Junction City, KY (April 27, 2007) - The O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts visited Ponderosa Speedway on Friday night for the 4th Annual Spring 40 and after all the cards were played, Aaron Hatton of Mount Sterling, KY would hold all the aces as the 2004 Series Champion would claim the $3,000 payday in an event that saw two and at times, three wide throughout the field.
Brad Neat and Michael England would pace the 24 car Super Late Model starting field to the green flag, with England taking the top spot, followed by Neat, Aaron Hatton, Mike Marlar, and Chris Combs. Hatton would dispose of Neat for second on lap 2 and immediately set his sights on England. Lap 3 would see the lead duo of England and Neat go door to door for the top spot, while David Webb would slip past Combs for fifth. Hatton would drive by England off of turn two on lap 4 to take the lead, with Neat, Marlar, and Webb in pursuit. The caution flag waved on lap 5 when Doug Smith and Tommy Carlton would tangle in turn four, with both entries able to continue.
The Delaware double-file restart would see Hatton hold the point, while Webb would go to second, Neat third, Victor Lee would scoot into fourth, with England now fifth. Disaster would strike for Tim Tungate on lap 6 as he would make heavy contact with the outside retaining wall in turn one, with Johnny Wheeler, Bobby Wolter, Jr., and Buzz Williams all spinning in turn one as well, drawing the red flag, with Tungate uninjured, but sporting a badly torn up race car, while Wheeler and Williams would also pull pitside with damage. Back under green, Hatton continued to show the way, with Lee passing neat for third on lap 7, while Michael Chilton and Justin Rattliff would drive their way into the top five in fourth and fifth on lap 8.
While Hatton was setting sail up front, Webb and Lee would duel several laps for the runner-up slot, while Chilton and Rattliff got in on for the number four spot. Caution waved again on lap 15 when Wolter, Jr. and Smith spun in turn two, with Wolter, Jr. doing a full 360 degree spin and not stopping on the track. The caution would wave again one circuit later when Tommy Carlton slowed his mount in turn four with a flat left-rear tire. The restart would see Lee go second, bring Rattliff and Chilton to third and fourth as well. Jerry Rice would make his way into the top five on lap 17, only to lose the position on lap 18 to Marlar.
The halfway signal would see Hatton continue his torrid pace at the point, followed by Lee, Rattliff, Marlar, and Rice. Lap 22 would see Rice work back around Marlar, only this time it would be for the fourth position. As race leader Hatton began working slower traffic on lap 29, Marlar would start to charge as he would retake fourth from Rice on lap 30 and grab third from Rattliff one trip later.
With Hatton driving off into the moonlight, Lee and Marlar would settle into a duel for second that would have the pair of second-generation drivers battling side by side. Hatton would take the checkered flag first in the Russell Hatton owned Checkered Flag Auto Sales/Russell Hatton Mobile Home Rentals/Jerry Hatton Used Cars/Skillsaw Designs/American Race Tires sponsored #33 C.J. Rayburn Race Cars, Bullock Race Engines powered entry.
Marlar would slide past Lee on the final lap for second, with 11th starting Rattliff taking fourth, and 13th starting Rice claiming fifth. The remainder of the top ten was Webb, Chris Combs, 17th starting Mike Jewell, Dustin Neat, and Michael Chilton.
Thirty-two entries saw Hatton be the Racing Optics top qualifier at 13.629 second. Michael England and Brad won the Mason Racin' heats, with Chris Combs and Mike Marlar scoring the Arizona Sport Shirt heat. The Design 500 B-mains were captured by Mike Jewell and Buzz Williams. Series provisional starting positions went to Greg Johnson and Doug Smith, while track provisional starts went to Tommy Carlton and Bobby Carrier, Jr.
The O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts sanctions regional dirt track Late Model racing in and around the state of Kentucky. For more information on the nation's most competitive regional racing series, please visit our website at www.battleofthebluegrass.com or call our office at (859) 433-5707.
Race Summary
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts
Ponderosa Speedway
Junction City, KY
April 27, 2007
Racing Optics Top Qualifier- Aaron Hatton - 13.629
Mason Racin' Heat #1- Michael England, Aaron Hatton, Victor Lee, Jerry Rice, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Tyrel Todd, Doug Smith, Jeff Watson
Mason Racin' Heat #2- Brad Neat, Tim Tungate, Jason Keltner, Michael Chilton, Mike Jewell, Tim Prince, Tommy Carlton, Jason Hinkle
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #3- Chris Combs, David Webb, Justin Rattliff, Jesse Lay, Bobby Wolter, Jr., Jordan Bland, Eric Wells (DNS-Greg Johnson)
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #4- Mike Marlar, Dustin Neat, Johnny Wheeler, Duane Chamberlain, Buzz Williams, Larry Gray, Jr., Dan Deaton, Donald Rayborn
Design 500 B-Main #1- Mike Jewell, Tyrel Todd, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Doug Smith, Tommy Carlton, Jason Hinkle (DNS-Jeff Watson, Tim Prince)
Design 500 B-Main #2- Buzz Williams, Bobby Wolter, Jr., Greg Johnson, Eric Wells, Larry Gray, Jr. (DNS-Jordan Bland, Dan Deaton, Donald Rayborn)
4th Annual Spring 40- Aaron Hatton, Mike Marlar, Victor Lee, Justin Rattliff, Jerry Rice, David Webb, Chris Combs, Mike Jewell, Dustin Neat, Michael Chilton, Duane Chamberlain, Doug Smith, Jason Keltner, Greg Johnson, Tyrel Todd, Bobby Wolter, Jr., Jesse Lay, Tommy Carlton, Michael England, Brad Neat, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Tim Tungate, Johnny Wheeler, Buzz Williams
Race Statistics
Entries: 32
Lap Leaders: England 1-3, Hatton 1-40
Cautions: 4
Red Flags: 1
PPM Performance Products Hard Charger Of The Race: Doug Smith (started 22nd, finished 12th)
Cruise With The Champions Rookie Of The Race: Jason Keltner
Series Provisionals- Greg Johnson, Doug Smith
Track Provisionals- Tommy Carlton, Bobby Carrier, Jr.
Upcoming O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series Schedule
April 28 - Bluegrass Speedway - $3000
May 12 - Tazewell Speedway - $4000
2nd Annual Kentucky Speedweek
May 27 - Portsmouth Raceway Park - $3000
May 28 - Bluegrass Speedway - $3000
May 29 - Richmond Raceway - $3000
May 30 - Rain Date
May 31 - Lake Cumberland Speedway - $3000
June 1 - Ponderosa Speedway - $3000
June 2 - Florence Speedway - $10,000 (Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series)
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, 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, Double H Race Fab, DT52 Photos, and Real Wheels
Contact: Michael Despain (Mdespain7@aol.com or dirttrackracing@hotmail.com)
Brad Neat and Michael England would pace the 24 car Super Late Model starting field to the green flag, with England taking the top spot, followed by Neat, Aaron Hatton, Mike Marlar, and Chris Combs. Hatton would dispose of Neat for second on lap 2 and immediately set his sights on England. Lap 3 would see the lead duo of England and Neat go door to door for the top spot, while David Webb would slip past Combs for fifth. Hatton would drive by England off of turn two on lap 4 to take the lead, with Neat, Marlar, and Webb in pursuit. The caution flag waved on lap 5 when Doug Smith and Tommy Carlton would tangle in turn four, with both entries able to continue.
The Delaware double-file restart would see Hatton hold the point, while Webb would go to second, Neat third, Victor Lee would scoot into fourth, with England now fifth. Disaster would strike for Tim Tungate on lap 6 as he would make heavy contact with the outside retaining wall in turn one, with Johnny Wheeler, Bobby Wolter, Jr., and Buzz Williams all spinning in turn one as well, drawing the red flag, with Tungate uninjured, but sporting a badly torn up race car, while Wheeler and Williams would also pull pitside with damage. Back under green, Hatton continued to show the way, with Lee passing neat for third on lap 7, while Michael Chilton and Justin Rattliff would drive their way into the top five in fourth and fifth on lap 8.
While Hatton was setting sail up front, Webb and Lee would duel several laps for the runner-up slot, while Chilton and Rattliff got in on for the number four spot. Caution waved again on lap 15 when Wolter, Jr. and Smith spun in turn two, with Wolter, Jr. doing a full 360 degree spin and not stopping on the track. The caution would wave again one circuit later when Tommy Carlton slowed his mount in turn four with a flat left-rear tire. The restart would see Lee go second, bring Rattliff and Chilton to third and fourth as well. Jerry Rice would make his way into the top five on lap 17, only to lose the position on lap 18 to Marlar.
The halfway signal would see Hatton continue his torrid pace at the point, followed by Lee, Rattliff, Marlar, and Rice. Lap 22 would see Rice work back around Marlar, only this time it would be for the fourth position. As race leader Hatton began working slower traffic on lap 29, Marlar would start to charge as he would retake fourth from Rice on lap 30 and grab third from Rattliff one trip later.
With Hatton driving off into the moonlight, Lee and Marlar would settle into a duel for second that would have the pair of second-generation drivers battling side by side. Hatton would take the checkered flag first in the Russell Hatton owned Checkered Flag Auto Sales/Russell Hatton Mobile Home Rentals/Jerry Hatton Used Cars/Skillsaw Designs/American Race Tires sponsored #33 C.J. Rayburn Race Cars, Bullock Race Engines powered entry.
Marlar would slide past Lee on the final lap for second, with 11th starting Rattliff taking fourth, and 13th starting Rice claiming fifth. The remainder of the top ten was Webb, Chris Combs, 17th starting Mike Jewell, Dustin Neat, and Michael Chilton.
Thirty-two entries saw Hatton be the Racing Optics top qualifier at 13.629 second. Michael England and Brad won the Mason Racin' heats, with Chris Combs and Mike Marlar scoring the Arizona Sport Shirt heat. The Design 500 B-mains were captured by Mike Jewell and Buzz Williams. Series provisional starting positions went to Greg Johnson and Doug Smith, while track provisional starts went to Tommy Carlton and Bobby Carrier, Jr.
The O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts sanctions regional dirt track Late Model racing in and around the state of Kentucky. For more information on the nation's most competitive regional racing series, please visit our website at www.battleofthebluegrass.com or call our office at (859) 433-5707.
Race Summary
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts
Ponderosa Speedway
Junction City, KY
April 27, 2007
Racing Optics Top Qualifier- Aaron Hatton - 13.629
Mason Racin' Heat #1- Michael England, Aaron Hatton, Victor Lee, Jerry Rice, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Tyrel Todd, Doug Smith, Jeff Watson
Mason Racin' Heat #2- Brad Neat, Tim Tungate, Jason Keltner, Michael Chilton, Mike Jewell, Tim Prince, Tommy Carlton, Jason Hinkle
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #3- Chris Combs, David Webb, Justin Rattliff, Jesse Lay, Bobby Wolter, Jr., Jordan Bland, Eric Wells (DNS-Greg Johnson)
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #4- Mike Marlar, Dustin Neat, Johnny Wheeler, Duane Chamberlain, Buzz Williams, Larry Gray, Jr., Dan Deaton, Donald Rayborn
Design 500 B-Main #1- Mike Jewell, Tyrel Todd, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Doug Smith, Tommy Carlton, Jason Hinkle (DNS-Jeff Watson, Tim Prince)
Design 500 B-Main #2- Buzz Williams, Bobby Wolter, Jr., Greg Johnson, Eric Wells, Larry Gray, Jr. (DNS-Jordan Bland, Dan Deaton, Donald Rayborn)
4th Annual Spring 40- Aaron Hatton, Mike Marlar, Victor Lee, Justin Rattliff, Jerry Rice, David Webb, Chris Combs, Mike Jewell, Dustin Neat, Michael Chilton, Duane Chamberlain, Doug Smith, Jason Keltner, Greg Johnson, Tyrel Todd, Bobby Wolter, Jr., Jesse Lay, Tommy Carlton, Michael England, Brad Neat, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Tim Tungate, Johnny Wheeler, Buzz Williams
Race Statistics
Entries: 32
Lap Leaders: England 1-3, Hatton 1-40
Cautions: 4
Red Flags: 1
PPM Performance Products Hard Charger Of The Race: Doug Smith (started 22nd, finished 12th)
Cruise With The Champions Rookie Of The Race: Jason Keltner
Series Provisionals- Greg Johnson, Doug Smith
Track Provisionals- Tommy Carlton, Bobby Carrier, Jr.
Upcoming O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series Schedule
April 28 - Bluegrass Speedway - $3000
May 12 - Tazewell Speedway - $4000
2nd Annual Kentucky Speedweek
May 27 - Portsmouth Raceway Park - $3000
May 28 - Bluegrass Speedway - $3000
May 29 - Richmond Raceway - $3000
May 30 - Rain Date
May 31 - Lake Cumberland Speedway - $3000
June 1 - Ponderosa Speedway - $3000
June 2 - Florence Speedway - $10,000 (Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series)
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, 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, Double H Race Fab, DT52 Photos, and Real Wheels
Contact: Michael Despain (Mdespain7@aol.com or dirttrackracing@hotmail.com)
