Richmond, KY-Mike Marlar may have been the last driver to sign in to run the STARS Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Presented by Arizona Sport Shirts Saturday night, but he was first to victory circle as the 25 year old racer not only won his first career Battle of the Bluegrass Main event on Saturday Night at the Richmond (KY) Raceway, but he also took over the series points lead and the top spot for the R&P Industrial Chimney Rookie of the Year title. Marlar arriving late at the track just before the drivers meeting because of work commitments led all 40 laps taking the $3000 first place money back to the Volunteer State as he became the first driver from Tennessee to win a BoB race and is the 14th different event winner in 23 Battle of the Bluegrass races held in the last two season. The Winfield, TN driver behind the wheel of his Todd Truss Company, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, Wilson's Service Center, CarCosmetics.net, Roger Ogle Home Builders, Oneida Paint and Body, ACR Engines, H&M West Enterprises, Marlar and Sons Auto Dismantling, Hoosier Tires, C.J. Rayburn Race Cars Grand Prix #157. Finishing in second was 2003 National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame inductee Jim Curry of Norman, IN driving the Frank Revel Motorsports, Swartz Chassis Monte Carlo. After starting 12th, Scott James of Lawrenceburg, IN finished third in his Bernheisel Race Components Lazer Monte Carlo. Completing the top five were Tyrel Todd of Eubank, KY in the Todd Truss Company Kicker Chassis and Mike Jewell in the Southern Indiana Rock Drilling Mastersbilt.
Marlar would barely beat Todd to the line on the opening lap when the caution flew after the entire field had passed the start-finish line for the car of Johnny Wheeler in turn one. This would turn out to be the only caution flag of the event as the rest of the 39 laps went from green to checker and would take approximately 15 minutes to complete. With Marlar on the point the race for second place would start to heat up immediately with the youngster 21 year old Tyrel Todd and 59 year old Jim Curry who started racing 13 years before Todd was born. While up front Marlar would keep extending his lead out over the field lap after lap Todd, Curry, Mike Jewell and Rick Corbin would race their machines hard for the second spot with Jewell and Corbin going door to door on several occasions. Marlar started to enter lapped traffic by the 13th circuit. He would make a nifty move splitting two cars on the 14th lap which enabled him to lengthen his lead which had shrunk when traffic was right in front of him. When the second place car of Todd and the third place runner Jim Curry would encounter traffic Curry closed right in on Todd's rear bumper. A couple of other drivers were making waves through the pack with 12th place starter Scott James up to sixth with ten laps remaining and 17 year old Michael Chilton up from 20th to ninth.
While Todd and Curry were dueling it out Jewell and Corbin were still hounding each other and gaining again on the two cars in front of them. With Marlar now in command of the race in the waning laps all eyes were on the contest for second with Todd hanging on, but now Scott James had gotten by both Corbin and Jewell and was up to fourth peddling on the top side of the race track. After James picked off Corbin and Jewell he closed swiftly on Todd and Curry. As the drivers raced hard to the white flag Curry found enough room under Todd to make the pass for second at the flagstand, James would then take Todd for third place as they all three came to the checker. Curry would finish in second despite breaking a left front ball joint on the races' final circuit. James would finish third with Todd coming home in fourth despite a great effort in running second for 38 laps. Jewell would nip Corbin at the line for fifth.
Completing the top ten were Corbin, 5x Richmond Raceway Track Champion, Bobby Carrier Jr., Defending track champion at Richmond, Dennis Roberson, Jesse James Lay and Michael Chilton, who earned the PPM Racing Products/Outlaw Race Cars Hard Charger of the race advancing ten positions in the feature from his 20th place starting slot.
There were 34 cars on hand for the event with Mike Jewell taking the Racing Optics fast Time at 16.771 seconds. Heat races were won by Jewell, Curry, Marlar and Todd. The AFCO Racing Products B-Mains were captured by Lay and Kevin Claycomb.
The next STARS Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Event will be on Friday Night, May 16 at the McCoy Motor Speedway in Glasgow, KY paying $3000 to win.
Race Summary
STARS Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Event #3 of 25
Richmond Raceway
Richmond, Kentucky
Saturday Night, May 3, 2003
Racing Optics Fast Time: Mike Jewell 16.771 seconds
First Heat: Mike Jewell, Joey Kramer, Marty Stepp, Jesse James Lay
Second heat: Jim Curry, Rick Corbin, Aaron Hatton, Ed Behn
Third Heat: Mike Marlar, Bobby Carrier Jr., Dennis Roberson, David Freeman
Fourth Heat: Tyrel Todd, Scott Douglas, Scott James, Chris Wilson
AFCO 1st B-Main: Jesse James Lay, Ed Behn, Richard Smith, Michael Chilton
AFCO 2nd B-Main: Kevin Claycomb, David Freeman, Chris Wilson, Terry Linville
PBM Performance Products A-Main: Mike Marlar, Jim Curry, Scott James, Tyrel Todd, Mike Jewell, Rick Corbin, Bobby Carrier Jr., Dennis Roberson, Jesse James Lay, Michael Chilton, Scott Douglas, Joey Kramer, David Freeman, Aaron Hatton, Richard Smith, Johnny Wheeler, Chris Wilson, Marty Stepp, Jimmy Crabtree, Ronnie Smith, Ed Behn, Kevin Claycomb
Race Statistics
Entries: 34
Time of Race: 40 Laps-15 minutes to complete
Number of cautions: 1 after 1 lap scored none thereafter
STARS BoB Provisionals: Johnny Wheeler and Michael Chilton
Richmond Raceway Promoters Provisionals: Ronnie Smith and Jimmy Crabtree
PPM Racing Products/Outlaw Race Cars Hard Charger: Michael Chilton started 20th finished 10th
Racing Optics Time Trials
1. #9-Mike Jewell-Scottsburg, IN 16.771
2. #19-Ed Behn-Salvisa, KY 16.778
3. #157-Mike Marlar-Winfield,, TN 16.814
4. #17-Chris Wilson-Louisa, KY 16.853
5. #16-Victor Lee-Stanford, KY 16.863
6. #9-Rick Corbin-Independence, KY 16.885
7. #25-Dennis Roberson-Lexington, KY 16.895
8. #83-Scott James-Lawrenceburg, IN 16.895
9. #77-Joey Kramer-Hanover, IN 16.963
10. #7-Jim Curry-Norman, IN 16.972
11. #76-David Freeman-Lexington, KY 17.018
12. #14-Tyrel Todd-Eubank, KY 17.092
13. #06-Marty Stepp-Irvine, KY 17.118
14. #33-Aaron Hatton-Mt. Sterling, KY 17.145
15. #87-Scott Douglas-Waco, KY 17.153
16. #17-Bobby Carrier Jr-Harrodsburg, KY 17.157
17. #33-Jesse James Lay-Walton, KY 17.177
18. #C8-Jimmy Crabtree-Irvine, KY 17.178
19. #57-Johnny Wheeler-Campbellsville, KY 17.210
20. #8-Terry Linville-Lancaster, KY 17.221
21. #19-Bobby Wolter Jr-Lexington, KY 17.272
22. #97-Michael Chilton-Harrodsburg, KY 17.288
23. #28-Kevin Claycomb-Vincennes, IN 17.302
24. #23-Larry Martin Jr.-Maysville, KY 17.311
25. #16-Shawn Negangard-Osgood, IN 17.340
26. #38-Jay Mobley-Harrodsburg, KY 17.356
27. #C1-Timmy Yeager-Harrodsburg, KY 17.387
28. #112-Jeff Napper-Winchester, KY 17.390
29. #32s-Ronnie Smith-Waco, KY 17.395
30. #28-Eddie Carrier Jr-Ona, WV 17.401
31. #37-Herbie Barnett-Jackson, KY 17.475
32. #16-Steven Ashby-Cunningham, TN 17.594
33. #27J-Richard Smith-Science Hill, KY 17.739
34. #2-Steve Cornelius-Berea, KY 18.163
Marlar would barely beat Todd to the line on the opening lap when the caution flew after the entire field had passed the start-finish line for the car of Johnny Wheeler in turn one. This would turn out to be the only caution flag of the event as the rest of the 39 laps went from green to checker and would take approximately 15 minutes to complete. With Marlar on the point the race for second place would start to heat up immediately with the youngster 21 year old Tyrel Todd and 59 year old Jim Curry who started racing 13 years before Todd was born. While up front Marlar would keep extending his lead out over the field lap after lap Todd, Curry, Mike Jewell and Rick Corbin would race their machines hard for the second spot with Jewell and Corbin going door to door on several occasions. Marlar started to enter lapped traffic by the 13th circuit. He would make a nifty move splitting two cars on the 14th lap which enabled him to lengthen his lead which had shrunk when traffic was right in front of him. When the second place car of Todd and the third place runner Jim Curry would encounter traffic Curry closed right in on Todd's rear bumper. A couple of other drivers were making waves through the pack with 12th place starter Scott James up to sixth with ten laps remaining and 17 year old Michael Chilton up from 20th to ninth.
While Todd and Curry were dueling it out Jewell and Corbin were still hounding each other and gaining again on the two cars in front of them. With Marlar now in command of the race in the waning laps all eyes were on the contest for second with Todd hanging on, but now Scott James had gotten by both Corbin and Jewell and was up to fourth peddling on the top side of the race track. After James picked off Corbin and Jewell he closed swiftly on Todd and Curry. As the drivers raced hard to the white flag Curry found enough room under Todd to make the pass for second at the flagstand, James would then take Todd for third place as they all three came to the checker. Curry would finish in second despite breaking a left front ball joint on the races' final circuit. James would finish third with Todd coming home in fourth despite a great effort in running second for 38 laps. Jewell would nip Corbin at the line for fifth.
Completing the top ten were Corbin, 5x Richmond Raceway Track Champion, Bobby Carrier Jr., Defending track champion at Richmond, Dennis Roberson, Jesse James Lay and Michael Chilton, who earned the PPM Racing Products/Outlaw Race Cars Hard Charger of the race advancing ten positions in the feature from his 20th place starting slot.
There were 34 cars on hand for the event with Mike Jewell taking the Racing Optics fast Time at 16.771 seconds. Heat races were won by Jewell, Curry, Marlar and Todd. The AFCO Racing Products B-Mains were captured by Lay and Kevin Claycomb.
The next STARS Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Event will be on Friday Night, May 16 at the McCoy Motor Speedway in Glasgow, KY paying $3000 to win.
Race Summary
STARS Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Event #3 of 25
Richmond Raceway
Richmond, Kentucky
Saturday Night, May 3, 2003
Racing Optics Fast Time: Mike Jewell 16.771 seconds
First Heat: Mike Jewell, Joey Kramer, Marty Stepp, Jesse James Lay
Second heat: Jim Curry, Rick Corbin, Aaron Hatton, Ed Behn
Third Heat: Mike Marlar, Bobby Carrier Jr., Dennis Roberson, David Freeman
Fourth Heat: Tyrel Todd, Scott Douglas, Scott James, Chris Wilson
AFCO 1st B-Main: Jesse James Lay, Ed Behn, Richard Smith, Michael Chilton
AFCO 2nd B-Main: Kevin Claycomb, David Freeman, Chris Wilson, Terry Linville
PBM Performance Products A-Main: Mike Marlar, Jim Curry, Scott James, Tyrel Todd, Mike Jewell, Rick Corbin, Bobby Carrier Jr., Dennis Roberson, Jesse James Lay, Michael Chilton, Scott Douglas, Joey Kramer, David Freeman, Aaron Hatton, Richard Smith, Johnny Wheeler, Chris Wilson, Marty Stepp, Jimmy Crabtree, Ronnie Smith, Ed Behn, Kevin Claycomb
Race Statistics
Entries: 34
Time of Race: 40 Laps-15 minutes to complete
Number of cautions: 1 after 1 lap scored none thereafter
STARS BoB Provisionals: Johnny Wheeler and Michael Chilton
Richmond Raceway Promoters Provisionals: Ronnie Smith and Jimmy Crabtree
PPM Racing Products/Outlaw Race Cars Hard Charger: Michael Chilton started 20th finished 10th
Racing Optics Time Trials
1. #9-Mike Jewell-Scottsburg, IN 16.771
2. #19-Ed Behn-Salvisa, KY 16.778
3. #157-Mike Marlar-Winfield,, TN 16.814
4. #17-Chris Wilson-Louisa, KY 16.853
5. #16-Victor Lee-Stanford, KY 16.863
6. #9-Rick Corbin-Independence, KY 16.885
7. #25-Dennis Roberson-Lexington, KY 16.895
8. #83-Scott James-Lawrenceburg, IN 16.895
9. #77-Joey Kramer-Hanover, IN 16.963
10. #7-Jim Curry-Norman, IN 16.972
11. #76-David Freeman-Lexington, KY 17.018
12. #14-Tyrel Todd-Eubank, KY 17.092
13. #06-Marty Stepp-Irvine, KY 17.118
14. #33-Aaron Hatton-Mt. Sterling, KY 17.145
15. #87-Scott Douglas-Waco, KY 17.153
16. #17-Bobby Carrier Jr-Harrodsburg, KY 17.157
17. #33-Jesse James Lay-Walton, KY 17.177
18. #C8-Jimmy Crabtree-Irvine, KY 17.178
19. #57-Johnny Wheeler-Campbellsville, KY 17.210
20. #8-Terry Linville-Lancaster, KY 17.221
21. #19-Bobby Wolter Jr-Lexington, KY 17.272
22. #97-Michael Chilton-Harrodsburg, KY 17.288
23. #28-Kevin Claycomb-Vincennes, IN 17.302
24. #23-Larry Martin Jr.-Maysville, KY 17.311
25. #16-Shawn Negangard-Osgood, IN 17.340
26. #38-Jay Mobley-Harrodsburg, KY 17.356
27. #C1-Timmy Yeager-Harrodsburg, KY 17.387
28. #112-Jeff Napper-Winchester, KY 17.390
29. #32s-Ronnie Smith-Waco, KY 17.395
30. #28-Eddie Carrier Jr-Ona, WV 17.401
31. #37-Herbie Barnett-Jackson, KY 17.475
32. #16-Steven Ashby-Cunningham, TN 17.594
33. #27J-Richard Smith-Science Hill, KY 17.739
34. #2-Steve Cornelius-Berea, KY 18.163
