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

July 26, 2009

O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass $5,000 to win at Ponderosa July 31/Bluegrass August 1

Louisville, Kentucky- July 26, 2009- After being rained out last weekend, the O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Graphic Impressions will return to action this weekend with a Central Kentucky doubleheader at Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, KY on Friday July 31 and at Bluegrass Speedway in Bardstown, KY on Saturday August 1.  Both events will be 50 lap, $5,000 to win events.     

The Friday July 31 event at Ponderosa Speedway will be the 7th Annual John Bradshaw Memorial, 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 7th Annual John Bradshaw Memorial Real Racing Wheels A-Main.  Local divisions in action on July 31 will be Pro Late Models, Modifieds, and Sportsman.

The Saturday August 1 event at Bluegrass Speedway will be the 11th Annual Bluegrass 50, 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 11th Annual Bluegrass 50 Real Racing Wheels A-Main.  Local divisions in action on August 1 will be Modifieds and Sportsman.

Activities for the July 31 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.  Also of note, race teams and fans will need to allow extra travel time to get through and around Junction City as the town’s Railroad Days festival will be going on.  There will police escorts for the bigger tow rigs, with detour signs around town for fans and smaller race transporters.

Activities for the August 1 Bluegrass 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 6:00 p.m., followed by practice at 6:30 p.m., with time trials at 7:00 p.m., while racing takes the green flag at or before 8:00 p.m.  Ticket prices for this event will be $20 for adults and $35 in the pit area.

The O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Super Late Model division has made twenty-two 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), and Rob Blair of Titusville, PA (2008).   

The O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Super Late Model division has made thirty previous appearances at Bluegrass Speedway.  Previous winners of events at Bluegrass Speedway include Rick Corbin of Independence, KY (2002), Eddie Carrier, Jr. of Salt Rock, WV (2002), Mike Jewell of Scottsburg, IN (2002, 2003, 2007, June 2009), Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN (2003, 2004, 2007), Darrell Lanigan of Union, KY (twice in 2003), Tim Tungate of Campbellsville, KY (2004), Brad Neat of Dunnville, KY (2004, 2006), Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, IL (2005), Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN (2005, twice in 2007, three times in 2008, April 2009, July 2009), John Gill of Mitchell, IN (2005), Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN (twice in 2006), Steve Francis of Ashland, KY (2007), Eric Wells of Hazard, KY (2008), Jason Keltner of Campbellsville, KY (2008), and David Webb of Nicholasville, KY (June 2009). 

The A-Main purses for the Friday July 31 7th Annual John Bradshaw at Ponderosa Speedway and Saturday August 1 11th Annual Bluegrass 50 at Bluegrass 50 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, just past Peckerwood Grocery.  For more information about Ponderosa Speedway, visit the track’s website at www.ponderosaspeedway.net or phone (859) 854-6808 on raceday.

With the motto of “Where’s Its Always Showtime” and located just outside historic Bardstown, KY, Bluegrass Speedway is a ½ mile high-banked clay oval promoted by David and Anita Ferrell.  Bluegrass Speedway is located at 2221 New Haven Road of Highway 31-E, just off of exit 21 of the Martha Layne Collins (Bluegrass) Parkway.  For more information about Bluegrass Speedway, visit the track’s webpage at www.bluegrass-speedway.com or phone (502) 349-1241. 

The O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Super Late Model division last competed on July 18 Richmond Raceway in Richmond, KY and Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN was the winner for the third consecutive series event.  Heading into the July 31 and August 1 races at Ponderosa Speedway and Bluegrass Speedway, David Webb of Nicholasville, KY has taken over the series points lead by seven markers over Victor Lee of Stanford, KY  The remainder of the top ten in series points entering the July 31 and August 1 events are Mike Marlar (Winfield, TN), Aaron Hatton (Mount Sterling, KY), Michael Chilton (Salvisa, KY), Bobby Wolter, Jr. (Lexington, KY), Dustin Neat (Dunnville, KY), Mike Jewell (Scottsburg, IN), Dustin Linville (Bryantsville, KY), and Tim Tungate (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 Upcoming Schedule of Events:

*July 31-Ponderosa Speedway (Junction City, KY): 7th Annual John Bradshaw Memorial- 50 laps/$5,000 to win

*August 1-Bluegrass Speedway (Bardstown, KY): 11th Annual Bluegrass 50- 50 laps/$5,000 to win

*September 4- Ponderosa Speedway (Junction City, KY): Pepsi Cola 40- 40 laps/$4,000 to win

*September 5- 201 Speedway (Sitka, KY): 50 laps/$5,000 to win

O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series Super Late Model Point Standings (after July 18, 2009)  

1. David Webb (Nicholasville, KY)- 2,035             

2. Victor Lee (Stanford, KY)- 2,028

3. Mike Marlar (Winfield, TN)- 1,689

4. Aaron Hatton (Mount Sterling, KY)- 1,663      

5. Michael Chilton (Salvisa, KY)- 1,542

6. Bobby Wolter, Jr. (Lexington, KY)- 1,499  

7. Dustin Neat (Dunnville, KY)- 1,481            

8. Mike Jewell (Scottsburg, IN)- 1,438           

9. Dustin Linville (Bryantsville, KY)- 1,259 ®          

10. Tim Tungate (Campbellsville, KY)- 1,258

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