SITKA, KY – When St. Albans, WV driver Rod Evans went to the pits to change a flat tire on lap 9, he never dreamed he would be able to work his way back up through the field and win the A-Main. But that’s exactly what happened in a dramatic finish to Saturday night’s O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series race at 201 Speedway. Mike Jewell, who also went to the tail of the field following a lap 19 accident, rallied to finish second with local hotshoe Brandon Kinzer grabbing third.
In the 40-lap O’Reilly Auto Parts A-Main, Mike Jewell and Brandon Kinzer brought the field to the green with Jewell jumping out to the early lead followed by Henry Hornsby, Kinzer, Justin Rattliff, and Rod Evans. Evans worked his way by Rattliff the next time by, but only momentarily, as “The Rattler” would regain the number four position two circuits later.
With a torrid pace being set by the race leaders, they began picking their way through the back of the pack on lap 6. Hornsby shot past Jewell in turns three and four to take command of the field with Kinzer looking to follow suit. A caution on lap 7 slowed the pace with Hornsby now on the point. When racing resumed, Hornsby led a three-wide battle for second between Jewell, Kinzer, and Chuckie May. Behind them, sixth-running Rod Evans slowed on the track with a flat left rear tire, resulting in a caution.
Evans’ crew was able to change the flat and get him back onto the track just in time to rejoin the field at the tail. Up front, it was Hornsby leading Jewell, Kinzer, May, and Rattliff. Both Jewell and Rattliff got bottlenecked up on a lap 11 restart dropping both drivers out of the top five. 12th-starting Harold Redman Jr. wasted no time moving into fourth while Chris Combs now claimed the fifth spot.
As the race neared halfway, Hornsby valiantly fought off the challenges of Kinzer, who was pulling alongside the race leader in every corner. May would join the battle making it a three-way dance for the top spot on lap 19 when Tim Tungate, Mike Jewell, and Bobby Wolter Jr. were all involved in an accident on the frontstretch. While Tungate retired from the event, Jewell and Wolter were able to make repairs and continue. Two laps later, suspension damage would cause Chris Combs to lose the handle in turns one and two.
On the restart, May dove to the inside of Hornsby in a bid for the lead, but would slide to a stop in the middle of turns one and two, gathering up Rattliff and Eric Wells in the process. May would fall pitside while Rattliff and Wells rejoined the field at the tail. When racing resumed, it was Hornsby on the point followed by Kinzer, Redman, Aaron Hatton, and Rod Evans, up from the tail of the field to fifth.
Evans, the 2004 USA 100 winner, wasted no time flexing his muscles as he immediately shot into second following the Delaware double-file restart. Kinzer reclaimed the bridesmaid honors on the next circuit as both drivers were glued to the rear decklid of race-leader Hornsby. Behind the lead front trio, Tyrel Todd moved into fourth with Anthony Adams now rounding out the top five as Redman slowed on the frontschute to bring out a caution on lap 28.
Evans used the restart to his advantage and powered alongside Hornsby in a bid for the lead. The two rubbed sheet metal and raced door-to-door for four laps with Evans finally inching ahead on lap 32. While this was going on, Mike Jewell was quietly picking his way back through the field as the defending Series Co-Champion cracked the top five. Just one lap later, the caution would fly as Todd slowed to a stop on the backstretch.
This set the stage for an eight-lap dash to the finish with Evans leading Hornsby, Kinzer, Jewell, and Eric Wells, who was also charging back through the field. Evans powered ahead of the pack as Hornsby jumped the cushion advancing Kinzer to second and Jewell to third. Kinzer and Jewell would swap the second spot several times over the closing laps, but it would all happen in the rear view mirror of St. Albans, WV’s Rod Evans. When the checkered flag waved, Evans crossed the stripe first to claim his first ever win with the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series.
“I thought we were done after that left rear went flat,” Evans said after the race. “I knew my car was good, but I didn’t think we had a chance to come back up through that field and win. I just waited and took my time and let things sort themselves out and that’s why we were able to get this win.”
Evans’ Swartz Grand Prix is powered by a Jasper by Larry Wallace Racing Engine and is sponsored by Jasper Engines, Jeffrey J. Evans Construction, Nitro Sunroof & Windows, and Virginia Street NAPA.
Second place honors went to Scottsburg, IN’s Mike Jewell in the K.P. Radio Sales and Service/Shelton Angus Farms sponsored, Bullock powered MasterSbilt Grand Prix. Brandon Kinzer of Allen, KY finished third in a Jay Dickens powered Rocket sponsored by Arts Radiator & Welding and Kinzer Drilling. Fourth spot went to Hazard, KY native Eric Wells in the Cook Tire/Pinetop Motors/RaceTek/Rocket Grand Prix. Rounding out the top five was 16th-starting Anthony Adams of Whitesburg, KY driving the Phillip Hall Trucking/A&R Trucking sponsored, Cornett powered Rayburn Grand Prix.
27 entries were on hand for the event with Justin Rattliff setting fast time during Racing Optics Time Trials with a quick lap of 13.830. Mason Racin’ Heat #1 went to Brandon Kinzer with Mike Jewell winning Mason Racin’ Heat #2 and Henry Hornsby winning Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #3. Because of three scratches after the heats, the Design 500 B-Main was not run.
Next up for the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts is a double-header weekend with a stop at the Ponderosa Speedway on Friday, September 15th and Bluegrass Speedway on Saturday, August 16th.
For more information on this event please visit the series website at www.battleofthebluegrass.com or the Series Office at (859)433-5707.
Results Summary
201 Speedway – Sitka, KY
September 2, 2006
O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier: Justin Rattliff/13.830
Mason Racin’ Heat #1: Brandon Kinzer, Justin Rattliff, Bobby Wolter Jr., Chris Combs, Tim Tungate, Anthony Adams, Steve Stollings, Jeff Davis, Al Madden
Mason Racin’ Heat #2: Mike Jewell, David Powers, Chuckie May, Aaron Hatton, Raymond Nichols, DJ Wells, Kevin Wagner, Ronnie Whitt; (DNS - Kevin Hall)
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #3: Henry Hornsby, Rod Evans, Eric Wells, Harold Redman Jr., Tyrel Todd, Jim LeMasters, Scooter LeMaster; (DNS – David Smith, Chris Huntsman)
O’Reilly Auto Parts A-Main: Rod Evans, Mike Jewell, Brandon Kinzer, Eric Wells, Anthony Adams, Henry Hornsby, Bobby Wolter Jr., Kevin Wagner, Justin Rattliff, Chris Huntsman, Ronnie Whitt, Scooter LeMaster, Tyrel Todd, Chris Combs, Harold Redman Jr., Aaron Hatton, Chuckie May, DJ Wells, Raymond Nichols, Tim Tungate, Jim LeMasters, Steve Stollings, Al Maddin, David Powers; (DNS – Kevin Hall, David Smith, Jeff Davis)
Race Statistics
Entries: 27
Cautions: 8
Lap Leaders: Mike Jewell 1-6, Henry Hornsby 7-31, Rod Evans 32-40
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger: Chris Huntsman (started 24th, finished 10th)
Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Race: Justin Rattliff
Current O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Dirtcar Series Points
1. 9 Mike Jewell - 3620
2. 47 Chris Combs - 3415
3. 16 Justin Rattliff - 3360
4. 18 Tim Tungate - 3235
5. 10 Bryan Barber - 2990
6. 33 Aaron Hatton - 2945
7. 11 Bobby Wolter Jr. - 2620
8. D2 Dan Deaton - 2120
9. 41 Brad Neat - 1830
10. 14 Tyrel Todd – 1565
Upcoming O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Schedule
Sept. 15th - Ponderosa Speedway (Junction City, KY) - $3000 to win
Sept. 16th – Bluegrass Speedway (Bardstown, KY) - $5000 to win
Sept. 30th - Florence Speedway (Union, KY) - $3000 to win
Oct. 14th – Lake Cumberland Speedway (Burnside, KY) - $3000 to win
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
In the 40-lap O’Reilly Auto Parts A-Main, Mike Jewell and Brandon Kinzer brought the field to the green with Jewell jumping out to the early lead followed by Henry Hornsby, Kinzer, Justin Rattliff, and Rod Evans. Evans worked his way by Rattliff the next time by, but only momentarily, as “The Rattler” would regain the number four position two circuits later.
With a torrid pace being set by the race leaders, they began picking their way through the back of the pack on lap 6. Hornsby shot past Jewell in turns three and four to take command of the field with Kinzer looking to follow suit. A caution on lap 7 slowed the pace with Hornsby now on the point. When racing resumed, Hornsby led a three-wide battle for second between Jewell, Kinzer, and Chuckie May. Behind them, sixth-running Rod Evans slowed on the track with a flat left rear tire, resulting in a caution.
Evans’ crew was able to change the flat and get him back onto the track just in time to rejoin the field at the tail. Up front, it was Hornsby leading Jewell, Kinzer, May, and Rattliff. Both Jewell and Rattliff got bottlenecked up on a lap 11 restart dropping both drivers out of the top five. 12th-starting Harold Redman Jr. wasted no time moving into fourth while Chris Combs now claimed the fifth spot.
As the race neared halfway, Hornsby valiantly fought off the challenges of Kinzer, who was pulling alongside the race leader in every corner. May would join the battle making it a three-way dance for the top spot on lap 19 when Tim Tungate, Mike Jewell, and Bobby Wolter Jr. were all involved in an accident on the frontstretch. While Tungate retired from the event, Jewell and Wolter were able to make repairs and continue. Two laps later, suspension damage would cause Chris Combs to lose the handle in turns one and two.
On the restart, May dove to the inside of Hornsby in a bid for the lead, but would slide to a stop in the middle of turns one and two, gathering up Rattliff and Eric Wells in the process. May would fall pitside while Rattliff and Wells rejoined the field at the tail. When racing resumed, it was Hornsby on the point followed by Kinzer, Redman, Aaron Hatton, and Rod Evans, up from the tail of the field to fifth.
Evans, the 2004 USA 100 winner, wasted no time flexing his muscles as he immediately shot into second following the Delaware double-file restart. Kinzer reclaimed the bridesmaid honors on the next circuit as both drivers were glued to the rear decklid of race-leader Hornsby. Behind the lead front trio, Tyrel Todd moved into fourth with Anthony Adams now rounding out the top five as Redman slowed on the frontschute to bring out a caution on lap 28.
Evans used the restart to his advantage and powered alongside Hornsby in a bid for the lead. The two rubbed sheet metal and raced door-to-door for four laps with Evans finally inching ahead on lap 32. While this was going on, Mike Jewell was quietly picking his way back through the field as the defending Series Co-Champion cracked the top five. Just one lap later, the caution would fly as Todd slowed to a stop on the backstretch.
This set the stage for an eight-lap dash to the finish with Evans leading Hornsby, Kinzer, Jewell, and Eric Wells, who was also charging back through the field. Evans powered ahead of the pack as Hornsby jumped the cushion advancing Kinzer to second and Jewell to third. Kinzer and Jewell would swap the second spot several times over the closing laps, but it would all happen in the rear view mirror of St. Albans, WV’s Rod Evans. When the checkered flag waved, Evans crossed the stripe first to claim his first ever win with the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series.
“I thought we were done after that left rear went flat,” Evans said after the race. “I knew my car was good, but I didn’t think we had a chance to come back up through that field and win. I just waited and took my time and let things sort themselves out and that’s why we were able to get this win.”
Evans’ Swartz Grand Prix is powered by a Jasper by Larry Wallace Racing Engine and is sponsored by Jasper Engines, Jeffrey J. Evans Construction, Nitro Sunroof & Windows, and Virginia Street NAPA.
Second place honors went to Scottsburg, IN’s Mike Jewell in the K.P. Radio Sales and Service/Shelton Angus Farms sponsored, Bullock powered MasterSbilt Grand Prix. Brandon Kinzer of Allen, KY finished third in a Jay Dickens powered Rocket sponsored by Arts Radiator & Welding and Kinzer Drilling. Fourth spot went to Hazard, KY native Eric Wells in the Cook Tire/Pinetop Motors/RaceTek/Rocket Grand Prix. Rounding out the top five was 16th-starting Anthony Adams of Whitesburg, KY driving the Phillip Hall Trucking/A&R Trucking sponsored, Cornett powered Rayburn Grand Prix.
27 entries were on hand for the event with Justin Rattliff setting fast time during Racing Optics Time Trials with a quick lap of 13.830. Mason Racin’ Heat #1 went to Brandon Kinzer with Mike Jewell winning Mason Racin’ Heat #2 and Henry Hornsby winning Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #3. Because of three scratches after the heats, the Design 500 B-Main was not run.
Next up for the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts is a double-header weekend with a stop at the Ponderosa Speedway on Friday, September 15th and Bluegrass Speedway on Saturday, August 16th.
For more information on this event please visit the series website at www.battleofthebluegrass.com or the Series Office at (859)433-5707.
Results Summary
201 Speedway – Sitka, KY
September 2, 2006
O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts
Racing Optics Fast Qualifier: Justin Rattliff/13.830
Mason Racin’ Heat #1: Brandon Kinzer, Justin Rattliff, Bobby Wolter Jr., Chris Combs, Tim Tungate, Anthony Adams, Steve Stollings, Jeff Davis, Al Madden
Mason Racin’ Heat #2: Mike Jewell, David Powers, Chuckie May, Aaron Hatton, Raymond Nichols, DJ Wells, Kevin Wagner, Ronnie Whitt; (DNS - Kevin Hall)
Arizona Sport Shirts Heat #3: Henry Hornsby, Rod Evans, Eric Wells, Harold Redman Jr., Tyrel Todd, Jim LeMasters, Scooter LeMaster; (DNS – David Smith, Chris Huntsman)
O’Reilly Auto Parts A-Main: Rod Evans, Mike Jewell, Brandon Kinzer, Eric Wells, Anthony Adams, Henry Hornsby, Bobby Wolter Jr., Kevin Wagner, Justin Rattliff, Chris Huntsman, Ronnie Whitt, Scooter LeMaster, Tyrel Todd, Chris Combs, Harold Redman Jr., Aaron Hatton, Chuckie May, DJ Wells, Raymond Nichols, Tim Tungate, Jim LeMasters, Steve Stollings, Al Maddin, David Powers; (DNS – Kevin Hall, David Smith, Jeff Davis)
Race Statistics
Entries: 27
Cautions: 8
Lap Leaders: Mike Jewell 1-6, Henry Hornsby 7-31, Rod Evans 32-40
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger: Chris Huntsman (started 24th, finished 10th)
Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Race: Justin Rattliff
Current O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Dirtcar Series Points
1. 9 Mike Jewell - 3620
2. 47 Chris Combs - 3415
3. 16 Justin Rattliff - 3360
4. 18 Tim Tungate - 3235
5. 10 Bryan Barber - 2990
6. 33 Aaron Hatton - 2945
7. 11 Bobby Wolter Jr. - 2620
8. D2 Dan Deaton - 2120
9. 41 Brad Neat - 1830
10. 14 Tyrel Todd – 1565
Upcoming O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Schedule
Sept. 15th - Ponderosa Speedway (Junction City, KY) - $3000 to win
Sept. 16th – Bluegrass Speedway (Bardstown, KY) - $5000 to win
Sept. 30th - Florence Speedway (Union, KY) - $3000 to win
Oct. 14th – Lake Cumberland Speedway (Burnside, KY) - $3000 to win
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
