CROSSVILLE, TN--Patrick Duggan from Lenoir City, TN became the 12th different driver in 17 races to win an O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts event in 2004 as he came home the winner Friday Night in Crossville's Raceway USA Lucas Oil Main Event. Duggan earned $3000 for his first career BoB win as he led the last ten laps of the 50 lapper. Duggan driving the Waldrop Transmission, Hicks and Ingle Mechanical Contracting, Competition Equipment, Inc., Hoosier Racing Tires, D&R Construction, Kingston Paint and Flooring, Carrera Shocks, Wilwood, Weld Wheels, QA1, FK Rod Ends, Bert Transmission, B&B Performance Engines, GRT Pontiac Grand Prix to the win over defending Battle of the Bluegrass Series Champion, Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN in the Wilson's Service Center/AMS Race Engines/C.J. Rayburn Grand Prix. Finishing third was current BoB points leader, Aaron Hatton of Mt. Sterling, KY in the Porter Tire Center/Draime Engines/MasterSbilt Grand Prix followed by Greg Johnson of Burgin, KY in the Double D Motorsports/PPM Racing Products/C.J. Rayburn Grand Prix and Whitney McQueary of Dunnville, KY in the Bigg Dawg Motorsports/Bullock Engine/Rocket Grand Prix.
It took 3 tries to get a lap in to start the 50 lap Lucas Oil A-Main event. Once it got rolling, Aaron Hatton looked like he had the car to beat at Crossville. Hatton, the current Battle of the Bluegrass point’s leader was still looking for his first series win of the year looked unbeatable in the early going as he rocketed to a comfortable margin over Patrick Duggan and Mike Marlar who were dicing it out for second place. Marlar tried every angle on the ultra quick race track to get by Duggan, but e push into turn two would slow his momentum that he had built up around the track trying to pass Duggan. Hatton stretched his lead to several car lengths until traffic became an issue. Hatton was held up briefly trying to lap cars as Duggan and Marlar would close down on him. Johnny Wheeler was also knocking at the door of the leaders as he would hound Marlar lap after lap trying to get by him for third. Wheeler did briefly get by him, but a caution flag negated the move. With 15 laps in the books it was Hatton still in front followed by Duggan, Marlar, Wheeler and Whitney McQueary. Another driver on the move was Jimmy Owens. Owens, who started 14th subbing for Randy Weaver stormed through the field and was up to sixth by the 16th circuit. The top six would remain that way for a while with Hatton still fighting through lapped traffic around the high banked dirt track. Duggan and Marlar really made it close by the halfway mark closing to within one car length of Hatton. Hatton at this point was hanging on with Duggan and Marlar applying the pressure.
Owens' strong effort would end up against the inside retaining wall on the 31st lap putting him out of the race. Meanwhile McQueary had passed Wheeler for fourth. As the laps wound down and with a couple of caution flag periods mixed in Hatton would see his lead and a possible first win of 2004 go out the window as he had trouble pushing up the bank just enough behind a lapped car allowing both Duggan and Marlar to get by him. Duggan would take the lead for good with ten laps remaining with Marlar hanging on his every move. Marlar, who's car started to handle better towards the end of the race had a tough time with Duggan who drove a steady line the rest of the way as he would race on for his first career Battle of the Bluegrass win with Marlar right on him at the finish. Hatton would finish third to maintain his series points lead. Greg Johnson would jump into his backup car after his car faltered in his heat race. Johnson would start in the back and quietly move his way up through the strong field of cars to finish in fourth at the pay window. Whitney McQueary would have his second consecutive top five finish in BoB competition since debuting a new car as he placed fifth.
The winner, Duggan, commented afterwards that the car he drove to victory had not been raced in three or four months. "We just brought it out tonight on a whim and it proved to be a good choice," said Duggan in victory lane. "It feels good to get one of these BoB wins; they have a good series and great bunch of drivers to race with." "My car worked fine all night, we really didn't have to do much to it after the heat race, in the feature the 33 car was fast early on, but his tires must have heated up or something, because he started to come back to me at some point."
Completing the top ten were Johnny Wheeler, Kurt Owens, Doug Smith, Mike Kittrell and Tyrel Todd.
Greg Johnson was the Racing Optics/Russell Baker Racing Engines Fast Timer for the 24 cars on hand with a clocking of 12.516 seconds. The Crown Spray Heat Race winners were Aaron Hatton, Mike Marlar and Patrick Duggan.
The O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series will race next at the Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, KY this Friday Night, August 6 for a $3000 to win event.
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Event #17
Friday Night, July 30, 2004
Crossville's Raceway USA
Crossville, TN
Racing Optics/Russell Baker Racing Engines Fast Time: Greg Johnson 12.516
Crown Spray Power Heat #1: Aaron Hatton, Mike Jewell, Whitney McQueary, Brian Hickman
Crown Spray Power Heat #2: Mike Marlar, Johnny Wheeler, Dennis Selby, Steven Ashby
Crown Spray Power Heat #3: Patrick Duggan, Jeff Walker, Michael England, Joe Armistead
Lucas Oil A-Main (50 Laps): Patrick Duggan, Mike Marlar, Aaron Hatton, Greg Johnson, Whitney McQueary, Johnny Wheeler, Kurt Owens, Doug Smith, Mike Kittrell, Tyrel Todd, Matt Henderson, Tipp Watson, Jimmy Owens, Brian Hickman, Dennis Selby, Jeff Walker, Spensor Watson, Michael England, Steven Ashby, Tim Damron, Mike Jewell, Ruben Mayfield, Joe Armstead (DNS), Brad Neat (DNS)
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger – Greg Johnson
It took 3 tries to get a lap in to start the 50 lap Lucas Oil A-Main event. Once it got rolling, Aaron Hatton looked like he had the car to beat at Crossville. Hatton, the current Battle of the Bluegrass point’s leader was still looking for his first series win of the year looked unbeatable in the early going as he rocketed to a comfortable margin over Patrick Duggan and Mike Marlar who were dicing it out for second place. Marlar tried every angle on the ultra quick race track to get by Duggan, but e push into turn two would slow his momentum that he had built up around the track trying to pass Duggan. Hatton stretched his lead to several car lengths until traffic became an issue. Hatton was held up briefly trying to lap cars as Duggan and Marlar would close down on him. Johnny Wheeler was also knocking at the door of the leaders as he would hound Marlar lap after lap trying to get by him for third. Wheeler did briefly get by him, but a caution flag negated the move. With 15 laps in the books it was Hatton still in front followed by Duggan, Marlar, Wheeler and Whitney McQueary. Another driver on the move was Jimmy Owens. Owens, who started 14th subbing for Randy Weaver stormed through the field and was up to sixth by the 16th circuit. The top six would remain that way for a while with Hatton still fighting through lapped traffic around the high banked dirt track. Duggan and Marlar really made it close by the halfway mark closing to within one car length of Hatton. Hatton at this point was hanging on with Duggan and Marlar applying the pressure.
Owens' strong effort would end up against the inside retaining wall on the 31st lap putting him out of the race. Meanwhile McQueary had passed Wheeler for fourth. As the laps wound down and with a couple of caution flag periods mixed in Hatton would see his lead and a possible first win of 2004 go out the window as he had trouble pushing up the bank just enough behind a lapped car allowing both Duggan and Marlar to get by him. Duggan would take the lead for good with ten laps remaining with Marlar hanging on his every move. Marlar, who's car started to handle better towards the end of the race had a tough time with Duggan who drove a steady line the rest of the way as he would race on for his first career Battle of the Bluegrass win with Marlar right on him at the finish. Hatton would finish third to maintain his series points lead. Greg Johnson would jump into his backup car after his car faltered in his heat race. Johnson would start in the back and quietly move his way up through the strong field of cars to finish in fourth at the pay window. Whitney McQueary would have his second consecutive top five finish in BoB competition since debuting a new car as he placed fifth.
The winner, Duggan, commented afterwards that the car he drove to victory had not been raced in three or four months. "We just brought it out tonight on a whim and it proved to be a good choice," said Duggan in victory lane. "It feels good to get one of these BoB wins; they have a good series and great bunch of drivers to race with." "My car worked fine all night, we really didn't have to do much to it after the heat race, in the feature the 33 car was fast early on, but his tires must have heated up or something, because he started to come back to me at some point."
Completing the top ten were Johnny Wheeler, Kurt Owens, Doug Smith, Mike Kittrell and Tyrel Todd.
Greg Johnson was the Racing Optics/Russell Baker Racing Engines Fast Timer for the 24 cars on hand with a clocking of 12.516 seconds. The Crown Spray Heat Race winners were Aaron Hatton, Mike Marlar and Patrick Duggan.
The O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series will race next at the Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, KY this Friday Night, August 6 for a $3000 to win event.
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Event #17
Friday Night, July 30, 2004
Crossville's Raceway USA
Crossville, TN
Racing Optics/Russell Baker Racing Engines Fast Time: Greg Johnson 12.516
Crown Spray Power Heat #1: Aaron Hatton, Mike Jewell, Whitney McQueary, Brian Hickman
Crown Spray Power Heat #2: Mike Marlar, Johnny Wheeler, Dennis Selby, Steven Ashby
Crown Spray Power Heat #3: Patrick Duggan, Jeff Walker, Michael England, Joe Armistead
Lucas Oil A-Main (50 Laps): Patrick Duggan, Mike Marlar, Aaron Hatton, Greg Johnson, Whitney McQueary, Johnny Wheeler, Kurt Owens, Doug Smith, Mike Kittrell, Tyrel Todd, Matt Henderson, Tipp Watson, Jimmy Owens, Brian Hickman, Dennis Selby, Jeff Walker, Spensor Watson, Michael England, Steven Ashby, Tim Damron, Mike Jewell, Ruben Mayfield, Joe Armstead (DNS), Brad Neat (DNS)
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger – Greg Johnson
