Bardstown, Kentucky-May 16, 2009- The Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Open Wheel Modified division presented by Graphic Impressions opened its 2009 racing campaign on Saturday evening at Bluegrass Speedway in Bardstown, KY and Randle Sweeney of Clifty, KY picked up the $1,500 to win 9th Annual Mod Squad Bash event.
The win by Sweeney was his third career “BoB Mod Squad” win and came aboard the Haley’s Hardware/Tommy’s Quality Used Cars/Don Smith/Harold McElvain/AFCO Race Products sponsored Nullynski Race Cars, SPEC Race Engines powered machine.
Bryan Barber of Greensburg, KY would score runner-up honors in his Roby’s Country Gardens/B&B Motorsports sponsored Bandit Race Cars, Jay Dickens Race Engines powered mount, with Benji Lee of Loretto, KY claiming third in his Smart Shoppers/ Springfield Auto and Farm sponsored Bandit Race Cars, Dale Meers powered unit. J.T. Ayers of New Haven, KY would finish fourth in the Don and Ginger Ayers owned After Hours Body Shop/Quick Time Turbo Systems sponsored Bandit Race Cars, Dale Meers Race Engines powered mount, with Johnny Lee of Raywick, KY completing the top five in the Lisa Humphrey owned Valinda’s Catering/Hill and House Bed and Breakfast sponsored Bandit Race Cars, Dale Meers Race Engines unit.
The remainder of the top ten finishers in the 9th Annual Mod Squad Bash were 20th starting and hard charger Russ Gabbert, Joey Kramer, Josh Lucas, Dion Benningfield, and Kelly Warren. The event would be slowed by ten caution flags.
After three failed starts that resulted in a couple of damaged race cars, action finally go going with Randle Sweeney taking the lead, with Benji Lee, Joey Kramer, Bryan Barber, and Josh Lucas in pursuit. Barber would take third on lap 2, with Sweeney maintaining the top spot until caution flew on lap 5 for a turn one spin by Mick Sansom. One more lap would be scored when Kramer would slow at the top of turn three to draw the next caution flag. The restart would see one more circuit made before Sansom spun again in turn two. The restart would still have Sweeney out front, with Lee and Barber battling for second, while Lucas, Robbie Gullion, and Johnny Lee battled for fourth. Lucas would win that battle, with Johnny Lee taking fifth on lap 8, only to lose the spot to J.T. Ayers one trip later. Barber would take second from Benji Lee on lap 10, while Ayers and Johnny Lee continued to battle for fifth.
The front three of Sweeney, Barber, and Benji Lee remained the same, with Johnny Lee and Ayers still going at it for fifth. Sweeney would begin to lap some slower traffic by lap 15, while slowly pulling away from Barber at this point, with Benji Lee, Lucas, and Ayers holding down the remainder of the top five. Just as Sweeney was about to get into heavy traffic, Jason Hall would loop his mount in turn four to draw the next caution flag.
Back underway, Ayers would slide past Lucas for the fourth position, while Sweeney continued to hold the point. Johnny Lee would then begin to challenge Lucas for the fifth spot and would make his way into the top five past Lucas on lap 25. A pair of cautions on lap 25 and lap 26 for Brian Shewmaker and Rocky Wilson would be followed by a lap 26 restart caution for Tim York’s contact with the turn three wall would slow the pace, but the front five would remain unchanged, with Sweeney taking the checkered flag first, followed by Barber, Benji Lee, J.T. Ayers, and Johnny Lee.
In preliminary action, Joey Kramer was top qualifier among 37 entries with a lap time of 16.690 seconds. REAL Racing Wheels qualifying heat checkered flags would go to Kramer, Barber, Benji Lee, and Sweeney. Shawn Simpson and Jason Hall were the B-Main winners, while Don Adams and Mick Sansom would earn series provisionals, while Brad Schlosser earned the track provisional.
The next event for the Battle of the Bluegrass Modified Series comes up this Friday May 22 with the May Mayhem event at Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, KY. This event will be a $1,500 to win event.
The Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series sanctions regional Open Wheel Modified events at tracks in Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee. For more information about America’s most competitive regional racing series, visit the series webpage on the world wide web at www.battleofthebluegrass.com or call the series office at (502) 762-1606 or (502) 931-5068.
Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Modified Division
Bluegrass Speedway-Bardstown, KY-May 16, 2009
Racing Optics Top Qualifier- Joey Kramer 16.690
REAL Racing Wheels 1st Heat (Top 4 Advance)- Joey Kramer, Josh Lucas, Rocky Wilson, Elliott Despain, Walt Mayabb, Brad Schlosser, Lonnie Gregory, Joe David Turner, Don Adams
REAL Racing Wheels 2nd Heat (Top 4 Advance)- Bryan Barber, Dennis Roberson, Kelly Warren, J.T. Ayers, Shawn Simpson, Sam Huffer, Joe Mattingly, Jeff Johnson, Kevin Mayabb
REAL Racing Wheels 3rd Heat (Top 4 Advance)- Benji Lee, Johnny Lee, Dion Benningfield, Tim York, Keith Smith, Russ Gabbert, Josh Brock, Matt Boknecht, Randall Basham
REAL Racing Wheels 4th Heat (Top 4 Advance)- Randle Sweeney, Robbie Gullion, Brian Shewmaker, Randy Turpin, Jason Hall, Kevin Nesselhauf, Mick Sansom, Adam Cole
B-Main #1 (Top 2 Advance)- Shawn Simpson, Joe David Turner, Walt Mayabb, Brad Schlosser, Sam Huffer, Lonnie Gregory, Kevin Mayabb, Don Adams, Jeff Johnson
B-Main #2- (Top 2 Advance)- Jason Hall, Russ Gabbert, Keith Smith, Adam Cole, Josh Brock, Randall Basham, Kevin Nesselhauf, Mick Sansom
Series Provisionals- Don Adams, Skylar Marlar
Track Provisional- Brad Schlosser
9th Annual Mod Squad Bash A-Main- Randle Sweeney, Bryan Barber, Johnny Lee, J.T. Ayers, Johnny Lee, Russ Gabbert, Joey Kramer, Josh Lucas, Dion Benningfield, Kelly Warren, Don Adams, Joe David Turner, Elliott Despain, Shawn Simpson, Tim York, Rocky Wilson, Brian Shewmaker, Dennis Roberson, Jason Hall, Brad Schlosser, Robbie Gullion, Mick Sansom, Randy Turpin
Entries- 37
Lap Leaders- 1 (Randle Sweeney 1-30)
Cautions- 10 (lap 0-three, 5, 6, 7, 20, 25, 26, 26 restart)
Red Flags- None
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger- Russ Gabbert (started 20th- finished 6th- advanced 14 positions)
Battle of the Bluegrass Modified Sereis Point Standings (after May 16, 2009)
1. Randle Sweeney (Clifty, KY)- 255
2. Bryan Barber (Greensburg, KY)- 235 ®
3. Benji Lee (Loretto, KY)- 225
4. J.T. Ayers (New Haven, KY)- 212 ®
5. Johnny Lee (Raywick, KY)- 209
6. Joey Kramer (Hanover, IN)- 205
7. Russ Gabbert (Berea, KY)- 201
8. Josh Lucas (Bardstown, KY)- 194
9. Dion Benningfield (Lebanon, KY)- 188
10. Kelly Warren (Columbia, KY)- 183
2009 O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Sponsors:
*Max Brake- “Official Trailer Brakes” of the Battle of the Bluegrass Modified Series
*CarbonX- “Official Flame Shielding Fabric” of the Battle of the Bluegrass Modified Series
*Graphic Impressions- Presenting Sponsor and “Official Souvenir and Merchandise Vendor of the Battle of the Bluegrass Modified Series
*Total Lubricants- “Official Oil and Lubricant” of the Battle of the Bluegrass Modified Series
Other Battle of the Bluegrass Modified Series 2009 Series Supporters Include:
All Star Performance, American Race Tires, C.J. Rayburn Race Cars, Cruise With The Champions, Honda of Prestonsburg, Hoosier Race Tires, PPM Racing Products, Racing Optics, REAL Racing Wheels, Strader Motorsports Photography, Trailer Parts and Service, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply
The win by Sweeney was his third career “BoB Mod Squad” win and came aboard the Haley’s Hardware/Tommy’s Quality Used Cars/Don Smith/Harold McElvain/AFCO Race Products sponsored Nullynski Race Cars, SPEC Race Engines powered machine.
Bryan Barber of Greensburg, KY would score runner-up honors in his Roby’s Country Gardens/B&B Motorsports sponsored Bandit Race Cars, Jay Dickens Race Engines powered mount, with Benji Lee of Loretto, KY claiming third in his Smart Shoppers/ Springfield Auto and Farm sponsored Bandit Race Cars, Dale Meers powered unit. J.T. Ayers of New Haven, KY would finish fourth in the Don and Ginger Ayers owned After Hours Body Shop/Quick Time Turbo Systems sponsored Bandit Race Cars, Dale Meers Race Engines powered mount, with Johnny Lee of Raywick, KY completing the top five in the Lisa Humphrey owned Valinda’s Catering/Hill and House Bed and Breakfast sponsored Bandit Race Cars, Dale Meers Race Engines unit.
The remainder of the top ten finishers in the 9th Annual Mod Squad Bash were 20th starting and hard charger Russ Gabbert, Joey Kramer, Josh Lucas, Dion Benningfield, and Kelly Warren. The event would be slowed by ten caution flags.
After three failed starts that resulted in a couple of damaged race cars, action finally go going with Randle Sweeney taking the lead, with Benji Lee, Joey Kramer, Bryan Barber, and Josh Lucas in pursuit. Barber would take third on lap 2, with Sweeney maintaining the top spot until caution flew on lap 5 for a turn one spin by Mick Sansom. One more lap would be scored when Kramer would slow at the top of turn three to draw the next caution flag. The restart would see one more circuit made before Sansom spun again in turn two. The restart would still have Sweeney out front, with Lee and Barber battling for second, while Lucas, Robbie Gullion, and Johnny Lee battled for fourth. Lucas would win that battle, with Johnny Lee taking fifth on lap 8, only to lose the spot to J.T. Ayers one trip later. Barber would take second from Benji Lee on lap 10, while Ayers and Johnny Lee continued to battle for fifth.
The front three of Sweeney, Barber, and Benji Lee remained the same, with Johnny Lee and Ayers still going at it for fifth. Sweeney would begin to lap some slower traffic by lap 15, while slowly pulling away from Barber at this point, with Benji Lee, Lucas, and Ayers holding down the remainder of the top five. Just as Sweeney was about to get into heavy traffic, Jason Hall would loop his mount in turn four to draw the next caution flag.
Back underway, Ayers would slide past Lucas for the fourth position, while Sweeney continued to hold the point. Johnny Lee would then begin to challenge Lucas for the fifth spot and would make his way into the top five past Lucas on lap 25. A pair of cautions on lap 25 and lap 26 for Brian Shewmaker and Rocky Wilson would be followed by a lap 26 restart caution for Tim York’s contact with the turn three wall would slow the pace, but the front five would remain unchanged, with Sweeney taking the checkered flag first, followed by Barber, Benji Lee, J.T. Ayers, and Johnny Lee.
In preliminary action, Joey Kramer was top qualifier among 37 entries with a lap time of 16.690 seconds. REAL Racing Wheels qualifying heat checkered flags would go to Kramer, Barber, Benji Lee, and Sweeney. Shawn Simpson and Jason Hall were the B-Main winners, while Don Adams and Mick Sansom would earn series provisionals, while Brad Schlosser earned the track provisional.
The next event for the Battle of the Bluegrass Modified Series comes up this Friday May 22 with the May Mayhem event at Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, KY. This event will be a $1,500 to win event.
The Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series sanctions regional Open Wheel Modified events at tracks in Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee. For more information about America’s most competitive regional racing series, visit the series webpage on the world wide web at www.battleofthebluegrass.com or call the series office at (502) 762-1606 or (502) 931-5068.
Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Modified Division
Bluegrass Speedway-Bardstown, KY-May 16, 2009
Racing Optics Top Qualifier- Joey Kramer 16.690
REAL Racing Wheels 1st Heat (Top 4 Advance)- Joey Kramer, Josh Lucas, Rocky Wilson, Elliott Despain, Walt Mayabb, Brad Schlosser, Lonnie Gregory, Joe David Turner, Don Adams
REAL Racing Wheels 2nd Heat (Top 4 Advance)- Bryan Barber, Dennis Roberson, Kelly Warren, J.T. Ayers, Shawn Simpson, Sam Huffer, Joe Mattingly, Jeff Johnson, Kevin Mayabb
REAL Racing Wheels 3rd Heat (Top 4 Advance)- Benji Lee, Johnny Lee, Dion Benningfield, Tim York, Keith Smith, Russ Gabbert, Josh Brock, Matt Boknecht, Randall Basham
REAL Racing Wheels 4th Heat (Top 4 Advance)- Randle Sweeney, Robbie Gullion, Brian Shewmaker, Randy Turpin, Jason Hall, Kevin Nesselhauf, Mick Sansom, Adam Cole
B-Main #1 (Top 2 Advance)- Shawn Simpson, Joe David Turner, Walt Mayabb, Brad Schlosser, Sam Huffer, Lonnie Gregory, Kevin Mayabb, Don Adams, Jeff Johnson
B-Main #2- (Top 2 Advance)- Jason Hall, Russ Gabbert, Keith Smith, Adam Cole, Josh Brock, Randall Basham, Kevin Nesselhauf, Mick Sansom
Series Provisionals- Don Adams, Skylar Marlar
Track Provisional- Brad Schlosser
9th Annual Mod Squad Bash A-Main- Randle Sweeney, Bryan Barber, Johnny Lee, J.T. Ayers, Johnny Lee, Russ Gabbert, Joey Kramer, Josh Lucas, Dion Benningfield, Kelly Warren, Don Adams, Joe David Turner, Elliott Despain, Shawn Simpson, Tim York, Rocky Wilson, Brian Shewmaker, Dennis Roberson, Jason Hall, Brad Schlosser, Robbie Gullion, Mick Sansom, Randy Turpin
Entries- 37
Lap Leaders- 1 (Randle Sweeney 1-30)
Cautions- 10 (lap 0-three, 5, 6, 7, 20, 25, 26, 26 restart)
Red Flags- None
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger- Russ Gabbert (started 20th- finished 6th- advanced 14 positions)
Battle of the Bluegrass Modified Sereis Point Standings (after May 16, 2009)
1. Randle Sweeney (Clifty, KY)- 255
2. Bryan Barber (Greensburg, KY)- 235 ®
3. Benji Lee (Loretto, KY)- 225
4. J.T. Ayers (New Haven, KY)- 212 ®
5. Johnny Lee (Raywick, KY)- 209
6. Joey Kramer (Hanover, IN)- 205
7. Russ Gabbert (Berea, KY)- 201
8. Josh Lucas (Bardstown, KY)- 194
9. Dion Benningfield (Lebanon, KY)- 188
10. Kelly Warren (Columbia, KY)- 183
2009 O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Sponsors:
*Max Brake- “Official Trailer Brakes” of the Battle of the Bluegrass Modified Series
*CarbonX- “Official Flame Shielding Fabric” of the Battle of the Bluegrass Modified Series
*Graphic Impressions- Presenting Sponsor and “Official Souvenir and Merchandise Vendor of the Battle of the Bluegrass Modified Series
*Total Lubricants- “Official Oil and Lubricant” of the Battle of the Bluegrass Modified Series
Other Battle of the Bluegrass Modified Series 2009 Series Supporters Include:
All Star Performance, American Race Tires, C.J. Rayburn Race Cars, Cruise With The Champions, Honda of Prestonsburg, Hoosier Race Tires, PPM Racing Products, Racing Optics, REAL Racing Wheels, Strader Motorsports Photography, Trailer Parts and Service, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply
