JUNCTION CITY, KY--Before a packed grandstand Greg Johnson of Bedford, IN sped to his fourth O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Presented by Arizona Sport Shirts main event of the season on Friday Night at the Ponderosa Speedway as he captured the $5,000 to win Ponderosa 50/John Bradshaw Memorial Race. Johnson led all 50 laps as he held off the challenges of several drivers for the win. Johnson drives the John Hall owned/J&H Construction/Outlaw Graphics/Hall's Angus Farms/Pro Power Engines/Intimidator Pontiac Grand Prix sponsored #4. Finishing second to Johnson was Eddie Carrier, Jr. of Salt Rock, WV in the Carl Grover Motorsports/Engines Inc./Rocket Ford Fusion and Chris Combs of Isom, KY in the Bub's Trucking/Cropper Racing Engines/Swartz GTO. Rounding out the top five were Brad Neat of Dunnville, KY in the Neat's Service Center/Cornett Engines/MasterSbilt Monte Carlo and Scott James of Lawrenceburg, In in the Powell Motorsports/Jay Dickens Racign engines/Rocket GTO. A total of 30 cars were on hand at the Larry Yantz promoted facility.
Johnson and former O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series champion Aaron Hatton would go from the front row of the event with Johnson grabbing the lead from the start. Hatton and first time Ponderosa visitor Earl Pearson, Jr. would go nose to tail for second place behind Johnson. Eddie Carrier, Jr. who started fourth would run in that spot with last year's series rookie of the year Chris Combs a close fifth. Up front the trio of Johnson, Hatton and Pearson were duking it out around the D-shaped track with Johnson holding a one car length lead.
By the tenth circuit all three frontrunners were neck and neck with Carrier and Combs starting to close in some heavy traffic. The first caution of the race flew on lap 16 for a Bryan Barber flat tire. On the restart the fireworks would really get going as there was contact between Hatton and Pearson in turn two with Pearson ending up stopping and several other cars including sixth place running Jeff Watson involved in a turn two pileup. With the red flag displayed for a blocked race track Pearson would show his displeasure with Hatton as the two would go face to face with their race cars. Hatton would end up on top of Pearson's car as both drivers would be sent to the pit area and out of the race.
With that excitement eased the race would be restarted with Johnson on the point with Carrier and Combs now running second and third. On lap 30 the yellow would come out for Buzz Williams who made contact with the wall ending his night. There would be two more attempts at a restart as both failed as Timmy Yeager, Wayne Chinn and Donald Rayborn got together on the front stretch. The lap 21 restart would be the last restart of the race as Johnson would lead the way.
Carrier and Combs would stay close to Johnson after the restart and with the halfway signal they were right on the veteran driver with Johnny Wheeler running fourth and Brad Neat now fifth. Neat would race past Wheeler on lap 27 to gain fourth and Scott James who started 13th was making his way into the top five dispatching Wheeler for that spot on lap 28. With 20 laps to go it was Johnson, Carrier, Combs, Neat and James your top five runners.
Johnson then started to pull away from Carrier and Combs as the 38 year old former Steve Kinser crew member would negotiate some traffic late in the race and go unchallenged the rest of the way to pick up his series leading fourth victory of the campaign. Carrier the very first O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Champion back in 2002 would finish second just ahead of Combs. Neat and James would round out the top five.
"I just want to thank John Hall for giving me the opportunity to drive this race car." said Johnson afterwards. "We were real strong tonight, just as we were at Brownstown last week and I knew when I got the lead on the first lap it would be hard for anyone to get past me." "This Pro Power motor is stout and we feel really good to get this win and look to finish the season strong."
Completing the top ten were Ben Adkins, Bobby Wolter, Jr., David Webb, Josh McGuire and Johnny Wheeler.
In preliminary action Scott James was the Racing Optics Fast Qualifier with a lap of 13.79 seconds among the 30 cars on hand. The Mason Racin' and Arizona Sport Shirt Heat Races were taken by Earl Pearson, Jr., Aaron Hatton, Greg Johnson and Eddie Carrier, Jr., The Design 500 B-Mains were won by David Webb and Mike Jewell.
The next O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series race will be on Saturday Night, September 2 at the 201 Speedway in Sitka, KY paying $3,000 to win. For more information on this event please visit the series website at www.battleofthebluegrass.com or the Series Office at (859)433-5707.
Race Summary
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Friday Night, August 25, 2006
Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier: Scott James 13.79 seconds
Mason Racin' First Heat: (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Earl Pearson, Jr., Chris Combs, Brad Neat, Scott James, David Webb, Dustin Neat
Mason Racin' Second Heat: (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Aaron Hatton, Victor Lee, Johnny Wheeler, Justin Rattliff, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Wayne Chinn, Buzz Williams, Devin Sebree
Arizona Sport Shirts Third Heat: (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Greg Johnson, Josh McGuire, Ben Adkins, Tim Tungate, Timmy Yeager, Jake Henry, Donald Rayborn
Arizona Sport Shirts Fourth Heat: (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Eddie Carrier, Jr., Jeff Watson, Bobby Wolter, Jr., Bryan Barber, Mike Jewell, Tyrel Todd
Design 500 First B-Main: (12 Laps-Top 2 Advance): David Webb, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Wayne Chinn, Devin Sebree, Dustin Neat-DNS, Buzz Williams-DNS, Joey Daniel-DNS, Blake Chinn-DNS
Design 500 Second B-Main: (12 Laps-Top 2 Advance): Mike Jewell, Timmy Yeager, Donald Rayborn, Jake Henry, Tyrel Todd, Dan Deaton-DNS
Ponderosa 50/John Bradshaw Memorial A-Main: (50 Laps): Greg Johnson, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Chris Combs, Brad Neat, Scott James, Ben Adkins, Bobby Wolter, Jr., David Webb, Josh McGuire, Johnny Wheeler, Justin Rattliff, Mike Jewell, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Victor Lee, Tim Tungate, Timmy Yeager, Wayne Chinn, Donald Rayborn, Buzz Williams, Tyrel Todd, Aaron Hatton, Earl Pearson, Jr., Jeff Watson, Bryan Barber
Race Statistics:
Entries: 30
Caution Flags: 5
Red Flags: 2
Lap Leaders: Greg Johnson 1-50
Cruise with the Champions Rookie of the Race: Justin Rattliff
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger of the Race: David Webb (Started 17th and finished 8th-advanced nine positions)
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Provisionals: Tyrel Todd and Wayne Chinn
Track Provisionals: Donald Rayborn and Buzz Williams
Current O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Championship Points Standings (After August 25)
1. Mike Jewell (Scottsburg, IN)-3560
2. Chris Combs (Isom, KY)-3475
3. Justin Rattliff (Campbellsville, KY)-3340
4. Tim Tungate (Campbellsville, KY)-3260
5. Bryan Barber (Buffalo, KY)-3115
6. Aaron Hatton (Mt. Sterling, KY)-2920
7. Bobby Wolter, Jr. (Lexington, KY)-2620
8. Dan Deaton (Georgetown, KY)-2170
9. Brad Neat (Dunnville, KY)-2040
10. Johnny Wheeler (Campbellsville, KY)-1720
Cruise with the Champions Rookie of the Year Standings (After August 25)
1. Justin Rattliff (Campbellsville, KY)-3340
2. Dan Deaton (Georgetown, KY)-2170
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
Johnson and former O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series champion Aaron Hatton would go from the front row of the event with Johnson grabbing the lead from the start. Hatton and first time Ponderosa visitor Earl Pearson, Jr. would go nose to tail for second place behind Johnson. Eddie Carrier, Jr. who started fourth would run in that spot with last year's series rookie of the year Chris Combs a close fifth. Up front the trio of Johnson, Hatton and Pearson were duking it out around the D-shaped track with Johnson holding a one car length lead.
By the tenth circuit all three frontrunners were neck and neck with Carrier and Combs starting to close in some heavy traffic. The first caution of the race flew on lap 16 for a Bryan Barber flat tire. On the restart the fireworks would really get going as there was contact between Hatton and Pearson in turn two with Pearson ending up stopping and several other cars including sixth place running Jeff Watson involved in a turn two pileup. With the red flag displayed for a blocked race track Pearson would show his displeasure with Hatton as the two would go face to face with their race cars. Hatton would end up on top of Pearson's car as both drivers would be sent to the pit area and out of the race.
With that excitement eased the race would be restarted with Johnson on the point with Carrier and Combs now running second and third. On lap 30 the yellow would come out for Buzz Williams who made contact with the wall ending his night. There would be two more attempts at a restart as both failed as Timmy Yeager, Wayne Chinn and Donald Rayborn got together on the front stretch. The lap 21 restart would be the last restart of the race as Johnson would lead the way.
Carrier and Combs would stay close to Johnson after the restart and with the halfway signal they were right on the veteran driver with Johnny Wheeler running fourth and Brad Neat now fifth. Neat would race past Wheeler on lap 27 to gain fourth and Scott James who started 13th was making his way into the top five dispatching Wheeler for that spot on lap 28. With 20 laps to go it was Johnson, Carrier, Combs, Neat and James your top five runners.
Johnson then started to pull away from Carrier and Combs as the 38 year old former Steve Kinser crew member would negotiate some traffic late in the race and go unchallenged the rest of the way to pick up his series leading fourth victory of the campaign. Carrier the very first O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Champion back in 2002 would finish second just ahead of Combs. Neat and James would round out the top five.
"I just want to thank John Hall for giving me the opportunity to drive this race car." said Johnson afterwards. "We were real strong tonight, just as we were at Brownstown last week and I knew when I got the lead on the first lap it would be hard for anyone to get past me." "This Pro Power motor is stout and we feel really good to get this win and look to finish the season strong."
Completing the top ten were Ben Adkins, Bobby Wolter, Jr., David Webb, Josh McGuire and Johnny Wheeler.
In preliminary action Scott James was the Racing Optics Fast Qualifier with a lap of 13.79 seconds among the 30 cars on hand. The Mason Racin' and Arizona Sport Shirt Heat Races were taken by Earl Pearson, Jr., Aaron Hatton, Greg Johnson and Eddie Carrier, Jr., The Design 500 B-Mains were won by David Webb and Mike Jewell.
The next O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series race will be on Saturday Night, September 2 at the 201 Speedway in Sitka, KY paying $3,000 to win. For more information on this event please visit the series website at www.battleofthebluegrass.com or the Series Office at (859)433-5707.
Race Summary
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Friday Night, August 25, 2006
Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier: Scott James 13.79 seconds
Mason Racin' First Heat: (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Earl Pearson, Jr., Chris Combs, Brad Neat, Scott James, David Webb, Dustin Neat
Mason Racin' Second Heat: (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Aaron Hatton, Victor Lee, Johnny Wheeler, Justin Rattliff, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Wayne Chinn, Buzz Williams, Devin Sebree
Arizona Sport Shirts Third Heat: (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Greg Johnson, Josh McGuire, Ben Adkins, Tim Tungate, Timmy Yeager, Jake Henry, Donald Rayborn
Arizona Sport Shirts Fourth Heat: (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Eddie Carrier, Jr., Jeff Watson, Bobby Wolter, Jr., Bryan Barber, Mike Jewell, Tyrel Todd
Design 500 First B-Main: (12 Laps-Top 2 Advance): David Webb, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Wayne Chinn, Devin Sebree, Dustin Neat-DNS, Buzz Williams-DNS, Joey Daniel-DNS, Blake Chinn-DNS
Design 500 Second B-Main: (12 Laps-Top 2 Advance): Mike Jewell, Timmy Yeager, Donald Rayborn, Jake Henry, Tyrel Todd, Dan Deaton-DNS
Ponderosa 50/John Bradshaw Memorial A-Main: (50 Laps): Greg Johnson, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Chris Combs, Brad Neat, Scott James, Ben Adkins, Bobby Wolter, Jr., David Webb, Josh McGuire, Johnny Wheeler, Justin Rattliff, Mike Jewell, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Victor Lee, Tim Tungate, Timmy Yeager, Wayne Chinn, Donald Rayborn, Buzz Williams, Tyrel Todd, Aaron Hatton, Earl Pearson, Jr., Jeff Watson, Bryan Barber
Race Statistics:
Entries: 30
Caution Flags: 5
Red Flags: 2
Lap Leaders: Greg Johnson 1-50
Cruise with the Champions Rookie of the Race: Justin Rattliff
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger of the Race: David Webb (Started 17th and finished 8th-advanced nine positions)
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Provisionals: Tyrel Todd and Wayne Chinn
Track Provisionals: Donald Rayborn and Buzz Williams
Current O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Championship Points Standings (After August 25)
1. Mike Jewell (Scottsburg, IN)-3560
2. Chris Combs (Isom, KY)-3475
3. Justin Rattliff (Campbellsville, KY)-3340
4. Tim Tungate (Campbellsville, KY)-3260
5. Bryan Barber (Buffalo, KY)-3115
6. Aaron Hatton (Mt. Sterling, KY)-2920
7. Bobby Wolter, Jr. (Lexington, KY)-2620
8. Dan Deaton (Georgetown, KY)-2170
9. Brad Neat (Dunnville, KY)-2040
10. Johnny Wheeler (Campbellsville, KY)-1720
Cruise with the Champions Rookie of the Year Standings (After August 25)
1. Justin Rattliff (Campbellsville, KY)-3340
2. Dan Deaton (Georgetown, KY)-2170
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
