201 Speedway
Tungate ends drought with $5,000 victory at 201
By Michael Despain
O'Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar SeriesSITKA, Ky. (Aug. 30) — Tim Tungate of Campbellsville, Ky., survived a late challenge from Eric Wells of Hazard, Ky., at 201 Speedway to win his first O'Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series victory in more than a year. Tungate, who took the lead from polesitter Larry Gray on the 14th, led all but one lap the rest of the 50-lapper in racing to the $5,000 payday at the eastern Kentucky oval.
Tungate was in control through the race's middle stages, but Wells — involved in a second-lap tangle with Jason Edge — rallied into second on lap 29 and turned up the heat on the leader. Wells pulled alongside Tungate on lap 41 and nosed ahead to lead lap 42. Tungate answered to regain the point on lap 43, and two laps later, Wells slowed and pulled out of the race with apparent mechanical trouble.
Brandon Kinzer of Allen, Ky., regained second with five laps remaining, but he couldn't catch Tungate. Chris Combs of Isom, Ky., finished third followed by 15th-starting David Webb of Nicholasville, Ky., and Tyrel Todd of Science Hill, Ky. Gray, who set fast time and led the first 13 laps, ended up 18th after being involved in a wreck with John Gill and Aaron Hatton on the 20th lap.
Notes: Tungate drives a Logan and Jane Parrott-owned Rayburn Race Car powered by a Bullock Race Engine and sponsored by Darrell Morrison Mechanical, Osborne Construction, Guardian Mortgage, Campbellsville University and ABC Child Care. ... Tungate won his fourth career series victory and first since 2007's Butterball Wooldridge Memorial at Richmond (Ky.) Raceway. ... The race was slowed by eight cautions, including three times before the first lap was completed. ... The series returns to action Sept. 19-20 with $5,000-to-win events at Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, Ky., and Bluegrass Speedway in Bardstown, Ky. Both events will be televised later on the Outdoor Channel.
O'Reilly BoB @ 201: (1) Tim Tungate, (2) Brandon Kinzer, (3) Chris Combs, (4) David Webb, (5) Tyrel Todd, (6) Harold Redman Jr., (7) Shon Flanary, (8) Aaron Hatton, (9) Arnie Fields, (10) Mike Jewell, (11) Eric Wells, (12) Royce McGowan, (13) Zach Carney, (14) Victor Lee, (15) D.J. Wells, (16) Doug Smith, (17) Jason Edge, (18) Larry Gray, (19) John Gill, (20) Jamie Ferguson, (21) Terry Hicks, (22) Shannon Thornsberry, (23) Rick Aukland, (24) Rod Evans. Fast qualifier (among 37 cars): Gray, 13.310 seconds. Heat race winners: Gray, Gill, D.J. Wells, Tungate. Consolation winners: E. Wells, Redman. Provisional starters: McGowan, Smith, Thornsberry, Ferguson.
