Ponderosa Speedway
Blair carries IRS banner for Ponderosa victory
By Michael Despain
O'Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Blair cruises toward victory. (Derrick Strader)
JUNCTION CITY, Ky. (Aug. 1) — In a clash of the Ohio-based Independent Racing Series and Kentucky-based O'Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass at Ponderosa Speedway, the BoB regulars easily outnumbered the IRS regulars. But IRS points leader, Robbie Blair, was able to outran the BoB points leader, Victor Lee, for a victory and $5,000 payday. Starting outside the front row, Blair, of Titusville, Pa., led all 50 laps of the sixth annual John Bradshaw Memorial at the 3/8-mile central Kentucky oval. | Slideshow
Lee, of Stanford, Ky., finished second followed by Don O'Neal of Martinsville, Ind., Michael England of Glasgow, Ky., and polesitter Dustin Linville of Lancaster, Ky. Jordan Bland of Campbellsville, Ky., ran among the top five before departing with mechanical problems in the final five laps, and sixth-running Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., dropped out with two laps remaining with suspension damage.
Notes: Blair's Rocket Chassis has a Draime Race Engine and sponsorship from Bossard’s Auto Parts, Speciality Products, Maloney Mold and Tool and Armstrong Lumber. ... The feature was slowed by five caution flags and took 41 minutes to complete. ... Aaron Hatton grabbed the PPM Racing Products Hard Charger honors with his 25th-to-11th run. ... Ricky Arms, driving Michael England's backup car, slowed with body and suspension damage on the 11th lap and was done for the night. ... Provisional starter Mike Jewell dropped out on lap 21. ... IRS and the Battle of the Bluegrass also co-sanctioned Saturday's scheduled event at Bluegrass Speedway in Bardstown, Ky. The sixth annual My Old Kentucky Home Shootout pays $5,000 to the winner.
IRS-BoB @ Ponderosa: (1) Robbie Blair, (2) Victor Lee, (3) Don O’Neal, (4) Michael England, (5) Dustin Linville, (6) Jerry Rice, (7) Jason Feger, (8) Jason Keltner, (9) Shon Flanary, (10) Tyrel Todd, (11) Aaron Hatton, (12) Johnny Wheeler, (13) Brad Neat, (14) Chris Combs, (15) David Webb, (16) Buzz Williams, (17) Eric Wells, (18) Zach Carney, (19) Tim Tungate, (20) Rick Aukland, (21) Mike Marlar, (22) Jordan Bland, (23) Mike Jewell, (24) Ricky Arms, (25) Michael Chilton. Fast qualifier (among 34 cars): Bland, 14.091 seconds. Heat race winners: Keltner, Wheeler, England, Blair. Consolation winners: Arms, Combs. Dash winner: Linville. Provisional starters: Tungate, Jewell, Hatton.
