April 27, 2008

Ponderosa and Richmond Next for O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series on May 2 and May 3

Louisville, Kentucky-April 27, 2008- The O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Graphic Impressions will again present Super Late Model action this weekend with a central Kentucky doubleheader at a pair of the oldest racing venues in the state of Kentucky this Friday and Saturday, May 2 and May 3.

Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, KY will host the 9th Annual Hugh “Junebug” Rowland Memorial race on Friday May 2. The “Junebug” will feature a full program of practice, Racing Optics time trials, Graphic Impressions, K&N Performance Engineering, Real Wheel, and Wayne Bowen Racing Supply qualifying heats, B-Mains, and the 40 lap, $3,000 to win 9th Annual Hugh “Junebug” Rowland Memorial O’Reilly A-Main event.

The following evening on Saturday May 3, Richmond Raceway in Richmond, KY will host the Super Late Models of the O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series. Just like the event the evening before, there will be a full schedule of practice, Racing Optics time trials, Graphic Impressions, K&N Performance Engineering, Real Wheels, and Wayne Bowen Racing Supply qualifying heats, B-Mains, and the 40 lap, $3,000 to win O’Reilly A-Main event.

Activities for the May 2 Ponderosa Speedway event will see the pit area open at 4:00 p.m., with the general admission area opening at 5:00 p.m. The drivers meeting will take place at 6:45 p.m., while practice will begin at 7:15 p.m., followed by Racing Optics time trials at 7:45 p.m., with racing set for the green flag at 8:30 p.m. Ticket prices for this event will $15 in the general admission area and $30 in the pit area. Local divisions also in action at this event will be Pro Late Models, Modifieds, and Sportsman.

Activities for the May 3 Richmond Raceway event will see the pit area open at 3:00 p.m., with the general admission area opening at 4:00 p.m. The drivers meeting will be at 6:00 p.m., while practice will start at 6:15 p.m., followed by Racing Optics time trials at 7:00 p.m., with racing set for the green flag at 8:00 p.m. Ticket prices for this event will be $15 in the general admission area and $30 in the pit area. Local divisions also in competition at this event will be Crate Late Models, Modifieds, and Sportsman, and Four Cylinders.

The O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Super Late Model division has made sixteen previous appearances at Ponderosa Speedway. The group has sanctioned the Hugh “Junebug” Rowland event four times, with winners of those sanctioned “Junebug” races including Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN in 2003, Bryan Barber of Buffalo, KY in 2005, Joey Daniel of Liberty, KY in 2006, and Brad Neat of Dunnville, KY in 2007.

The O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Super Late Model division has made eighteen previous appearances at Richmond Raceway. The group has sanctioned this Spring-season event on four occasions, with those race winners including Jesse Lay of Verona, KY in 2002, Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN in 2003, and Greg Johnson of Bedford, IN in 2004 and 2006.

The A-Main purse for the Friday May 2 event at Ponderosa Speedway and the Saturday May 3 at Richmond Raceway is as follows: 1st- $3,000, 2nd- $1,500, 3rd- $1,000, 4th- $800, 5th- $750, 6th- $700, 7th- $650, 8th- $600, 9th- $550, 10th- $500, 11th- $450, 12th- $400, 13th- $350, 14th- $350, 15th- $325, 16th- $325, 17th through 22nd- $300, 23rd through 24th- $250.

Known as "Kentucky's Baddest Bullring", Ponderosa Speedway is a 3/8 mile red clay oval promoted by Larry, Chad, and Sarah Yantz. Ponderosa Speedway is located at 365 Phillips Lane, just south of Danville, KY off of KY Hwy. 127. Turn onto KY Hwy. 300, then left on KY Hwy. 37, then 1.5 miles to Phillips Lane, just past Peckerwood Grocery.

Known as “The Action Track”, Richmond Raceway is a 3/10 mile semi-banked clay oval promoted by Mark and Terry Trimble. Richmond Raceway is located at 328 Greens Crossing Road, 2.4 miles east of Richmond, then 1.2 miles on Greens Crossing Road, just outside of Richmond. For more information, call the track on raceday at (859) 623-7223 or visit the track’s webpage online at www.richmondkyraceway.com.

The Super Late Model division of the O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series last raced on April 26 at Bluegrass Speedway in Bardstown, KY and Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN was the winner of the 11th Annual Spring Sizzler event. Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN is the current series points leader, followed by defending series champion Victor Lee of Stanford, KY. Third through fifth in points heading into this weekend’s events are Tyrel Todd of Science Hill, KY, Zach Carney of Mooresville, IN, and Jason Keltner of Campbellsville, KY.

The O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series sanctions regional Super Late Model events at tracks in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, and Tennessee. For more information about America’s most competitive regional racing series, visit the series webpage on the world wide web at www.battleofthebluegrass.com or call the series office at (859) 762-1606 or (502) 931-5068.

O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Upcoming Schedule of Events:

May 2- Ponderosa Speedway (Junction City, KY)- 9th Annual Hugh “Junebug” Rowland Memorial- $3,000 to win

May 3- Richmond Raceway (Richmond, KY)- $3,000 to win

May 10- Brownstown Speedway (Brownstown, IN)- 25th Annual Hoosier Dirt Classic- $3,000 to win

May 24- Tazewell Speedway (Tazewell, TN)- $5,000 to win

June 7- 201 Speedway (Sitka, KY)- $3,000 to win

Current O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Super Late Model Points Standings

Don O’Neal (Martinsville, INI)- 461
Victor Lee (Stanford, KY)- 459
Tyrel Todd (Science Hill, KY)- 392
Zach Carney (Mooresville, IN)- 368
Jason Keltner (Campbellsville, KY)- 359
Tim Tungate (Campbellsville, KY)- 352
Mike Jewell (Scottsburg, IN)- 328
Cody Mahoney (Madison, IN)- 321
Larry Gray (Lexington, KY)- 318 ®
David Webb (Nicholasville, KY)- 305

Current Rookie of the Year Point Standings

Larry Gray (Lexington, KY)- 318
Arnie Fields (Flemingsburg, KY)- 277
Jamie Ferguson (West Liberty, KY)- 192
Royce McGowan (Faubush, KY)- 162

2008 O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Sponsors:

*O'Reilly Auto Parts - Title Sponsor and "Official Auto Parts Retailer” of the O'Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series

*Max Brake- “Official Trailer Brakes” of the O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series

*CarbonX- “Official Flame Shielding Fabric” of the O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series

*Health PMO- “Official Health Care Company” of the O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series

*Graphic Impressions- Presenting Sponsor and “Official Souvenir and Merchandise Vendor” of the O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series

*Bob Hook Chevrolet of Louisville- “Official Vehicle Dealer” of the O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series

Other O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series 2008 Series Supporters Include: American Race Tires, C.J. Rayburn Race Cars, Curtis Signs, Cruise With The Champions, Double H Race Fabrication, DriveSmart Kentucky, DT52 Photos, Hoosier Race Tires, Kentucky’s Best Racing, K&N Performance Engineering, PPM Racing Products, Racing Optics, Real Wheels, Trailer Parts and Service, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply

April 27, 2008
Mike Marlar Makes It Two Straight Spring Sizzler Wins at Bluegrass Speedway

Bardstown, KY-April 26, 2008- The O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Graphic Impressions would be in action at the David and Anita Ferrell promoted Bluegrass Speedway in Bardstown, KY on Saturday evening for the 11^th Annual Spring Sizzler and Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN would make it two straight wins in this event, having also won the race in 2007.  The victory for Marlar also gave him eleven series win, making him the all-time leading series winner at this point and marked the second different for the series in two events in 2008.

Marlar would take the lead on lap 18 of the 30 laps, $3,000 to win event and never look back aboard the Steve Estes owned Estes Race Engines/Wayne Bowen Racing Supply Glenn Hensley Trucking/Stephens Motorsports sponsored #78 C.J. Rayburn Race Cars, Estes Race Engines powered machine.  Marlar’s winning entry received product support from VP Race Fuels/PBM Performance Products/Dyer’s Top Rods/Braswell/Beyea Headers/All Star Performance/Genesis Shocks/Skillsaw Designs and was on Hoosier Tires. 

Victor Lee would take runner-up honors in the Kentucky’s Best/Budda Bert Transmissions Sales and Service C.J. Rayburn Race Cars, Jay Dickens powered mount.  Third place would fall to Jordan Bland in the B&W Metals/Longshot Farms MasterSbilt Race Cars by Stuckey, Cornett Race Engines powered unit.  Tyrel Todd would claim fourth in the Todd Truss/Todd Metals MasterSbilt Race Cars, Todd Race Engines entry, while Don O’Neal would complete the top five in the Harrod Farms/Central Painting C.J. Rayburn Race Cars, Jay Dickens Race Engines machine.

The remainder of the top ten would be Terry English, Joey Daniel, 19^th starting Brad Neat, who earned the PPM Racing Products Hard Charger award, Aaron Hatton, and Joey Kramer.

The 11^th Annual Spring Sizzler O’Reilly A-main would go green with Jordan Bland jumping to the race lead, with Mike Marlar, Joey Daniel, Victor Lee, and Terry English in pursuit, after a caution on the start that saw Jason Keltner, Dustin Neat, and Ed Behn tangle in turn two.  Lee would take third from Daniel on the restart, with English also nipping at Daniel’s heels, with English garnering the four spot on lap 4.  Tyrel Todd would make his way into the top five on lap 6, while Bland was putting some distance on second place at this point. 

As the field received the halfway signal, Bland would begin to catch slower traffic and carefully worked his way through the slower cars, with Marlar closing up on Bland’s rear bumper on lap 16.  Marlar would make his move two circuits later and would fire a turn three slidejob pass on Bland and have the lead at the stripe. 

With Marlar beginning to pull away at this point, Lee would begin to challenge Bland for second, while Don O’Neal would battle with Terry English for fifth, before claiming the spot on lap 26.  Lee would increase his challenges of Bland and would take the second position on lap 28 and would begin to reel in Marlar, but would run out of laps, as the second generation Tennessee native would see the checkered flag first to claim his second straight Spring Sizzler event victory.  Lee and Bland would be second and third, while Todd would nip O’Neal in a photo-finish for fourth.

In preliminary action, Don O’Neal was the Racing Optics top qualifier among 34 entries with a lap of 15.446 seconds.  Heat race checkered flags to Jordan Bland in Wayne Bowen Racing Supply heat one, Victor Lee in K&N Performance Engineering heat two, Mike Marlar in Graphic Impressions heat three, and Joey Daniel in Real Racing Wheels heat four.  The B-Main checkered flags fell to Dustin Neat and Chris Combs, with series provisionals going to Jason Keltner and Greg Johnson, while the track provisional would be Ed Behn

The next events for the Super Late Model division of the O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series is Friday May 2 at Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, KY for the 9^th Annual Hugh “Junebug” Rowland Memorial event and Saturday May 3 at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, KY.  Both events will pay $3,000 to win.

The O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series sanctions regional Super Late Model events at tracks in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, and Tennessee.  For more information about America’s most competitive regional racing series, visit the series webpage on the world wide web at www.battleofthebluegrass.com or call the series office at (859) 762-1606 or (502) 931-5068.

O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Super Late Model Division

SUMMARY-Bluegrass Speedway-Bardstown, KY

Racing Optics Top Qualifier- Don O’Neal 15.446

Wayne Bowen Racing Supply Heat #1(Top 4 Advance)- Jordan Bland, Tyrel Todd, Don O’Neal, David Webb, Dustin Neat, Brad Neat, Jeff Glisson, Jamie Ferguson, Jason Keltner

K&N Performance Engineering Heat #2 (Top 4 Advance)- Victor Lee, Terry English, Chris Wilson, Eric Wells, Cody Mahoney, Doug Smith, Anthony Ferguson, Bryant Woodcock, Tim Prince

Graphic Impressions Heat #3 (Top 4 Advance)- Mike Marlar, Mike Jewell, Joey Kramer, D.J. Wells, Larry Gray, Arnie Fields, Royce McGowan, Shannon Thornsberry

Real Wheels Heat #4 (Top 4 Advance)- Joey Daniel, Aaron Hatton, Tim Tungate, Zach Carney, Greg Johnson, Chris Combs, Jason Durham, Ed Behn

B-Main #1 (Top 2 Advance)- Dustin Neat, Brad Neat, Cody Mahoney, Jason Keltner, Doug Smith, Anthony Ferguson, Bryant Woodcock, Jeff Glisson, Tim Prince, Jamie Ferguson

B-Main #2 (Top 2 Advance)- Chris Combs, Larry Gray, Greg Johnson, Jason Durham, Arnie Fields, Royce McGowan, Ed Behn, Shannon Thornsberry

Series Provisionals- Jason Keltner, Greg Johnson

Track Provisionals- Ed Behn

11^th Annual Spring Sizzler O’Reilly A-Main- Mike Marlar, Victor Lee, Jordan Bland, Tyrel Todd, Don O’Neal, Terry English, Joey Daniel, Brad Neat, Aaron Hatton, Joey Kramer, Chris Wilson, Zach Carney, Tim Tungate, Dustin Neat, David Webb, Jason Keltner, Larry Gray, Chris Combs, Eric Wells, Greg Johnson, D.J. Wells, Ed Behn, Mike Jewell

Total Entries- 34

Race Leaders- 2 (Bland 1-17, Marlar 18-30)

Cautions- 1 (Lap 2)

Red Flags- None

PPM Racing Products Hard Charger- Brad Neat (Started 19^th-Finished 8^th-Advanced 11 Positions)

DriveSmart Kentucky Move of the Race- Mike Marlar (slidejob pass for the lead on lap 18)

O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Super Late Model Point Standings (after April 26, 2008)

1. Don O’Neal (Martinsville, IN)- 461

2. Victor Lee (Stanford, KY)- 459

3. Tyrel Todd (Science Hill, KY)- 392

4. Zach Carney (Mooresville, IN)- 368

5. Jason Keltner (Campbellsville, KY)- 359

6. Tim Tungate (Campbellsville, KY)- 352

7. Mike Jewell (Scottsburg, IN)- 328

8. Cody Mahoney (Madison, IN)- 321

9. Larry Gray (Lexington, KY)- 318 ®

10. David Webb (Nicholasville, KY)- 305

Rookie of the Year Point Standings (after April 26, 2008)

1. Larry Gray (Lexington, KY)- 318

2. Arnie Fields (Flemingsburg, KY)- 277

3. Jamie Ferguson (West Liberty, KY)- 192

4. Royce McGowan (Faubush, KY)- 162

O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Upcoming Schedule of Events:

May 2- Ponderosa Speedway (Junction City, KY)- 9^th Annual Hugh “Junebug” Rowland Memorial- $3,000 to win

May 3- Richmond Raceway (Richmond, KY)- $3,000 to win

May 24- Tazewell Speedway (Tazewell, TN)- $5,000 to win

June 7- 201 Speedway (Sitka, KY)- $3,000 to win

June 14- Bluegrass Speedway (Bardstown, KY)- 7^th Annual June Jam- $3,000 to win

2008 O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Sponsors:

O'Reilly Auto Parts - Title Sponsor and "Official Auto Parts Retailer” of the O'Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series

Max Brake- “Official Trailer Brakes” of the O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series

CarbonX- “Official Flame Shielding Fabric” of the O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series

Health PMO- “Official Health Care Company” of the O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series

Graphic Impressions- Presenting Sponsor and “Official Souvenir and Merchandise Vendor” of the O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series

Bob Hook Chevrolet of Louisville- “Official Vehicle Dealer” of the O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series

Other O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series 2008 Series Supporters Include: American Race Tires, C.J. Rayburn Race Cars, Curtis Signs, Cruise With The Champions, Double H Race Fabrication, DriveSmart Kentucky, DT52 Photos, Hoosier Race Tires, Kentucky’s Best Racing, K&N Performance Engineering, PPM Racing Products, Racing Optics, Real Wheels, Trailer Parts and Service, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply