points Standings (After June 1 event)
1. Greg Johnson-460
2. Mike Jewell-430
3. Scott James-415
4. Tim Tungate-405
5. Justin Rattliff-345
6. Aaron Hatton-340
6. Chris Combs-340
8. Jack Sullivan-310
9. Bobby Wolter Jr-265
9. Bryan Barber-265
2006 Kentucky Speedweek Schedule
May 29--Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway-Calvert City, KY Winner-Greg Johnson
May 30-31-Bluegrass Speedway-Bardstown, KY Rained Out
June 1--Richmond Raceway-Richmond, KY Winner-Mike Jewell
June 2--Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY $5,000 to win
June 3--Florence Speedway-Union, KY $10,000 to win
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, Drive Smart Kentucky, 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, DT52 Photos, and Real Wheels
