Bluegrass Speedway
Keltner dominates Bardstown for first BoB victory
By Michael Despain
O'Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Keltner (59) started on the pole at Bardstown. (dt52photos.com)
BARDSTOWN, Ky. (Sept. 20) — Jason Keltner of Campbellsville, Ky., led all the way at Bluegrass Speedway for his first career victory on the O'Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series. Keltner, last year's rookie of the year on the tour, earned $5,000 in dominating the 10th annual Kentucky's Best Racing Bluegrass 50. | Slideshow
The season finale also marked the second consecutive championship for Victor Lee of Stanford, Ky., who finished sixth, and ended the rookie of the year season for Eric Wells of Hazard, Ky., who finished 10th.
Dustin Neat of Dunnville, Ky., was the runner-up, nearly a half-track behind Keltner, while Neat's younger brother Brad rallied from his 19th starting spot to finish third. Former series champion Eddie Carrier Jr. of Salt Rock, W.Va., winner of the previous night's event at Ponderosa Speedway, finished fourth and Jordan Bland of Campbellsville rounded out the top five in a race slowed by four cautions and a red flag, all on lap 29.
Second-running Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., had a flat tire on the 29th lap to knock him out of contention, and Terry English of Benton, Ky., also gave up a top-five spot with a flat under the same caution. A six-car pileup on the restart knocked out six drivers and two more starts were required before the race began cleanly again.
Notes: Keltner has parked his own car off-and-on in recent weeks to drive the Harrod Brothers entry he piloted at Bardstown. The Jay Dickens-powered Rocket Chassis is sponsored by Harrod Farms, Perry's Auto Sales, Colston Paving and Central Painting. ... The event was taped by Outdoor Channel cameras and will be televised after the season.
O'Reilly BoB @ Bluegrass: (1) Jason Keltner, (2) Dustin Neat, (3) Brad Neat, (4) Eddie Carrier Jr., (5) Jordan Bland, (6) Victor Lee, (7) Dustin Linville, (8) Joey Kramer, (9) Zach Carney, (10) Eric Wells, (11) D.J. Wells, (12) Bryant Woodcock, (13) Audie McWilliams, (14) Tyrel Todd, (15) Aaron Hatton, (16) Terry English, (17) Tim Tungate, (18) David Webb, (19) Royce McGowan, (20) Larry Gray, (21) Mike Marlar, (22) Chris Combs, (23) Shannon Thornsberry. Fast qualifier (among 32 cars): B. Neat, 14.757 seconds. Heat race winners: Keltner, D. Neat, McWilliams, Tungate. Consolation winners: Lee, Linville. Provisional starters: Carney, Thornsberry, Woodcock.
