MORGANTOWN, KY--Randle Sweeney of Clifty, KY became the 14th different winner in 15 O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts events in 2005 on Saturday Night at the Soggy Bottom Speedway in Morgantown, KY. The 40 year old racer took the lead for good on the 16th lap and then went on to capture the $3,000 first place money marking his first career BoB Late Model Series win. Not only did Sweeney win the BoB Late Model feature he also grabbed the NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Open Wheel race as well. Sweeney drove the Philip Burr owned/Full Throttle Race Cars/Dunn's Trucking/Tommy's Auto Machine/M&H Towing/Frank Ofria Racing Engines/C.J. Rayburn Ford Taurus to the win holding off a late race charge from Bryan Barber of Buffalo, KY who finished second in the PBM Performance Products/Dale Meers Racing Engines/MasterSbilt Monte Carlo. Third was Michael England of Glasgow, KY in the David England owned/Young's Oil Corp/C.J. Rayburn Monte Carlo. Completing the top five were Steve Casebolt, Jr. of Richmond, IN in the Seubert Calf Ranches/Dargie Race Engines/Rocket Ford Taurus and polesitter Tyrel Todd of Eubank, KY in the Todd Family Motorsports/Todd Truss Company/MasterSbilt Monte Carlo.
Tyrel Todd and Randle Sweeney would make up the front row for the 40 lap main event on a well prepared race track as two and three wide racing was commonplace throughout the upcoming feature. Todd would take the point right from the start seeking his first BoB series win of '05 after leading the series in wins last year with four. Todd looked strong early in this one with Sweeney running in second followed by Bryan Barber, Mike Jewell and Steve Casebolt, Jr. The first change in the top five running order would take place on lap four with Michael England going from sixth to fourth. Todd was already up to the tail end of the field by lap seven with Sweeney starting to apply the pressure. In traffic now Todd would see Sweeney take a peek several times on the inside diving into the turns but Todd would lead at the start-finish line. Sweeney would again pull alongside Todd and challenge for the lead and on lap 14 he nipped him at the line to officially take the lead, but Todd would fight back the next lap and regain the point, but that hold for just a brief moment as Sweeney raced around Todd again to regain the lead for good on lap 16.
With the great race for the lead taking place between Sweeney and Todd the first caution of the race would fly at the 20 lap mark. On the restart Sweeney would maintain his lead with Barber getting around Todd to take over the runner-up slot. England would follow suit and go to third dropping Todd to fourth. Unfortunately for Todd he would fall another spot with Casebolt getting by on lap 23. Sweeney would be able to stretch his lead out over the field with Barber running in second followed by England, Casebolt and Todd with ten laps to go. Sweeney would build a seven to eight car length advantage over Barber and England as the final caution would come out for a stalled car. With less than ten to go Sweeney looked to be on a mission as the veteran driver who jumped into his Late Model after winning the open wheel modified feature had the lane he wanted and looked to be on his way to a convincing win. But with less than five laps to go Sweeney would pick up the back of the field and with some heavy traffic this time this was going to allow both Barber and England to close on him. With two to go Barber was now within five lengths of Sweeney and riding through heavy traffic Barber would cut the lead to two car lengths as they took the white flag. Down the backshute Barber was within a last lap effort of passing Sweeney, but Sweeney would dive to the inside line of the race track and take his car home to the checkers for his first career O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series win. Barber finished second followed by England, Casebolt and Todd.
Afterwards Sweeney gave credit to the fact that running the in the BoB Modified race helped him in the BoB Late Model feature. "I learned a lot about the track obviously racing the Modified, my car was good in that race and in the Late Model we just tried to use the same line as we did in the Modified and it worked out real well." said the winner in the post race interview. "This is probably the best I have ever seen this track, you could race anywhere on the track two and three wide without any problems so my hats off to the track prep crew for the job they did tonight."
Completing the top ten were Mike Jewell, Tim Tungate, Wayne Chinn, Chris Combs and Aaron Hatton.
In preliminary action Johnny Wheeler was the Racing Optics Fast Qualifier with a 15.982 second lap over the 22 entrants on hand. The VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat Race Winners were Steve Casebolt, Jr., Tyrel Todd and Randle Sweeney.
The next O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series event will be on Friday Night, August 26 paying $3,000 at the Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, KY.
Race Summary
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Presented by Arizona Spoirt Shirts
Event #15
Saturday Night, August 6, 2005
Soggy Bottom Speedway-Morgantown, KY
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier: Johnny Wheeler 15.952 seconds
VP Fuel Makin' Power Heat #1: Steve Casebolt, Jr., Mike Jewell, Johnny Wheeler, Wayne Chinn, Tyler Landers, Shannon Thornsberry, Whitney McQueary, David Huff
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #2: Tyrel Todd, Bryan Barber, Aaron Hatton, Chris Combs, Blake Chinn, Dennis Selby, Jason Hinkle
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #3: Randle Sweeney, Michael England, Tim Tungate, Frankie Coomer, Mike Luna, Dan Deaton, Jason Koger
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass A Main (40 Laps): Randle Sweeney, Bryan Barber, Michael England, Steve Casebolt, Jr., Tyrel Todd, Mike Jewell, Tim Tungate, Wayne Chinn, Chris Combs, Aaron Hatton, Blake Chinn, Tyler Landers, Johnny Wheeler, Shannon Thornsberry, Dan Deaton, Jason Koger, Frankie Coomer, Whitney McQueary, David Huff, Dennis Selby, Mike Luna, Jason Hinkle
Race Statistics:
Entries: 22
Cautions: 2
Red Flags: 0
Lap Leaders: Tyrel Todd 1-13, Randle Sweeney 14, Todd 15, Sweeney 16-40
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Rookie of the Race: Wayne Chinn
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger of the Race: Bryan Barber (started 5th and finished 2nd) advanced 3 positions
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Points Standings after 8/6/05
1. Whitney McQueary (Dunnville, KY) 2790
2. Tim Tungate (Campbellsville, KY) 2750
3. Mike Jewell (Scottsburg, IN) 2605
4. Michael England (Glasgow, KY) 2565
5. Aaron Hatton (Mt. Sterling, KY) 2535
6. Chris Combs (Isom, KY) 2490
7. Tyrel Todd (Eubank, KY) 2440
8. Wayne Chinn (Tipp City, OH) 2275
9. Frankie Coomer (Austin, IN) 2225
10. Blake Chinn (Tipp City, OH) 1905
2005 O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Sponsors
O’Reilly Auto Parts – Title Sponsor and “Official Auto Parts Store of the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series”
Lucas Oil- “Official Oil Products of the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series”
VP Racing Fuels- “Official Race Fuel of the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series”
2005 O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Sponsors include: O’Reilly Auto Parts, Lucas Oil Products, Arizona Sports Shirts, VP Racing Fuels, Oval Craft, Hoosier Racing Tires, PPM, BERT, Rayburn Chassis, Ratliff Motors, American Race Tire, Real Wheels, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, Trailer Parts & Sales, Bullock Racing Engines, DJ Designs, Racing Optics, Smith Automotive and Machine and Cruise With The Champions
Tyrel Todd and Randle Sweeney would make up the front row for the 40 lap main event on a well prepared race track as two and three wide racing was commonplace throughout the upcoming feature. Todd would take the point right from the start seeking his first BoB series win of '05 after leading the series in wins last year with four. Todd looked strong early in this one with Sweeney running in second followed by Bryan Barber, Mike Jewell and Steve Casebolt, Jr. The first change in the top five running order would take place on lap four with Michael England going from sixth to fourth. Todd was already up to the tail end of the field by lap seven with Sweeney starting to apply the pressure. In traffic now Todd would see Sweeney take a peek several times on the inside diving into the turns but Todd would lead at the start-finish line. Sweeney would again pull alongside Todd and challenge for the lead and on lap 14 he nipped him at the line to officially take the lead, but Todd would fight back the next lap and regain the point, but that hold for just a brief moment as Sweeney raced around Todd again to regain the lead for good on lap 16.
With the great race for the lead taking place between Sweeney and Todd the first caution of the race would fly at the 20 lap mark. On the restart Sweeney would maintain his lead with Barber getting around Todd to take over the runner-up slot. England would follow suit and go to third dropping Todd to fourth. Unfortunately for Todd he would fall another spot with Casebolt getting by on lap 23. Sweeney would be able to stretch his lead out over the field with Barber running in second followed by England, Casebolt and Todd with ten laps to go. Sweeney would build a seven to eight car length advantage over Barber and England as the final caution would come out for a stalled car. With less than ten to go Sweeney looked to be on a mission as the veteran driver who jumped into his Late Model after winning the open wheel modified feature had the lane he wanted and looked to be on his way to a convincing win. But with less than five laps to go Sweeney would pick up the back of the field and with some heavy traffic this time this was going to allow both Barber and England to close on him. With two to go Barber was now within five lengths of Sweeney and riding through heavy traffic Barber would cut the lead to two car lengths as they took the white flag. Down the backshute Barber was within a last lap effort of passing Sweeney, but Sweeney would dive to the inside line of the race track and take his car home to the checkers for his first career O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series win. Barber finished second followed by England, Casebolt and Todd.
Afterwards Sweeney gave credit to the fact that running the in the BoB Modified race helped him in the BoB Late Model feature. "I learned a lot about the track obviously racing the Modified, my car was good in that race and in the Late Model we just tried to use the same line as we did in the Modified and it worked out real well." said the winner in the post race interview. "This is probably the best I have ever seen this track, you could race anywhere on the track two and three wide without any problems so my hats off to the track prep crew for the job they did tonight."
Completing the top ten were Mike Jewell, Tim Tungate, Wayne Chinn, Chris Combs and Aaron Hatton.
In preliminary action Johnny Wheeler was the Racing Optics Fast Qualifier with a 15.982 second lap over the 22 entrants on hand. The VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat Race Winners were Steve Casebolt, Jr., Tyrel Todd and Randle Sweeney.
The next O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series event will be on Friday Night, August 26 paying $3,000 at the Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, KY.
Race Summary
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Presented by Arizona Spoirt Shirts
Event #15
Saturday Night, August 6, 2005
Soggy Bottom Speedway-Morgantown, KY
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier: Johnny Wheeler 15.952 seconds
VP Fuel Makin' Power Heat #1: Steve Casebolt, Jr., Mike Jewell, Johnny Wheeler, Wayne Chinn, Tyler Landers, Shannon Thornsberry, Whitney McQueary, David Huff
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #2: Tyrel Todd, Bryan Barber, Aaron Hatton, Chris Combs, Blake Chinn, Dennis Selby, Jason Hinkle
VP Fuels Makin' Power Heat #3: Randle Sweeney, Michael England, Tim Tungate, Frankie Coomer, Mike Luna, Dan Deaton, Jason Koger
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass A Main (40 Laps): Randle Sweeney, Bryan Barber, Michael England, Steve Casebolt, Jr., Tyrel Todd, Mike Jewell, Tim Tungate, Wayne Chinn, Chris Combs, Aaron Hatton, Blake Chinn, Tyler Landers, Johnny Wheeler, Shannon Thornsberry, Dan Deaton, Jason Koger, Frankie Coomer, Whitney McQueary, David Huff, Dennis Selby, Mike Luna, Jason Hinkle
Race Statistics:
Entries: 22
Cautions: 2
Red Flags: 0
Lap Leaders: Tyrel Todd 1-13, Randle Sweeney 14, Todd 15, Sweeney 16-40
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Rookie of the Race: Wayne Chinn
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger of the Race: Bryan Barber (started 5th and finished 2nd) advanced 3 positions
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Points Standings after 8/6/05
1. Whitney McQueary (Dunnville, KY) 2790
2. Tim Tungate (Campbellsville, KY) 2750
3. Mike Jewell (Scottsburg, IN) 2605
4. Michael England (Glasgow, KY) 2565
5. Aaron Hatton (Mt. Sterling, KY) 2535
6. Chris Combs (Isom, KY) 2490
7. Tyrel Todd (Eubank, KY) 2440
8. Wayne Chinn (Tipp City, OH) 2275
9. Frankie Coomer (Austin, IN) 2225
10. Blake Chinn (Tipp City, OH) 1905
2005 O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Sponsors
O’Reilly Auto Parts – Title Sponsor and “Official Auto Parts Store of the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series”
Lucas Oil- “Official Oil Products of the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series”
VP Racing Fuels- “Official Race Fuel of the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series”
2005 O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Sponsors include: O’Reilly Auto Parts, Lucas Oil Products, Arizona Sports Shirts, VP Racing Fuels, Oval Craft, Hoosier Racing Tires, PPM, BERT, Rayburn Chassis, Ratliff Motors, American Race Tire, Real Wheels, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, Trailer Parts & Sales, Bullock Racing Engines, DJ Designs, Racing Optics, Smith Automotive and Machine and Cruise With The Champions
