Ponderosa Speedway
Lee opens Ponderosa by grabbing $4,000 victory
By Michael Despain
Ponderosa SpeedwayJUNCTION CITY, Ky. (April 4) — Victor Lee of Stanford, Ky., led all 40 laps at Ponderosa Speedway to capture the second annual Chris Estes-Brad Pena Memorial. Lee, who built leads of as much as nearly a full straightaway during his victory, pocketed $4,000 for the victory in the unsanctioned event.
Greg Johnson of Bedford, Ind., finished second followed by Tyrel Todd of Eubank, Ky. Michael Chilton of Harrodsburg, Ky., and fast qualifier Dustin Linville of Lancaster, Ky., rounded out the top five in the season opener at the 3/8-mile oval in central Kentucky.
Notes: Lee's Frank Revel-owned Rayburn Race Car has a Jay Dickens engine and sponsorship from Kentucky’s Best, Budda Bert Transmission, and The Key Club. ... The track's doubleheader weekend was shortened when Friday's Spring 30, scheduled to pay $2,000 to the winner, was rained out. ... A lap-three caution appeared for a tangle involving Bobby Carrier Jr., Frankie Coomer and Randy Ridner, ending Ridner's race. ... A lap-30 caution appeared when Brandon Fouts spun in turn two. Justin Rattliff and David Webb spun to avoid an accident, and Rattliff's race was over. ... Jason Keltner was restarting fifth on the 30th lap when mechanical problems forced him out. ... Drivers failing to make the feature lineup: Miguel Coffey, Billy Jones, Chris Ruble, Terry Keltner, Joey Rigdon, J.L. Muse, and Ernie Cordier. ... Jeremy Hines won the Crate Late Model feature. ... Ponderosa's first sanctioned Late Model special of 2009 is set for May 1. The Junebug Rowland Memorial pays $3,000 to the winner of the O'Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series event.
Estes-Pena Memorial: (1) Victor Lee, (2) Greg Johnson, (3) Tyrel Todd, (4) Michael Chilton, (5) Dustin Linville, (6) Mike Marlar, (7) Kevin Claycomb, (8) Jimmy Crabtree, (9) Eddie Carrier Jr., (10) Larry Gray Jr., (11) Duane Chamberlain, (12) Mike Jewell, (13) Bobby Wolter Jr., (14) Arnie Fields, (15) Derek Fisher, (16) David Webb, (17) Jason Keltner, (18) Justin Rattliff, (19) Brandon Fouts, (20) Buzz Williams, (21) Johnny Wheeler, (22) Frankie Coomer, (23) Bobby Carrier Jr., (24) Randy Ridner. Fast qualifier (among 31 cars): Linville, 14.488 seconds. Heat race winners: Lee, Johnson, Todd. Consolation winner: Jewell. Provisional starter: Johnny Wheeler.
