JUNCTION CITY, KY – After an odd turn of events, Aaron Hatton found himself at the front of the field with 12 laps remaining in Friday night’s O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass event at Ponderosa Speedway. The Mt. Sterling, KY native would then fend off the challenges of Greg Johnson to pick up his first win of the season.
Mike Marlar and Bobby Wolter Jr. brought the field down to the green with Wolter darting ahead of Marlar as Aaron Hatton and Greg Johnson battled for third. A lap three caution for debris slowed the pace and kept the field tight with Wolter on the point.
When racing resumed, Hatton looked under Marlar in a bid for second as Jordan Bland fell pitside. Shortly thereafter, Series points contender Chris Combs slowed on the track bringing out a caution one circuit later. On the restart, Bobby Carrier Jr. shot under Mike Jewell as that duo raced side-by-side for fifth. Behind them, Joey Kramer and Justin Rattliff danced for seventh.
Up front, the top four cars of Wolter, Marlar, Hatton, and Johnson could have been covered with a blanket as they began slicing their way through the back of the field on lap 15. Two circuits later, Marlar pulled even with Wolter in lapped traffic as they raced door-to-door for the lead. Hatton then made it a three dog fight as he pulled to the very bottom of the track at the halfway point in a three-wide battle for the top spot. A lap 21 caution for a spinning Jake Henry spoiled a fantastic race for the lead.
The complexion of the race changed drastically under the lap 21 caution when race leader Bobby Wolter Jr. fell to the infield with a flat right rear tire. This handed the lead over to Marlar with Hatton, Johnson, Jewell, and Carrier Jr. rounding out the top five.
When racing resumed, Tim Tungate ducked under Joey Kramer to take over sixth as Johnson looked under Hatton in a bid for second. With Marlar pulling away from the field, Tungate continued his charge as he pulled alongside Carrier in an effort to crack the top five.
The 16th Annual Fall Classic took another bizarre turn on lap 28. An accident near the back of the field involving Jerry Denson and Don Rayborn collected early leader Bobby Wolter Jr. and current race leader Mike Marlar, resulting in a red flag.
On the restart, Aaron Hatton inherited the lead with Greg Johnson, Mike Jewell, Bobby Carrier Jr., and Tim Tungate rounding out the top five. Behind them, 14th-starting Victor Lee was quietly working his way through the field as he nabbed seventh. Meanwhile, Hatton had a rear view mirror full of Johnson as the lead duo separated themselves from the rest of the field.
Johnson continuously looked under Hatton as they raced side-by-side in the corners but Hatton was able to motor back out front on the straight-aways. When the checkered flag waved, Mt. Sterling, KY’s Aaron Hatton was the first car to cross the stripe. Hatton, the 2004 O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Champion, drives a Draime powered Rayburn Monte Carlo sponsored by Checkered Flag Auto Sales, Jerry Hatton Used Cars, Russell Hatton Mobile Home Center, Pinetop Motors, and Porter Tire Center.
Bedford, IN’s Greg Johnson held on for second piloting his own CJ Rayburn/Pro Power entry sponsored by Bedford Transport, Rayburn Race Cars, and GB Graphics. Third spot went to current Series points leader Mike Jewell of Scottsburg, IN driving the Southern Indiana Rock Drilling/Morgan Foods/Bullock/MasterSbilt Grand Prix. Harrodsburg, KY veteran Bobby Carrier Jr. nabbed fourth in the R&P Industrial Chimney/American Scaffolding sponsored, Bullock powered, Rayburn Monte Carlo. Rounding out the top five was defending Series Co-Champion Tim Tungate of Campbellsville, KY driving the Mulch Madness/Guardian Mortgage/Bullock/Rayburn Monte Carlo.
Greg Johnson was the fastest qualifier of the 24 entries during Racing Optics Time Trials with a quick lap of 13.386. Mason Racin’ Heat #1 went to Bobby Wolter Jr. while Mason Racin’ Heat #2 was won by Mike Marlar and Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #3 went to Aaron Hatton.
After the September 16th event at Bluegrass Speedway, the nation’s most competitive regional racing series takes a weekend off before heading north to the King Family’s Florence Speedway on Saturday, September 30th. The final race of the season is slated to be held on Saturday, October 14th at the Lake Cumberland Speedway.
For more information on the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series you can log on to www.battleofthebluegrass.com or call the Series office at (859) 433-5707.
Event Summary
Ponderosa Speedway
Junction City, KY
September 15, 2006
O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier: Greg Johnson/13.386
Mason Racin’ Heat #1: Bobby Wolter Jr., Greg Johnson, Ben Adkins, Joey Kramer, Larry Gray, Troy Eads, Joey Daniel, Dan Deaton
Mason Racin’ Heat #2: Mike Marlar, Mike Jewell, Justin Rattliff, Jordan Bland, Victor Lee, Johnny Wheeler, Charles Graham Jr., Don Rayborn
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #3: Aaron Hatton, Bobby Carrier Jr., Chris Combs, Tim Tungate, Michael Chilton, Jake Henry, Jeff Watson, Jerry Denson
O’Reilly Auto Parts 16th Annual Fall Classic: Aaron Hatton, Greg Johnson, Mike Jewell, Bobby Carrier Jr., Tim Tungate, Joey Kramer, Victor Lee, Michael Chilton, Larry Gray, Chris Combs, Jeff Watson, Justin Rattliff, Joey Daniel, Jordan Bland, Ben Adkins, Jerry Denson, Troy Eads, Mike Marlar, Bobby Wolter Jr., Don Rayborn, Jake Henry, Johnny Wheeler, Dan Deaton, Charles Graham Jr.
Event Statistics
Entries: 24
Cautions: 3
Red Flags: 1
Lap Leaders: Bobby Wolter Jr. 1-21, Mike Marlar 22-28, Aaron Hatton 29-40
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger: Jeff Watson (started 21st, finished 11th)
Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Race: Justin Rattliff
2006 O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Dirt Car Series Sponsors
O’Reilly Auto Parts – Title Sponsor and “Official Auto Parts Retailer of the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Dirt Car Series”
Arizona Sport Shirts – Presenting Sponsor and “Official Souvenir Manufacturer & Vendor of the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Dirt Car Series”
Sunoco Race Fuels – “Official Race Fuel of the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Dirt Car Series”
2006 O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Supporters Include: O’Reilly Auto Parts, Arizona Sport Shirts, Sunoco Race Fuels, DART Machinery, Drive Smart Kentucky, Lucas Oil Products, Hoosier Race Tires, American Race Tires, PPM Performance Products, Bazell Fuels, Cruise With the Champions, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, Racing Optics, Mason Racin', Design 500, Trailer Parts & Sales, Honda of Prestonsburg, Bullock Race Engines, CJ Rayburn Race Cars, Bert Transmissions, Rick Schwallie Photography, DT52 Photos, and Real Wheels
Mike Marlar and Bobby Wolter Jr. brought the field down to the green with Wolter darting ahead of Marlar as Aaron Hatton and Greg Johnson battled for third. A lap three caution for debris slowed the pace and kept the field tight with Wolter on the point.
When racing resumed, Hatton looked under Marlar in a bid for second as Jordan Bland fell pitside. Shortly thereafter, Series points contender Chris Combs slowed on the track bringing out a caution one circuit later. On the restart, Bobby Carrier Jr. shot under Mike Jewell as that duo raced side-by-side for fifth. Behind them, Joey Kramer and Justin Rattliff danced for seventh.
Up front, the top four cars of Wolter, Marlar, Hatton, and Johnson could have been covered with a blanket as they began slicing their way through the back of the field on lap 15. Two circuits later, Marlar pulled even with Wolter in lapped traffic as they raced door-to-door for the lead. Hatton then made it a three dog fight as he pulled to the very bottom of the track at the halfway point in a three-wide battle for the top spot. A lap 21 caution for a spinning Jake Henry spoiled a fantastic race for the lead.
The complexion of the race changed drastically under the lap 21 caution when race leader Bobby Wolter Jr. fell to the infield with a flat right rear tire. This handed the lead over to Marlar with Hatton, Johnson, Jewell, and Carrier Jr. rounding out the top five.
When racing resumed, Tim Tungate ducked under Joey Kramer to take over sixth as Johnson looked under Hatton in a bid for second. With Marlar pulling away from the field, Tungate continued his charge as he pulled alongside Carrier in an effort to crack the top five.
The 16th Annual Fall Classic took another bizarre turn on lap 28. An accident near the back of the field involving Jerry Denson and Don Rayborn collected early leader Bobby Wolter Jr. and current race leader Mike Marlar, resulting in a red flag.
On the restart, Aaron Hatton inherited the lead with Greg Johnson, Mike Jewell, Bobby Carrier Jr., and Tim Tungate rounding out the top five. Behind them, 14th-starting Victor Lee was quietly working his way through the field as he nabbed seventh. Meanwhile, Hatton had a rear view mirror full of Johnson as the lead duo separated themselves from the rest of the field.
Johnson continuously looked under Hatton as they raced side-by-side in the corners but Hatton was able to motor back out front on the straight-aways. When the checkered flag waved, Mt. Sterling, KY’s Aaron Hatton was the first car to cross the stripe. Hatton, the 2004 O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Champion, drives a Draime powered Rayburn Monte Carlo sponsored by Checkered Flag Auto Sales, Jerry Hatton Used Cars, Russell Hatton Mobile Home Center, Pinetop Motors, and Porter Tire Center.
Bedford, IN’s Greg Johnson held on for second piloting his own CJ Rayburn/Pro Power entry sponsored by Bedford Transport, Rayburn Race Cars, and GB Graphics. Third spot went to current Series points leader Mike Jewell of Scottsburg, IN driving the Southern Indiana Rock Drilling/Morgan Foods/Bullock/MasterSbilt Grand Prix. Harrodsburg, KY veteran Bobby Carrier Jr. nabbed fourth in the R&P Industrial Chimney/American Scaffolding sponsored, Bullock powered, Rayburn Monte Carlo. Rounding out the top five was defending Series Co-Champion Tim Tungate of Campbellsville, KY driving the Mulch Madness/Guardian Mortgage/Bullock/Rayburn Monte Carlo.
Greg Johnson was the fastest qualifier of the 24 entries during Racing Optics Time Trials with a quick lap of 13.386. Mason Racin’ Heat #1 went to Bobby Wolter Jr. while Mason Racin’ Heat #2 was won by Mike Marlar and Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #3 went to Aaron Hatton.
After the September 16th event at Bluegrass Speedway, the nation’s most competitive regional racing series takes a weekend off before heading north to the King Family’s Florence Speedway on Saturday, September 30th. The final race of the season is slated to be held on Saturday, October 14th at the Lake Cumberland Speedway.
For more information on the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series you can log on to www.battleofthebluegrass.com or call the Series office at (859) 433-5707.
Event Summary
Ponderosa Speedway
Junction City, KY
September 15, 2006
O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier: Greg Johnson/13.386
Mason Racin’ Heat #1: Bobby Wolter Jr., Greg Johnson, Ben Adkins, Joey Kramer, Larry Gray, Troy Eads, Joey Daniel, Dan Deaton
Mason Racin’ Heat #2: Mike Marlar, Mike Jewell, Justin Rattliff, Jordan Bland, Victor Lee, Johnny Wheeler, Charles Graham Jr., Don Rayborn
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #3: Aaron Hatton, Bobby Carrier Jr., Chris Combs, Tim Tungate, Michael Chilton, Jake Henry, Jeff Watson, Jerry Denson
O’Reilly Auto Parts 16th Annual Fall Classic: Aaron Hatton, Greg Johnson, Mike Jewell, Bobby Carrier Jr., Tim Tungate, Joey Kramer, Victor Lee, Michael Chilton, Larry Gray, Chris Combs, Jeff Watson, Justin Rattliff, Joey Daniel, Jordan Bland, Ben Adkins, Jerry Denson, Troy Eads, Mike Marlar, Bobby Wolter Jr., Don Rayborn, Jake Henry, Johnny Wheeler, Dan Deaton, Charles Graham Jr.
Event Statistics
Entries: 24
Cautions: 3
Red Flags: 1
Lap Leaders: Bobby Wolter Jr. 1-21, Mike Marlar 22-28, Aaron Hatton 29-40
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger: Jeff Watson (started 21st, finished 11th)
Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Race: Justin Rattliff
2006 O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Dirt Car Series Sponsors
O’Reilly Auto Parts – Title Sponsor and “Official Auto Parts Retailer of the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Dirt Car Series”
Arizona Sport Shirts – Presenting Sponsor and “Official Souvenir Manufacturer & Vendor of the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Dirt Car Series”
Sunoco Race Fuels – “Official Race Fuel of the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Dirt Car Series”
2006 O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Supporters Include: O’Reilly Auto Parts, Arizona Sport Shirts, Sunoco Race Fuels, DART Machinery, Drive Smart Kentucky, Lucas Oil Products, Hoosier Race Tires, American Race Tires, PPM Performance Products, Bazell Fuels, Cruise With the Champions, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, Racing Optics, Mason Racin', Design 500, Trailer Parts & Sales, Honda of Prestonsburg, Bullock Race Engines, CJ Rayburn Race Cars, Bert Transmissions, Rick Schwallie Photography, DT52 Photos, and Real Wheels
