LEXINGTON, KY -- The same week that America celebrates its 230th birthday, the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts is preparing to celebrate a milestone of its own. The nation's most competitive regional racing series is quickly closing in on race #100.
On Saturday, July 8th, Bluegrass Speedway will have the honor of celebrating the 100th sanctioned event in the history of the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series. In addition to various events and activities throughout the day courtesy of Driver Smart Kentucky, a full night or racing is planned with Hot Laps, Racing Optics Time Trials, Mason Racin'/Arizona Sport Shirts Heats, Design 500 B-Mains, and the 40 lap, $5,000 to win O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series sanctioned 8th Annual Kentuckiana Klash. 2003 Series Champion Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN is the defending champion of this event.
Activities for this highly anticipated July 8 event at Bluegrass Speedway will see pit and main gates open at 4:00 PM. Drivers meetings will be at 6:00 PM, hot laps at 6:30 PM, time trials around 7:00 PM, with racing getting the green for the evening at or before 8:00 PM. All times listed are EDT. Adult general admission will be $20, children ages 6 to 12 are $10, children under age 6 are free, and pit passes will be $35. For information about the upcoming event at Bluegrass Speedway, consult the track's website via the internet at www.bluegrass-speedway.com, or the series' website at www.battleofthebluegrass.com
In just five seasons, the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series has catapulted into the national spotlight. Thanks in part to a dynamic 2005 season which saw 18 different winners in 20 races, the series has been dubbed the "nation's most competitive regional racing series".
On May 3, 2002, history would be made as the first ever STARS Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series event was held at McCoy's Motor Speedway (now known as Barren County Speedway) in Glasgow, KY. Later that night, Harrodsburg, KY veteran Timmy Yeager would have the distinction of being the first ever Battle of the Bluegrass feature winner. Oddly enough, Yeager would also win the final race of the inaugural Battle of the Bluegrass season, his only wins with the series to date. By a mere 90 points, Eddie Carrier Jr., then calling Leburn, KY home, would be crowned the first ever Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Champion over Yeager, Jesse Lay, Johnny Wheeler, and Richard Smith.
With a 25 events scheduled in Kentucky and Tennessee, the STARS Battle of the Bluegrass Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts roared into 2003 with a strong contingent of both drivers and fans following the series. Behind a record five wins, Winfield, TN native Mike Marlar would be the 2003 Series Champion as Timmy Yeager once again earned the bridesmaid honors. Behind Marlar and Yeager, Aaron Hatton, Jesse Lay, and Scott James would complete the top five in the series points standings.
The 2004 racing season saw even more drivers following the series. Now flying under the banner of the North American Racing Association (NARA), the NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series continued with the same enthusiasm that swept through the Bluegrass State the year before. In an exciting points battle that lead right down to the final race of the year, Mt. Sterling, KY's Aaron Hatton would nip Eubank, KY's Tyrel Todd by just 55 points to take home the Series Championship with Johnny Wheeler, Doug Smith, and Victor Lee following. Milestone race #50 was help at the Richmond Raceway in Richmond, KY on May 8, 2004 with Greg Johnson picking up the win. Another drastic change that occurred in 2004 was the signing of O'Reilly Auto Parts as the title sponsor of popular touring series.
Although the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series had always been popular in and around Kentucky, it was the 2005 season that catapulted the series into the national spotlight. The series started with an unprecedented 10 different winners in the first 10 races, only to have the streak stopped when Dunnville, KY native Whitney McQueary picked up his second win of 2005 at 201 Speedway. From there, another streak would start and, at one time, had reached an astounding 15 different winners in 16 races when inaugural series champion Eddie Carrier Jr. notched his second win of the year. With no other repeat winners on the agenda, the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series finished the 2005 season with an amazing 18 different winners in 20 races.
Not only was the high level of competition displayed on the track, but it was reflected in the season-long points standings as well. Heading into the season finale at Florence Speedway, Tim Tungate held a slim 75-point advantage over Whitney McQueary and a narrow 80-point lead over Mike Jewell. In one of the most memorable races in series history, Jewell overcame the 80-point deficit and finished in a tie with Tungate for the Series Championship. Since each driver posted one win on the series, the tiebreaker was no good, thus series officials deemed Tungate and Jewell as Co-Champions for the 2005 racing season. McQueary finished just 60 points back in third Aaron Hatton and Chris Combs completing the top five.
Scottsburg, IN's Mike Jewell leads the all-time O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series winners list with 9 wins. Past Series Champions Eddie Carrier Jr. and Mike Marlar have 7 wins each while Greg Johnson, Darrell Lanigan, and Johnny Wheeler each have 6 series wins. Aaron Hatton, Scott James, Don O'Neal, and Tyrel Todd all have 4 wins while Jackie Boggs, Mike Hawley, and Jesse Lay have each netted 3 victories.
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Random Facts
- 39 different drivers have won a Battle of the Bluegrass sanctioned event
- Mike Jewell has the distinction to date of being the only driver to win a series race in each of the five seasons the series has been in existence
- Lawrenceburg, IN's Scott James has won a Battle of the Bluegrass sanctioned race in every year except 2006
- Timmy Yeager's 2 series wins came in the first race and the last race of 2002
- Tyrel Todd's 4 series wins all came in 2004
- The record car count for the Battle of the Bluegrass Series is 81 at Florence Speedway on April 4, 2004
- Bluegrass Speedway and Richmond Raceway have each held 14 Battle of the Bluegrass events, more than any other track
- Aaron Hatton and Tyrel Todd are the only two drivers to finish in the top 10 in points every season
- Battle of the Bluegrass sanctioned events have been held at 20 different race tracks in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana
2002 Final Points Standings
1. 4190 Eddie Carrier Jr.
2. 4100 Timmy Yeager
3. 3885 Jesse Lay
4. 3720 Johnny Wheeler
5. 3530 Richard Smith
2003 Final Points Standings
1. 4945 Mike Marlar
2. 4485 Timmy Yeager
3. 4240 Aaron Hatton
4. 4230 Jesse Lay
5. 4175 Scott James
2004 Final Points Standings
1. 4420 Aaron Hatton
2. 4165 Tyrel Todd
3. 3885 Johnny Wheeler
4. 3355 Doug Smith
5. 3345 Victor Lee
2005 Final Points Standings
1.(tie) 3495 Tim Tungate
1.(tie) 3495 Mike Jewell
3. 3435 Whitney McQueary
4. 3200 Aaron Hatton
5. 3150 Chris Combs
Top 10 All-Time Battle of the Bluegrass Feature Winners
1. Mike Jewell (9 wins)
2. Eddie Carrier Jr. (7 wins)
2. Mike Marlar (7 wins)
4. Greg Johnson (6 wins)
4. Darrell Lanigan (6 wins)
4. Johnny Wheeler (6 wins)
7. Aaron Hatton (4 wins)
7. Scott James (4 wins)
7. Don O'Neal (4 wins)
7. Tyrel Todd (4 wins)
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
On Saturday, July 8th, Bluegrass Speedway will have the honor of celebrating the 100th sanctioned event in the history of the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series. In addition to various events and activities throughout the day courtesy of Driver Smart Kentucky, a full night or racing is planned with Hot Laps, Racing Optics Time Trials, Mason Racin'/Arizona Sport Shirts Heats, Design 500 B-Mains, and the 40 lap, $5,000 to win O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series sanctioned 8th Annual Kentuckiana Klash. 2003 Series Champion Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN is the defending champion of this event.
Activities for this highly anticipated July 8 event at Bluegrass Speedway will see pit and main gates open at 4:00 PM. Drivers meetings will be at 6:00 PM, hot laps at 6:30 PM, time trials around 7:00 PM, with racing getting the green for the evening at or before 8:00 PM. All times listed are EDT. Adult general admission will be $20, children ages 6 to 12 are $10, children under age 6 are free, and pit passes will be $35. For information about the upcoming event at Bluegrass Speedway, consult the track's website via the internet at www.bluegrass-speedway.com, or the series' website at www.battleofthebluegrass.com
In just five seasons, the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series has catapulted into the national spotlight. Thanks in part to a dynamic 2005 season which saw 18 different winners in 20 races, the series has been dubbed the "nation's most competitive regional racing series".
On May 3, 2002, history would be made as the first ever STARS Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series event was held at McCoy's Motor Speedway (now known as Barren County Speedway) in Glasgow, KY. Later that night, Harrodsburg, KY veteran Timmy Yeager would have the distinction of being the first ever Battle of the Bluegrass feature winner. Oddly enough, Yeager would also win the final race of the inaugural Battle of the Bluegrass season, his only wins with the series to date. By a mere 90 points, Eddie Carrier Jr., then calling Leburn, KY home, would be crowned the first ever Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Champion over Yeager, Jesse Lay, Johnny Wheeler, and Richard Smith.
With a 25 events scheduled in Kentucky and Tennessee, the STARS Battle of the Bluegrass Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts roared into 2003 with a strong contingent of both drivers and fans following the series. Behind a record five wins, Winfield, TN native Mike Marlar would be the 2003 Series Champion as Timmy Yeager once again earned the bridesmaid honors. Behind Marlar and Yeager, Aaron Hatton, Jesse Lay, and Scott James would complete the top five in the series points standings.
The 2004 racing season saw even more drivers following the series. Now flying under the banner of the North American Racing Association (NARA), the NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series continued with the same enthusiasm that swept through the Bluegrass State the year before. In an exciting points battle that lead right down to the final race of the year, Mt. Sterling, KY's Aaron Hatton would nip Eubank, KY's Tyrel Todd by just 55 points to take home the Series Championship with Johnny Wheeler, Doug Smith, and Victor Lee following. Milestone race #50 was help at the Richmond Raceway in Richmond, KY on May 8, 2004 with Greg Johnson picking up the win. Another drastic change that occurred in 2004 was the signing of O'Reilly Auto Parts as the title sponsor of popular touring series.
Although the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series had always been popular in and around Kentucky, it was the 2005 season that catapulted the series into the national spotlight. The series started with an unprecedented 10 different winners in the first 10 races, only to have the streak stopped when Dunnville, KY native Whitney McQueary picked up his second win of 2005 at 201 Speedway. From there, another streak would start and, at one time, had reached an astounding 15 different winners in 16 races when inaugural series champion Eddie Carrier Jr. notched his second win of the year. With no other repeat winners on the agenda, the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series finished the 2005 season with an amazing 18 different winners in 20 races.
Not only was the high level of competition displayed on the track, but it was reflected in the season-long points standings as well. Heading into the season finale at Florence Speedway, Tim Tungate held a slim 75-point advantage over Whitney McQueary and a narrow 80-point lead over Mike Jewell. In one of the most memorable races in series history, Jewell overcame the 80-point deficit and finished in a tie with Tungate for the Series Championship. Since each driver posted one win on the series, the tiebreaker was no good, thus series officials deemed Tungate and Jewell as Co-Champions for the 2005 racing season. McQueary finished just 60 points back in third Aaron Hatton and Chris Combs completing the top five.
Scottsburg, IN's Mike Jewell leads the all-time O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series winners list with 9 wins. Past Series Champions Eddie Carrier Jr. and Mike Marlar have 7 wins each while Greg Johnson, Darrell Lanigan, and Johnny Wheeler each have 6 series wins. Aaron Hatton, Scott James, Don O'Neal, and Tyrel Todd all have 4 wins while Jackie Boggs, Mike Hawley, and Jesse Lay have each netted 3 victories.
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Random Facts
- 39 different drivers have won a Battle of the Bluegrass sanctioned event
- Mike Jewell has the distinction to date of being the only driver to win a series race in each of the five seasons the series has been in existence
- Lawrenceburg, IN's Scott James has won a Battle of the Bluegrass sanctioned race in every year except 2006
- Timmy Yeager's 2 series wins came in the first race and the last race of 2002
- Tyrel Todd's 4 series wins all came in 2004
- The record car count for the Battle of the Bluegrass Series is 81 at Florence Speedway on April 4, 2004
- Bluegrass Speedway and Richmond Raceway have each held 14 Battle of the Bluegrass events, more than any other track
- Aaron Hatton and Tyrel Todd are the only two drivers to finish in the top 10 in points every season
- Battle of the Bluegrass sanctioned events have been held at 20 different race tracks in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana
2002 Final Points Standings
1. 4190 Eddie Carrier Jr.
2. 4100 Timmy Yeager
3. 3885 Jesse Lay
4. 3720 Johnny Wheeler
5. 3530 Richard Smith
2003 Final Points Standings
1. 4945 Mike Marlar
2. 4485 Timmy Yeager
3. 4240 Aaron Hatton
4. 4230 Jesse Lay
5. 4175 Scott James
2004 Final Points Standings
1. 4420 Aaron Hatton
2. 4165 Tyrel Todd
3. 3885 Johnny Wheeler
4. 3355 Doug Smith
5. 3345 Victor Lee
2005 Final Points Standings
1.(tie) 3495 Tim Tungate
1.(tie) 3495 Mike Jewell
3. 3435 Whitney McQueary
4. 3200 Aaron Hatton
5. 3150 Chris Combs
Top 10 All-Time Battle of the Bluegrass Feature Winners
1. Mike Jewell (9 wins)
2. Eddie Carrier Jr. (7 wins)
2. Mike Marlar (7 wins)
4. Greg Johnson (6 wins)
4. Darrell Lanigan (6 wins)
4. Johnny Wheeler (6 wins)
7. Aaron Hatton (4 wins)
7. Scott James (4 wins)
7. Don O'Neal (4 wins)
7. Tyrel Todd (4 wins)
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
