UNION, KY--Rick Combs of Cincinnati, OH drove the race of his career on Friday Night, March 25 at the Florence Speedway as the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts kicked off it's 2005 racing season with the "Spring 50 Tuneup" for Late Models and when the night was done it was Combs sitting in victory circle after taking the biggest win of his racing career in stunning fashion leading all 30 laps to take the $3,000 first place money.
Combs in only his second race ever at Florence Speedway became the 17th driver in the last 23 Battle of the Bluegrass races to win an event. The 29 year old driver piloted the Culligan Water, Griffin Graffix, Metal Shredders, The Home Team Inspection Service, Fannin's Auto Part, Simpson Race Products, Cropper Racing Engines powered, Swartz Chassis Pontiac Grand Prix #99. Combs fought off race long challenges from Jeep VanWormer, Tim Dohm and Eddie Carrier, Jr. before finally securing the big win. VanWormer of Pinconning, MI finished second in his Bayline Fire Protection/Pro Power/Mastersbilt Ford Taurus. Third at the finish was Steve Casebolt, Jr. of Richmond, IN in the Seubert Calf Ranches/Dargie Race Engines/Rocket Ford Taurus. Finishing fourth was Eric Myers of Holmesville, OH in the CRM Colored Mulch/Malcuit Race Engines/Rocket Pontiac Grand Prix with Tim Dohm of Cross Lanes, WV grabbing the fifth spot in his Dohm Cycle Sales/Custom Race Engines/Rocket Monte Carlo. A total of 50 Late Models were on hand for the race which opened the fourth season for the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series.
The starting row for the 30 lap main event was suppose to consist of Tim Dohm and R.J. Conley, but Conley had to resort to a backup car which put him on the tail of the starting lineup and moved Combs to the outside of the front row. Sometimes breaks in racing go the right way and for Combs it was just the start of something big as he would take the lead at the start of the feature event. The race would be one lap old when fifth place runner, Josh Williams, slowed on the backstraight with a flat left rear tire. With the yellow waving a three car jamup in the back would see Johnny Wheeler, Frankie Coomer and David Webb involved with Coomer and Webb eliminated from the race only a lap into it. Combs would be out in front on the restart with VanWormer, Dohm, Eddie Carrier, Jr. and Whitney McQueary in the hunt. Casebolt would pass McQueary for fifth on the third circuit. Dohm would then unseat VanWormer for second on lap four. Dohm then was looking for every avenue around Combs in the race for the lead. The frontrunners would start to pick up the back of the pack by the 10th lap with Dohm, VanWormer, Carrier and Casebolt hot on Combs' tail. A scary incident on the frontstretch on lap 14 would see Steve Barnett up against the frontstretch wall with the yellow waving Josh Williams, just barely avoided a major wreck by diving to the inside of the race track missing Barnett's stalled race car.
When the race reached the halfway mark it was still Combs showing the way with Carrier now putting the heat on Combs as the 2002 Battle of the Bluegrass champion had his sights set on a first time Florence win. Carrier would hound Combs lap after lap until something broke on his race car with 22 laps in the books ending his night. So Combs now would have one less challenger or so he thought as both VanWormer and Casebolt would pick up the challenge that Carrier left behind. VanWormer would race Combs hard and clean looking for a way around him, but Combs would hold his groove and take his mount all the way to the checkered flag to score a popular win with the crowd. VanWormer came up just short of victory taking second spot just ahead of Casebolt, 14th starting Eric Myers and Dohm.
In victory lane on the frontstretch afterwards, Combs was elated with what had just happened. "I can't believe this, we've only raced here once before and the car and motor were just about perfect for the conditions," said the winner accepting congratulations from a multitude of supporters. "I just want to thank all of my crew, sponsors and family for making this happen, this is the first time I've driven a Swartz Chassis and it was just awesome and the Cropper Engine we had under the hood was flawless." Combs who plans on running for the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series and Rookie of the Year in 2005 was making only his second career BoB start.
Completing the top ten were Whitney McQueary, Jesse James Lay, Michael England, Jerry Rice and Bobby Wolter, Jr.
In preliminary action, Eddie Carrier, Jr. set a new Florence Speedway Late Model track record at 15.181 seconds which was translated to 118 miles per hour as he was the top main in the Racing Optics Time Trials. The old record was held by Shannon Babb at 15.185 set in 2002. The Four VP Racin' Makin' Power Heat Races were won by R.J. Conley, Josh Williams, Tim Dohm and Rick Combs. The B-Mains were won by Jesse James Lay and Michael England.
Action will resume on Saturday Night, March 26 at the Florence Speedway as the BoB Series will be back at the track for the 29th Annual "Spring 50" paying $5,000 to win. A complete show will take place with time trials, heat races, consy events and the 50 lap main event.
Race Summary
Florence Speedway-Union, KY
Friday Night, March 25, 2005
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluerass DirtCar Series
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier: Eddie Carrier, Jr. 15.181 (new track record)
VP Racin' Makin' Power Heat #1: R.J. Conley, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Jerry Rice, Mike Jewell, Frankie Coomer, Michael Bradley, Jesse James Lay, Tim Tungate, Jordan Bland, Larry Pickelheimer, Jr., Scott James, Tyrel Todd, Spensor Watson (DNS)
VP Racin' Makin' Power Heat #2: Josh Williams, Jeep VanWormer, Steve Casebolt, Jr., Eric Myers, John Gill, Jeff Raisor, Stanley Haddix, Alan Haycraft, Marc Kurth, Aaron Hatton, Brad Neat, Roger Williams (DNS), Darrell Lanigan (DNS)
VP Racin' Makin' Power Heat #3: Tim Dohm, Steve Barnett, Chris Combs, Chad Smith, David Webb, Jeff Alsip, Steve Landrum, Johnny Wheeler, Mike Hawley, Robert Fletcher, Devin Sebree, Tony Traficant
VP Racin' Makin' Power Heat #4: Rick Combs, Whitney McQueary, Bobby Wolter, Jr., Bobby Carrier, Jr., Michael Luna, Bryan Barber, Michael England, Doug Smith, Bob Lanter, Sidney Sprague, Peter Warby, Chuckie May
First B-Main: Jesse James Lay, John Gill, Frankie Coomer, Tim Tungate, Jeff Raisor, Jordan Bland, Larry Pickelheimer, Jr., Stanley Haddix, Alan Haycraft, Tyrel Todd
Second B-Main: Michael England, Steve Landrum, David Webb, Jeff Alsip, Doug Smith, Chuckie May, Sidney Sprague, Bob Lanter, Mike Hawley, Johnny Wheeler, Robert Fletcher, Marc Kurth, Peter Warby, Devin Sebree
30 Lap Spring 50 Tuneup Main Event: Rick Combs, Jeep VanWormer, Steve Casebolt, Jr., Eric Myers, Tim Dohm, Whitney McQueary, Jesse James Lay, Michael England, Jerry Rice, Bobby Wolter, Jr., Chris Combs, R.J. Conley, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Mike Jewell, Doug Smith, Johnny Wheeler, Chad Smith, Josh Williams, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Steve Barnett, Steve Landrum, John Gill, David Webb, Frankie Coomer
Race Statistics:
Entries: 50
Lap Leaders: Rick Combs 1-30
Cautions: 3
Red Flags: 1
BoB Provisionals: Johnny Wheeler and Doug Smith
BoB Rookie of the Race: Rick Combs
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger of the Race: Eric Myers advanced 10 positions (Started 14th and finished 4th)
Combs in only his second race ever at Florence Speedway became the 17th driver in the last 23 Battle of the Bluegrass races to win an event. The 29 year old driver piloted the Culligan Water, Griffin Graffix, Metal Shredders, The Home Team Inspection Service, Fannin's Auto Part, Simpson Race Products, Cropper Racing Engines powered, Swartz Chassis Pontiac Grand Prix #99. Combs fought off race long challenges from Jeep VanWormer, Tim Dohm and Eddie Carrier, Jr. before finally securing the big win. VanWormer of Pinconning, MI finished second in his Bayline Fire Protection/Pro Power/Mastersbilt Ford Taurus. Third at the finish was Steve Casebolt, Jr. of Richmond, IN in the Seubert Calf Ranches/Dargie Race Engines/Rocket Ford Taurus. Finishing fourth was Eric Myers of Holmesville, OH in the CRM Colored Mulch/Malcuit Race Engines/Rocket Pontiac Grand Prix with Tim Dohm of Cross Lanes, WV grabbing the fifth spot in his Dohm Cycle Sales/Custom Race Engines/Rocket Monte Carlo. A total of 50 Late Models were on hand for the race which opened the fourth season for the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series.
The starting row for the 30 lap main event was suppose to consist of Tim Dohm and R.J. Conley, but Conley had to resort to a backup car which put him on the tail of the starting lineup and moved Combs to the outside of the front row. Sometimes breaks in racing go the right way and for Combs it was just the start of something big as he would take the lead at the start of the feature event. The race would be one lap old when fifth place runner, Josh Williams, slowed on the backstraight with a flat left rear tire. With the yellow waving a three car jamup in the back would see Johnny Wheeler, Frankie Coomer and David Webb involved with Coomer and Webb eliminated from the race only a lap into it. Combs would be out in front on the restart with VanWormer, Dohm, Eddie Carrier, Jr. and Whitney McQueary in the hunt. Casebolt would pass McQueary for fifth on the third circuit. Dohm would then unseat VanWormer for second on lap four. Dohm then was looking for every avenue around Combs in the race for the lead. The frontrunners would start to pick up the back of the pack by the 10th lap with Dohm, VanWormer, Carrier and Casebolt hot on Combs' tail. A scary incident on the frontstretch on lap 14 would see Steve Barnett up against the frontstretch wall with the yellow waving Josh Williams, just barely avoided a major wreck by diving to the inside of the race track missing Barnett's stalled race car.
When the race reached the halfway mark it was still Combs showing the way with Carrier now putting the heat on Combs as the 2002 Battle of the Bluegrass champion had his sights set on a first time Florence win. Carrier would hound Combs lap after lap until something broke on his race car with 22 laps in the books ending his night. So Combs now would have one less challenger or so he thought as both VanWormer and Casebolt would pick up the challenge that Carrier left behind. VanWormer would race Combs hard and clean looking for a way around him, but Combs would hold his groove and take his mount all the way to the checkered flag to score a popular win with the crowd. VanWormer came up just short of victory taking second spot just ahead of Casebolt, 14th starting Eric Myers and Dohm.
In victory lane on the frontstretch afterwards, Combs was elated with what had just happened. "I can't believe this, we've only raced here once before and the car and motor were just about perfect for the conditions," said the winner accepting congratulations from a multitude of supporters. "I just want to thank all of my crew, sponsors and family for making this happen, this is the first time I've driven a Swartz Chassis and it was just awesome and the Cropper Engine we had under the hood was flawless." Combs who plans on running for the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series and Rookie of the Year in 2005 was making only his second career BoB start.
Completing the top ten were Whitney McQueary, Jesse James Lay, Michael England, Jerry Rice and Bobby Wolter, Jr.
In preliminary action, Eddie Carrier, Jr. set a new Florence Speedway Late Model track record at 15.181 seconds which was translated to 118 miles per hour as he was the top main in the Racing Optics Time Trials. The old record was held by Shannon Babb at 15.185 set in 2002. The Four VP Racin' Makin' Power Heat Races were won by R.J. Conley, Josh Williams, Tim Dohm and Rick Combs. The B-Mains were won by Jesse James Lay and Michael England.
Action will resume on Saturday Night, March 26 at the Florence Speedway as the BoB Series will be back at the track for the 29th Annual "Spring 50" paying $5,000 to win. A complete show will take place with time trials, heat races, consy events and the 50 lap main event.
Race Summary
Florence Speedway-Union, KY
Friday Night, March 25, 2005
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluerass DirtCar Series
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier: Eddie Carrier, Jr. 15.181 (new track record)
VP Racin' Makin' Power Heat #1: R.J. Conley, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Jerry Rice, Mike Jewell, Frankie Coomer, Michael Bradley, Jesse James Lay, Tim Tungate, Jordan Bland, Larry Pickelheimer, Jr., Scott James, Tyrel Todd, Spensor Watson (DNS)
VP Racin' Makin' Power Heat #2: Josh Williams, Jeep VanWormer, Steve Casebolt, Jr., Eric Myers, John Gill, Jeff Raisor, Stanley Haddix, Alan Haycraft, Marc Kurth, Aaron Hatton, Brad Neat, Roger Williams (DNS), Darrell Lanigan (DNS)
VP Racin' Makin' Power Heat #3: Tim Dohm, Steve Barnett, Chris Combs, Chad Smith, David Webb, Jeff Alsip, Steve Landrum, Johnny Wheeler, Mike Hawley, Robert Fletcher, Devin Sebree, Tony Traficant
VP Racin' Makin' Power Heat #4: Rick Combs, Whitney McQueary, Bobby Wolter, Jr., Bobby Carrier, Jr., Michael Luna, Bryan Barber, Michael England, Doug Smith, Bob Lanter, Sidney Sprague, Peter Warby, Chuckie May
First B-Main: Jesse James Lay, John Gill, Frankie Coomer, Tim Tungate, Jeff Raisor, Jordan Bland, Larry Pickelheimer, Jr., Stanley Haddix, Alan Haycraft, Tyrel Todd
Second B-Main: Michael England, Steve Landrum, David Webb, Jeff Alsip, Doug Smith, Chuckie May, Sidney Sprague, Bob Lanter, Mike Hawley, Johnny Wheeler, Robert Fletcher, Marc Kurth, Peter Warby, Devin Sebree
30 Lap Spring 50 Tuneup Main Event: Rick Combs, Jeep VanWormer, Steve Casebolt, Jr., Eric Myers, Tim Dohm, Whitney McQueary, Jesse James Lay, Michael England, Jerry Rice, Bobby Wolter, Jr., Chris Combs, R.J. Conley, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Mike Jewell, Doug Smith, Johnny Wheeler, Chad Smith, Josh Williams, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Steve Barnett, Steve Landrum, John Gill, David Webb, Frankie Coomer
Race Statistics:
Entries: 50
Lap Leaders: Rick Combs 1-30
Cautions: 3
Red Flags: 1
BoB Provisionals: Johnny Wheeler and Doug Smith
BoB Rookie of the Race: Rick Combs
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger of the Race: Eric Myers advanced 10 positions (Started 14th and finished 4th)
