July 20, 2008
Kramer Wins Battle of the Bluegrass “Butterball” Modified Main at Richmond Raceway 

Richmond, KY-July 18, 2008- The Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Open Wheel Modified division presented by Graphic Impressions returned to action at Mark and Tommy Trimble’s Richmond Raceway and Joey Kramer of Hanover, IN continued his winning streak in “BoB Mod Squad” action, picking up the $1,500 to win Modified portion of the Paul “Butterball” Wooldridge Memorial in an event that was shortened to 20 laps and plagued by eight cautions along the way.

Kramer’s victory was his sixth series win of the season and 19th career series win came aboard the Claudette Kramer owned FOX Custom Cabinets/Wild’s Restoration Service/Larry’s Truck Service/Hill’s Historic Painting/Bright Beginnings Child Care/SuperATV.com sponsored #77 Lightning Chassis powered by a Bullock by Kramer Race Engine.  The winner’s entry also receives product support from PBM Performance Products, AFCO Racing Products, NAPA, and Valvoline.

Dennis Roberson of Lexington, KY would finish second in the unsponsored Lightning Chassis machine, while Josh Lucas of Bardstown, KY would finish third in the Lucas Oil Products/Riggs Electric sponsored Lightning Chassis.  Russ Gabbert of Berea, KY would come home fourth in the Dairy Queen/Mayhem Motorsports Powerhouse Race Car, while Don Adams of London, KY completed the top five in the Car Star/Fast Company Lightning Chassis mount.

Josh Lucas would take the lead at the start of the event, with Dennis Roberson, Joey Kramer, Skylar Marlar, and Jimmy Crabtree in pursuit.  Caution would wave on lap 2 as Russ Gabbert would roll to a stop in turn two with a flat right front tire.  Back underway, Kramer would make a daring third-wide move between Lucas and Roberson to take the top spot entering turn three, with Roberson coming out second and Lucas third.  Caution waved again on lap 3 for an incident involving Wayne James and Delane Browning, with Jared Reams, Charlie Jude, and Doug Webb also being collected.  The restart would see Kelly Warren shoot to fourth past Marlar, only to have the caution fly again with only one more lap scored as Webb and Jude would spin in turn three.  The restart would see Warren challenge Lucas for third in a side-by-side battle, with Warren finally taking the spot on lap 6.

The caution would fly again on lap 7 for debris in turn two.  When action resumed, Marlar would squeeze past Lucas for fourth, with Don Adams making his way into the top five one trip later.  Kramer began to pull away a bit from Roberson, only to have the caution slow the action again on lap 11 for fluid dumped on the racing surface, with Skylar Marlar pulling off under this caution.  The restart would only see one more lap scored as Jude would spin in turn two.  This restart would see Kramer jump the cushion in turn four coming to complete lap 12, with Roberson driving past to take the race lead. 

But the lead would be short lived as Kramer would make a power move on the outside of turn four to reclaim the point on lap 13.  The battle for third would heat up as Lucas would pressure Warren for third, with Adams in the mix as well.  Joe David Turner would draw the next caution on lap 16 with a spin in turn one.  Kramer would hold the top spot on this restart, while Lucas and Adams challenged Warren for third.  The final caution would wave as the field started lap 19 when Warren’s unit would slow off of turn two with right front suspension and roll to a stop in turn four, ending his evening.  This would set up a two lap shootout, with Kramer holding off Roberson for the win, with Lucas nipping Gabbert and Adams in photo-finish for third, with Gabbert nipping Adams at the line for fifth.

In preliminary action, Joey Kramer was top qualifier among 33 entries with a lap time of 15.830 seconds.  Qualifying heat checkered flags would go to Kramer in Wayne Bowen Racing Supply heat one, Lucas in K&N Performance Engineering heat two, Roberson in Graphic Impressions heat three, and Marlar in Real Racing Wheels heat four.  The B-Mains were won by Walt Mayabb and Michael Ward, with series provisional starts going to Kevin Mayabb and Joe David Turner, while Doug Webb and Jared Reams earned track provisionals.

The next event for the Modified division of the Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series will be on Saturday July 2 at the David and Anita Ferrell promoted Bluegrass Speedway in Bardstown, KY.  The event will be the 8th Annual Bluegrass Rumble and pay $1,500 to win.

The Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series sanctions regional Open Wheel Modified events at tracks in Kentucky, 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.

Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Modified Division

SUMMARY-Richmond Raceway-Richmond, KY-July 18, 2008                   

Racing Optics Top Qualifier- Joey Kramer 15.830   

Wayne Bowen Racing Supply 1st Heat (Top 4 Advance)- Joey Kramer, Dennis Roberson, Delane Browning, Charlie Jude, Walt Mayabb, Doug Webb, Kevin Mayabb, Jared Reams (DNS- Corey McKenzie)

K&N Performance Engineering 2nd Heat (Top 4 Advance)- Josh Lucas, Kelly Warren, Russ Gabbert, Mick Sansom, Walt Neal, Cecil Cochran, Ryan Jarrell, Steven Gibson

Graphic Impressions 3rd Heat (Top 4 Advance)- Dennis Roberson, Don Adams, Robbie Gullion, Shawn Tolson, Joe David Turner, Josh Henry, Chad Barrett, Mike Taylor

Real Racing Wheels 4th Heat (Top 4 Advance)- Skylar Marlar, Wayne James, Victor Lee, Travis Preston, Michael Ward, Kenneth Reams, Dennis Barton (DNS-Keith Denny)

1st B-Main (Top 2 Advance)- Walt Mayabb, Cecil Cochran, Jared Reams, Doug Webb, Walt Neal, Kevin Mayabb, Ryan Jarrell, Steven Gibson (DNS-Corey McKenzie)

2nd B-Main (Top 2 Advance)- Michael Ward, Kenneth Reams, Joe David Turner, Chad Barrett, Mike Taylor, Josh Henry (DNS-Keith Denny, Dennis Barton)

Series Provisionals- Kevin Mayabb, Joe David Turner

Track Provisionals- Doug Webb, Jared Reams        

A-Main- Joey Kramer, Dennis Roberson, Josh Lucas, Russ Gabbert, Don Adams, Robbie Gullion, Shawn Tolson, Mick Sansom, Walt Mayabb, Kenneth Reams, Wayne James, Joe Turner, Cecil Cochran, Travis Preston, Kelly Warren, Charlie Jude, Skylar Marlar, Jimmy Crabtree, Michael Ward, Doug Webb, Victor Lee, Jared Reams, Delane Browning (DNS-Kevin Mayabb)

Entries- 33

Lap Leaders- 3 (Lucas 1; Kramer 2-11; Roberson 12; Kramer 13-20)

Cautions- 8 (Laps 2, 3, 4, 7, 11, 12, 16, 19)

Red Flags- None

PPM Racing Products Hard Charger- Kenneth Reams (started 20th-finished 10th-advanced 10 positions)

Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Modified Division Point Standings (after July 18)

1. Joey Kramer(Hanover, IN)- 1,992

2. Don Adams (London, KY)- 1,754 

3. Skylar Marlar (Winfield, TN)- 1,471 ®

4. Kelly Warren (Columbia, KY)- 1,466  

      5.    Shawn Tolson (Walton, KY) 1,421 ®

6. Mick Sansom (Salt Rock, WV)- 1,366

7. Robbie Gullion (Charlestown, IN)- 1,363 ®

8. Brandon Green (Walton, KY)- 1,159     

9. Wayne James (Newport, TN)- 1,068   

10. Jeff Johnson (Junction City, KY)- 664

Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Open Wheel Modified Division Upcoming Schedule of Events:

July 26- Bluegrass Speedway (Bardstown, KY)- 8th Annual Bluegrass Rumble-$1,500 to win

August 9- 201 Speedway (Sitka, KY)- $1,500 to win

August 22- Ponderosa Speedway (Junction City, KY)- 4th Railroad Days Showdown- $1,500 to win

September 13- Tazewell Speedway (Tazewell, TN)- $5,000 to win

2008 Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Open Wheel Modified Division Sponsors:

Max Brake- “Official Trailer Brakes” of the Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Modified Division

CarbonX- “Official Flame Shielding Fabric” of the Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Modified Division

Health PMO- “Official Health Care Company” of the Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Modified Division

Graphic Impressions- Presenting Sponsor and “Official Souvenir and Merchandise Vendor” of the Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Modified Division

Bob Hook Chevrolet of Louisville- “Official Auto Dealership” of the Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Modified Division

Total Lubricants- “Official Oil and Lubricant” of the Battle of the Bluegrass Modified Series

Other Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Open Wheel Modified Division Supporters Include: American Race Tires, Cruise with the Champions, Curtis Signs, Drive Smart Kentucky, DT52 Photos, Honda of Prestonsburg, Hoosier Race Tires, Kentucky’s Best Racing, PPM Racing Products, Racing Optics, Trailer Parts and Service, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply