Bluegrass Speedway
Carrier fights off Webb, triumphs at Bluegrass
By Michael Despain
Bluegrass Speedway
The Bluegrass crowd checks out the racing action. (dt52photos.com)
BARDSTOWN, Ky. (July 10) — Polesitter Eddie Carrier Jr. of Salt Rock, W.Va., led all 40 laps of the 12th annual Kentuckiana Klash at Bluegrass Speedway on Saturday for a $5,000 victory on the National All Star Racing Association. Carrier fought off repeated challenges from David Webb of Nicholasville, Ky., for the victory. | Slideshow
Reigning track champion Dustin Neat of Dunnville, Ky., rallied from his seventh starting spot to finish second followed by Webb. Campbellsville, Ky., drivers Tim Tungate and Justin Rattliff rounded out the top five at the half-mile oval.
Carrier and Webb started on the front row with Carrier taking the early lead over Mike Jewell of Scottsburg, Ind., with Webb trailing in third. After Marty O’Neal slowed to draw a lap-nine caution, Webb took second while Neat dropped Jewell to fourth.
Carrier was in control out front, but Webb pulled up on his rear deck just before the halfway point and began pulling alongside the leader in challenging for the point. Neat stalked the leaders early in the second half of the race from his third spot.
Scott James slowed on the backchute on lap 33 to draw a caution, and after two failed restarts, Neat took second from Webb exiting turn two. Carrier stayed in command the rest of the way to take the checkers ahead of Neat, Webb, Tungate and Rattliff. Jewell was sixth.
Notes: Carrier’s Carl Grover Motorsports Rocket Chassis has a Grover Race Engine and sponsorship from Engines, Inc., Cox Wrecker Service along with Blue Ridge Machinery and Tool. ... Runner-up David Webb used GM's CT525 crate engine championed by the series. ... Duane Chamberlain advanced from his 16th starting spot to finish ninth. ... Fast qualifier Zack Dohm failed to make the main event after finishing last in the first heat; he suffered mechanical problems on the first lap. ... Next up for NASRA competitors is a $5,000-to-win event at Ponderosa Speedway on July 16; the race was rained out Friday.
Kentuckiana Klash: (1) Eddie Carrier Jr., (2) Dustin Neat, (3) David Webb, (4) Tim Tungate, (5) Justin Rattliff, (6) Mike Jewell, (7) Mike Marlar, (8) Greg Johnson, (9) Duane Chamberlain, (10) Steve Barnett, (11) Jeff Watson, (12) Aaron Hatton, (13) Dustin Linville, (14) Skylar Marlar, (15) Jason Smith, (16) Marty O’Neal, (17) Arnie Fields, (18) Tim Rivers, (19) Scott James, (20 Terry English, (21) Jordan Bland, (22) Tanner English, (23) Freddy Smith. Fast qualifier (among 29 cars): Zack Dohm, 16.442 seconds. Heat race winners: Webb, Carrier, Jewell. Consolation winner: Chamberlain. Provisional starters: Fields, S. Marlar, Ta. English.
