By Michael Despain
Junction City, KY-May 2- After Mother Nature produced a one hour and five minute delay at the end of Late Model time trials with some rain, the first ever visit of the STARS Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts to The Legendary Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, KY would proceed and saw opening night winner Johnny Wheeler of Campbellsville, KY score the $3,000 payday and his second career STARS BoB win after leading the entire 40 lap distance and surviving six caution flags and several flat tires by fellow competitors.
Wheeler and 2002 STARS BoB champion Eddie Carrier, Jr. would bring the field to chief starter Noel Hargis and the green flag with Wheeler immediately taking the lead with Carrier, Jr., Scott James, Jesse James Lay and Aaron Hatton in tow. Wheeler would poke his lead to almost a half-straightaway by lap 5, with Hatton, Timmy Yeager, and Mike Marlar in a three way dance for the fifth slot. The big mover early on was 2nd AFCO Racing Products B-Main winner Darrell Lanigan, as he started 14th, but would be up to eighth by lap 10. The first caution waved on lap 13 as Bobby Carrier, Jr. slowed with a flat left rear tire, and under the caution, Lanigan, Marlar, and Lay would all pit with flat tires as well and return. Back under green, Wheeler continued his torrid pace at the front, with Eddie, Jr. still second, then James, while Yeager, Mike Jewell, and Kevin Claycomb began to battle for fifth. Brad Neat would slow with a flat right rear tire on lap 19, with 8th place running Aaron Hatton also pitting for a flat tire as well. Track series officials checked the track at this point, but could find nothing of concern. Back under green, Wheeler jumped away again, only to have the caution fly again on lap 21 for Bobby Wolter, Jr. who had a flat right rear tire and on the restart, third place running James would pull to a stop with a flat right rear tire, change it, and continue. The flat tire fever would also bite now fourth place Claycomb as he would cause the caution with a flat right rear on lap 24. Wheeler and Eddie, Jr. would pull away again on the restart and try to settle the last 15 circuits among themselves, only to see the final caution wave for Brad Neat who slowed with mechanical woes on the backchute with 13 laps remaining. The remainder of the race would go green with Wheeler pulling away and taking the win aboard the Larry Yantz owned Clayton Homes of Kentucky/Luv Homes/ Crossland Homes/Classic Homes/Legends, Inc./PPM/VP Race Fuels/Blackstar Graphics/ American Race Tires #57 C.J. Rayburn Race Car, Cornett Race Engine powered, American Race Tire shod mount. Eddie, Jr. would take second, while Marlar would come from the rear of the field and make a last lap pass of Jewell and Yeager to take third, with Jewell getting by Yeager off of turn four to take fourth. Completing the top ten were Richard Smith, James, Tyrel Todd, Michael Chilton, and Jim Curry. Thirty-four Late Models from four states were in attendance, with Tyrel Todd the Racing Optics fast qualifier with a 13.97 second lap. Heats were won by James, Wheeler, Eddie Carrier, Jr., and Lay, while the AFCO Racing Products B-Mains were scored by Wolter, Jr. and Lanigan. Ronnie Smith and Brandon Hardgrove were provisional starters.
Tommy Bailey of Corbin, KY drove his Lightning Chassis entry to the lead for all 20 laps of the UMP Modified feature to pick up the win behind the wheel of his Barton’s Panels/ Young’s Auto Body sponsored #11 entry. Tom Curtsinger, Rick Hines, and Doug Tarter would all battle hard for the runner-up spot in the waning laps of the event, with Curtsinger taking second, followed by Hines and Tarter, with Jeff Rawlings completing the top five. David McWilliams would head up the second five, followed by David Webb, Jerry Rutherford, Josh Belcher, and Robbie Turner. Webb was top qualifier, Tarter won the dash, with Curtsinger taking the heat win.
The Sportsman division saw Gary Thompson of Junction City, KY make a clean sweep of things as he won the heat and then followed it up with the checkered flag in the 15 lap feature for the division in his Thompson Garage/AutoMate of Danville sponsored #T3. Rick King would take runner-up honors with a close second, with Clarence Belcher, Jason Snow, and Robert Cocanougher completing the top five. Rounding out the top ten were Royce Yeager, Chris Gerton, Brian Elder, Velber Randolf, and Doyle Hibbard.
The Chevette division also produced another clean sweep as Randy Maybrier of Stanford, KY won the heat and the 12 lap Chevette feature in the Randy’s Auto Body/ Andrew Automotive #1 entry. Larry Foley, Jr., Jason McKnight, Brent Couch, and Craig Carrier rounded out the top five. Completing the top ten were R.L. Luttrell, Jeff Patten, Joseph Lyons, Kenneth Clemmons, and Ray Maslen.
SUMMARY-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-May 2, 2003
STARS Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCars
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier- Tyrel Todd 13.97
1st Heat- Scott James, Timmy Yeager, Todd, Bobby Carrier, Jr.
2nd Heat- Johnny Wheeler, Aaron Hatton, Richard Smith, Bobby Wolter, Jr.
3rd Heat- Eddie Carrier, Jr., Mike Jewell, Michael Chilton, Darrell Lanigan
4th Heat- Jesse James Lay, Mike Marlar, Kevin Claycomb, Jim Curry
1st AFCO B Main- Wolter, Jr., Bobby Carrier, Jr., Dustin Neat, Audie McWilliams, Joey Daniel
2nd AFCO B Main- Lanigan, Curry, Brad Neat, Dave Freeman, Ronnie Smith
STARS BoB Provisionals- Ronnie Smith and Brandon Hardgrove
Spring Into Spring 40- Wheeler, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Marlar, Jewell, Yeager, Richard Smith, James, Todd, Chilton, Curry, Lay, Wolter, Jr., Dustin Neat, Brad Neat, Claycomb, Hatton, Lanigan, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Ronnie Smith, Hardgrove (DNS)
UMP Modifieds
Top Qualifier- David Webb
Dash- Doug Tarter, Tommy Bailey, Webb, Whit Salyers, David McWilliams, Don Fleetwood
Heat- Tom Curtsinger, Rick Hines, Josh Belcher, Jeff Rawlings
Feature- Bailey, Curtsinger, Hines, Tarter, Rawlings, McWilliams, Webb, Jerry Rutherford, Belcher, Robbie Turner, Salyers, Jimmy Sizemore, Scott Anderson, Kevin Hall, Fleetwood, Todd Ransdell
Sportsman
Heat- Gary Thompson, Rick King, Bobby Carrier, Sr., Darrell Gaddis, Doyle Hibbard
Feature- Thompson, King, Clarence Belcher, Jason Snow, Robert Cocanougher, Royce Yeager, Chris Gerton, Brian Elder, Velber Randolf, Hibbard, Carrier, Sr., Gaddis, Donald Rayburn
Chevettes
Heat- Randy Maybrier, Jason McKnight, Craig Carrier, R.L. Luttrell, Jeff Patten
Feature- Maybrier, Larry Foley, Jr., McKnight, Brent Couch, Carrier, Luttrell, Patten, Joseph Lyons, Kenneth Clemmons, Ray Maslen, Ronnie Cooper
Junction City, KY-May 2- After Mother Nature produced a one hour and five minute delay at the end of Late Model time trials with some rain, the first ever visit of the STARS Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts to The Legendary Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, KY would proceed and saw opening night winner Johnny Wheeler of Campbellsville, KY score the $3,000 payday and his second career STARS BoB win after leading the entire 40 lap distance and surviving six caution flags and several flat tires by fellow competitors.
Wheeler and 2002 STARS BoB champion Eddie Carrier, Jr. would bring the field to chief starter Noel Hargis and the green flag with Wheeler immediately taking the lead with Carrier, Jr., Scott James, Jesse James Lay and Aaron Hatton in tow. Wheeler would poke his lead to almost a half-straightaway by lap 5, with Hatton, Timmy Yeager, and Mike Marlar in a three way dance for the fifth slot. The big mover early on was 2nd AFCO Racing Products B-Main winner Darrell Lanigan, as he started 14th, but would be up to eighth by lap 10. The first caution waved on lap 13 as Bobby Carrier, Jr. slowed with a flat left rear tire, and under the caution, Lanigan, Marlar, and Lay would all pit with flat tires as well and return. Back under green, Wheeler continued his torrid pace at the front, with Eddie, Jr. still second, then James, while Yeager, Mike Jewell, and Kevin Claycomb began to battle for fifth. Brad Neat would slow with a flat right rear tire on lap 19, with 8th place running Aaron Hatton also pitting for a flat tire as well. Track series officials checked the track at this point, but could find nothing of concern. Back under green, Wheeler jumped away again, only to have the caution fly again on lap 21 for Bobby Wolter, Jr. who had a flat right rear tire and on the restart, third place running James would pull to a stop with a flat right rear tire, change it, and continue. The flat tire fever would also bite now fourth place Claycomb as he would cause the caution with a flat right rear on lap 24. Wheeler and Eddie, Jr. would pull away again on the restart and try to settle the last 15 circuits among themselves, only to see the final caution wave for Brad Neat who slowed with mechanical woes on the backchute with 13 laps remaining. The remainder of the race would go green with Wheeler pulling away and taking the win aboard the Larry Yantz owned Clayton Homes of Kentucky/Luv Homes/ Crossland Homes/Classic Homes/Legends, Inc./PPM/VP Race Fuels/Blackstar Graphics/ American Race Tires #57 C.J. Rayburn Race Car, Cornett Race Engine powered, American Race Tire shod mount. Eddie, Jr. would take second, while Marlar would come from the rear of the field and make a last lap pass of Jewell and Yeager to take third, with Jewell getting by Yeager off of turn four to take fourth. Completing the top ten were Richard Smith, James, Tyrel Todd, Michael Chilton, and Jim Curry. Thirty-four Late Models from four states were in attendance, with Tyrel Todd the Racing Optics fast qualifier with a 13.97 second lap. Heats were won by James, Wheeler, Eddie Carrier, Jr., and Lay, while the AFCO Racing Products B-Mains were scored by Wolter, Jr. and Lanigan. Ronnie Smith and Brandon Hardgrove were provisional starters.
Tommy Bailey of Corbin, KY drove his Lightning Chassis entry to the lead for all 20 laps of the UMP Modified feature to pick up the win behind the wheel of his Barton’s Panels/ Young’s Auto Body sponsored #11 entry. Tom Curtsinger, Rick Hines, and Doug Tarter would all battle hard for the runner-up spot in the waning laps of the event, with Curtsinger taking second, followed by Hines and Tarter, with Jeff Rawlings completing the top five. David McWilliams would head up the second five, followed by David Webb, Jerry Rutherford, Josh Belcher, and Robbie Turner. Webb was top qualifier, Tarter won the dash, with Curtsinger taking the heat win.
The Sportsman division saw Gary Thompson of Junction City, KY make a clean sweep of things as he won the heat and then followed it up with the checkered flag in the 15 lap feature for the division in his Thompson Garage/AutoMate of Danville sponsored #T3. Rick King would take runner-up honors with a close second, with Clarence Belcher, Jason Snow, and Robert Cocanougher completing the top five. Rounding out the top ten were Royce Yeager, Chris Gerton, Brian Elder, Velber Randolf, and Doyle Hibbard.
The Chevette division also produced another clean sweep as Randy Maybrier of Stanford, KY won the heat and the 12 lap Chevette feature in the Randy’s Auto Body/ Andrew Automotive #1 entry. Larry Foley, Jr., Jason McKnight, Brent Couch, and Craig Carrier rounded out the top five. Completing the top ten were R.L. Luttrell, Jeff Patten, Joseph Lyons, Kenneth Clemmons, and Ray Maslen.
SUMMARY-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-May 2, 2003
STARS Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCars
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier- Tyrel Todd 13.97
1st Heat- Scott James, Timmy Yeager, Todd, Bobby Carrier, Jr.
2nd Heat- Johnny Wheeler, Aaron Hatton, Richard Smith, Bobby Wolter, Jr.
3rd Heat- Eddie Carrier, Jr., Mike Jewell, Michael Chilton, Darrell Lanigan
4th Heat- Jesse James Lay, Mike Marlar, Kevin Claycomb, Jim Curry
1st AFCO B Main- Wolter, Jr., Bobby Carrier, Jr., Dustin Neat, Audie McWilliams, Joey Daniel
2nd AFCO B Main- Lanigan, Curry, Brad Neat, Dave Freeman, Ronnie Smith
STARS BoB Provisionals- Ronnie Smith and Brandon Hardgrove
Spring Into Spring 40- Wheeler, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Marlar, Jewell, Yeager, Richard Smith, James, Todd, Chilton, Curry, Lay, Wolter, Jr., Dustin Neat, Brad Neat, Claycomb, Hatton, Lanigan, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Ronnie Smith, Hardgrove (DNS)
UMP Modifieds
Top Qualifier- David Webb
Dash- Doug Tarter, Tommy Bailey, Webb, Whit Salyers, David McWilliams, Don Fleetwood
Heat- Tom Curtsinger, Rick Hines, Josh Belcher, Jeff Rawlings
Feature- Bailey, Curtsinger, Hines, Tarter, Rawlings, McWilliams, Webb, Jerry Rutherford, Belcher, Robbie Turner, Salyers, Jimmy Sizemore, Scott Anderson, Kevin Hall, Fleetwood, Todd Ransdell
Sportsman
Heat- Gary Thompson, Rick King, Bobby Carrier, Sr., Darrell Gaddis, Doyle Hibbard
Feature- Thompson, King, Clarence Belcher, Jason Snow, Robert Cocanougher, Royce Yeager, Chris Gerton, Brian Elder, Velber Randolf, Hibbard, Carrier, Sr., Gaddis, Donald Rayburn
Chevettes
Heat- Randy Maybrier, Jason McKnight, Craig Carrier, R.L. Luttrell, Jeff Patten
Feature- Maybrier, Larry Foley, Jr., McKnight, Brent Couch, Carrier, Luttrell, Patten, Joseph Lyons, Kenneth Clemmons, Ray Maslen, Ronnie Cooper
