Battle of the Bluegrass Dirt Car Racing Series
2009 Press Release Archive

August 26, 2009

O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass on Track at Ponderosa Sept. 4, 201 Sept. 5, and Tazewell Sept. 6  

Louisville, Kentucky- August 30, 2009- After being off four weeks, the O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Graphic Impressions will conclude its 2009 championship campaign with the Tripleheader Championship Weekend on September 4 at Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, KY, September 5 at 201 Speedway in Sitka, KY, and September 6 at Tazewell Speedway in Tazewell, TN.       

The Friday September 4 event at Ponderosa Speedway will be the Pepsi 40, paying $4,000 to win.  Events will include a full program of practice, Racing Optics time trials, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, Graphic Impressions, and C.J. Rayburn Race Cars qualifying heats, B-Mains, and the 40 lap, $4,000 to win Pepsi 40 Real Racing Wheels A-Main.  Local divisions in action on September 4 will be Pro Late Models, Modifieds, and Sportsman.  Activities for the September 4 Ponderosa Speedway event will see the pit area open at 4:00 p.m., while the general admission area will open at 5:00 p.m.  The driver’s meeting will be at 6:45 p.m., with practice at 7:00 p.m., followed by time trials at 7:45 p.m., with racing set to begin at or before 8:30 p.m.  Ticket prices for this event will be $20 for adults and $35 in the pit area. 

The Saturday September 5 event at 201 Speedway will be a 50 lap event, paying $5,000 to win.   Events will include a full program of practice, Racing Optics time trials, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, Graphic Impressions, and C.J. Rayburn Race Cars qualifying heats, B-Mains, and the 50 lap, $5,000 to win Real Racing Wheels A-Main.  Local divisions in action on August 1 will be Modifieds, Bombers, and Four Cylinders.   Activities for the September 5 201 Speedway event will see the pit area open at 4:00 p.m. and the general admission area will also open at 4:00 p.m.  The driver’s meeting will be at 6:45 p.m., followed by practice at 7:00 p.m., with Racing Optics time trials and racing to follow.  Ticket prices for this event will be $20 for adults and $35 in the pit area.

The Sunday September 6 event at Tazewell Speedway will be the Buddy Rogers Memorial 44, paying $5,000 to win.  Events will include a full program of practice, Racing Optics time trials, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply, Graphic Impressions, and C.J. Rayburn Race Cars qualifying heats, B-Mains, and the 44 lap, $5,000 to win Buddy Rogers Memorial Real Racing Wheels A-Main.  Local divisions in action will be Modified Street, Pure Street, Four Cylinder, and Classic Cars.  Activities for the September 6 Tazewell Speedway event will see the pit area open at 3:00 p.m., while the general admission area will open at 5:00 p.m.  The driver’s meeting will be at 7:00 p.m., with practice, Racing Optics time trials, and racing immediately following.  Ticket prices for this event will be $20 for adults and $30 in the pit area.  Also at Tazewell, there will lap sponsors of the 44 lap event with the proceeds going to the Cancer Research Foundation in the name of the late Mr. Rogers.  Any parties interested in being a lap sponsor, please call Gary Hall at (865) 604-3100 or Jimmy “Pup” Thomas at (865) 457-9888.

The O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Super Late Model division has made twenty-three previous appearances at Ponderosa Speedway. Those event winners include Johnny Wheeler of Campbellsville, KY (three times in 2003), Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN (2003, 2007, July 2009), Greg Johnson of Bedford, IN (2004, 2006), Benji Lee of Raywick, KY (2004), Bryan Barber of Buffalo, KY (2005), Eddie Carrier, Jr. of Salt Rock, WV (2005, 2008), Joey Daniel of Liberty, KY (2006), Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN (2006), Aaron Hatton of Mount Sterling, KY (2006, twice in 2007), Brad Neat of Dunnville, KY (2007), Victor Lee of Stanford, KY (twice in 2008, May 2009, July 2009), and Rob Blair of Titusville, PA (2008).   

The O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Super Late Model division has made sixteen previous appearances at 201 Speedway. Previous winners of events at 201 Speedway include Eddie Carrier, Jr. (2002, 2003), Aaron Hatton (2003), Tyrel Todd (2004), Paul Harris (2004, 2005, 2007), Whitney McQueary (twice in 2005), Mike Jewell (2006), Chris Combs (2006), Rod Evans (2006), Justin Rattliff (2007), Victor Lee (2008), Tim Tungate (2008), and Josh McGuire (June 2009).

The O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Super Late Model division has made four previous appearances at Tazewell Speedway.  Previous event winners at Tazewell Speedway include Scott Sexton Pigeon Forge, TN (2004), Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN (2007), and Victor Lee of Stanford, KY (2008), and Vic Hill of Morristown, TN (May 2009).

The A-Main purse for the Friday September 4 Ponderosa Speedway Pepsi 40 event is as follows:  1st- $4,000, 2nd- $2,000, 3rd- $1,200, 4th- $850, 5th- $800, 6th- $750, 7th- $700, 8th- $650, 9th- $600, 10th- $550, 11th- $500, 12th- $450, 13th- $400, 14th- $400, 15th- $350, 16th- $350, 17th- 435, 18th- $325, 19th through 24th- $300.

The A-Main purses for the Saturday September 5 201 Speedway and Sunday September 6 Tazewell Speedway Buddy Rogers Memorial events is as follows: 1st- $5,000, 2nd- $3,000, 3rd- $2,000, 4th- $1,500, 5th- $1,000, 6th- $800, 7th- $750, 8th- $700, 9th- $650, 10th- $600, 11th- $550, 12th- $500, 13th- $450, 14th- $450, 15th- $425, 16th- $425, 17th- $400, 18th- $400, 19th- $350, 20th- $350; 21st through 24th- $300.

The series tire rules are as follows: Hoosier- LM20, 1300, 1350, LM40, 1600, D55; American Racer-SD44, SD48, MD56. These compounds choices must be used on the front and rear tire selections at all sanctioned events. Soft tire compounds must durometer a minimum of 40, while hard tire compounds must durometer a minimum of 60.

 

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.  Visitors will turn onto KY Hwy. 300, proceed left on KY Hwy. 37, then 1.5 miles to Phillips Lane.  For more information about Ponderosa Speedway, visit the track’s website at www.ponderosaspeedway.net or phone (859) 854-6808 on raceday.

201 Speedway is a ¼ mile high-banked red clay oval promoted by former Super Late Model racer Chuckie May located 5.4 miles North of US 23 on State Road 201, just North of the Sitka community, just outside of Paintsville, KY. For more information, visit the track’s webpage at www.race201.com or phone (606) 265-5201 on raceday.

Known as "The Bad Fast Taz", Tazewell Speedway is located just two miles northwest of Tazewell, Tennessee. Going north on US 25-E, turn right and then left onto Bacchus Road, and then 1.8 miles north, then .8 miles west and the race track is located on the left.  For more information visit the track’s webpage at www.tazewellspeedway.net or phone (423) 626-2222 on raceday.

The O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Super Late Model division last competed on July 31 at Ponderosa Speedway and August 1 at Bluegrass Speedway and Victor Lee of Danville, KY won both events and reclaimed the series points lead by 59 markers over David Webb of Nicholasville, KY.  Heading into the Tripleheader Championship Weekend, the remainder of the top ten in series points entering the championship weekend events are Mike Marlar (Winfield, TN), Aaron Hatton (Mount Sterling, KY), Dustin Neat (Dunnville, KY), Michael Chilton (Salvisa, KY), Bobby Wolter, Jr. (Lexington, KY), Mike Jewell (Scottsburg, IN), Dustin Linville (Bryantsville, KY), and Justin Rattliff (Campbellsville, KY).     

The O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series sanctions regional Super Late Model 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 (502) 762-1606 or (502) 931-5068.

O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Super Late Model Point Standings (after August 1, 2009)  

1. Victor Lee (Stanford, KY)- 2,544             

2. David Webb (Nicholasville, KY)- 2,485

3. Mike Marlar (Winfield, TN)- 2,083

4. Aaron Hatton (Mount Sterling, KY)- 1,963      

5. Dustin Neat (Dunnville, KY)- 1,892

6. Michael Chilton (Salvisa, KY)- 1,844  

7. Bobby Wolter, Jr. (Lexington, KY)- 1,843            

8. Mike Jewell (Scottsburg, IN)- 1,632           

9. Dustin Linville (Bryantsville, KY)- 1,601 ®           

10. Justin Rattliff (Campbellsville, KY)- 1,540

2009 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

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

*Total Lubricants- “Official Oil and Lubricant” of the O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series

Other O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series 2009 Series Supporters Include:

All Star Performance, American Race Tires, C.J. Rayburn Race Cars, Cruise With The Champions, Honda of Prestonsburg, Hoosier Race Tires, PPM Racing Products, Racing Optics, REAL Racing Wheels, Strader Motorsports Photography, Trailer Parts and Service, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply