SITKA, KY - In a thrilling finish at 201 Speedway, defending Series Co-Champion Mike Jewell narrowly edged out Jackie Boggs to nab his first O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series win of 2006. The Scottsburg, IN native battled Boggs, Tim Tungate and Aaron Hatton as well as lapped traffic over the final ten laps on his way to winning the 40-lap A-Main and moving to the top of the Series points standings.
After three ill-fated attempts to start the feature, Mike Jewell led the field single-file into turns one and two with Jackie Boggs, 2004 Series Champion Aaron Hatton, fast qualifier Justin Rattliff, and former World 100 Champion Randy Boggs trailing. Cautions on laps 2 and 3 kept Jewell within reach as 8th-starting Tim Tungate was already looking to crack the top five.
When racing resumed, both J. Boggs and Hatton immediately stuck their noses under Jewell in a bid for the lead heading into turns one and two. Jewell managed to shut the door coming off two, but Boggs and Hatton remained tucked under the rear decklid of the defending Series Co-Champion. Behind them, the other defending Series Co-Champion, Tungate, had slipped into the fifth spot on lap 6 and darted past Rattliff and into fourth on lap 10. Just one circuit later, the already intense battle for the lead became even hotter as the lead trio began slicing their way through the back of the field allowing Tungate to close in and make it a four-way dance. Tungate worked by Hatton on lap 13 as the top four cars could have been covered with a blanket. Just two laps later, an accident in turns one and two slowed the pace.
The restart saw Jewell leading J. Boggs, Tungate, and Hatton. While all eyes were fixated on the tight racing at the front of the field, 16th-starting Anthony Adams was up to 9th and quietly picking his way through the field. With most cars preferring to stay close to bottom of the track, Adams wasted no time jetting to the very top of the surface. He immediately worked his way around David Powers and Whitney McQueary to jump into the 7th spot and began chasing Rattliff and Randy Boggs for 5th soon thereafter.
At the race's midway point, the front four cars had separated themselves ever so slightly from the battle for fifth as lapped traffic once again became a factor. Tungate began applying more pressure to Boggs in the race for second as the duo continuously swapped positions lap after lap. A pair of cautions on laps 24 and 26 spoiled the second place dogfight, but allowed Adams to crack the top five as he shot by R. Boggs on the ensuing restart. In what was already a phenomenal fight for the lead, a high-flying Adams made it an even better battle as he roared alongside Hatton in a bid for fourth. Meanwhile, J. Boggs moved to the middle of the race track and pulled even with race leader Jewell in the corners, only to have Jewell motor back ahead on the straightaways. The final caution of the night fell on lap 30, setting the stage for a wild 10-lap dash to the finish with Jewell, J. Boggs, Tungate, Hatton, and Adams all fighting for the win.
On the restart, Jewell remained glued to the bottom while Boggs wasted no time moving back to his middle groove and Adams darted back up to the top side. In just one lap, Boggs pulled even with Jewell staging a side-by-side race for lead. The duo remained locked together until they received the five-to-go signal when Boggs inched ahead. Jewell, however, would not give up without a fight as he along with Tungate and Hatton remained tucked to bottom. Jewell and company were able to mount a run on Boggs and, with three laps to go, Jewell nosed back ahead. With two laps remaining, Tungate pulled even with Boggs as the leaders came upon lapped traffic.
When the white flag waved, "The Scottsburg Express" had the back markers side-by-side in front of him with Tungate and Boggs side-by-side behind of him. In a bold move on the final circuit, Jewell launched under the lapped traffic in a three-wide move in turns one and two with Tungate following suit. Almost simultaneously, Boggs split the very same lapped cars coming off the corner as the fans rose to their feet. Heading into turns three and four, Tungate grabbed the inside wall, ending his hopes for the win as Boggs shot to the outside of the race leader. Side-by-side around turns three and four and in a drag race to the line Jewell narrowly edged out Boggs for a thrilling win.
It was the first Series win of the season for Jewell's Bullock powered MasterSbilt Monte Carlo which is sponsored by MPC Motorsports, Southern Indiana Rock Drilling, Morgan Foods, Remax, Shelton Angus Farms, K.P. Radios Sales & Service, Pruetts Auto Repair, Scott County Tire, Jewell TV Service, Bazell Oil and Sunoco Race Fuels.
Grayson, KY veteran Jackie Boggs finished second in his Miller Brothers Coal/McDonald's sponsored Cropper/Swartz Monte Carlo. New University of Kentucky graduate Aaron Hatton was third driving the Checkered Flag Auto Sales/Jerry Hatton Used Cars sponsored Draime/Rayburn Monte Carlo. Fourth spot went to Grayson, KY's Randy Boggs in the Rager Motorsports/Martel Auctions Rayburn Monte Carlo. Completing the top five was Dunnville, KY's Whitney McQueary in an Estes powered Rocket GTO sponsored by Bigg Dawg Performance Parts and Kelco Metals. Anthony Adams crossed in 6th with Justin Rattliff, 24th-starting Brandon Kinzer, David Powers, and Chuckie May rounding out the top 10.
In preliminary action, Justin Rattliff set fast time during Racing Optics Time Trials with a quick lap of 13.926. Jackie Boggs took the win in Mason Racin' Heat #1 with a last lap pass as Mike Jewell won Mason Racin' Heat #2 and Aaron Hatton won Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #3. The Design 500 B-Main saw Anthony Adams pick up the win.
Up next for the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts are back-to-back shows at the Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, KY. Two complete programs are scheduled at "The Pond" for this Friday, May 12th and this Saturday, May 13th, with each event paying $3000 to win.
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
201 Speedway
May 6, 2006
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier: Justin Rattliff - 13.926
Mason Racin' Heat #1: Jackie Boggs, Justin Rattliff, Randy Boggs, Bobby Wolter Jr., Shannon Thornsberry, Anthony Adams, Eric Wells, Al Maddin, Brandon Kinzer, Ronnie Whitt
Mason Racin' Heat #2: Mike Jewell, Chris Combs, Tim Tungate, Whitney McQueary, David Powers, Chuckie May, Jamie Ferguson, David Webb, Dan Deaton, Lee McKenzie
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #3: Aaron Hatton, Scott Hall, DJ Wells, Michael Chilton, Jim LeMaster, Terry Hicks, David Smith, Bryan Barber, Greg Lucas
Design 500 B-Main: Anthony Adams, Chuckie May, Eric Wells, David Webb, Terry Hicks, Jamie Ferguson, Bryan Barber, Dan Deaton, Brandon Kinzer, Ronnie Whitt, Al Maddin, Lee McKenzie, Greg Lucas
O'Reilly Auto Parts A-Main: Mike Jewell, Jackie Boggs, Aaron Hatton, Randy Boggs, Whitney McQueary, Anthony Adams, Justin Rattliff, Brandon Kinzer, David Powers, Chuckie May, David Webb, Shannon Thornsberry, Bryan Barber, Bobby Wolter Jr., Chris Combs, Tim Tungate, Dan Deaton, DJ Wells, Jamie Ferguson, Jim LeMaster, Eric Wells, Michael Chilton, Scott Hall
Race Statistics
Lap Leaders: Mike Jewell 1-34, Jackie Boggs 35-36, Mike Jewell 37-40
Cautions: 9
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger: Brandon Kinzer (started 24th, finished 8th)
Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Race: Justin Rattliff
Series Provisionals: Bryan Barber, Dan Deaton
Track Provisionals: Jamie Ferguson, Brandon Kinzer
Entries: 29
Upcoming O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Schedule
May 12 - Ponderosa Speedway, Junction City, KY - $3,000 to Win (3rd Annual Spring 40)
May 13 - Ponderosa Speedway, Junction City, KY - $3,000 to Win (7th Annual Hugh “Junebug” Rowland Memorial)
May 20 - Lake Cumberland Speedway, Burnside, KY - $3000 to win (Coco-Cola 40)
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)
Current O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Points
1. 9 Mike Jewell (Scottsburg, IN) - 975
2. 10 Bryan Barber (Buffalo, KY) - 930
3. 18 Tim Tungate (Campbellsville, KY) - 895
4. 47 Chris Combs (Isom, KY) - 880
5. 41 Brad Neat (Dunnville, KY) - 820
6. 16 Justin Rattliff (Campbellsville, KY) - 790
7. 11 Bobby Wolter Jr. (Lexington, KY) - 760
8. 83 Scott James (Greendale, IN) - 730
9. 33 Aaron Hatton (Mt. Sterling, KY) - 670
10. 17 Shannon Thornsberry (Martin, KY) - 560
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
After three ill-fated attempts to start the feature, Mike Jewell led the field single-file into turns one and two with Jackie Boggs, 2004 Series Champion Aaron Hatton, fast qualifier Justin Rattliff, and former World 100 Champion Randy Boggs trailing. Cautions on laps 2 and 3 kept Jewell within reach as 8th-starting Tim Tungate was already looking to crack the top five.
When racing resumed, both J. Boggs and Hatton immediately stuck their noses under Jewell in a bid for the lead heading into turns one and two. Jewell managed to shut the door coming off two, but Boggs and Hatton remained tucked under the rear decklid of the defending Series Co-Champion. Behind them, the other defending Series Co-Champion, Tungate, had slipped into the fifth spot on lap 6 and darted past Rattliff and into fourth on lap 10. Just one circuit later, the already intense battle for the lead became even hotter as the lead trio began slicing their way through the back of the field allowing Tungate to close in and make it a four-way dance. Tungate worked by Hatton on lap 13 as the top four cars could have been covered with a blanket. Just two laps later, an accident in turns one and two slowed the pace.
The restart saw Jewell leading J. Boggs, Tungate, and Hatton. While all eyes were fixated on the tight racing at the front of the field, 16th-starting Anthony Adams was up to 9th and quietly picking his way through the field. With most cars preferring to stay close to bottom of the track, Adams wasted no time jetting to the very top of the surface. He immediately worked his way around David Powers and Whitney McQueary to jump into the 7th spot and began chasing Rattliff and Randy Boggs for 5th soon thereafter.
At the race's midway point, the front four cars had separated themselves ever so slightly from the battle for fifth as lapped traffic once again became a factor. Tungate began applying more pressure to Boggs in the race for second as the duo continuously swapped positions lap after lap. A pair of cautions on laps 24 and 26 spoiled the second place dogfight, but allowed Adams to crack the top five as he shot by R. Boggs on the ensuing restart. In what was already a phenomenal fight for the lead, a high-flying Adams made it an even better battle as he roared alongside Hatton in a bid for fourth. Meanwhile, J. Boggs moved to the middle of the race track and pulled even with race leader Jewell in the corners, only to have Jewell motor back ahead on the straightaways. The final caution of the night fell on lap 30, setting the stage for a wild 10-lap dash to the finish with Jewell, J. Boggs, Tungate, Hatton, and Adams all fighting for the win.
On the restart, Jewell remained glued to the bottom while Boggs wasted no time moving back to his middle groove and Adams darted back up to the top side. In just one lap, Boggs pulled even with Jewell staging a side-by-side race for lead. The duo remained locked together until they received the five-to-go signal when Boggs inched ahead. Jewell, however, would not give up without a fight as he along with Tungate and Hatton remained tucked to bottom. Jewell and company were able to mount a run on Boggs and, with three laps to go, Jewell nosed back ahead. With two laps remaining, Tungate pulled even with Boggs as the leaders came upon lapped traffic.
When the white flag waved, "The Scottsburg Express" had the back markers side-by-side in front of him with Tungate and Boggs side-by-side behind of him. In a bold move on the final circuit, Jewell launched under the lapped traffic in a three-wide move in turns one and two with Tungate following suit. Almost simultaneously, Boggs split the very same lapped cars coming off the corner as the fans rose to their feet. Heading into turns three and four, Tungate grabbed the inside wall, ending his hopes for the win as Boggs shot to the outside of the race leader. Side-by-side around turns three and four and in a drag race to the line Jewell narrowly edged out Boggs for a thrilling win.
It was the first Series win of the season for Jewell's Bullock powered MasterSbilt Monte Carlo which is sponsored by MPC Motorsports, Southern Indiana Rock Drilling, Morgan Foods, Remax, Shelton Angus Farms, K.P. Radios Sales & Service, Pruetts Auto Repair, Scott County Tire, Jewell TV Service, Bazell Oil and Sunoco Race Fuels.
Grayson, KY veteran Jackie Boggs finished second in his Miller Brothers Coal/McDonald's sponsored Cropper/Swartz Monte Carlo. New University of Kentucky graduate Aaron Hatton was third driving the Checkered Flag Auto Sales/Jerry Hatton Used Cars sponsored Draime/Rayburn Monte Carlo. Fourth spot went to Grayson, KY's Randy Boggs in the Rager Motorsports/Martel Auctions Rayburn Monte Carlo. Completing the top five was Dunnville, KY's Whitney McQueary in an Estes powered Rocket GTO sponsored by Bigg Dawg Performance Parts and Kelco Metals. Anthony Adams crossed in 6th with Justin Rattliff, 24th-starting Brandon Kinzer, David Powers, and Chuckie May rounding out the top 10.
In preliminary action, Justin Rattliff set fast time during Racing Optics Time Trials with a quick lap of 13.926. Jackie Boggs took the win in Mason Racin' Heat #1 with a last lap pass as Mike Jewell won Mason Racin' Heat #2 and Aaron Hatton won Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #3. The Design 500 B-Main saw Anthony Adams pick up the win.
Up next for the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts are back-to-back shows at the Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, KY. Two complete programs are scheduled at "The Pond" for this Friday, May 12th and this Saturday, May 13th, with each event paying $3000 to win.
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
201 Speedway
May 6, 2006
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier: Justin Rattliff - 13.926
Mason Racin' Heat #1: Jackie Boggs, Justin Rattliff, Randy Boggs, Bobby Wolter Jr., Shannon Thornsberry, Anthony Adams, Eric Wells, Al Maddin, Brandon Kinzer, Ronnie Whitt
Mason Racin' Heat #2: Mike Jewell, Chris Combs, Tim Tungate, Whitney McQueary, David Powers, Chuckie May, Jamie Ferguson, David Webb, Dan Deaton, Lee McKenzie
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #3: Aaron Hatton, Scott Hall, DJ Wells, Michael Chilton, Jim LeMaster, Terry Hicks, David Smith, Bryan Barber, Greg Lucas
Design 500 B-Main: Anthony Adams, Chuckie May, Eric Wells, David Webb, Terry Hicks, Jamie Ferguson, Bryan Barber, Dan Deaton, Brandon Kinzer, Ronnie Whitt, Al Maddin, Lee McKenzie, Greg Lucas
O'Reilly Auto Parts A-Main: Mike Jewell, Jackie Boggs, Aaron Hatton, Randy Boggs, Whitney McQueary, Anthony Adams, Justin Rattliff, Brandon Kinzer, David Powers, Chuckie May, David Webb, Shannon Thornsberry, Bryan Barber, Bobby Wolter Jr., Chris Combs, Tim Tungate, Dan Deaton, DJ Wells, Jamie Ferguson, Jim LeMaster, Eric Wells, Michael Chilton, Scott Hall
Race Statistics
Lap Leaders: Mike Jewell 1-34, Jackie Boggs 35-36, Mike Jewell 37-40
Cautions: 9
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger: Brandon Kinzer (started 24th, finished 8th)
Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Race: Justin Rattliff
Series Provisionals: Bryan Barber, Dan Deaton
Track Provisionals: Jamie Ferguson, Brandon Kinzer
Entries: 29
Upcoming O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Schedule
May 12 - Ponderosa Speedway, Junction City, KY - $3,000 to Win (3rd Annual Spring 40)
May 13 - Ponderosa Speedway, Junction City, KY - $3,000 to Win (7th Annual Hugh “Junebug” Rowland Memorial)
May 20 - Lake Cumberland Speedway, Burnside, KY - $3000 to win (Coco-Cola 40)
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)
Current O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Points
1. 9 Mike Jewell (Scottsburg, IN) - 975
2. 10 Bryan Barber (Buffalo, KY) - 930
3. 18 Tim Tungate (Campbellsville, KY) - 895
4. 47 Chris Combs (Isom, KY) - 880
5. 41 Brad Neat (Dunnville, KY) - 820
6. 16 Justin Rattliff (Campbellsville, KY) - 790
7. 11 Bobby Wolter Jr. (Lexington, KY) - 760
8. 83 Scott James (Greendale, IN) - 730
9. 33 Aaron Hatton (Mt. Sterling, KY) - 670
10. 17 Shannon Thornsberry (Martin, KY) - 560
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
