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LEXINGTON, KY (11/01/2007) – The
O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts recently celebrated Victor Lee as the 2007 Series Champion and Jason
Keltner the 2007 Cruise with the Champions Rookie of the Year at the final event of the season at Bluegrass Speedway during the 9th Annual Bluegrass
50.
After an exciting battle to the end for the 2006 points championship between Mike Jewell, Justin
Ratliff and Chris Combs, the 2007 season set out to show even more excitement in every turn, corner and lap on the tour. This year, the point’s lead
changed twice throughout the season before Victor Lee set his mount on cruise control midseason and never looked back.
Speechless is the only way to describe the 2007 Series Champion when first asked about his breakout
championship season. “We set out to accomplish one goal and that was to win the Series championship like every other team. I can’t believe we
accomplished it,” Lee excitingly stated in a post-ceremony interview.
Lee charged out of the gate at Florence Speedway during the season opener and cracked his first top
five over a stout field of 54 entries. After that, Lee was on a roll, finishing in the top ten through the first five events of 2007. Only one driver
came out of the lineup chute with a harder charge than Lee and that was the 2003 Series Champion Mike Marlar. The “Winfield Warrior” jumped to an
early points lead but not before Lee could muscle his way ahead.
Lee appeared to be unstoppable after overcoming a strong Mike Marlar during the Series second visit
to the historic Brownstown Speedway. He continued to dominate the season finishing in the top ten more than any other driver on the circuit. Victor,
termed by his fans as the “Lincoln Leadfoot,” showed that you didn’t have to win races to be a champion; you just have to be consistent.
“All of this wouldn’t have been possible this season without all of the great help along the way,”
Lee stated in his interview. “I have to thank Frank (Revel) for letting me drive the car. Without him, we wouldn’t be here. The man really knows about
racing.”
The Frank Revel Motorsports team would like to especially thank those who made their racing season
possible. “One race team we would like to say a special thanks to would have to be Tim Logan Racing. After having a late season accident the night
before the 201 race, he loaned us one of his backup cars. Without him, it wouldn’t have been possible.” Other thanks went to Ado’s Auto Parts, Real
Wheels, Rayburn Racecars, PPM, Extreme Style Signs, Bill Stan Shocks, Jay Dickens Racing, Arizona Sport Shirts, Big T’s Drywall, Hoosier Race Tires,
Torco Fuel, Randy’s Auto Body, Dyer’s Rods, Custom Cams Jack and Naomi Swearingen, Danny Rowland, John Carrier and Adam Deathdrige. Very special
thanks also went to two of Lee’s O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass competitors and their families: Billy and Tyrel Todd and Terry and Jason
Keltner.
“I also have to thank my mom and family,” Lee added. “Without their support and that of my
girlfriend, this wouldn’t have been possible.”
Despite many of Lee’s strong runs, Cruise with the Champions Rookie of the Year contender Jason
Keltner and Kentucky Speedweek 2 hard charger Tyrel Todd never let Lee out of striking distance. If Lee would have pushed up at any point, both
drivers would have dove under him to challenge for the championship title.
Keltner approached the season with one goal in mind: to snag the 2007 Cruise with the Champions
Rookie of the Year title. Having only one season of dirt late model competition under his belt, Keltner never thought that he would finish second in
the points championship and gain the Rookie of the Year title.
“I am really excited,” Keltner said in a post-ceremony interview. “First I have to thank God who
without, none of this would be possible. I also have to thank my dad, Terry and Kathy Keltner for all of their support. Most of all, I have to thank
my wife for her support this year.”
Jason
began the 2007 season on a rocky note narrowly missing the season opener at Florence Speedway and finishing just outside the top ten at Brownstown,
Twin Cities and Ponderosa. Coming to the midpoint of the season, Keltner Motorsports began to feel the pressure.
Keltner gained momentum heading into the home stretch with a top five finish in the Kentucky
Speedweek points championship and a long string of top ten finishes throughout the remainder of the season. “I am very proud of my team. Without their
hard work, all of this definitely wouldn’t be possible.”
Keltner and crew cruised his Draime powered Rayburn Monte Carlo sponsored by Arizona Sport Shirts,
Rent Depot, Keltner Contracting and Service, Tim Horton’s, Calhoun Concrete, Huber’s Amusements, BJC Janitorial, SpeeDecals, Integra Shocks and
American Racer Tires to the circle of champions with a sense of ease on Saturday night.
“I feel like a lot of pressure is off now,” Keltner stated. “Over the past few weeks there has been
tremendous pressure build up as the season ended. Now, we are looking forward to returning next season and making another run for the points
championship.”
In addition to the cash, prizes, and contingencies that go along with winning the 2007 O'Reilly
Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Championship and Cruise with the Champions Rookie of the Year titles, Lee and Keltner have also earned a trip
for two each on the 14th Annual Cruise With The Champions. Lee and Keltner will set sail for the Grand Cayman and Ocho Rios Jamaica Islands January
5-10, 2008. For more information, check out Cruise with the Champions online at
www.cruisewiththechampions.com.
After the
Series dropped the two worst finishes of the year, Lee’s margin of victory was 279 points. In the final points tally, the “Jet” Jason Keltner also
claimed a second place points finish. Eubank, KY native Tyrel Todd finished just 97 points behind Keltner in third. 2005 Series Co-Champion Tim
Tungate held on for fourth with Nicholasville, KY native David Webb rounding out the top five.
Over 200 different drivers competed with the nation's most competitive regional racing series in 2007, with Mike Marlar leading all drivers with only
3 Series win. A total of 18 different drivers combined to win the 22 events held in 2007. A complete review of the 2007 season for the O'Reilly
Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts, as well as banquet information will be announced.
For more information on the O'Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series, check us out on the web
at
www.battleofthebluegrass.com.
Final 2007 O'Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Point Standings
1. 4 Victor Lee - 4229 2. 0 Jason Keltner - 3928
3. 14 Tyrel Todd - 3805
4. 18 Tim Tungate - 3729
5. 13w David Webb - 3592
6. 11 Jerry Rice - 3264
7. 9 Mike Jewell - 2925
8. 34 Mike Marlar -2924
9. 47 Chris Combs - 2913
10. 45 Doug Smith - 2589
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