Owens Captures O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series 3rd Annual Spring 40 at Ponderosa Speedway
JUNCTION CITY, KY - The O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series invaded Ponderosa Speedway on Friday night and when all was said and done, Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN took the $3,000 payday in an eventful 3rd Annual Spring 40.
The 40 lap, $3,000 to win O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series A-Main event would see Mike Jewell jump to the race lead, followed by Jimmy Owens, Aaron Hatton, Tim Tungate, and Dustin Neat. The caution would fly on lap 3 as Joey Daniel would roll to a stop in turn two and Bobby Wolter, Jr. would also get caught up in the melee as well, but would be able to continue.
Back under green, Jewell would continue to hold the top spot, with Owens a close second, while Justin Rattliff would take fifth from Neat on the restart. Rattliff would challenge Tungate for fourth on lap 4, but would not be able to make the pass. Disaster would strike Tungate on lap 8 when he would dump fluid on the track and get in his own liquid and contact the outside wall in turn two and would be done for the night.
With this restart, Jewell would continue to hold the top spot, with Owens second, while Hatton, Rattliff, and Neat would battle for third, with Neat taking fourth on lap 8. Meanwhile, Greg Johnson would put some heat on Rattliff for fifth, when the caution would wave again on lap 10 for a stopped Joey Daniel in turn two, as Johnson pulled pit side and retired from the event. The front five would stay the same on the restart, with Johnny Wheeler pressuring Rattliff for fifth on lap 11, but not able to make the pass.
The yellow flag would wave again on lap 17 when Anthony Ferguson and Donald Rayborn tangled in turn four. Back under green, the lead duo of Jewell and Owens would pull away from the pack, with Hatton still in third, while Rattliff and Neat would settle into a wicked battle for fourth that would begin on lap 23 and go on for several laps as the lead duo of Jewell and Owens got into slower traffic. Lap 31 would see Rattliff and Neat go side by side for the fourth position for the next two circuits, with Rattliff holding the spot. Neat would finally get by for fourth on lap 37.
Disaster would strike the leader on lap 38 when the lapped car of Dan Deaton got the wall in turn two and race leader Jewell would slide into the stopped car of Deaton, causing heavy front end damage to Jewell's mount, with second place Owens also sliding to a stop after the fact. Jewell would not be able to continue and this would place Owens at the point on the restart and the "Newport Nightmare" would hold on over the final three circuits to score the win aboard the Jeff and Eddie Harrod owned Harrod Farms/Central Painting/Red Line Oil/ PPM Racing Products/AFCO Racing Products/Hoosier Tire sponsored #20 C.J. Rayburn Race Cars, Cornett Race Engines powered unit. Aaron Hatton would finish second, with Justin Rattliff getting back around Dustin Neat for third, with Bryan Barber completing the top five. The rest of the top ten were Kenny Christy, Larry Gray, Jr., Scotty Earl, Mike Jewell, and Dan Deaton.
Twenty-eight entries saw Rattliff the Racing Optics fast qualifier at 13.498 seconds, while Mason Racin' heat wins went to Tim Tungate and Jimmy Owens, with Mike Jewell winning the Arizona Sport Shirts heat. The Design 500 B-Main would be won by Donald Rayborn. Series provisionals were Brad Barrow and Dan Deaton, while Bobby Carrier, Jr. was the track provisional.
RESULTS SUMMARY
Ponderosa Speedway
Junction City, KY
June 16, 2006
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series (28 entries)
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier- Justin Rattliff 13.498
Mason Racin' Heat #1- Tim Tungate, Aaron Hatton, Scotty Earl, Justin Rattliff, Chris Combs, Larry Gray Jr., Anthony Ferguson, Christian Rayburn, Brad Barrow, Rick Sowders
Mason Racin' Heat #2- Jimmy Owens, Joey Daniel, Johnny Wheeler, Greg Johnson, Jimmy Smith, Donald Rayborn, Josh McGuire, Bryan Barber, Ben Adkins
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #3- Mike Jewell, Dustin Neat, Bobby Wolter Jr., Victor Lee, Kenny Christy, Jeff Watson, Dan Deaton, Jason Hinkle, Bobby Carrier, Jr.
Design 500 B-Main- Donald Rayborn, Larry Gray Jr., Jeff Watson, Anthony Ferguson, Bryan Barber, Ben Adkins, Christian Rayburn, Dan Deaton, Jason Hinkle, Bobby Carrier Jr. (DNS-Josh McGuire, Brad Barrow, Rick Sowders)
O'Reilly Auto Parts A-Main 3rd Annual Spring 40- Jimmy Owens, Aaron Hatton, Justin Rattliff, Dustin Neat, Bryan Barber, Kenny Christy, Larry Gray Jr., Scotty Earl, Mike Jewell, Dan Deaton, Anthony Ferguson, Jeff Watson, Johnny Wheeler, Donald Rayborn, Chris Combs, Bobby Wolter Jr., Greg Johnson, Joey Daniel, Tim Tungate, Brad Barrow, Victor Lee, Jimmy Smith, Bobby Carrier Jr.
Race Statistics
Lap Leaders: Mike Jewell 1-37, Jimmy Owens 38-40
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger: Bryan Barber (started 20th, finished 5th)
Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Race: Justin Rattliff
Series Provisionals: Brad Barrow, Dan Deaton
Track Provisional: Bobby Carrier Jr.
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
JUNCTION CITY, KY - The O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series invaded Ponderosa Speedway on Friday night and when all was said and done, Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN took the $3,000 payday in an eventful 3rd Annual Spring 40.
The 40 lap, $3,000 to win O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series A-Main event would see Mike Jewell jump to the race lead, followed by Jimmy Owens, Aaron Hatton, Tim Tungate, and Dustin Neat. The caution would fly on lap 3 as Joey Daniel would roll to a stop in turn two and Bobby Wolter, Jr. would also get caught up in the melee as well, but would be able to continue.
Back under green, Jewell would continue to hold the top spot, with Owens a close second, while Justin Rattliff would take fifth from Neat on the restart. Rattliff would challenge Tungate for fourth on lap 4, but would not be able to make the pass. Disaster would strike Tungate on lap 8 when he would dump fluid on the track and get in his own liquid and contact the outside wall in turn two and would be done for the night.
With this restart, Jewell would continue to hold the top spot, with Owens second, while Hatton, Rattliff, and Neat would battle for third, with Neat taking fourth on lap 8. Meanwhile, Greg Johnson would put some heat on Rattliff for fifth, when the caution would wave again on lap 10 for a stopped Joey Daniel in turn two, as Johnson pulled pit side and retired from the event. The front five would stay the same on the restart, with Johnny Wheeler pressuring Rattliff for fifth on lap 11, but not able to make the pass.
The yellow flag would wave again on lap 17 when Anthony Ferguson and Donald Rayborn tangled in turn four. Back under green, the lead duo of Jewell and Owens would pull away from the pack, with Hatton still in third, while Rattliff and Neat would settle into a wicked battle for fourth that would begin on lap 23 and go on for several laps as the lead duo of Jewell and Owens got into slower traffic. Lap 31 would see Rattliff and Neat go side by side for the fourth position for the next two circuits, with Rattliff holding the spot. Neat would finally get by for fourth on lap 37.
Disaster would strike the leader on lap 38 when the lapped car of Dan Deaton got the wall in turn two and race leader Jewell would slide into the stopped car of Deaton, causing heavy front end damage to Jewell's mount, with second place Owens also sliding to a stop after the fact. Jewell would not be able to continue and this would place Owens at the point on the restart and the "Newport Nightmare" would hold on over the final three circuits to score the win aboard the Jeff and Eddie Harrod owned Harrod Farms/Central Painting/Red Line Oil/ PPM Racing Products/AFCO Racing Products/Hoosier Tire sponsored #20 C.J. Rayburn Race Cars, Cornett Race Engines powered unit. Aaron Hatton would finish second, with Justin Rattliff getting back around Dustin Neat for third, with Bryan Barber completing the top five. The rest of the top ten were Kenny Christy, Larry Gray, Jr., Scotty Earl, Mike Jewell, and Dan Deaton.
Twenty-eight entries saw Rattliff the Racing Optics fast qualifier at 13.498 seconds, while Mason Racin' heat wins went to Tim Tungate and Jimmy Owens, with Mike Jewell winning the Arizona Sport Shirts heat. The Design 500 B-Main would be won by Donald Rayborn. Series provisionals were Brad Barrow and Dan Deaton, while Bobby Carrier, Jr. was the track provisional.
RESULTS SUMMARY
Ponderosa Speedway
Junction City, KY
June 16, 2006
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series (28 entries)
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier- Justin Rattliff 13.498
Mason Racin' Heat #1- Tim Tungate, Aaron Hatton, Scotty Earl, Justin Rattliff, Chris Combs, Larry Gray Jr., Anthony Ferguson, Christian Rayburn, Brad Barrow, Rick Sowders
Mason Racin' Heat #2- Jimmy Owens, Joey Daniel, Johnny Wheeler, Greg Johnson, Jimmy Smith, Donald Rayborn, Josh McGuire, Bryan Barber, Ben Adkins
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #3- Mike Jewell, Dustin Neat, Bobby Wolter Jr., Victor Lee, Kenny Christy, Jeff Watson, Dan Deaton, Jason Hinkle, Bobby Carrier, Jr.
Design 500 B-Main- Donald Rayborn, Larry Gray Jr., Jeff Watson, Anthony Ferguson, Bryan Barber, Ben Adkins, Christian Rayburn, Dan Deaton, Jason Hinkle, Bobby Carrier Jr. (DNS-Josh McGuire, Brad Barrow, Rick Sowders)
O'Reilly Auto Parts A-Main 3rd Annual Spring 40- Jimmy Owens, Aaron Hatton, Justin Rattliff, Dustin Neat, Bryan Barber, Kenny Christy, Larry Gray Jr., Scotty Earl, Mike Jewell, Dan Deaton, Anthony Ferguson, Jeff Watson, Johnny Wheeler, Donald Rayborn, Chris Combs, Bobby Wolter Jr., Greg Johnson, Joey Daniel, Tim Tungate, Brad Barrow, Victor Lee, Jimmy Smith, Bobby Carrier Jr.
Race Statistics
Lap Leaders: Mike Jewell 1-37, Jimmy Owens 38-40
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger: Bryan Barber (started 20th, finished 5th)
Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Race: Justin Rattliff
Series Provisionals: Brad Barrow, Dan Deaton
Track Provisional: Bobby Carrier Jr.
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
