May 24, 2008
Don Adams Aces Battle of the Bluegrass Modified 4th Annual Summer Shootout at Ponderosa  

Bardstown, KY-May 23, 2008- The Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Open Wheel Modified division presented by Graphic Impressions contested its fourth event of 2008 on Friday evening at the Larry, Chad, and Sarah Yantz promoted Ponderosa Speedway and  Don Adams of London, KY became the third different winner in four series events thus far in 2008.

The win for Adams was his 5th series checkered flag and came aboard the Darren Jones owned Car Star/Fast Company/Lightning Chassis sponsored #66 Lightning Chassis, Roger Williams Race Engines powered machine.   

Benji Lee of Raywick, KY would finish second after leading the first 24 laps of the 30 lap event in the Thompson Heat and Air/B&B Motorsports Bandit Race Cars machine, with Kelly Warren of Columbia, KY finishing third in the Commonwealth Cancer Center/GSM Painting Lightning Chassis unit.  Joey Kramer of Hanover, IN would claim fourth in the FOX Custom Cabinets/Larry’s Truck Service Lightning Chassis mount, while Jason Wheatley of Loretto, KY would complete the top five in the B&W Metals/Springfield Auto and Farm Hughes Race Cars unit. 

The start of the 25 lap, $1,500 to win Battle of the Bluegrass Modified Series A-Main would see the first two attempted starts called back after a Travis Preston spin and a Don Adams and Rocky Wilson spin.  Once action got underway, Benji Lee would take the initial lead, followed by Kelly Warren, Joey Kramer, Don Adams, and Jason Wheatley.  The front five remained the same until the next caution flew on lap 4 for spin by Mick Sansom in turn two.  With the Delaware double-file restarts in use, Kramer would to second on lap 4, only to have Warren retake second one trip later, while Adams and Kramer would duel for third.  Aaron Ogle would spin on lap 6 to draw the next caution flag and the restart would see the top five remain the same, with Adams turning up the heat on Warren for second.     

The next caution waved on lap 13 as J.T. Ayers saw his mount let out a large cloud on smoke on the frontchute, ending his night while he was racing in the seventh position.  Adams would get by Warren on the restart and the field would complete one more circuit before Aaron Ogle would draw his second caution for a spin and turn two and see his night be finished.  The restart would have Lee and Adams first and second, while Kramer would skate past Warren for fourth, with Wheatley still holding on to fifth.   

With 10 laps remaining, Adams turned up the wick on his charge for the lead on Lee, while Kramer and Warren battled side-by-side for third.  Laps 21 through 24 would see the front pair of Lee and Adams wheel-to-wheel for the lead, before Adams would pull off a slidejob pass of Lee exiting turn four to take the race lead on lap 25.  Warren would continue to battle Kramer for the three slot and would drive past the series points leader for the spot on lap 27.     

The final three laps would see Adams pull away from Lee a bit to claim the A-Main checkered flag over Lee, with Warren holding off the challenges of Kramer for third, while Wheatley would complete the top five.  The remainder of the top ten would be Brandon Green, Skylar Marlar, Joe David Turner, Robbie Gullion, and Scotty Kincaid.   

In preliminary action, Joey Kramer was top qualifier among 23 entries with a lap time of 14.784 second.  A trio of qualifying heat events would be contested with those checkered flags falling to Kelly Warren, Benji Lee, and Jason Wheatley.   

The next event for the Modified division of the Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series will take place at the Mark and Tommy Trimble promoted Richmond Raceway in Richmond, KY on Saturday May 24.  The event will 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-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-May 23, 2008 

Top Qualifier- Joey Kramer 14.784                   

1st Heat- Kelly Warren, Joey Kramer, Skylar Marlar, Wayne James, Mick Sansom, Aaron Ogle, Russ Gabbert (DNS- Jeff Johnson)      

2nd Heat- Benji Lee, Don Adams, Robbie Gullion, Scotty Kincaid, Travis Preston, Bobby Neal, Rocky Wilson               

3rd Heat- Jason Wheatley, J.T. Ayers, Brandon Green, Joe Gray, Joe David Turner, Shawn Tolson, Ricky Lane                      

A-Main:  Don Adams, Benji Lee, Kelly Warren, Joey Kramer, Jason Wheatley, Brandon Green, Skylar Marlar, Joe David Turner, Robbie Gullion, Scotty Kincaid, Jeff Johnson, Wayne James, Shawn Tolson, Mick Sansom, Travis Preston, Ricky Lane, Joe Gray, Rocky Wilson, Aaron Ogle, J.T. Ayers, Bobby Neal (DNS- Russ Gabbert, Brian Hash)       

Entries- 23

Lap Leaders- 2 (Lee 1-24, Adams 25-30)

Cautions- 7 (Laps 0, 0, 4, 6, 13, 14, 14)

Red Flags- None

Hard Charger- Jeff Johnson (started 20th-finished 11th-advanced 9 positions)

Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Modified Division Point Standings (after May 23)

1. Joey Kramer(Hanover, IN)- 971

2. Don Adams (London, KY)- 917    

3. Kelly Warren (Columbia, KY)- 903

4. Mick Sansom(Salt Rock, WV)- 725

Skylar Marlar (Winfield, TN- 725 ®

6. Shawn Tolson(Walton, KY)- 691 ®

7. Brandon Green(Walton, KY)- 592

8. Robbie Gullion (Charlestown, IN)- 561 ®

9. Jeff Johnson (Junction City, KY)- 498

10. Wayne James (Newport, TN)- 485   

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

June 7- Tazewell Speedway (Tazewell, TN)- $2,000 to win

June 13- Moler Raceway Park (Williamsburg, OH)- $1,500 to win

June 14- 201 Speedway (Sitka, KY)- $1,500 to win

July 18- Richmond Raceway (Richmond, KY)- 21st Annual Paul “Butterball” Wooldridge Memorial-$1,500 to win

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

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, Hoosier Race Tires, Kentucky’s Best Racing, PPM Racing Products, Racing Optics, Trailer Parts and Service, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply