Friday Night, August 29, 2003
Johnny Wheeler of Campbellsville, KY repeated his May performance in winning his second STARS Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Presented by Arizona Sport Shirts on Friday Night at the Legendary Ponderosa Speedway as rain halted the 8th Annual Pete Abel Memorial Race after 24 of the scheduled 40 laps were completed. Wheeler earned $3000 for his third career STARS Battle of the Bluegrass victory behind the wheel of the Larry Yantz Racing out of Waynesburg, KY owned, C.J. Rayburn Monte Carlo sponsored by Cornett Thunder Racing Engines/Clayton Homes/Crossland Homes/LUV Homes/Classic Homes/Yantz Mobile Home Services/Legend's Inc./D&S Remodeling/VP Racing Fuels/PPM Performance Products/Wayne Bowen Racing Supply/American Race Tires and Draughn Racing Supply #57. Current point’s leader, Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN was second in the Wayne Bowen Racing Supply/Wilson's Service Center/C.J. Rayburn Grand Prix. Taking third was Whitney McQueary of Dunnville, KY in the Overhead Door of Campbellsville, KY/Bo's Smoke Shop/MasterSbilt Monte Carlo. Fourth place went to Aaron Hatton of Mt Sterling, Ky in the Russell Hatton owned/Porter Tire Center/MasterSbilt Grand Prix with fifth place belonging to 2003 Dream $100,000 winner Darrell Lanigan of Union, KY in the Lanigan Autosports/Gotta Race Wear/Rocket Ford Taurus.
In the first STARS Battle of the Bluegrass appearance in May at Ponderosa it was all Johnny Wheeler and on this night, Wheeler would repeat his ability to conquer the D-shaped oval as he would grab the lead at the start of the race with Marlar and McQueary following in second and third. Wheeler would quickly show his strength bolting out to a five car length advantage and was up to lapping cars by the 10th circuit. The race for second was getting interesting with BoB points leader, Marlar and McQueary starting to dice it up for position. Wheeler would be on complete control of this race lapping five cars by the 22nd lap. On the 24th lap Scott James, who was running ninth slowed down the back straight and limped across the start-finish line bringing out the only caution of the race up until that point. The red flag was then displayed as STARS Battle of the Bluegrass and Ponderosa Speedway officials were quickly called to James' car where he was struck by some sort of debris early in the race and finally had to stop his car to show the officials what would turn out to be a badly damaged and broken left hand. While James was attended to, rain began to fall and was heavy enough to force officials to call the event complete with 24 laps in the books. Wheeler was sent to the scales and the photo area for his second STARS Battle of the Bluegrass win of the season, both coming at Ponderosa. Just when the race went caution McQueary was starting to close in on Marlar and was attempting to find room to pass him when the race was declared over. The race for positions 4-10 were really taking shape with Darrell Lanigan coming up from his 10th starting spot to challenge fourth place runner and finisher, Aaron Hatton when the race ended prematurely.
Completing the top ten were Timmy Yeager, Victor Lee, Michael Chilton, Jesse James Lay and Ed Behn.
Scott James grabbed the Racing Optics/Bullzilla Graphics Fast Time award for the 30 entries on hand at 14.121 seconds. Heat races were won by Mike Marlar, Whitney McQueary, Aaron Hatton and Johnny Wheeler. The AFCO B-Mains went to Mike Jewell and Jesse James Lay.
Race Summary
STARS Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Event #18
Friday Night, August 29, 2003
The Legendary Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY
Racing Optics/Bullzilla Graphics Fast Time: Scott James 14.121
First Heat: Mike Marlar, Michael Chilton, Scott James, Jason Setser
Second heat: Whitney McQueary, Victor Lee, Darrell Lanigan, Mike Jewell
Third Heat: Aaron Hatton, Ed Behn, Dustin Neat, Jesse James Lay
Fourth Heat: Johnny Wheeler, Timmy Yeager, Bobby Wolter, Jr., Brad Neat
AFCO 1st B-Main: Mike Jewell, Jason Setser, Joey Daniel, Bobby Carrier, Jr.
AFCO 2nd B-Main: Jesse James Lay, Brad Neat, John Blankenship, Chad Smith
8th Annual Pete Abel Memorial PBM Performance Products A-Main: Johnny Wheeler, Mike Marlar, Whitney McQueary, Aaron Hatton, Darrell Lanigan, Timmy Yeager, Victor Lee, Michael Chilton, Jesse James Lay, Ed Behn, Bobby Wolter, Jr., Dustin Neat, Mike Jewell, Brad Neat, Steve Cornelius, Jason Setser, Scott James, Joey Daniel, John Blankenship, Billy Jones, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Tyrel Todd
Race Statistics:
Entries: 30
STARS BoB Provisionals: Tyrel Todd and Steve Cornelius
Track Provisionals: Bobby Carrier Jr and Billy Jones
PPM Racing Products/Outlaw Race Cars Hard Charger: Jesse James Lay
R&P Industrial Chimney Rookie of the Race: Mike Marlar
Lap Leader: Johnny Wheeler 1-24
Caution Flags: 1
Red Flag: 1
Race called after 24 laps due to rain
Current STARS Battle of the Bluegrass Points Standings
As of August 31, 2003
After 18 events
1. Mike Marlar 3700
2. Scott James 3380
3. Timmy Yeager 3330
4. Michael Chilton 3255
5. Jesse James Lay 3155
6. Aaron Hatton 3125
7. Tyrel Todd 2975
8. Johnny Wheeler 2725
9. Steven Ashby 2055
10. Victor Lee 1875
11. Carnell Parker III 1825
12. Mike Jewell 1585
13. Eddie Carrier Jr 1540
14. Brad Neat 1495
15. Dustin Neat 1395
R&P Industrial Chimney Rookie of the Year
1. Mike Marlar 3700
2. Michael Chilton 3255
3. Steven Ashby 2055
4. Carnell Parker III 1825
5. Joey Kramer 990
Next STARS Battle of the Bluegrass Events:
Friday-September 12-Clinton County Speedway-Alpha, KY $3000 to win
Saturday-September 13-Richmond Raceway-Richmond, KY $3000 to win
Sunday-September 14-Half Mountain Speedway-Royalton, KY $5000 to win
Johnny Wheeler of Campbellsville, KY repeated his May performance in winning his second STARS Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Presented by Arizona Sport Shirts on Friday Night at the Legendary Ponderosa Speedway as rain halted the 8th Annual Pete Abel Memorial Race after 24 of the scheduled 40 laps were completed. Wheeler earned $3000 for his third career STARS Battle of the Bluegrass victory behind the wheel of the Larry Yantz Racing out of Waynesburg, KY owned, C.J. Rayburn Monte Carlo sponsored by Cornett Thunder Racing Engines/Clayton Homes/Crossland Homes/LUV Homes/Classic Homes/Yantz Mobile Home Services/Legend's Inc./D&S Remodeling/VP Racing Fuels/PPM Performance Products/Wayne Bowen Racing Supply/American Race Tires and Draughn Racing Supply #57. Current point’s leader, Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN was second in the Wayne Bowen Racing Supply/Wilson's Service Center/C.J. Rayburn Grand Prix. Taking third was Whitney McQueary of Dunnville, KY in the Overhead Door of Campbellsville, KY/Bo's Smoke Shop/MasterSbilt Monte Carlo. Fourth place went to Aaron Hatton of Mt Sterling, Ky in the Russell Hatton owned/Porter Tire Center/MasterSbilt Grand Prix with fifth place belonging to 2003 Dream $100,000 winner Darrell Lanigan of Union, KY in the Lanigan Autosports/Gotta Race Wear/Rocket Ford Taurus.
In the first STARS Battle of the Bluegrass appearance in May at Ponderosa it was all Johnny Wheeler and on this night, Wheeler would repeat his ability to conquer the D-shaped oval as he would grab the lead at the start of the race with Marlar and McQueary following in second and third. Wheeler would quickly show his strength bolting out to a five car length advantage and was up to lapping cars by the 10th circuit. The race for second was getting interesting with BoB points leader, Marlar and McQueary starting to dice it up for position. Wheeler would be on complete control of this race lapping five cars by the 22nd lap. On the 24th lap Scott James, who was running ninth slowed down the back straight and limped across the start-finish line bringing out the only caution of the race up until that point. The red flag was then displayed as STARS Battle of the Bluegrass and Ponderosa Speedway officials were quickly called to James' car where he was struck by some sort of debris early in the race and finally had to stop his car to show the officials what would turn out to be a badly damaged and broken left hand. While James was attended to, rain began to fall and was heavy enough to force officials to call the event complete with 24 laps in the books. Wheeler was sent to the scales and the photo area for his second STARS Battle of the Bluegrass win of the season, both coming at Ponderosa. Just when the race went caution McQueary was starting to close in on Marlar and was attempting to find room to pass him when the race was declared over. The race for positions 4-10 were really taking shape with Darrell Lanigan coming up from his 10th starting spot to challenge fourth place runner and finisher, Aaron Hatton when the race ended prematurely.
Completing the top ten were Timmy Yeager, Victor Lee, Michael Chilton, Jesse James Lay and Ed Behn.
Scott James grabbed the Racing Optics/Bullzilla Graphics Fast Time award for the 30 entries on hand at 14.121 seconds. Heat races were won by Mike Marlar, Whitney McQueary, Aaron Hatton and Johnny Wheeler. The AFCO B-Mains went to Mike Jewell and Jesse James Lay.
Race Summary
STARS Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Event #18
Friday Night, August 29, 2003
The Legendary Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY
Racing Optics/Bullzilla Graphics Fast Time: Scott James 14.121
First Heat: Mike Marlar, Michael Chilton, Scott James, Jason Setser
Second heat: Whitney McQueary, Victor Lee, Darrell Lanigan, Mike Jewell
Third Heat: Aaron Hatton, Ed Behn, Dustin Neat, Jesse James Lay
Fourth Heat: Johnny Wheeler, Timmy Yeager, Bobby Wolter, Jr., Brad Neat
AFCO 1st B-Main: Mike Jewell, Jason Setser, Joey Daniel, Bobby Carrier, Jr.
AFCO 2nd B-Main: Jesse James Lay, Brad Neat, John Blankenship, Chad Smith
8th Annual Pete Abel Memorial PBM Performance Products A-Main: Johnny Wheeler, Mike Marlar, Whitney McQueary, Aaron Hatton, Darrell Lanigan, Timmy Yeager, Victor Lee, Michael Chilton, Jesse James Lay, Ed Behn, Bobby Wolter, Jr., Dustin Neat, Mike Jewell, Brad Neat, Steve Cornelius, Jason Setser, Scott James, Joey Daniel, John Blankenship, Billy Jones, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Tyrel Todd
Race Statistics:
Entries: 30
STARS BoB Provisionals: Tyrel Todd and Steve Cornelius
Track Provisionals: Bobby Carrier Jr and Billy Jones
PPM Racing Products/Outlaw Race Cars Hard Charger: Jesse James Lay
R&P Industrial Chimney Rookie of the Race: Mike Marlar
Lap Leader: Johnny Wheeler 1-24
Caution Flags: 1
Red Flag: 1
Race called after 24 laps due to rain
Current STARS Battle of the Bluegrass Points Standings
As of August 31, 2003
After 18 events
1. Mike Marlar 3700
2. Scott James 3380
3. Timmy Yeager 3330
4. Michael Chilton 3255
5. Jesse James Lay 3155
6. Aaron Hatton 3125
7. Tyrel Todd 2975
8. Johnny Wheeler 2725
9. Steven Ashby 2055
10. Victor Lee 1875
11. Carnell Parker III 1825
12. Mike Jewell 1585
13. Eddie Carrier Jr 1540
14. Brad Neat 1495
15. Dustin Neat 1395
R&P Industrial Chimney Rookie of the Year
1. Mike Marlar 3700
2. Michael Chilton 3255
3. Steven Ashby 2055
4. Carnell Parker III 1825
5. Joey Kramer 990
Next STARS Battle of the Bluegrass Events:
Friday-September 12-Clinton County Speedway-Alpha, KY $3000 to win
Saturday-September 13-Richmond Raceway-Richmond, KY $3000 to win
Sunday-September 14-Half Mountain Speedway-Royalton, KY $5000 to win
