LEXINGTON, KY (5/23/07) - In just a few days, fans and drivers from in and around the state of Kentucky will be treated to the 2nd Annual Kentucky Speedweek. Six events over the course of seven days will highlight this year's version of the Kentucky Speedweek as the first five events will be sanctioned by the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series.

The 2nd Annual Kentucky Speedweek will kickoff within a "stones throw" of the KY/OH state line, in the Buckeye State on Sunday night, May 27th at Portsmouth Raceway Park. The event, dubbed the Owen "Junior" Stephens Memorial, will pay $3000 to win and it will mark the first ever visit to Ohio for the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts. The following night, Memorial Day, the Series will venture to Bardstown, KY's Bluegrass Speedway for a $3000 to win show. Then on Tuesday night, May 29th, the nation's most competitive regional racing series will make its first stop of the year at the facility known as "The Action Track", the Richmond Raceway in Richmond, KY.

After a night off, the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass drivers will head over to Burnside, KY's Lake Cumberland Speedway on Thursday, May 31st for a $3000 to win race. Friday night, June 1st, the 2nd Annual Kentucky Speedweek ventures into the Ponderosa Speedway for another $3000 to win event. The exclamation point on the week-long excursion is the 21st Annual Ralph Latham Memorial at Florence Speedway, sanctioned by the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, and paying $10,000 to the winner. For the second year in a row, the cameras of SPEED Channel will be on hand to tape the Ralph Latham Memorial at Florence.

Series and Florence Speedway officials are pleased to announce that, for the second year in a row, the Kentucky Speedweek Points Champion will receive a guaranteed starting birth in the $50,000 to win/$2500 to start North-South 100 on August 10th and 11th, 2007, if the winner chooses. For his efforts during the weeklong pilgrimage, the winner will have his option of the guaranteed starting position in the North-South 100 or taking a first place Speedweek paycheck of $2500.

Second place in the Speedweek points will receive $1200, while third place takes home $700. Fourth place in the Speedweek points will receive $600 and fifth place is $500. Points for the 2nd Annual Kentucky Speedweek will be tallied using the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series points system. In the event of inclement weather, the announced Speedweek payouts are based on 4 of the 6 scheduled events being completed. Series Officials anticipate additional announcements could be made later this week in regards to other bonuses for drivers competing in the 2007 Kentucky Speedweek.

2nd Annual Kentucky Speedweek

Sunday, May 27th - Portsmouth Raceway Park (Portsmouth, OH) - www.portsraceway.com

Monday, May 28th - Bluegrass Speedway (Bardstown, KY) - www.bluegrass-speedway.com

Tuesday, May 29th - Richmond Raceway (Richmond, KY) - www.richmond-raceway.com

Wednesday, May 30th - Off

Thursday, May 31st - Lake Cumberland Speedway (Burnside, KY) - www.lcspeedway.net

Friday, June 1st - Ponderosa Speedway (Junction City, KY) - www.ponderosaspeedway.net

Saturday, June 2nd - Florence Speedway (Union, KY) - www.florencespeedway.com

Bedford, IN's Greg Johnson is the defending Kentucky Speedweek Champion with fellow Indiana natives Scott James and Mike Jewell nipping at his heels in second and third. Campbellsville, KY native Tim Tungate finished fourth in the inaugural Kentucky Speedweek points standings with Justin Rattliff and Arkansas hotshoe Jack Sullivan tied for fifth.

Heading into the Kentucky Speedweek, Winfield, TN's Mike Marlar leads the 2007 O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series points standings followed closely by Jerry Rice, Victor Lee, Chris Combs, and Jason Keltner.

For more information on the O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts, please visit our website at www.battleofthebluegrass.com or call the Series office (859) 433-5707.

2006 Kentucky Speedweek Results

KENTUCKY LAKE (5/29/06): Greg Johnson, Terry English, Brad Neat, Don O'Neal, Tim Brown, Freddy Smith, Scott James, Jimmy Owens, John Tindal, Mike Jewell, Tim Tungate, Justin Rattliff, Damon Eller, Chris Combs, Michael Chilton, Michael England, Aaron Hatton, Bryan Barber, Kevin Cole, Randle Sweeney, Jack Sullivan, Dylan Thompson, Bobby Wolter Jr., Earl Pearson Jr.

BLUEGRASS (5/30/06): Rained Out

RICHMOND (6/1/06): Mike Jewell, Tim Tungate, Scott James, Greg Johnson, Mike Marlar, Victor Lee, Aaron Hatton, Johnny Wheeler, Jack Sullivan, Chris Combs, Justin Rattliff, Bobby Carrier Jr., Scotty Earl, Larry Gray Jr., Doug Horton, Scott Douglas, Marty Stepp, Bobby Wolter Jr., Dan Deaton, Jason Barrett, Bryan Barber, Tim Damron, Jeff Watson, Dennis Roberson

PONDEROSA (6/2/06): Rained Out

FLORENCE (6/3/06): Scott Bloomquist, Darrell Lanigan, Dan Schlieper, Wendell Wallace, Earl Pearson, Jr., Shane Clanton, Jerry Rice, Don O'Neal, Jesse James Lay, Greg Johnson, Matt Miller, Scott James, Rod Conley, Steve Hillard, Robby Hensley, Dan Hoard, Donnie Moran, Jack Sullivan, Bill Blair, Jr., Mike Marlar, Steve Landrum, Rick Eckert, Dale McDowell, Mike Jewell, Rick Corbin

Final 2006 Kentucky Speedweek Points Standings
1. Greg Johnson (Bedford, IN)-640
2. Scott James (Greendale, IN)-585
3. Mike Jewell (Scottsburg, IN)-555
4. Tim Tungate (Campbellsville, KY)-510
5. Jack Sullivan (Greenbrier, AR)-450
5. Justin Rattliff (Campbellsville, KY)-450
7. Chris Combs (Isom, KY)-415
8. Don O'Neal (Martinsville, IN)-400
9. Aaron Hatton (Mt. Sterling, KY)-340
10. Mike Marlar (Winfield, TN)-335