LEXINGTON, KY -- The 2005 season for the NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Open Wheel Modified Series is in the books and Hanover, IN's Joey Kramer has captured the Championship. Kramer had six wins with the series during the course of 2005.
Kramer started the season off on the right foot as the 29-year-old ace dubbed "Rocketman" won the season opener on May 14th Soggy Bottom and backed it up with a win the following Friday at Ponderosa. On May 21st, Matt Boknecht rolled into victory lane at Richmond while Ted Nobbe grabbed the win one week later at Bluegrass.
On June 4th, in his first ever visit to 201 Speedway, Kramer was able to get the win besting a stout field of 35 cars. Later that month, the series had their highest car count of the season when 53 drivers signed into the pits at Florence, where Billy Vaughn captured the win. The next event for the series, held on July 2nd, saw Joe David Turner get a thrilling victory at Lake Cumberland.
The August 6th event at Soggy Bottom featured another wild finish as Randle Sweeney doubled up, winning both the BoB Late Model and the BoB Modified features. The following weekend saw Kramer cruise to winner's circle at Ponderosa in a borrowed ride while Josh Lucas cashed the first place paycheck the next night at Bluegrass. Kramer picked up NARA Battle of the Bluegrass wins #5 and #6 on the season August 20th at Richmond and September 3rd at 201. The final race of the season, held October 1st at Soggy Bottom, saw Jimmy Westerfield notch the win.
The season was memorable one for Kramer who, in 13 series events, finished outside the top six just one time. Aside from his six wins with the NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Open Wheel Modified Series, Kramer also found victory lane at Kentucky Lake, Volusia County (FL), Union County (IN), and Twin Cities (IN) among other tracks giving him an overall total of 15 victories for the season. Kramer drives both a Lightning Chassis and a Rocket Chassis, each powered by a home-built Kramer engine, and each carrying sponsorship from Hill's Historic Painting, Super Shine Auto Detail & Window Tinting, Perry's Auto Sales, Bilstein Shocks, and Mom & Dad.
"I'd like to thank Tim Sharp and Spencer Wilson and everyone for giving us a good series with a great purse and little travel," Kramer said in a recent interview. "I also have to thank my sponsors -- Bilstein Shocks, Hill's Historic Painting, Super Shine Auto Detail & Window Tinting, and Perry's Auto Sales -- and I need to thank my Mom and Dad for supporting this 'bad habit' of mine (laughs)."
Kramer continued, "Running with this series makes you a better driver. On any given night, every single car out there as a chance to win. The guys who run with this series are tough and the locals at these tracks we race at are hard to beat."
After a rough 2004, Kramer rebounded with the best season of his career in 2005. "Last year was kind of like a 'test and tune' for this year. We got a new Lightning and that helped out a lot. Winning three of the six (Modified) features at Volusia made me feel real good about coming home and running with BoB Series."
Behind Kramer, 16-year-old Justin Rattliff finished second in the final points rundown with defending series champion Kelly Warren third, Joe David Turner fourth, and Adam Cole fifth. Over 190 different drivers competed with the NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Open Wheel Modified Series in 2005 with Kramer being the only repeat winner on the circuit.
2005 Final Championship Points Standings
1. Joey Kramer - 2965
2. Justin Rattliff - 2590
3. Kelly Warren - 2520
4. Joe David Turner - 2175
5. Adam Cole - 2080
6. Dustin Linville - 1595
7. Shon Flanery - 1350
8. Jason Perry - 1270
9. Jimmy Payne - 1265
10. Hank Bradley - 1170
Continue to visit our website during the off-season for more information on the NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Open Wheel Modified Series, as well as info regarding the upcoming banquet and rules & scheduling information for 2006, at www.naradirtcar.com.
Kramer started the season off on the right foot as the 29-year-old ace dubbed "Rocketman" won the season opener on May 14th Soggy Bottom and backed it up with a win the following Friday at Ponderosa. On May 21st, Matt Boknecht rolled into victory lane at Richmond while Ted Nobbe grabbed the win one week later at Bluegrass.
On June 4th, in his first ever visit to 201 Speedway, Kramer was able to get the win besting a stout field of 35 cars. Later that month, the series had their highest car count of the season when 53 drivers signed into the pits at Florence, where Billy Vaughn captured the win. The next event for the series, held on July 2nd, saw Joe David Turner get a thrilling victory at Lake Cumberland.
The August 6th event at Soggy Bottom featured another wild finish as Randle Sweeney doubled up, winning both the BoB Late Model and the BoB Modified features. The following weekend saw Kramer cruise to winner's circle at Ponderosa in a borrowed ride while Josh Lucas cashed the first place paycheck the next night at Bluegrass. Kramer picked up NARA Battle of the Bluegrass wins #5 and #6 on the season August 20th at Richmond and September 3rd at 201. The final race of the season, held October 1st at Soggy Bottom, saw Jimmy Westerfield notch the win.
The season was memorable one for Kramer who, in 13 series events, finished outside the top six just one time. Aside from his six wins with the NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Open Wheel Modified Series, Kramer also found victory lane at Kentucky Lake, Volusia County (FL), Union County (IN), and Twin Cities (IN) among other tracks giving him an overall total of 15 victories for the season. Kramer drives both a Lightning Chassis and a Rocket Chassis, each powered by a home-built Kramer engine, and each carrying sponsorship from Hill's Historic Painting, Super Shine Auto Detail & Window Tinting, Perry's Auto Sales, Bilstein Shocks, and Mom & Dad.
"I'd like to thank Tim Sharp and Spencer Wilson and everyone for giving us a good series with a great purse and little travel," Kramer said in a recent interview. "I also have to thank my sponsors -- Bilstein Shocks, Hill's Historic Painting, Super Shine Auto Detail & Window Tinting, and Perry's Auto Sales -- and I need to thank my Mom and Dad for supporting this 'bad habit' of mine (laughs)."
Kramer continued, "Running with this series makes you a better driver. On any given night, every single car out there as a chance to win. The guys who run with this series are tough and the locals at these tracks we race at are hard to beat."
After a rough 2004, Kramer rebounded with the best season of his career in 2005. "Last year was kind of like a 'test and tune' for this year. We got a new Lightning and that helped out a lot. Winning three of the six (Modified) features at Volusia made me feel real good about coming home and running with BoB Series."
Behind Kramer, 16-year-old Justin Rattliff finished second in the final points rundown with defending series champion Kelly Warren third, Joe David Turner fourth, and Adam Cole fifth. Over 190 different drivers competed with the NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Open Wheel Modified Series in 2005 with Kramer being the only repeat winner on the circuit.
2005 Final Championship Points Standings
1. Joey Kramer - 2965
2. Justin Rattliff - 2590
3. Kelly Warren - 2520
4. Joe David Turner - 2175
5. Adam Cole - 2080
6. Dustin Linville - 1595
7. Shon Flanery - 1350
8. Jason Perry - 1270
9. Jimmy Payne - 1265
10. Hank Bradley - 1170
Continue to visit our website during the off-season for more information on the NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Open Wheel Modified Series, as well as info regarding the upcoming banquet and rules & scheduling information for 2006, at www.naradirtcar.com.
