BAXTER, Tennessee --Jeff Smith of Kings Mountain, NC became the fourth driver this year to win his first career O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series presented by Arizona Sport Shirts event as he passed race leader, Greg Johnson for good on the 24th lap and then went on to take the Lucas Oil 40 lap A-main event at the Tennessee Motor Speedway. It was the series first ever appearance at 4/10ths mile oval and Smith's first race with the three year old series as the 37 year old son of legendary National Dirt Late Model Hall of Famer, Freddy Smith went back home to the Tar Heel State with the $3000 first place prize. Smith drove his Starrette Trucking, M&S Concrete, J&N Auto Sales, J&J Race Cars, Banks Brokerage, Tires Plus, American Race Tires sponsored Gaerte Engines powered Rocket Chassis #70 to win over a strong field of participants. Finishing second after starting in ninth was Chuck Proctor of Charlotte, TN in his Barry Sesler Construction/MasterSbilt Grand Prix for his best career BoB finish. Third place went to series regular Aaron Hatton of Mt. Sterling, KY in the Hatton Racing/Jerry Hatton Used Cars/MasterSbilt Grand Prix. Taking fourth was another career best series finish for rookie Michael England of Glasgow, KY driving the Young's Oil Corporation/MasterSbilt Monte Carlo. Rounding out the top five was Tyrel Todd of Eubank, KY in the Todd Family Motorsports/Todd Truss Company/MasterSbilt Monte Carlo. A total of 30 cars were on hand for the event with four drivers breaking the previous track record in time trials.
After four exciting Crown Spray Power Heat Races and two O'Reilly Auto Parts B-Mains the time came for the Lucas Oil 40 lap main event with Tyrel Todd and current series point’s leader, Greg Johnson on the front row for the start. Johnson would pounce on the opportunity to take the lead at the start of the race with Jeff Smith, who started third running right behind him. A wreck on the opening lap necessitated a red flag for Dennis Selby and Jay Mobley as both drivers checked out o.k., but their race cars were severely damaged as they were done for the night. When the race resumed it was Johnson on the point with Smith, Todd, defending series champion, Mike Marlar and Brad Neat running in the top five. Change for positions started occurring on the fifth circuit with Marlar getting by Todd for third and Chuck Proctor, who started ninth already making his presence known as he was up to fifth and a lap later he passed Todd for fourth. The cars were at an exhausting pace around the ultra quick high bank track as an early afternoon thunderstorm made the conditions extremely tacky. By lap 15 Smith was up to the task of challenging Johnson for the lead of the race. Smith would pull alongside of Johnson coming out of turn number two on several occasions only to see Johnson keep the lead at the flagstand for the scored lap. Johnson and Smith would put on a great battle for the lead dueling it out within inches of each other as both drivers were giving each other plenty of room. On the scored lap 19 Smith was shown as the leader, but when they came back around the next time it was Johnson back in front as the hotly contested battle had the large crowd on their feet as the two cars went door to door. In traffic on the 24th lap was Johnson's downfall as he got trapped behind another car and that would allow Smith to take over the lead for good.
But Proctor would try and make a final charge on Smith as many thought this race was now over with Smith in front. Proctor got by Johnson for second on lap 25 and then he too had to deal with some lapped cars between himself and catching Smith. But Proctor would make a good run for it closing the gap quickly on Smith and a lead that had been up to five car lengths shrunk to two within a matter of a few laps. With five laps to go a yellow for sixth place running, Johnny Wheeler who broke a rear end in turn tow brought out another caution flag to bunch the field up. A five lap shootout would ensue with Smith, Proctor, Johnson, Aaron Hatton and Michael England all involved settling the outcome. But Johnson's hope ended with four laps to go as his right rear tire went down causing him to spin in turn four bringing out the final caution of the race. Now it would be a four lap race to the finish with Smith holding off Proctor to take his first career O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass event in his very first start with the series. After the race an elated Smith said "That was quite a race we had out there between me and Johnson," "I like racing that way, we gave each other room and we just happened to get out front and held on," said the personable Smith who became the fourth driver this year joining Steve Francis, Greg Johnson and Tyrel Todd to win his first career BoB race. "We like this track, we've been here a few times and always run well here, it feels good to come away with the win tonight because this is a pretty tough series to win on."
Proctor finished in second followed by Hatton, who came from the 11th starting slot. England was the big mover of the race as the driver in his first full season of dirt late model racing started 19th and came up to finish fourth a career best with the series. Todd rebounded from a flat tire and having to go the tail after pitting as he wound up in fifth.
Completing the top ten were Perry Delaney, Junior Brown, Greg Johnson, Arville Pittman and Jeff Walker.
In Racing Optics Time Trials four drivers broke Wendall Wallace's track record of 15.372 seconds with Greg Johnson now the new track record holder at Tennessee Motor Speedway with a 15.139 seconds clocking. The Crown Spray Power Heat Race winners were Johnson, Smith, Mike Marlar and Todd. Perry Delaney and Spensor Watson won the O'Reilly Auto Parts B-Mains.
The O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series will have Memorial Weekend off with the next races set for Friday, June 4 at the Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, KY for the "Pete Abell Memorial Race" and Saturday, June 5 at the Florence Speedway in Union, KY for the "Ralph Latham Memorial Race."
Race Summary
O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Event #7
Tennessee Motor Speedway
Baxter, TN
Saturday Night, May 22, 2004
Racing Optics/Russell Baker Racing Engines Time Trials; Greg Johnson 15.139 NTR
Crown Spray Power Heat #1: Greg Johnson, Mike Luna, Chuck Proctor, Jay Mobley
Crown Spray Power Heat #2: Jeff Smith, Johnny Wheeler, Scott Randolph, Perry Delaney
Crown Spray Power Heat #3: Mike Marlar, Brad Neat, Aaron Hatton, Jeff Walker
Crown Spray Power Heat #4: Tyrel Todd, Randy Weaver, Steve Cornelius, Spensor Watson
O'Reilly Auto Parts B-Main #1: Perry Delaney, Jay Mobley, Arville Pittman, Michael England
O'Reilly Auto Parts B-Main #2: Spensor Watson, Victor Lee, Jeff Walker, Doug Smith
Lucas Oil A-Main (40 Laps): Jeff Smith, Chuck Proctor, Aaron Hatton, Michael England, Tyrel Todd, Perry Delaney, Junior Brown, Greg Johnson, Arville Pittman, Jeff Walker, Spensor Watson, Doug Smith, Mike Marlar, Johnny Wheeler, Brad Neat, Randy Weaver, Mike Luna, Victor Lee, Scott Randolph, Steve Cornelius, Jay Mobley, Dennis Selby
Race Statistics:
Entries: 30
Race Leaders: Johnson 1-18 Smith 19 Johnson 20-23 Smith 24-40
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger of the Race: Michael England advanced 15 positions (started 19th and finished fourth)
