(4/26/03)Bluegrass Speedway "Spring Sizzler" Results and Notes...

DON O'NEAL grabbed the lead off turn two on the final lap and drove to his first ever Battle of the Bluegrass Series win at the Bluegrass Speedway in an absolute dandy.

FINISH:
1 Don O'Neal
2 Kevin Claycomb
3 Scott James
4 Steve Hillard
5 Darrell Lanigan
6 Steve Barnett
7 John Gill
8 Michael Chilton
9 Whitney McQueary
10 Rick Corbin
11 Mikey Marlar
12 Brad Neat
13 James Huff
14 John Whitney
15 Jesse James Lay
16 Johnny Wheeler
17 Jerry Rice
18 Joey Daniel
19 Richard Smith
20 Aaron Hatton
21 Joey Kramer
22 Eddie Carrier, Jr.
23 Steve Casebolt, Jr.

KEVIN CLAYCOMB and SCOTT JAMES lead the field into one and two at the start of the main event while behind them JOHN GILL, DARRELL LANIGAN and O'Neal danced three deep before a spin by EDDIE CARRIER, JR. sent the field into a complete do over and ending Lil' Ed's night with suspension damage.

When the field retook the green Claycomb wrestled the lead away from the Silver Shark as O'Neal and fellow heat winner STEVE HILLARD fought over the hub of one and two. Hillard won the battle sending Donnie O to the black ice and allowing Lanigan to scoot under to grab fourth.

O'Neal then grabbed handful of wheel diving below Lanigan in three and four as the duo rolled to the back of Hillard. Lanigan's drive by down the back chute was null and voided when the Real Deal again shot to the hub of three and inched ahead of Hillard at the line.

As Claycomb enjoyed an then increasing five car length lead, O'Neal and James began to battle for second while JOHN GILL and impressive youngster MICHAEL CHILTON raced each other for sixth. Closer to the front, O'Neal managed to get by James for second bringing Hillard to pressure the Shark for third. Behind them, Lanigan ran alone in 5th as did Gill while STEVE BARNETT moved by Chilton for 7th.

With less than five miles in the books, Claycomb's lead had increased to a half straightaway over the Real Deal and the Shark. Barnett and Chilton still battled for 7th while the Modern Day Cowboy rode his imaginary horse to the back of Lanigan's Rocket. At the end of the top ten, WHITNEY McQUEARY, MIKEY MARLAR and consi winner RICK CORBIN battled for 9th.

Back up front, James and O'Neal continued to slug it out for second when the Silver Shark nipped O'Neal at the line on lap 12. O'Neal's look at the bottom of two was followed by James rolling back by on the rim down the back side only to see Donnie O