RICHMOND, KY (09/15/2007) - Rolling into Richmond Raceway for the 1st Annual Fall Championships, Tyrel Todd was in search for his next trip to victory lane with the O'Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts. Todd, who had taken home a string of Series victories in 2004 had remained winless in almost two and half years with several strong second place finishes to his credit during that time. Todd put an exclamation point on those second place runs when he took the lead on lap 17 of the $3000 to win 1st Annual Fall Championships at Richmond Raceway Saturday night as he cruised to the popular win.
At the start of the 40-lap A-Main event, Josh McGuire and Tim Tungate paced the field to the green with Tungate jumping out to the early lead followed by McGuire, Aaron Hatton, David Webb and Todd. While McGuire, Tungate and Hatton raced hard for the point, Todd worked his way past Webb into the fourth spot but not before Webb battled back to the inside one circuit later to regain the position. The battle for the third spot intensified on lap three as Webb and Todd caught Hatton going door-to-door down the backchute. Webb and Todd moved past Hatton on lap 4 setting their sight on the lead duo of Tungate and McGuire.
While Todd and Webb battled for the number three spot, the battle for fifth quickly intensified as Jason Keltner, Victor Lee and Chris Combs found themselves knocking on the back door of Aaron Hatton on lap 6. Keltner and Lee slid their mounts to the inside of Hatton on lap 7 to begin closing the gap on Todd and Webb. On lap 7, Todd got a run on the inside of Webb in turn three to take over the third spot. It was now time for Todd to begin reeling in race leaders as they headed in to lapped traffic. While Todd was chasing down the lead duo, Keltner moved his mount to follow on the rear decklid of Webb, making his every move for the fourth spot.
On lap ten, "The Action Track" claimed its first victim of the night when Aaron Hatton pulled his mount into the pit area and retired from the event. Back up front, Todd caught the leaders and began working on the rear spoiler of McGuire. The battle for the lead was hot as Tungate, McGuire and Todd reached the back of the field.
While the leaders sliced and diced lapped traffic, Todd gained enough momentum down the backchute to take second from McGuire. As Todd made his move on McGuire, Keltner slid his mount to the inside of Webb making the pass into the number four position.
One circuit later, Todd took his machine to the outside groove of Tungate leading Tungate to the strip by a mere nose. As Tungate battled back to the inside of Todd, the pair danced into turn one door-to-door with Todd clearing Tungate on the backchute.
As the field reached the halfway point, Jason Keltner began flexing his muscle again when he worked his way past McGuire for the number three spot and setting his line of attack on Tungate for the second position. As laps began to dwindle down, the battles were set with Tungate and Keltner battling for second, McGuire and Webb going toe-to-toe for fourth and Lee and Combs going door-to-door for sixth. As Tungate and Keltner found another pack of lapped traffic on lap 27, they had company creep up as McGuire and Webb caught the lead pack. As Tungate and Keltner cleared the traffic on lap 30, Keltner glued himself to Tungate's rear decklid for the closing circuits.
Coming into the last lap, Keltner once again tried to muscle his way around Tungate in turn one, as he got a run on the high side allowing him to pull alongside down the backchute. The pair danced into turn three door-to-door and as the pair exited turn four, Keltner found just enough bite on the high side to launch himself into the second spot.
Tyrel Todd brought his Bullock powered, MasterSbilt Monte Carlo sponsored by Todd Truss/Todd Metals/Pulaski Steel and Supply/Gerald's Auto Parts mount into victory lane followed by 2007 Cruise with the Champions Rookie of the Year points leader Jason Keltner in his Draime powered Rayburn Monte Carlo Arizona Sport Shirts/Rent Depot/Schwoebel Construction/Keltner Contracting and Service sponsored machine. Tim Tungate was third, followed by Josh McGuire and David Webb. Rounding out the top ten were Series points leader Victor Lee, Chris Combs, Dennis Roberson, Bobby Carrier, Jr., and Jim Robinson.
Tim Tungate set fast time in Racing Optic Time Trials with a quick lap of 15.620. Arizona Sport Shirt heat wins went to Tim Tungate, Josh McGuire and Aaron Hatton.
Next up for the O'Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series is the final event of the 2007 season as the Series heads to Bluegrass Speedway in Bardstown, KY on September 22nd for the 9th Annual Bluegrass 50 paying $5000 to the winner.
For more information on the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series, check us out on the web at www.battleofthebluegrass.com or call the Series office at (859) 433-5707.
Race Summary
O'Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts
Richmond Raceway
Richmond, KY
September 15, 2007
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #1 - Tim Tungate, David Webb, Jason Keltner, Jim Robinson, Dennis Roberson, Dan Deaton, Danny Barrett
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #2 - Josh McGuire, Tyrel Todd, Chris Combs, Mike Jewell, Marty Stepp, Alan Haycraft, Brandon Witt
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #3 - Aaron Hatton, Victor Lee, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Jason Barrett, Jeff Alsip, Doug Smith
Fall Championships 40 - Todd, Keltner, Tungate, McGuire, Webb, Lee, Combs, Roberson, Carrier, Robinson, Jewell, Alsip, Stepp, Witt, Deaton, Smith, D. Barrett, Haycraft, Hatton, J. Barrett
Race Statistics
Entries: 20
Lap Leaders: Tim Tungate (1-16); Tyrel Todd (17-40)
Cautions: 0
PPM Performance Products Hard Charger Of The Race: Brandon Witt (20th to 14th)
Cruise With The Champions Rookie Of The Race: Jason Keltner
Current O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Points
1. Victor Lee - 4229
2. Jason Keltner - 3928
3. Tyrel Todd - 3805
4. Tim Tungate - 3729
5. David Webb - 3592
6. Jerry Rice - 3264
7. Mike Jewell - 2925
8. Mike Marlar -2924
9. Chris Combs - 2913
10. Doug Smith - 2589
2007 O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Winners
Florence Speedway (April 13th) - Michael England
Twin Cities Raceway Park (April 20th) - Rick Aukland
Brownstown Speedway (April 21st) - Don O'Neal
Ponderosa Speedway (April 27th) - Aaron Hatton
Bluegrass Speedway (April 28th) - Mike Marlar
Tazewell Speedway (May 12th) - Jimmy Owens
Portsmouth Raceway Park (May 27th) - Audie Swartz
Bluegrass Speedway (May 28th) - Don O'Neal
Richmond Raceway (May 29th) - Greg Johnson
Lake Cumberland Speedway (May 31st) - Josh McGuire
Ponderosa Speedway (June 1st) - Brad Neat
Bluegrass Speedway (June 16th) - Mike Jewell
Brownstown Speedway (June 23rd) - Rohn Moon
201 Speedway (June 30th) - Justin Ratliff
Florence Speedway (July 11th) - Scott James
Ponderosa Speedway (July 13th) - Aaron Hatton
Bluegrass Speedway (July 14th) - Steve Francis
Richmond Raceway (July 21st) - Tim Tungate
Ponderosa Speedway (August 24th) - Mike Marlar
201 Speedway (September 1st) - Paul Harris
Richmond Raceway (September 15th) - Tyrel Todd
2007 O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series Sponsors
O'Reilly Auto Parts - Title Sponsor and "Official Auto Parts Retailer of the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series"
Arizona Sport Shirts - Presenting Sponsor and "Official Souvenir Manufacturer & Vendor of the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series"
Sunoco Race Fuels - "Official Race Fuel of the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series"
2007 O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series Supporters Include: O'Reilly Auto Parts, Arizona Sport Shirts, Sunoco Race Fuels, DART Machinery, Drive Smart Kentucky, Hoosier Race Tires, American Race Tires, PPM Performance Products, Bazell Fuels, Cruise With the Champions, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, Racing Optics, Design 500, Trailer Parts & Sales, Honda of Prestonsburg, Bullock Race Engines, CJ Rayburn Race Cars, Bert Transmissions, Double H Race Fab, DT52 Photos, and Real Wheels
- Jesse Howard - O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series (jhoward@battleofthebluegrass.com
At the start of the 40-lap A-Main event, Josh McGuire and Tim Tungate paced the field to the green with Tungate jumping out to the early lead followed by McGuire, Aaron Hatton, David Webb and Todd. While McGuire, Tungate and Hatton raced hard for the point, Todd worked his way past Webb into the fourth spot but not before Webb battled back to the inside one circuit later to regain the position. The battle for the third spot intensified on lap three as Webb and Todd caught Hatton going door-to-door down the backchute. Webb and Todd moved past Hatton on lap 4 setting their sight on the lead duo of Tungate and McGuire.
While Todd and Webb battled for the number three spot, the battle for fifth quickly intensified as Jason Keltner, Victor Lee and Chris Combs found themselves knocking on the back door of Aaron Hatton on lap 6. Keltner and Lee slid their mounts to the inside of Hatton on lap 7 to begin closing the gap on Todd and Webb. On lap 7, Todd got a run on the inside of Webb in turn three to take over the third spot. It was now time for Todd to begin reeling in race leaders as they headed in to lapped traffic. While Todd was chasing down the lead duo, Keltner moved his mount to follow on the rear decklid of Webb, making his every move for the fourth spot.
On lap ten, "The Action Track" claimed its first victim of the night when Aaron Hatton pulled his mount into the pit area and retired from the event. Back up front, Todd caught the leaders and began working on the rear spoiler of McGuire. The battle for the lead was hot as Tungate, McGuire and Todd reached the back of the field.
While the leaders sliced and diced lapped traffic, Todd gained enough momentum down the backchute to take second from McGuire. As Todd made his move on McGuire, Keltner slid his mount to the inside of Webb making the pass into the number four position.
One circuit later, Todd took his machine to the outside groove of Tungate leading Tungate to the strip by a mere nose. As Tungate battled back to the inside of Todd, the pair danced into turn one door-to-door with Todd clearing Tungate on the backchute.
As the field reached the halfway point, Jason Keltner began flexing his muscle again when he worked his way past McGuire for the number three spot and setting his line of attack on Tungate for the second position. As laps began to dwindle down, the battles were set with Tungate and Keltner battling for second, McGuire and Webb going toe-to-toe for fourth and Lee and Combs going door-to-door for sixth. As Tungate and Keltner found another pack of lapped traffic on lap 27, they had company creep up as McGuire and Webb caught the lead pack. As Tungate and Keltner cleared the traffic on lap 30, Keltner glued himself to Tungate's rear decklid for the closing circuits.
Coming into the last lap, Keltner once again tried to muscle his way around Tungate in turn one, as he got a run on the high side allowing him to pull alongside down the backchute. The pair danced into turn three door-to-door and as the pair exited turn four, Keltner found just enough bite on the high side to launch himself into the second spot.
Tyrel Todd brought his Bullock powered, MasterSbilt Monte Carlo sponsored by Todd Truss/Todd Metals/Pulaski Steel and Supply/Gerald's Auto Parts mount into victory lane followed by 2007 Cruise with the Champions Rookie of the Year points leader Jason Keltner in his Draime powered Rayburn Monte Carlo Arizona Sport Shirts/Rent Depot/Schwoebel Construction/Keltner Contracting and Service sponsored machine. Tim Tungate was third, followed by Josh McGuire and David Webb. Rounding out the top ten were Series points leader Victor Lee, Chris Combs, Dennis Roberson, Bobby Carrier, Jr., and Jim Robinson.
Tim Tungate set fast time in Racing Optic Time Trials with a quick lap of 15.620. Arizona Sport Shirt heat wins went to Tim Tungate, Josh McGuire and Aaron Hatton.
Next up for the O'Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series is the final event of the 2007 season as the Series heads to Bluegrass Speedway in Bardstown, KY on September 22nd for the 9th Annual Bluegrass 50 paying $5000 to the winner.
For more information on the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series, check us out on the web at www.battleofthebluegrass.com or call the Series office at (859) 433-5707.
Race Summary
O'Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts
Richmond Raceway
Richmond, KY
September 15, 2007
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #1 - Tim Tungate, David Webb, Jason Keltner, Jim Robinson, Dennis Roberson, Dan Deaton, Danny Barrett
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #2 - Josh McGuire, Tyrel Todd, Chris Combs, Mike Jewell, Marty Stepp, Alan Haycraft, Brandon Witt
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #3 - Aaron Hatton, Victor Lee, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Jason Barrett, Jeff Alsip, Doug Smith
Fall Championships 40 - Todd, Keltner, Tungate, McGuire, Webb, Lee, Combs, Roberson, Carrier, Robinson, Jewell, Alsip, Stepp, Witt, Deaton, Smith, D. Barrett, Haycraft, Hatton, J. Barrett
Race Statistics
Entries: 20
Lap Leaders: Tim Tungate (1-16); Tyrel Todd (17-40)
Cautions: 0
PPM Performance Products Hard Charger Of The Race: Brandon Witt (20th to 14th)
Cruise With The Champions Rookie Of The Race: Jason Keltner
Current O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Points
1. Victor Lee - 4229
2. Jason Keltner - 3928
3. Tyrel Todd - 3805
4. Tim Tungate - 3729
5. David Webb - 3592
6. Jerry Rice - 3264
7. Mike Jewell - 2925
8. Mike Marlar -2924
9. Chris Combs - 2913
10. Doug Smith - 2589
2007 O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Winners
Florence Speedway (April 13th) - Michael England
Twin Cities Raceway Park (April 20th) - Rick Aukland
Brownstown Speedway (April 21st) - Don O'Neal
Ponderosa Speedway (April 27th) - Aaron Hatton
Bluegrass Speedway (April 28th) - Mike Marlar
Tazewell Speedway (May 12th) - Jimmy Owens
Portsmouth Raceway Park (May 27th) - Audie Swartz
Bluegrass Speedway (May 28th) - Don O'Neal
Richmond Raceway (May 29th) - Greg Johnson
Lake Cumberland Speedway (May 31st) - Josh McGuire
Ponderosa Speedway (June 1st) - Brad Neat
Bluegrass Speedway (June 16th) - Mike Jewell
Brownstown Speedway (June 23rd) - Rohn Moon
201 Speedway (June 30th) - Justin Ratliff
Florence Speedway (July 11th) - Scott James
Ponderosa Speedway (July 13th) - Aaron Hatton
Bluegrass Speedway (July 14th) - Steve Francis
Richmond Raceway (July 21st) - Tim Tungate
Ponderosa Speedway (August 24th) - Mike Marlar
201 Speedway (September 1st) - Paul Harris
Richmond Raceway (September 15th) - Tyrel Todd
2007 O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series Sponsors
O'Reilly Auto Parts - Title Sponsor and "Official Auto Parts Retailer of the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series"
Arizona Sport Shirts - Presenting Sponsor and "Official Souvenir Manufacturer & Vendor of the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series"
Sunoco Race Fuels - "Official Race Fuel of the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series"
2007 O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series Supporters Include: O'Reilly Auto Parts, Arizona Sport Shirts, Sunoco Race Fuels, DART Machinery, Drive Smart Kentucky, Hoosier Race Tires, American Race Tires, PPM Performance Products, Bazell Fuels, Cruise With the Champions, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, Racing Optics, Design 500, Trailer Parts & Sales, Honda of Prestonsburg, Bullock Race Engines, CJ Rayburn Race Cars, Bert Transmissions, Double H Race Fab, DT52 Photos, and Real Wheels
- Jesse Howard - O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series (jhoward@battleofthebluegrass.com
