JUNCTION CITY, KY (6/1/07) - After setting fast time and winning his heat race, Dunnville, KY's Brad Neat made it a clean sweep leading all 40 laps of the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series' Hugh "Junebug" Rowland Memorial at Ponderosa Speedway en route to winning Night #5 of the Kentucky Speedweek. The ultra-competitive Speedweek has now seen five different winners in five races.
Mike Marlar and Brad Neat brought the field to the green in the Hugh "Junebug" Rowland Memorial at Ponderosa Speedway with Neat grabbing the early advantage followed by Marlar, Dustin Neat, Johnny Wheeler, and Don Rayborn. Rayborn would slip past Wheeler on lap 4, only to have the pass vetoed when Jerry Rice slowed on the track with a flat left rear tire.
When racing resumed, Dustin Neat shot by Marlar to grab second and began to pressure brother Brad for the top spot. Behind the lead trio, a highly-entertaining battle for fourth saw Wheeler, Aaron Hatton, and Don Rayborn racing feverishly against one another with Wheeler continuing to hold that position. Meanwhile, Marlar gathered his momentum back and engaged himself in a door-to-door battle with D. Neat for second. The duo raced side-by-side for several laps with Marlar finally completing the pass on lap 12. The top three cars would soon encounter lapped traffic as Marlar quickly closed in on race-leader Brad Neat as they began working through the backmarkers on lap 15. As Marlar pulled alongside B. Neat in a bid for the lead on lap 19, Bobby Wolter Jr. slowed on the front-stretch, resulting in a caution. The restart would find B. Neat leading Marlar, D. Neat, Wheeler, and Hatton.
On the restart, Dustin Neat slowed on the backstretch and fell to the infield with a broke shock, ending his stellar run. The slowing D. Neat shuffled the running order behind B. Neat and Marlar with Aaron Hatton now third, a hard-charging Victor Lee in fourth, and Don Rayborn back in the top five. Lee, who started 14th, continued his march to the front as he shot past Hatton one lap later and set his sights on the leaders. A lap 25 caution for Bobby Carrier Jr's flat right rear tire slowed the pace and kept the field tight.
When the green flag waved, Brad Neat continued to show the way with Marlar, Lee, and now Rayborn trailing his every move. The top four cars could have been covered with a blanket as, behind the lead foursome, Hatton had his hands full Justin Rattliff, Johnny Wheeler, and Jason Keltner. As Hatton slapped the outside wall, Rattliff, Wheeler, and Keltner all went by, moving Hatton back to eighth. A lap 30 restart allowed that same trio of Rattliff, Wheeler, and Keltner to dispose of Rayborn with 19th-starting David Webb following suit one lap later. Webb was clearly the man on the move over the final ten laps of the race as he grabbed seventh on lap 33, moved into sixth on lap 34, and then stole fifth on lap 36.
The final caution of the event waved on lap 36, setting up a four-lap dash to the finish with Neat leading Marlar, Lee, Keltner, and Webb. When racing resumed, Webb used the bottom the slip by Keltner for fourth and set his sights on the race leaders. It would all be for not, however, as Neat would not be denied. When the checkered flag fell, Dunnville, KY's Brad Neat would be the first to cross the stripe in his Cornett powered Rayburn Monte Carlo sponsored by NWN Distributing, Neat's Service Center, Tarter Gate, Stephens Pipe & Steel, Tri-County Wood, Tarter & Roberts Insurance, Sunoco Race Fuels, and Hoosier Race Tires.
With his victory, Brad Neat becomes the 10th different winner in 11 O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass events this season.
Winfield, TN's Mike Marlar claimed his fourth straight top-five finish with a second place run in the Stephens Trucking/S&B Cattle Company sponsored, Estes/Rayburn GTO. Stanford, KY's Victor Lee grabbed third driving a Jay Dickens powered Rayburn Grand Prix sponsored by Revel Motorsports and Budda Bert Transmissions. Fourth place went to the PPM Performance Hard Charger David Webb of Nicholasville, KY in the ORS Auto Body/Valvoline sponsored Pro Power/Rayburn GTO. Completing the top five was Campbellsville, KY driver Jason Keltner in a Draime powered Rayburn Monte Carlo sponsored by Arizona Sport Shirts and Rent Depot.
With 27 entries on hand, the fast qualifier during Racing Optics Time Trials was Brad Neat with a quick lap of 13.834. The Mason Racin'/Arizona Sport Shirts Heats were won by B. Neat, Don Rayborn, and Mike Marlar while David Webb was victorious in the Design 500 B-Main.
The next event for the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series will be on Saturday, June 16 at the Bluegrass Speedway, located just south of Bardstown, KY.
The O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts sanctions regional Dirt 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.
Results Summary
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Ponderosa Speedway
Junction City, KY
June 1, 2007
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier: Brad Neat - 13.834
Mason Racin' Heat #1: Brad Neat, Dustin Neat, Josh McGuire, Justin Rattliff, Bobby Wolter Jr., Bryan Barber, David Webb, Bobby Carrier Jr., Doug Smith
Mason Racin' Heat #2: Don Rayborn, Jerry Rice, Aaron Hatton, Tim Tungate, Victor Lee, Michael Chilton, Damon Eller, Tyrel Todd, Tommy Carlton
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #3: Mike Marlar, Johnny Wheeler, Mike Jewell, Jason Keltner, Jesse Lay, Buzz Williams, Jake Henry, Joey Daniel, Dan Deaton
Design 500 B-Main #1: David Webb, Damon Eller, Tyrel Todd, Doug Smith, Tommy Carlton, Jake Henry, Dan Deaton, Bobby Carrier Jr., Joey Daniel
Hugh "Junebug" Rowland Memorial: Brad Neat, Mike Marlar, Victor Lee, David Webb, Jason Keltner, Johnny Wheeler, Tyrel Todd, Donald Rayborn, Tim Tungate, Jerry Rice, Mike Jewell, Jesse Lay, Michael Chilton, Josh McGuire, Bobby Wolter, Jr., Aaron Hatton, Buzz Williams, Tommy Carlton, Justin Rattliff, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Damon Eller, Doug Smith, Dustin Neat, Bryan Barber
Race Statistics
Entries: 27
Cautions: 5
Lap Leaders: Brad Neat 1-40
PPM Performance Products Hard Charger of the Race: David Webb (started 19th, finished 4th)
Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Race: Jason Keltner
Series Provisionals: Tyrel Todd, Doug Smith
Track Provisionals: Bobby Carrier Jr., Tommy Carlton
Kentucky Speedweek Points (after Ponderosa)
1. 34 Mike Marlar - 1156
2. 41 Josh McGuire - 1057
3. 4 Victor Lee - 1011
4. 0 Jason Keltner - 987
5. 14 Tyrel Todd - 968
6. 18 Tim Tungate - 943
7. 11 Jerry Rice - 872
8. 16 Justin Rattliff - 844
9. 11 Bobby Wolter Jr. - 751
10. 97 Michael Chilton - 739
Current O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Points (after Ponderosa)
1. 34 Mike Marlar (Winfield, TN) - 2530
2. 4 Victor Lee (Stanford, KY) - 2254
3. 11 Jerry Rice (Verona, KY) - 2164
4. 0 Jason Keltner (Campbellsville, KY) - 2010
5. 14 Tyrel Todd (Eubank, KY) - 1930
6. 13w David Webb (Nicholasville, KY) - 1716
7. 18 Tim Tungate (Campbellsville, KY) - 1688
8. 47 Chris Combs (Isom, KY) - 1646
9. 97 Michael Chilton (Salvisa, KY) - 1632
10. 16 Justin Rattliff (Campbellsville, KY) - 1586
2007 O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Winners
Michael England - Florence Speedway, April 13th
Rick Aukland - Twin Cities Raceway Park, April 20th
Don O'Neal - Brownstown Speedway, April 21st
Aaron Hatton - Ponderosa Speedway, April 27th
Mike Marlar - Bluegrass Speedway, April 28th
Jimmy Owens - Tazewell Speedway, May 12th
Audie Swartz - Portsmouth Raceway Park, May 27th
Don O'Neal - Bluegrass Speedway, May 28th
Greg Johnson - Richmond Raceway, May 29th
Josh McGuire - Lake Cumberland Speedway, May 31st
Brad Neat - Ponderosa Speedway, June 1st
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
-Dustin Jarrett - O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass PR (djarrett@battleofthebluegrass.com)
Mike Marlar and Brad Neat brought the field to the green in the Hugh "Junebug" Rowland Memorial at Ponderosa Speedway with Neat grabbing the early advantage followed by Marlar, Dustin Neat, Johnny Wheeler, and Don Rayborn. Rayborn would slip past Wheeler on lap 4, only to have the pass vetoed when Jerry Rice slowed on the track with a flat left rear tire.
When racing resumed, Dustin Neat shot by Marlar to grab second and began to pressure brother Brad for the top spot. Behind the lead trio, a highly-entertaining battle for fourth saw Wheeler, Aaron Hatton, and Don Rayborn racing feverishly against one another with Wheeler continuing to hold that position. Meanwhile, Marlar gathered his momentum back and engaged himself in a door-to-door battle with D. Neat for second. The duo raced side-by-side for several laps with Marlar finally completing the pass on lap 12. The top three cars would soon encounter lapped traffic as Marlar quickly closed in on race-leader Brad Neat as they began working through the backmarkers on lap 15. As Marlar pulled alongside B. Neat in a bid for the lead on lap 19, Bobby Wolter Jr. slowed on the front-stretch, resulting in a caution. The restart would find B. Neat leading Marlar, D. Neat, Wheeler, and Hatton.
On the restart, Dustin Neat slowed on the backstretch and fell to the infield with a broke shock, ending his stellar run. The slowing D. Neat shuffled the running order behind B. Neat and Marlar with Aaron Hatton now third, a hard-charging Victor Lee in fourth, and Don Rayborn back in the top five. Lee, who started 14th, continued his march to the front as he shot past Hatton one lap later and set his sights on the leaders. A lap 25 caution for Bobby Carrier Jr's flat right rear tire slowed the pace and kept the field tight.
When the green flag waved, Brad Neat continued to show the way with Marlar, Lee, and now Rayborn trailing his every move. The top four cars could have been covered with a blanket as, behind the lead foursome, Hatton had his hands full Justin Rattliff, Johnny Wheeler, and Jason Keltner. As Hatton slapped the outside wall, Rattliff, Wheeler, and Keltner all went by, moving Hatton back to eighth. A lap 30 restart allowed that same trio of Rattliff, Wheeler, and Keltner to dispose of Rayborn with 19th-starting David Webb following suit one lap later. Webb was clearly the man on the move over the final ten laps of the race as he grabbed seventh on lap 33, moved into sixth on lap 34, and then stole fifth on lap 36.
The final caution of the event waved on lap 36, setting up a four-lap dash to the finish with Neat leading Marlar, Lee, Keltner, and Webb. When racing resumed, Webb used the bottom the slip by Keltner for fourth and set his sights on the race leaders. It would all be for not, however, as Neat would not be denied. When the checkered flag fell, Dunnville, KY's Brad Neat would be the first to cross the stripe in his Cornett powered Rayburn Monte Carlo sponsored by NWN Distributing, Neat's Service Center, Tarter Gate, Stephens Pipe & Steel, Tri-County Wood, Tarter & Roberts Insurance, Sunoco Race Fuels, and Hoosier Race Tires.
With his victory, Brad Neat becomes the 10th different winner in 11 O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass events this season.
Winfield, TN's Mike Marlar claimed his fourth straight top-five finish with a second place run in the Stephens Trucking/S&B Cattle Company sponsored, Estes/Rayburn GTO. Stanford, KY's Victor Lee grabbed third driving a Jay Dickens powered Rayburn Grand Prix sponsored by Revel Motorsports and Budda Bert Transmissions. Fourth place went to the PPM Performance Hard Charger David Webb of Nicholasville, KY in the ORS Auto Body/Valvoline sponsored Pro Power/Rayburn GTO. Completing the top five was Campbellsville, KY driver Jason Keltner in a Draime powered Rayburn Monte Carlo sponsored by Arizona Sport Shirts and Rent Depot.
With 27 entries on hand, the fast qualifier during Racing Optics Time Trials was Brad Neat with a quick lap of 13.834. The Mason Racin'/Arizona Sport Shirts Heats were won by B. Neat, Don Rayborn, and Mike Marlar while David Webb was victorious in the Design 500 B-Main.
The next event for the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series will be on Saturday, June 16 at the Bluegrass Speedway, located just south of Bardstown, KY.
The O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts sanctions regional Dirt 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.
Results Summary
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Ponderosa Speedway
Junction City, KY
June 1, 2007
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier: Brad Neat - 13.834
Mason Racin' Heat #1: Brad Neat, Dustin Neat, Josh McGuire, Justin Rattliff, Bobby Wolter Jr., Bryan Barber, David Webb, Bobby Carrier Jr., Doug Smith
Mason Racin' Heat #2: Don Rayborn, Jerry Rice, Aaron Hatton, Tim Tungate, Victor Lee, Michael Chilton, Damon Eller, Tyrel Todd, Tommy Carlton
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #3: Mike Marlar, Johnny Wheeler, Mike Jewell, Jason Keltner, Jesse Lay, Buzz Williams, Jake Henry, Joey Daniel, Dan Deaton
Design 500 B-Main #1: David Webb, Damon Eller, Tyrel Todd, Doug Smith, Tommy Carlton, Jake Henry, Dan Deaton, Bobby Carrier Jr., Joey Daniel
Hugh "Junebug" Rowland Memorial: Brad Neat, Mike Marlar, Victor Lee, David Webb, Jason Keltner, Johnny Wheeler, Tyrel Todd, Donald Rayborn, Tim Tungate, Jerry Rice, Mike Jewell, Jesse Lay, Michael Chilton, Josh McGuire, Bobby Wolter, Jr., Aaron Hatton, Buzz Williams, Tommy Carlton, Justin Rattliff, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Damon Eller, Doug Smith, Dustin Neat, Bryan Barber
Race Statistics
Entries: 27
Cautions: 5
Lap Leaders: Brad Neat 1-40
PPM Performance Products Hard Charger of the Race: David Webb (started 19th, finished 4th)
Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Race: Jason Keltner
Series Provisionals: Tyrel Todd, Doug Smith
Track Provisionals: Bobby Carrier Jr., Tommy Carlton
Kentucky Speedweek Points (after Ponderosa)
1. 34 Mike Marlar - 1156
2. 41 Josh McGuire - 1057
3. 4 Victor Lee - 1011
4. 0 Jason Keltner - 987
5. 14 Tyrel Todd - 968
6. 18 Tim Tungate - 943
7. 11 Jerry Rice - 872
8. 16 Justin Rattliff - 844
9. 11 Bobby Wolter Jr. - 751
10. 97 Michael Chilton - 739
Current O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Points (after Ponderosa)
1. 34 Mike Marlar (Winfield, TN) - 2530
2. 4 Victor Lee (Stanford, KY) - 2254
3. 11 Jerry Rice (Verona, KY) - 2164
4. 0 Jason Keltner (Campbellsville, KY) - 2010
5. 14 Tyrel Todd (Eubank, KY) - 1930
6. 13w David Webb (Nicholasville, KY) - 1716
7. 18 Tim Tungate (Campbellsville, KY) - 1688
8. 47 Chris Combs (Isom, KY) - 1646
9. 97 Michael Chilton (Salvisa, KY) - 1632
10. 16 Justin Rattliff (Campbellsville, KY) - 1586
2007 O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Winners
Michael England - Florence Speedway, April 13th
Rick Aukland - Twin Cities Raceway Park, April 20th
Don O'Neal - Brownstown Speedway, April 21st
Aaron Hatton - Ponderosa Speedway, April 27th
Mike Marlar - Bluegrass Speedway, April 28th
Jimmy Owens - Tazewell Speedway, May 12th
Audie Swartz - Portsmouth Raceway Park, May 27th
Don O'Neal - Bluegrass Speedway, May 28th
Greg Johnson - Richmond Raceway, May 29th
Josh McGuire - Lake Cumberland Speedway, May 31st
Brad Neat - Ponderosa Speedway, June 1st
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
-Dustin Jarrett - O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass PR (djarrett@battleofthebluegrass.com)
