UNION, KY (April 13, 2007) - The O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts was finally able to get their season-opener in Friday night and Glasgow, KY's Michael England bested a stellar field of 57 entries at the Florence Speedway to pick up his first ever Series win.
England and Bryan Barber led the field down the green with England getting the early advantage. Jerry Rice ducked under Barber to grab the second spot at the end of lap one while Jeff Alsip and Matt Miller followed suit shuffling Barber back to 5th. The lead duo of England and Rice slowly began to distance themselves from the pack as 9th-starting Victor Lee moved into the top six and pressured Barber for the 5th spot.
By lap 8, Miller began to close in on England and Rice making it a three way dance for the point. Meanwhile, Lee slipped by Barber to take over fifth, bringing Mike Marlar with him. While this was going on, 20th-starting Tyrel Todd was quietly picking his way through the field as the Eubank, KY native moved into 12th by the tenth circuit.
The first and only caution of the race would fly on lap 12 for fourth place Jeff Alsip. On the restart, England led Rice, Miller, Marlar, and Lee back to green. When racing resumed, Miller momentarily got by Rice to grab the bridesmaid honors, as they raced door-to-door behind race leader England. Rice would get back by Miller at the halfway point, as the lead trio could have been covered with a blanket. Behind the front three, Marlar and Lee went side-by-side for 4th, as they closely followed the lead threesome.
Meanwhile, Barber was continuing to hold down the 6th spot with 15th-starting Michael Chilton in 7th, Jesse "James" Lay 8th, 20th-starting Tyrel Todd 9th, and Donnie Moran 10th. With those five cars slicing and dicing and changing positions nearly every lap, the front five cars were able to separate themselves by half a straightaway.
With England, Rice, Miller, Marlar, and Lee all running nip-and-tuck, the final laps came to a close and it was evident that Rice simply could not muster up enough steam to get by the fast running England. When the checkered flag waved, it would be Michael England crossing the stripe first as the Glasgow, KY native picked up his first ever win with the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series, driving his Pro Power/Bloomquist Grand Prix sponsored by Young Oil Corporation, D&D Dairy, Hiseville Feed & Supply, Simpson Machine & Fabrication, Young Angus Farms, and All-Star Performance.
"It feels really good to finally get this first Battle of the Bluegrass win because we've been following this deal forever," England joked in victory lane. "My car was really good tonight and I knew that if I got out front, we'd have a good shot at winning this thing."
Finishing second was Verona, KY's Jerry Rice in the Jeff & Eddie Harrod owned Jay Dickens powered Rayburn GTO sponsored by Harrod Farms and Valvoline. Waterville, OH hotshoe Matt Miller finished third in the MDI Environmental Systems, Performance Rod & Custom sponsored Gary Stanton/Rocket Charger. Fourth spot went to Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN in the Estes powered Rayburn GTO sponsored by Stephens Trucking and S&B Cattle Company. Rounding out the top five was Stanford, KY's Victor Lee driving the Budda Bert Transmissions/CJ Rayburn Race Cars sponsored, Jay Dickens powered Rayburn Grand Prix.
With the Saturday, April 14th event at Florence Speedway cancelled, the next races for the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts will be this coming weekend on Friday, April 20th at the Twin Cities Raceway Park and Saturday, April 21st at the Brownstown Speedway.
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.
RESULTS SUMMARY
Florence Speedway (Union, KY)
April 13, 2007
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier: Matt Miller-16.764
Mason Racin' Heat #1: Jerry Rice, Brian Stinson, Matt Miller, Todd Morrow, David Webb, Steve Landrum, John "Weasel" Rhoades, Shawn Negangard, Doug Smith
Mason Racin' Heat #2: Josh Williams, Mike Marlar, Donnie Moran, Tim Tungate, Doug Drown, Kenny Christy, Mike Meyers, Larry Pickleheimer Jr., Greggie Oliver; (DNS - Rick Combs)
Mason Racin' Heat #3: Michael England, Victor Lee, Michael Chilton, Audie McWilliams, Spensor Watson, Casey Vitale, Dan Deaton, Joe Ramey, Scott James; (DNS - Ron Strack)
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #4: Jeff Alsip, Mike Jewell, David Spille, Tyrel Todd, Ben Adkins, Jason Keltner, Kenny Johnson, Jeff Watson, Larry Greer
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #5: Jesse Lay, Jason Jameson, Brad Neat, Greg Kendall, Duane Chamberlain, Mike Amell, Adrian Nichols, Bill Arnold, John Holt
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #6: Bryan Barber, Wayne Chinn, Chris Combs, Greg Johnson, Robby Hensley, Justin Rattliff, Shannon Thornsberry, Bobby Wolter Jr., Greg Payne, D. Jay Miller
Design 500 B-Main #1: Audie McWilliams, Tim Tungate, Doug Drown, David Webb, Scott James, Kenny Christy, Steve Landrum, Casey Vitale, Dan Deaton, Greggie Oliver, Larry Pickleheimer Jr., Doug Smith, Shawn Negangard, Mike Meyers, Joe Ramey, John "Weasel" Rhoades, Spensor Watson
Design 500 B-Main #2: Tyrel Todd, Greg Kendall, Greg Johnson, Ben Adkins, Jason Keltner, Adrian Nichols, Shannon Thornsberry, Duane Chamberlain, Robby Hensley, Jeff Watson, Kenny Johnson, Mike Amell, D Jay Miller, Bobby Wolter Jr., Larry Greer, Bill Arnold, Justin Rattliff
O'Reilly Auto Parts Spring 50 Tune-Up: Michael England, Jerry Rice, Matt Miller, Mike Marlar, Victor Lee, Michael Chilton, Tyrel Todd, Jesse Lay, Donnie Moran, Bryan Barber, Tim Tungate, Josh Williams, Mike Jewell, Todd Morrow, Wayne Chinn, Chris Combs, Brad Neat, Justin Rattliff, David Spille, Greg Kendall, Bobby Wolter Jr., Jason Jameson, Audie McWilliams, Jeff Alsip
Race Statistics
Entries: 57
Lap Leaders: England 1-30
Cautions: 1
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger of the Race: Tyrel Todd (started 20th, finished 7th)
Cruise With the Champions Rookie of the Race:
Series Provisionals: Justin Rattliff, Bobby Wolter Jr.
Dustin Jarrett -- O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series (djarrett@battleofthebluegrass.com)
England and Bryan Barber led the field down the green with England getting the early advantage. Jerry Rice ducked under Barber to grab the second spot at the end of lap one while Jeff Alsip and Matt Miller followed suit shuffling Barber back to 5th. The lead duo of England and Rice slowly began to distance themselves from the pack as 9th-starting Victor Lee moved into the top six and pressured Barber for the 5th spot.
By lap 8, Miller began to close in on England and Rice making it a three way dance for the point. Meanwhile, Lee slipped by Barber to take over fifth, bringing Mike Marlar with him. While this was going on, 20th-starting Tyrel Todd was quietly picking his way through the field as the Eubank, KY native moved into 12th by the tenth circuit.
The first and only caution of the race would fly on lap 12 for fourth place Jeff Alsip. On the restart, England led Rice, Miller, Marlar, and Lee back to green. When racing resumed, Miller momentarily got by Rice to grab the bridesmaid honors, as they raced door-to-door behind race leader England. Rice would get back by Miller at the halfway point, as the lead trio could have been covered with a blanket. Behind the front three, Marlar and Lee went side-by-side for 4th, as they closely followed the lead threesome.
Meanwhile, Barber was continuing to hold down the 6th spot with 15th-starting Michael Chilton in 7th, Jesse "James" Lay 8th, 20th-starting Tyrel Todd 9th, and Donnie Moran 10th. With those five cars slicing and dicing and changing positions nearly every lap, the front five cars were able to separate themselves by half a straightaway.
With England, Rice, Miller, Marlar, and Lee all running nip-and-tuck, the final laps came to a close and it was evident that Rice simply could not muster up enough steam to get by the fast running England. When the checkered flag waved, it would be Michael England crossing the stripe first as the Glasgow, KY native picked up his first ever win with the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series, driving his Pro Power/Bloomquist Grand Prix sponsored by Young Oil Corporation, D&D Dairy, Hiseville Feed & Supply, Simpson Machine & Fabrication, Young Angus Farms, and All-Star Performance.
"It feels really good to finally get this first Battle of the Bluegrass win because we've been following this deal forever," England joked in victory lane. "My car was really good tonight and I knew that if I got out front, we'd have a good shot at winning this thing."
Finishing second was Verona, KY's Jerry Rice in the Jeff & Eddie Harrod owned Jay Dickens powered Rayburn GTO sponsored by Harrod Farms and Valvoline. Waterville, OH hotshoe Matt Miller finished third in the MDI Environmental Systems, Performance Rod & Custom sponsored Gary Stanton/Rocket Charger. Fourth spot went to Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN in the Estes powered Rayburn GTO sponsored by Stephens Trucking and S&B Cattle Company. Rounding out the top five was Stanford, KY's Victor Lee driving the Budda Bert Transmissions/CJ Rayburn Race Cars sponsored, Jay Dickens powered Rayburn Grand Prix.
With the Saturday, April 14th event at Florence Speedway cancelled, the next races for the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts will be this coming weekend on Friday, April 20th at the Twin Cities Raceway Park and Saturday, April 21st at the Brownstown Speedway.
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.
RESULTS SUMMARY
Florence Speedway (Union, KY)
April 13, 2007
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier: Matt Miller-16.764
Mason Racin' Heat #1: Jerry Rice, Brian Stinson, Matt Miller, Todd Morrow, David Webb, Steve Landrum, John "Weasel" Rhoades, Shawn Negangard, Doug Smith
Mason Racin' Heat #2: Josh Williams, Mike Marlar, Donnie Moran, Tim Tungate, Doug Drown, Kenny Christy, Mike Meyers, Larry Pickleheimer Jr., Greggie Oliver; (DNS - Rick Combs)
Mason Racin' Heat #3: Michael England, Victor Lee, Michael Chilton, Audie McWilliams, Spensor Watson, Casey Vitale, Dan Deaton, Joe Ramey, Scott James; (DNS - Ron Strack)
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #4: Jeff Alsip, Mike Jewell, David Spille, Tyrel Todd, Ben Adkins, Jason Keltner, Kenny Johnson, Jeff Watson, Larry Greer
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #5: Jesse Lay, Jason Jameson, Brad Neat, Greg Kendall, Duane Chamberlain, Mike Amell, Adrian Nichols, Bill Arnold, John Holt
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #6: Bryan Barber, Wayne Chinn, Chris Combs, Greg Johnson, Robby Hensley, Justin Rattliff, Shannon Thornsberry, Bobby Wolter Jr., Greg Payne, D. Jay Miller
Design 500 B-Main #1: Audie McWilliams, Tim Tungate, Doug Drown, David Webb, Scott James, Kenny Christy, Steve Landrum, Casey Vitale, Dan Deaton, Greggie Oliver, Larry Pickleheimer Jr., Doug Smith, Shawn Negangard, Mike Meyers, Joe Ramey, John "Weasel" Rhoades, Spensor Watson
Design 500 B-Main #2: Tyrel Todd, Greg Kendall, Greg Johnson, Ben Adkins, Jason Keltner, Adrian Nichols, Shannon Thornsberry, Duane Chamberlain, Robby Hensley, Jeff Watson, Kenny Johnson, Mike Amell, D Jay Miller, Bobby Wolter Jr., Larry Greer, Bill Arnold, Justin Rattliff
O'Reilly Auto Parts Spring 50 Tune-Up: Michael England, Jerry Rice, Matt Miller, Mike Marlar, Victor Lee, Michael Chilton, Tyrel Todd, Jesse Lay, Donnie Moran, Bryan Barber, Tim Tungate, Josh Williams, Mike Jewell, Todd Morrow, Wayne Chinn, Chris Combs, Brad Neat, Justin Rattliff, David Spille, Greg Kendall, Bobby Wolter Jr., Jason Jameson, Audie McWilliams, Jeff Alsip
Race Statistics
Entries: 57
Lap Leaders: England 1-30
Cautions: 1
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger of the Race: Tyrel Todd (started 20th, finished 7th)
Cruise With the Champions Rookie of the Race:
Series Provisionals: Justin Rattliff, Bobby Wolter Jr.
Dustin Jarrett -- O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series (djarrett@battleofthebluegrass.com)
