LEXINGTON, KY -- The O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Presented by Arizona Sport Shirts will be hosting their annual awards banquet on Saturday night, January 21, 2006 at 6 p.m. For the second year in a row, the banquet and awards presentation will be held at the Kentucky Speedway Bluegrass Hall Media Center in Sparta, KY. For the first time in the four year history of the series co-champions will be crowned with Mike Jewell of Scottsburg, IN and Tim Tungate of Campbellsville, KY as the series co-champions. Both drivers tied in points and each won one series main event during the 2005 campaign.
Whitney McQueary of Dunnville, KY who won twice during the series on the "BoB" tour finished third in points followed by 2004 series champion, Aaron Hatton of Mt. Sterling, KY and Chris Combs of Isom, KY, who finished fifth. Combs also earned the series "Rookie of the Year" award.
Completing the top ten in points were Tyrel Todd of Eubank, KY, Michael England of Glasgow, KY, Wayne Chinn of Tipp City, OH, Frankie Coomer of Austin, IN and Shannon Thornsberry of Martin, KY. Chinn and Coomer finished second and third respectfully to Combs in the chase for the "Rookie of the Year" honors.
The series produced an incredible 18 different winners in 20 events with only Whitney McQueary and 2002 Series Champion Eddie Carrier Jr. able to win more than once. With an average car count of 39 entries per show and 230 different drivers participating in the series, the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series can stamp itself as not only as one of the best regional series in the country, but the most competitive of them all. There were nine drivers that recorded 100% attendance and 12 drivers ran 90% or more of all the events ran.
In the 87 race history of the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series, there have been 37 different drivers reach victory lane at least once with Eddie Carrier Jr., Mike Jewell and Mike Marlar leading the all-time win list with seven victories. In the four year history of the series only Aaron Hatton and Tyrel Todd have finished in the top ten of the final points standings each season and the series has crowned a different champion crowned each year.
The Banquet is slated to start at 6pm on Saturday, January 21st at the Kentucky Speedway Bluegrass Hall Media Center. Dinner will be served and the awards presentation will follow. Kentucky Speedway is located on Hwy 35 in Sparta, KY at Exit 72 on I-71.
Ramada Inn at the Kentucky Speedway is the host hotel for the 2005 O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Banquet which is located directly across Hwy 35 from the Speedway outside turn 3. Ramada Inn at the Kentucky Speedway will open its “Speedway Room” after the Banquet for social time with racers, owners, sponsors, etc. A special rate of $59 plus tax has been negotiated for this event with Ramada Inn at the Kentucky Speedway, reservations can be made at 859-567-RACE and ask for the NARA Rate for this evening. More information can be found on the Ramada Inn at the Kentucky Speedway at www.ramadasparta.com.
Ticket Orders must be received no later than January 16th, there will be no tickets sold at the door.
For more information on the Awards Banquet please call the Series Office at 859-271-4501. Ticket orders must be received no later than January 16th, there will be no tickets sold at the door.
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”
Arizona Sport Shirts – Presenting Sponsor and “Official Apparel Supplier 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, PPM, BERT, Rayburn Chassis, Ratliff Motors, American Race Tire, Real Wheels, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, Trailer Parts & Sales, Bullock Racing Engines, DJ Designs, Racing Optics, Smith Automotive and Machine, Cruise With The Champions and All-Star Performance
Whitney McQueary of Dunnville, KY who won twice during the series on the "BoB" tour finished third in points followed by 2004 series champion, Aaron Hatton of Mt. Sterling, KY and Chris Combs of Isom, KY, who finished fifth. Combs also earned the series "Rookie of the Year" award.
Completing the top ten in points were Tyrel Todd of Eubank, KY, Michael England of Glasgow, KY, Wayne Chinn of Tipp City, OH, Frankie Coomer of Austin, IN and Shannon Thornsberry of Martin, KY. Chinn and Coomer finished second and third respectfully to Combs in the chase for the "Rookie of the Year" honors.
The series produced an incredible 18 different winners in 20 events with only Whitney McQueary and 2002 Series Champion Eddie Carrier Jr. able to win more than once. With an average car count of 39 entries per show and 230 different drivers participating in the series, the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series can stamp itself as not only as one of the best regional series in the country, but the most competitive of them all. There were nine drivers that recorded 100% attendance and 12 drivers ran 90% or more of all the events ran.
In the 87 race history of the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series, there have been 37 different drivers reach victory lane at least once with Eddie Carrier Jr., Mike Jewell and Mike Marlar leading the all-time win list with seven victories. In the four year history of the series only Aaron Hatton and Tyrel Todd have finished in the top ten of the final points standings each season and the series has crowned a different champion crowned each year.
The Banquet is slated to start at 6pm on Saturday, January 21st at the Kentucky Speedway Bluegrass Hall Media Center. Dinner will be served and the awards presentation will follow. Kentucky Speedway is located on Hwy 35 in Sparta, KY at Exit 72 on I-71.
Ramada Inn at the Kentucky Speedway is the host hotel for the 2005 O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Banquet which is located directly across Hwy 35 from the Speedway outside turn 3. Ramada Inn at the Kentucky Speedway will open its “Speedway Room” after the Banquet for social time with racers, owners, sponsors, etc. A special rate of $59 plus tax has been negotiated for this event with Ramada Inn at the Kentucky Speedway, reservations can be made at 859-567-RACE and ask for the NARA Rate for this evening. More information can be found on the Ramada Inn at the Kentucky Speedway at www.ramadasparta.com.
Ticket Orders must be received no later than January 16th, there will be no tickets sold at the door.
For more information on the Awards Banquet please call the Series Office at 859-271-4501. Ticket orders must be received no later than January 16th, there will be no tickets sold at the door.
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”
Arizona Sport Shirts – Presenting Sponsor and “Official Apparel Supplier 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, PPM, BERT, Rayburn Chassis, Ratliff Motors, American Race Tire, Real Wheels, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, Trailer Parts & Sales, Bullock Racing Engines, DJ Designs, Racing Optics, Smith Automotive and Machine, Cruise With The Champions and All-Star Performance
