O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Results-Saturday Night, July 17, 2004
Richmond Raceway-Richmond, KY
By Spencer Wilson
RICHMOND, KY--Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN the 2003 O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Points Champion picked up one of the biggest wins of his racing career as he won the 17th Annual Paul "Butterball" Wooldridge Memorial Race on Saturday Night at the Rihcmond (KY) Raceway. Marlar's win in the Lucas Oil A-Main event was worth $5000 as he became the 10th different O'Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass winner this year in 14 races. The win was also Marlar's sixth career BoB victory making him the driver with the most career wins in the series' first 59 events contested. Marlar drove the David Marlar, crew chiefed, Wilson's Service Center, PBM Peformance Products, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, Huddle House Restaurant, Renegade Race Fuels, Marlar and Sons Auto Dismantling, Todd Truss Company, CarCosmetics.net, WFO Decals, Hoosier Racing Tires, AMS Race Engines sponsored C.J. Rayburn Pontiac Grand Prix. Aaron Hatton of Mt.Sterling, KY finished second in the Porter Tire Center/Draime Engines/MasterSbilt Grand Prix. Taking third was 2002 BoB Series Champion, Eddie Carrier Jr of Salt Rock, WV in the Carl Grover Motorsports/Engines Inc/Rocket Ford Taurus. Johnny Wheeler of Campbellsville, KY placed fourth in the Larry Yantz Racing/Classic Homes/C.J. Rayburn Monte Carlo and rounding out the top five was John Gill of Mitchell, IN in the Jeff and Eddie Harrod/Harrod Farms/Rocket Grand Prix. A standing room only crowd was on hand as 41 cars were present for the event was was delayed nearly an hour by a late afternoon downpour.
Greg Johnson in his return to the Battle of the Bluegrass Series took the lead at the start of the Lucas Oil A-Main with Aaron Hatton, Eddie Carrier, Jr and 8-time Butterball Wooldridge Memorial Winner, Mike Jewell following. A caution after one lap was scored for Tyrel Todd who suffered a flat tir eon the opening lap. He made a quick pit stop and rejoined the field on the rear. When the race resumed it would go green for three more laps with Johnson in front, now followed by Carrier and Mike Marlar, who had started in fifth. A caution for a flat tire for Brad Neat would slow the action as the race for first place was really starting to heat up. With five circuits complete it was Johnson still showing the way, but Marlar had made his early race mark by passing Carrier for second. Marlar then had to erase a three car length deficit that Johnson had built up. But at Richmond you can make up time in a hurry and Marlar did just that quickly closing on Johnson bringing Carrier along with him to make it a three dog fight for the lead. Marlar would get by Johnson on the eighth lap taking over the lead of the race. Johnson and Carrier then would go side by side for several laps in the battle for second place. Marlar was up to a six car length advantage over Johnson and Carrier as they eclipsed the 15 lap mark of the event. Johnson then would dig in too hard in turn four as the car would get sideways loosing control and getting struck by Carrier who was passing by. Johnson would be out of the race.
At this point a very light drizzle would start the fall forcing officials to abandon the double file Delaware restarts in an attempt to speed up the race. When the race resumed again it was Marlar on the point with Carrier in second followed by ninth place starter, Johnny Wheeler and Hatton. On the 17th lap Carrier made a bold move for the lead passing Marlar on the outside to take over the lead. As the only two previous Battle of the Bluegrass champions would show their mettle racing hard and clean with each other going door to door for several circuits in the race to see who would take home the $5000 first place prize. Carrier would lead until the 22nd lap when Marlar would retake the lead from him for good after the spirited duel. About to join them in the race for the lead was Wheeler and Hatton. The two BoB regulars would run the low groove on the race track and start to gain on the two frontrunners. Hatton, the series points leader would get by Wheeler for third on the 35th lap. Hatton was not done yet as he chased down Carrier and overhauled him for second on the 39th lap. As the race entered its last 10 laps of competition Marlar was on cruise control, but lurking ahead was traffic with less than five laps remaining. Hatton would slice Marlar's lead in half as Marlar was fighting to get around three other cars he was attempting to lap, but with two to go Marlar expertly sliced through the traffic and cleared himself room in front of him which took him scott free to the checkers. The 25 year old driver would win his first Battle of the Bluegrass event of 2004 and received the $5000 check for winning one of the most prestiguous races held in the state of Kentucky.
Hatton maintains his series points lead after 14 races in taking the second place money. Third went to Carrier followed Wheeler and John Gill, who finished fifth after starting in 11th.
Completing the top ten were Jimmy Owens, Victor Lee, Jesse James Lay, Bobby Carrier Jr and Tyrel Todd.
In preliminary events Mike Marlar was the Racing Optics fast timer at 14.723 seconds out of the 41 entrants on hand. Crown Spray Power heat race winners were Mike Jewell, Eddie Carrier Jr., Aaron Hatton and Greg Johnson. The O'Reilly Auto Parts B-Main winners were Brad Neat and David Powers.
The upcoming schedule for the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series includes a first ever visit this Friday Night, July 23 to the Paducah International Raceway in Paducah, KY and a return trip to the Soggy Bottom Speedway in Morgantown, KY this Saturday Night, July 24. Both events will pay $3000 to win.
Race Summary
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Event #14
Richmond Raceway-Richmond, KY
Saturday Night, July 17, 2004
Racing Optics Fast Time: Mike Marlar 14.723
Crown Spray Power Heat #1: Mike Jewell, Mike Marlar, Johnny Wheeler, Tyrel Todd
Crown Spray Power Heat #2: Eddie Carrier Jr., Tim Hitt, David Freeman, Brad Neat
Crown Spray Power Heat #3: Aaron Hatton, Jimmy Owens, John Gill, Steve Cornelius
Crown Spray Power Heat #4: Greg Johnson, James Huff, Scott James, David Powers
O'Reilly Auto Parts B-Main #1: Brad Neat, Tyrel Todd, Scott Hall, Jason Barrett
O'Reilly Auto Parts B-Main #2: David Powers, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Jesse James Lay, Brian Asbury
Lucas Oil A-Main "Butterball" Wooldridge Memorial Race: (50 Laps): Mike Marlar, Aaron Hatton, Eddie Carrier Jr., Johnny Wheeler, John Gill, Jimmy Owens, Victor Lee, Jesse James Lay, Bobby Carrier Jr., Tyrel Todd, Scott Douglas, James Huff, David Powers,, Doug Smith, Scott Hall, Scott James, Mike Jewell, David Freeman, Greg Johnson, Marty Stepp, Brad Neat, Tim Hitt
Race Statistics:
Entries: 41
Lap Leaders: Johnson 1-7, Marlar 8-16, E. Carrier Jr 17-21, Marlar 22-50
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger of the Race: Victor Lee finished 7th (Advanced 12 positions)
BoB Provisional Starters: Victor Lee and Doug Smith
Track Provisionals: Marty Stepp and Scott Douglas
Results-Saturday Night, July 17, 2004
Richmond Raceway-Richmond, KY
By Spencer Wilson
RICHMOND, KY--Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN the 2003 O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Points Champion picked up one of the biggest wins of his racing career as he won the 17th Annual Paul "Butterball" Wooldridge Memorial Race on Saturday Night at the Rihcmond (KY) Raceway. Marlar's win in the Lucas Oil A-Main event was worth $5000 as he became the 10th different O'Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass winner this year in 14 races. The win was also Marlar's sixth career BoB victory making him the driver with the most career wins in the series' first 59 events contested. Marlar drove the David Marlar, crew chiefed, Wilson's Service Center, PBM Peformance Products, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, Huddle House Restaurant, Renegade Race Fuels, Marlar and Sons Auto Dismantling, Todd Truss Company, CarCosmetics.net, WFO Decals, Hoosier Racing Tires, AMS Race Engines sponsored C.J. Rayburn Pontiac Grand Prix. Aaron Hatton of Mt.Sterling, KY finished second in the Porter Tire Center/Draime Engines/MasterSbilt Grand Prix. Taking third was 2002 BoB Series Champion, Eddie Carrier Jr of Salt Rock, WV in the Carl Grover Motorsports/Engines Inc/Rocket Ford Taurus. Johnny Wheeler of Campbellsville, KY placed fourth in the Larry Yantz Racing/Classic Homes/C.J. Rayburn Monte Carlo and rounding out the top five was John Gill of Mitchell, IN in the Jeff and Eddie Harrod/Harrod Farms/Rocket Grand Prix. A standing room only crowd was on hand as 41 cars were present for the event was was delayed nearly an hour by a late afternoon downpour.
Greg Johnson in his return to the Battle of the Bluegrass Series took the lead at the start of the Lucas Oil A-Main with Aaron Hatton, Eddie Carrier, Jr and 8-time Butterball Wooldridge Memorial Winner, Mike Jewell following. A caution after one lap was scored for Tyrel Todd who suffered a flat tir eon the opening lap. He made a quick pit stop and rejoined the field on the rear. When the race resumed it would go green for three more laps with Johnson in front, now followed by Carrier and Mike Marlar, who had started in fifth. A caution for a flat tire for Brad Neat would slow the action as the race for first place was really starting to heat up. With five circuits complete it was Johnson still showing the way, but Marlar had made his early race mark by passing Carrier for second. Marlar then had to erase a three car length deficit that Johnson had built up. But at Richmond you can make up time in a hurry and Marlar did just that quickly closing on Johnson bringing Carrier along with him to make it a three dog fight for the lead. Marlar would get by Johnson on the eighth lap taking over the lead of the race. Johnson and Carrier then would go side by side for several laps in the battle for second place. Marlar was up to a six car length advantage over Johnson and Carrier as they eclipsed the 15 lap mark of the event. Johnson then would dig in too hard in turn four as the car would get sideways loosing control and getting struck by Carrier who was passing by. Johnson would be out of the race.
At this point a very light drizzle would start the fall forcing officials to abandon the double file Delaware restarts in an attempt to speed up the race. When the race resumed again it was Marlar on the point with Carrier in second followed by ninth place starter, Johnny Wheeler and Hatton. On the 17th lap Carrier made a bold move for the lead passing Marlar on the outside to take over the lead. As the only two previous Battle of the Bluegrass champions would show their mettle racing hard and clean with each other going door to door for several circuits in the race to see who would take home the $5000 first place prize. Carrier would lead until the 22nd lap when Marlar would retake the lead from him for good after the spirited duel. About to join them in the race for the lead was Wheeler and Hatton. The two BoB regulars would run the low groove on the race track and start to gain on the two frontrunners. Hatton, the series points leader would get by Wheeler for third on the 35th lap. Hatton was not done yet as he chased down Carrier and overhauled him for second on the 39th lap. As the race entered its last 10 laps of competition Marlar was on cruise control, but lurking ahead was traffic with less than five laps remaining. Hatton would slice Marlar's lead in half as Marlar was fighting to get around three other cars he was attempting to lap, but with two to go Marlar expertly sliced through the traffic and cleared himself room in front of him which took him scott free to the checkers. The 25 year old driver would win his first Battle of the Bluegrass event of 2004 and received the $5000 check for winning one of the most prestiguous races held in the state of Kentucky.
Hatton maintains his series points lead after 14 races in taking the second place money. Third went to Carrier followed Wheeler and John Gill, who finished fifth after starting in 11th.
Completing the top ten were Jimmy Owens, Victor Lee, Jesse James Lay, Bobby Carrier Jr and Tyrel Todd.
In preliminary events Mike Marlar was the Racing Optics fast timer at 14.723 seconds out of the 41 entrants on hand. Crown Spray Power heat race winners were Mike Jewell, Eddie Carrier Jr., Aaron Hatton and Greg Johnson. The O'Reilly Auto Parts B-Main winners were Brad Neat and David Powers.
The upcoming schedule for the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series includes a first ever visit this Friday Night, July 23 to the Paducah International Raceway in Paducah, KY and a return trip to the Soggy Bottom Speedway in Morgantown, KY this Saturday Night, July 24. Both events will pay $3000 to win.
Race Summary
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Event #14
Richmond Raceway-Richmond, KY
Saturday Night, July 17, 2004
Racing Optics Fast Time: Mike Marlar 14.723
Crown Spray Power Heat #1: Mike Jewell, Mike Marlar, Johnny Wheeler, Tyrel Todd
Crown Spray Power Heat #2: Eddie Carrier Jr., Tim Hitt, David Freeman, Brad Neat
Crown Spray Power Heat #3: Aaron Hatton, Jimmy Owens, John Gill, Steve Cornelius
Crown Spray Power Heat #4: Greg Johnson, James Huff, Scott James, David Powers
O'Reilly Auto Parts B-Main #1: Brad Neat, Tyrel Todd, Scott Hall, Jason Barrett
O'Reilly Auto Parts B-Main #2: David Powers, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Jesse James Lay, Brian Asbury
Lucas Oil A-Main "Butterball" Wooldridge Memorial Race: (50 Laps): Mike Marlar, Aaron Hatton, Eddie Carrier Jr., Johnny Wheeler, John Gill, Jimmy Owens, Victor Lee, Jesse James Lay, Bobby Carrier Jr., Tyrel Todd, Scott Douglas, James Huff, David Powers,, Doug Smith, Scott Hall, Scott James, Mike Jewell, David Freeman, Greg Johnson, Marty Stepp, Brad Neat, Tim Hitt
Race Statistics:
Entries: 41
Lap Leaders: Johnson 1-7, Marlar 8-16, E. Carrier Jr 17-21, Marlar 22-50
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger of the Race: Victor Lee finished 7th (Advanced 12 positions)
BoB Provisional Starters: Victor Lee and Doug Smith
Track Provisionals: Marty Stepp and Scott Douglas
