Eddie Carrier Jr. of Leburn, KY was crowned the first ever STARS Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts Series Champion on Saturday Night, January 25, 2003 at the Continental Inn in Lexington, KY. The first awards banquet for the up and coming series was held before a packed room as several awards were passed out during the evening. Carrier took home $7000 for his first career series championship as the points fund money was distributed among the top ten drivers. He also received a champion’s jacket courtesy of Gerald Newton of Arizona Sports Shirts and Tony Rose of American Race Tires. In an emotional speech Carrier thanked a multitude of people that have helped him get to this point in his career. Several times during the speech he was overcome with emotion in thanking those that have made his life and career possible. He thanked the Lord first and then his wife, Jamie, Bob and Barb Miller, his father, Eddie, Sr. and his grandfather "Pops" Carrier, who passed a way a couple of years ago. Eddie, Jr. said "Pops" was the one who started it all for us Carriers several years ago, and I know he his looking down on us and very proud of our accomplishments," said the champion. Eddie went on to thank all of his crew and sponsors and vowed to be back to defend his title in 2003. Carrier won three times on the circuit in 2002. He made all 20 features he entered with the series last year and recorded ten top five finishes and six top ten finishes. He only finished out of the top ten four times in 2002. Far and away he led the series in fast time runs with 12.
Timmy Yeager of Harrodsburg, KY finished second to Carrier in the final point standings. Yeager won two series events and recorded more top five finishes than any other driver with 11. Yeager also appeared at all 20 events and made the feature every time. Finishing third in the final 2002 point standings was Jesse James Lay of Walton, KY. Lay was also present for all 20 events and started every one of them. Lay scored two wins this past season and had four top five finishes and ten top 10 finishes. Another driver attending every event was Johnny Wheeler of Campbellsville, KY. Wheeler had one series win in 2002 and started all but two features last season. Wheeler had eight top five finishes in series competition. Wheeler finished fourth in the final STARS Battle of the Bluegrass points. Rounding out the top five was Richard Smith of Science Hill, KY who attended all 20 events, starting 19 features and coming home with one feature win, five top five finishes and three top ten finishes.
The rest of the top ten in points honored were Joey Daniel of Liberty, Ky, Bobby Carrier Jr of Harrodsburg, KY, Tyrel Todd of Eubank, KY, Aaron Hatton of Mount Sterling, KY and Scott James of Lawrenceburg, IN.
There were several special awards passed out during the banquet including the 2002 PBM Performance Products Rookie of the Year which was presented to Bobby Wolter Jr. of Lexington, KY. Wolter attended all 20 events and made 11 feature races this past season with his best finish being a seventh place in the Kentucky Klassic at Glasgow, KY. Other special award winners were Jesse James Lay winning the Sportsmanship Award, Aaron Hatton taking the Most Improved Driver Award, Car Owners of the Year were Danny Ray and Diane Preston, Hard Charger Award to Timmy Yeager, which also included a chassis from Chris Wilson of Outlaw Race Cars, Crew Chief of the Year winners were Bryan Carrier and Jeff Gullett. The Promoter of the Year winners were James Stinnett and Bobby Reed from Richmond (KY) Raceway.
Master of Ceremonies James Essex thanked everyone for their participation in the series first season and noted that 237 different drivers participated in the first STARS Battle of the Bluegrass season with an average car count of 36 entries with 12 different drivers winning main events out of the 20 races ran. Also special thank yous went out to the staff of the BOB Series including Race Director, Spencer Wilson, Dwayne and Amy Ragland, Niles and Cindy Lauderbaugh, Alan and Trish Tilley, Chris Tilley, Noel Hargis and Joe and Velma Brummett. Promoters recognized for their efforts in scheduling races last year included David and Anita Ferrell of Bluegrass Speedway, James Stinnett and Bobby Reed of Richmond Raceway, David Bokelman and Herschel Colwell from Thunder Ridge Racing Complex, Mike Vaughn from201 Speedway, Benny Christian from Thunder Mountain Speedway, Harold Hardgrove from Lake Cumberland Speedway, Billy McCoy of McCoy Motor Speedway in Glasgow and Lisa and Mac Gabbard from Soggy Bottom Speedway in Morgantown, KY.
Also as a gratitude of appreciation the series sponsors were recognized including Gerald Newton of Arizona Sport Shirts, Bob and Barb Miller of Miller Brothers Coal, Tony Rose and Donna Dayton of Dayton Enterprises/ American Race Tires, Chris Wilson of Outlaw Race Cars, Bob Christopher of PBM Performance Products, Joe Denny of Trailer and Parts and Service, Danny Ray and Diane Preston of R&P Industrial Chimney, Chris Napier from Racedekals.com, Wayne and Ann Bowen of Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, Butch Smith of Smith Automotive and Machine, Clyde Busch of AMS Racing Engines and David Miller of Hoosier Tire South. Also special notice of thanks goes to C.J. Rayburn Race Cars. Duralite Wheels, Racing Optics, Ringers Gloves, AFCO Racing Products, Bert Transmissions and Coffman Trophies for their assistance during the inaugural season of the STARS Battle of the Bluegrass.
It was announced at the banquet that the series would pay $10,000 to win the series championship in 2003 and payback 15 positions in points. The 2003 Rookie of the Year will receive $3500. The first events of the new season will take place on Friday Night, April 25 at the McCoy Motor Speedway in Glasgow, Ky followed up by a Saturday Night, April 26 program at the Bluegrass Speedway in Bardstown, KY. Both events will pay $3000 to win and have a total purse of $30,000. The 2003 schedule was releases and currently stands at a 25-race season. Several new venues will be featured during the 2003 season, including Ponderosa Speedway, Clinton Co Speedway, Crossville's Raceway USA, Scenic Raceway, Mountain Motor Speedway, and Florence Speedway.
Also announced at the banquet was the points system will feature a mulligan system for 2003, drivers in 2003 will have at this point 2 races that they can throw out at the end of the season and only count their 23 best finishes of the season. This will allow for a driver to miss a race during the season and not hurt him in points in the season ending total. Further details will be released soon.
Additionally Battle of the Bluegrass Series Director Spencer Wilson announced that the series would be experimenting early in the season with double file restarts. Negotiations between Wilson and Florence Speedway promoters Jerry & Josh King have led to a decision that the May 24th race at Florence will be the first ever Battle of the Bluegrass race to feature double file restarts.
Further rules information and scheduling updates will be releases in the coming weeks
Timmy Yeager of Harrodsburg, KY finished second to Carrier in the final point standings. Yeager won two series events and recorded more top five finishes than any other driver with 11. Yeager also appeared at all 20 events and made the feature every time. Finishing third in the final 2002 point standings was Jesse James Lay of Walton, KY. Lay was also present for all 20 events and started every one of them. Lay scored two wins this past season and had four top five finishes and ten top 10 finishes. Another driver attending every event was Johnny Wheeler of Campbellsville, KY. Wheeler had one series win in 2002 and started all but two features last season. Wheeler had eight top five finishes in series competition. Wheeler finished fourth in the final STARS Battle of the Bluegrass points. Rounding out the top five was Richard Smith of Science Hill, KY who attended all 20 events, starting 19 features and coming home with one feature win, five top five finishes and three top ten finishes.
The rest of the top ten in points honored were Joey Daniel of Liberty, Ky, Bobby Carrier Jr of Harrodsburg, KY, Tyrel Todd of Eubank, KY, Aaron Hatton of Mount Sterling, KY and Scott James of Lawrenceburg, IN.
There were several special awards passed out during the banquet including the 2002 PBM Performance Products Rookie of the Year which was presented to Bobby Wolter Jr. of Lexington, KY. Wolter attended all 20 events and made 11 feature races this past season with his best finish being a seventh place in the Kentucky Klassic at Glasgow, KY. Other special award winners were Jesse James Lay winning the Sportsmanship Award, Aaron Hatton taking the Most Improved Driver Award, Car Owners of the Year were Danny Ray and Diane Preston, Hard Charger Award to Timmy Yeager, which also included a chassis from Chris Wilson of Outlaw Race Cars, Crew Chief of the Year winners were Bryan Carrier and Jeff Gullett. The Promoter of the Year winners were James Stinnett and Bobby Reed from Richmond (KY) Raceway.
Master of Ceremonies James Essex thanked everyone for their participation in the series first season and noted that 237 different drivers participated in the first STARS Battle of the Bluegrass season with an average car count of 36 entries with 12 different drivers winning main events out of the 20 races ran. Also special thank yous went out to the staff of the BOB Series including Race Director, Spencer Wilson, Dwayne and Amy Ragland, Niles and Cindy Lauderbaugh, Alan and Trish Tilley, Chris Tilley, Noel Hargis and Joe and Velma Brummett. Promoters recognized for their efforts in scheduling races last year included David and Anita Ferrell of Bluegrass Speedway, James Stinnett and Bobby Reed of Richmond Raceway, David Bokelman and Herschel Colwell from Thunder Ridge Racing Complex, Mike Vaughn from201 Speedway, Benny Christian from Thunder Mountain Speedway, Harold Hardgrove from Lake Cumberland Speedway, Billy McCoy of McCoy Motor Speedway in Glasgow and Lisa and Mac Gabbard from Soggy Bottom Speedway in Morgantown, KY.
Also as a gratitude of appreciation the series sponsors were recognized including Gerald Newton of Arizona Sport Shirts, Bob and Barb Miller of Miller Brothers Coal, Tony Rose and Donna Dayton of Dayton Enterprises/ American Race Tires, Chris Wilson of Outlaw Race Cars, Bob Christopher of PBM Performance Products, Joe Denny of Trailer and Parts and Service, Danny Ray and Diane Preston of R&P Industrial Chimney, Chris Napier from Racedekals.com, Wayne and Ann Bowen of Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, Butch Smith of Smith Automotive and Machine, Clyde Busch of AMS Racing Engines and David Miller of Hoosier Tire South. Also special notice of thanks goes to C.J. Rayburn Race Cars. Duralite Wheels, Racing Optics, Ringers Gloves, AFCO Racing Products, Bert Transmissions and Coffman Trophies for their assistance during the inaugural season of the STARS Battle of the Bluegrass.
It was announced at the banquet that the series would pay $10,000 to win the series championship in 2003 and payback 15 positions in points. The 2003 Rookie of the Year will receive $3500. The first events of the new season will take place on Friday Night, April 25 at the McCoy Motor Speedway in Glasgow, Ky followed up by a Saturday Night, April 26 program at the Bluegrass Speedway in Bardstown, KY. Both events will pay $3000 to win and have a total purse of $30,000. The 2003 schedule was releases and currently stands at a 25-race season. Several new venues will be featured during the 2003 season, including Ponderosa Speedway, Clinton Co Speedway, Crossville's Raceway USA, Scenic Raceway, Mountain Motor Speedway, and Florence Speedway.
Also announced at the banquet was the points system will feature a mulligan system for 2003, drivers in 2003 will have at this point 2 races that they can throw out at the end of the season and only count their 23 best finishes of the season. This will allow for a driver to miss a race during the season and not hurt him in points in the season ending total. Further details will be released soon.
Additionally Battle of the Bluegrass Series Director Spencer Wilson announced that the series would be experimenting early in the season with double file restarts. Negotiations between Wilson and Florence Speedway promoters Jerry & Josh King have led to a decision that the May 24th race at Florence will be the first ever Battle of the Bluegrass race to feature double file restarts.
Further rules information and scheduling updates will be releases in the coming weeks
