James Essex NARA/PR
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
BARDSTOWN, KY--Tim Tungate of Campbellsville, KY won his first career O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts event on Sunday Afternoon at the Bluegrass Speedway as he captured the 6th Annual "Kentuckiana Klash" for the biggest win of his racing career. The event was delayed one day because of rain on Saturday and then on Sunday was delayed twice by rain showers. The 39 year old driver becomes the ninth different winner in 13 series events in 2004 as he piloted the Logan Parrott Guardian Mortgage, WBM Motorsports, Nuckul's Grocery, The Children's Palace, Shelly's Hot Styles, MDW Transport, J&L Title, Hoosier Racing Tires, AMS Racing Engines, Rocket Chassis Monte Carlo to the win despite crashing into a stalled Dustin Neat just passed the flagstand at the finish. Kevin Claycomb of Vincennes, IN finished second in the Prestige Auto Service/MasterSbilt Monte Carlo with Scott James of Lawrenceburg, IN taking third in the Powell Motorsports/Rocket Grand Prix. Finishing in fourth in the 30 lap Lucas Oil A-Main was Johnny Wheeler of Campbellsville, KY in the Larry Yantz Racing/Clayton Homes/C.J. Rayburn Monte Carlo with fifth place going to Joey Daniel of Liberty, KY in the Chubby Baird Gate Company/C.J. Rayburn Grand Prix. A total of 41 cars were on hand for the event that took two days to finish up because of rain.
Under the bright Kentucky sunshine Tungate and Dustin Neat would start from the front row of the Lucas Oil 30 lapper with Tungate grabbing the lead in turn two on the initial lap. Kevin Claycomb in one of his rare appearances of 2004 jumped into second with Scott James taking third. The race was going along smoothly until rookie Jordan Bland jumped the cushion in turn one and rode the wall for a while bringing out the first caution flag of the race after four laps were scored. Bland would go pitside with damage taking him out of action in his first career BoB start.
When the race resumed it was Tungate on the point as he was in front building his lead over Claycomb and James who fought for second place. Johnny Wheeler was in third at this point with Dustin Neat running in fifth. Another caution for a spin on lap eight would slow Tungate momentarily. The race would see several green flag laps ensue with Tungate still in control of the race and Claycomb along with James trying to catch up to him. Tungate would start to encounter the back of the field just past the halfway mark and that would allow both Claycomb and James to close the margin.
Action on lap 22 would see the leader, Tungate get up close and personal with a car he was trying to lap bringing out another caution flag. Tungate would keep going with the lead he had built up now gone. But the caution allowed for a clear track for Tungate the 1998 and 1999 Bluegrass Speedway Late Model Track Champion who looked poised to pull off his first career Battle of the Bluegrass win. The pair of Hoosier drivers behind him however were not going to make it easy for him in the remaining seven caution free laps of the race. But Tungate's experience of running at Bardstown on a weekly basis would pay off as he would go on to claim the $3000 first place money in a wild and dangerous finish. Dustin Neat had started to slow in the final few laps of the race and dropped to the near the back of the back as Neat took the white flag he got crossed up on the main straight just passed the flagstand. Tungate and everyone else were already headed off of turn four and to the finish line with the checkers waving. As Tungate was focused on getting the checkers first he would make heavy contact with stalled car of Neat's after winning the race. Both drivers were shaken up and checked out. Tungate emerged from his crumpled car waving to the crowd as he just won the biggest race of his career in spectacular fashion. Claycomb would come across the finish line in second followed by James, Wheeler and Joey Daniel.
After the race Tungate was still a little bit shaken by the wreck and his main concern first off was that Dustin Neat was o.k. "Man, I didn't even see him until it was too late, I was so focused on the checkers and I tried to dive to the inside at the last second and struck him, I hope Dustin's alright," said the winner. "I am so glad to finally win a Battle of the Bluegrass race, I want to thank Logan Parrott, Jeff Harrod, my girlfriend and a whole bunch of other people out there who helped make this happen," "The $3000 we won will help pay to repair the damage to the race car at least I hope so," said Tungate who walked to victory lane to accept the trophy for the big win.
Completing the top ten were Tyrel Todd, John Gill, Steve Barnett, Brad Neat and Dennis Selby.
In preliminary events, David Powers was the Racing Optics Quick Timer at 15.754 seconds around the 1/2 mile high banked oval. The four Crown Spray Power Heat Race winners were Mike Jewell, Joey Daniel, Kevin Claycomb and Dustin Neat. The O'Reilly Auto Parts B-Mains went to Victor Lee and Dennis Selby.
The next O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series event will be this Saturday Night, July 17 for the running of the 17th Annual "Butterball" Wooldridge Memorial event at the Richmond Raceway in Richmond, KY paying $5000 to win.
Race Summary
Event #13 of 2004
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Late Models
Racing Optics Time Trials: David Powers 15.754 seconds
Crown Spray Power Heat #1: Mike Jewell, Tim Tungate, Tyrel Todd, David Powers
Crown Spray Power Heat #2: Joey Daniel, Scott James, Steve Barnett, Victor Lee
Crown Spray Power Heat #3: Kevin Claycomb, John Gill, Aaron Hatton, Brian Asbury
Crown Spray Power Heat #4: Dustin Neat, Johnny Wheeler, Brad Neat, Dennis Selby
O'Reilly Auto Parts B-Main #1: Victor Lee, Shawn Negangard, Benji Lee, Billy Meredith
O'Reilly Auto Parts B-Main #2: Dennis Selby, Brian Asbury, David Webb, Mike Marlar
Lucas Oil A-Main "Kentuckiana Klash" Feature (30 Laps): Tim Tungate, Kevin Claycomb, Scott James, Johnny Wheeler, Joey Daniel, Tyrel Todd, John Gill, Steve Barnett, Brad Neat, Dennis Selby, Aaron Hatton, Victor Lee, Benji Lee, Jeff Watson, Doug Smith, David Powers, Dustin Neat, Billy Meredith, Brian Asbury, David Webb, Shawn Negangard, Spensor Watson, Jordan Bland
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
BARDSTOWN, KY--Tim Tungate of Campbellsville, KY won his first career O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts event on Sunday Afternoon at the Bluegrass Speedway as he captured the 6th Annual "Kentuckiana Klash" for the biggest win of his racing career. The event was delayed one day because of rain on Saturday and then on Sunday was delayed twice by rain showers. The 39 year old driver becomes the ninth different winner in 13 series events in 2004 as he piloted the Logan Parrott Guardian Mortgage, WBM Motorsports, Nuckul's Grocery, The Children's Palace, Shelly's Hot Styles, MDW Transport, J&L Title, Hoosier Racing Tires, AMS Racing Engines, Rocket Chassis Monte Carlo to the win despite crashing into a stalled Dustin Neat just passed the flagstand at the finish. Kevin Claycomb of Vincennes, IN finished second in the Prestige Auto Service/MasterSbilt Monte Carlo with Scott James of Lawrenceburg, IN taking third in the Powell Motorsports/Rocket Grand Prix. Finishing in fourth in the 30 lap Lucas Oil A-Main was Johnny Wheeler of Campbellsville, KY in the Larry Yantz Racing/Clayton Homes/C.J. Rayburn Monte Carlo with fifth place going to Joey Daniel of Liberty, KY in the Chubby Baird Gate Company/C.J. Rayburn Grand Prix. A total of 41 cars were on hand for the event that took two days to finish up because of rain.
Under the bright Kentucky sunshine Tungate and Dustin Neat would start from the front row of the Lucas Oil 30 lapper with Tungate grabbing the lead in turn two on the initial lap. Kevin Claycomb in one of his rare appearances of 2004 jumped into second with Scott James taking third. The race was going along smoothly until rookie Jordan Bland jumped the cushion in turn one and rode the wall for a while bringing out the first caution flag of the race after four laps were scored. Bland would go pitside with damage taking him out of action in his first career BoB start.
When the race resumed it was Tungate on the point as he was in front building his lead over Claycomb and James who fought for second place. Johnny Wheeler was in third at this point with Dustin Neat running in fifth. Another caution for a spin on lap eight would slow Tungate momentarily. The race would see several green flag laps ensue with Tungate still in control of the race and Claycomb along with James trying to catch up to him. Tungate would start to encounter the back of the field just past the halfway mark and that would allow both Claycomb and James to close the margin.
Action on lap 22 would see the leader, Tungate get up close and personal with a car he was trying to lap bringing out another caution flag. Tungate would keep going with the lead he had built up now gone. But the caution allowed for a clear track for Tungate the 1998 and 1999 Bluegrass Speedway Late Model Track Champion who looked poised to pull off his first career Battle of the Bluegrass win. The pair of Hoosier drivers behind him however were not going to make it easy for him in the remaining seven caution free laps of the race. But Tungate's experience of running at Bardstown on a weekly basis would pay off as he would go on to claim the $3000 first place money in a wild and dangerous finish. Dustin Neat had started to slow in the final few laps of the race and dropped to the near the back of the back as Neat took the white flag he got crossed up on the main straight just passed the flagstand. Tungate and everyone else were already headed off of turn four and to the finish line with the checkers waving. As Tungate was focused on getting the checkers first he would make heavy contact with stalled car of Neat's after winning the race. Both drivers were shaken up and checked out. Tungate emerged from his crumpled car waving to the crowd as he just won the biggest race of his career in spectacular fashion. Claycomb would come across the finish line in second followed by James, Wheeler and Joey Daniel.
After the race Tungate was still a little bit shaken by the wreck and his main concern first off was that Dustin Neat was o.k. "Man, I didn't even see him until it was too late, I was so focused on the checkers and I tried to dive to the inside at the last second and struck him, I hope Dustin's alright," said the winner. "I am so glad to finally win a Battle of the Bluegrass race, I want to thank Logan Parrott, Jeff Harrod, my girlfriend and a whole bunch of other people out there who helped make this happen," "The $3000 we won will help pay to repair the damage to the race car at least I hope so," said Tungate who walked to victory lane to accept the trophy for the big win.
Completing the top ten were Tyrel Todd, John Gill, Steve Barnett, Brad Neat and Dennis Selby.
In preliminary events, David Powers was the Racing Optics Quick Timer at 15.754 seconds around the 1/2 mile high banked oval. The four Crown Spray Power Heat Race winners were Mike Jewell, Joey Daniel, Kevin Claycomb and Dustin Neat. The O'Reilly Auto Parts B-Mains went to Victor Lee and Dennis Selby.
The next O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series event will be this Saturday Night, July 17 for the running of the 17th Annual "Butterball" Wooldridge Memorial event at the Richmond Raceway in Richmond, KY paying $5000 to win.
Race Summary
Event #13 of 2004
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Late Models
Racing Optics Time Trials: David Powers 15.754 seconds
Crown Spray Power Heat #1: Mike Jewell, Tim Tungate, Tyrel Todd, David Powers
Crown Spray Power Heat #2: Joey Daniel, Scott James, Steve Barnett, Victor Lee
Crown Spray Power Heat #3: Kevin Claycomb, John Gill, Aaron Hatton, Brian Asbury
Crown Spray Power Heat #4: Dustin Neat, Johnny Wheeler, Brad Neat, Dennis Selby
O'Reilly Auto Parts B-Main #1: Victor Lee, Shawn Negangard, Benji Lee, Billy Meredith
O'Reilly Auto Parts B-Main #2: Dennis Selby, Brian Asbury, David Webb, Mike Marlar
Lucas Oil A-Main "Kentuckiana Klash" Feature (30 Laps): Tim Tungate, Kevin Claycomb, Scott James, Johnny Wheeler, Joey Daniel, Tyrel Todd, John Gill, Steve Barnett, Brad Neat, Dennis Selby, Aaron Hatton, Victor Lee, Benji Lee, Jeff Watson, Doug Smith, David Powers, Dustin Neat, Billy Meredith, Brian Asbury, David Webb, Shawn Negangard, Spensor Watson, Jordan Bland
