Ponderosa Speedway
Carrier tops Linville for $3,000 at Ponderosa
By Michael Despain
Ponderosa Speedway
Eddie Carrier Jr. (28) chases Dustin Linville (D8). (Derrick Strader)
JUNCTION CITY, Ky. (April 3) — Eddie Carrier Jr. of Salt Rock, W.Va., outdueled polesitter Dustin Linville of Bryantsville, Ky., taking the lead for good on the 27th lap en route to a victory in Ponderosa Speedway's third annual Chris Estes-Brad Pena Memorial. Carrier earned $3,000 for the unsanctioned 40-lapper at the 3/8-mile central Kentucky oval. | Slideshow
Linville settled for second with Jordan Bland of Campbellsville, Ky., third. Brothers Mike and Skylar Marlar rounded out the top five on the opening weekend at Ponderosa.
Linville, who survived a first-lap skirmish with Brad Neat that stacked up six cars and forced a complete restart, faced pressure from Carrier through most of the race before Carrier pulled alongside on lap 26. Carrier edged ahead in turn three a lap later and held command the rest of the way.
Justin Rattliff of Campbellsville, who earned $1,500 for his victory in the previous night's Spring 30, was battling for third Saturday at Ponderosa when he spun in turn three on the 16th lap while battling with Neat. Rattliff ended up 13th.
Notes: Carrier's Grover Motorsports-owned Rocket Chassis is sponsored by Engines Inc., Cox Wrecker Service and Blue Ridge Machinery. ... Minnesota driver Lance Matthees (21st) and Michigan's John Grega (23rd) were among surprise entries. ... Ponderosa's next Late Model special is the $3,000-to-win Junebug Rowland Memorial on April 23, a National All Star Racing Association event.
Chris Estes-Brad Pena Memorial: (1) Eddie Carrier Jr., (2) Dustin Linville, (3) Jordan Bland, (4) Mike Marlar, (5) Skylar, Marlar, (6) Brad Neat, (7) Eric Wells, (8) Victor Lee, (9) Dustin Neat, (10) Chris Combs, (11) D.J. Wells, (12) Aaron Ridley, (13) Justin Rattliff, (14) Arnie Fields, (15) Michael Chilton, (16) David Webb, (17) Shon Flanary, (18) Bobby Wolter Jr., (19) Larry Gray Jr., (20) Steve Stollings, (21) Lance Matthees, (22) Anthony Adams, (23) John Grega. Fast qualifier (among 23 cars): Rattliff, 14.292 seconds. Heat race winners: Linville, B. Neat, Carrier.
