(5/2/03)Ponderosa Speedway BoB "Spring Into Spring 40" Results and Notes...

JOHNNY WHEELER went flag to flag in a wild 40 lapper that was chocked full of flat tires, hard racing and a little late race action. Add to the fact that a rain delay that set the show back for more than one hour but still saw the Late Model feature over around 11:30 and it's safe to say that the Ponderosa is back.

FINISH:
1 Johnny Wheeler
2 Eddie Carrier, Jr.
3 Mike Marlar
4 Mike Jewell
5 Timmy Yeager
6 Richard Smith
7 Scott James
8 Tyrel Todd
9 Michael Chilton
10 Jim Curry
11 Jesse James Lay
12 Bobby Wolter, Jr.
13 Dustin Neat
14 Brad Neat
15 Kevin Claycomb
16 Aaron Hatton
17 Darrell Lanigan
18 Bobby Carrier, Jr.
19 Ronnie Smith
20 Brandon Hardgrove

Johnny Wheeler and EDDIE CARRIER, JR. rolled into turn one door to door at the start of the main event as Wheeler pulled to the lead off two. Behind them SCOTT JAMES, JESSE JAMES LAY and TIMMY YEAGER raced three wide off four to complete the first trip.

James won the battle for third while 8th starting MIKE MARLAR began to hound Yeager for 5th while the Chosen One was all over Lay for 4th. Further back in the field, 14th starting DARRELL LANIGAN marched to 8th in the first 6 laps.

Wheeler continued to ease away from the field pulling to a straightaway lead as Marlar worked on Lay for 4th. Yeager meanwhile had his hands full with MIKE JEWELL and Lanigan. As the trio really began to dice for positions, Lanigan slowed to bring out the first caution pulling in with a flat right rear tire. This began the plague as Lay and Marlar both pulled in with flats.

When the field went back to green James went to the hub challenging Carrier for second. Fourth running Yeager took advantage of the Shark's attack on the bottom and stepped to the outside going into three. James' efforts on the bottom allowed Carrier to get away as the Shark slid up in front of Yeager's path. Behind the Shark and the Chosen One Jewell, KEVIN CLAYCOMB and MICHAEL CHILTON raced for 5th. Chilton's low line off two let him take a peek under Claycomb off two before BRAD NEAT slowed with a flat. While under the caution 8th running AARON HATTON pulled in as well with a flat.

On the restart Wheeler's softer American Racers helped him pull away from Carrier. Jewell continued to ride the hub and look under Carrier for 4th. James again chipped into Carrier's advantage. Chilton also kept the pressure on Claycomb until another flat sent Chilton to the infield along with BOBBY WOLTER, JR and Hatton.

Following another restart, Yeager's pass on James down the back stretch brought out another yellow when the Shark went pitside with a flat right rear. Back underway for a couple of laps that saw BRAD and DUSTIN NEAT racing toghether again and Claycomb's night ended with a flat right rear. Lay also pulled in with yet another flat while running the the back half the field.


Back to racing on lap 24 when Marlar, who'd quietly worked his way back through the field, rolled around fast qualifier TYREL TODD for 6th. On the next trip, a look below RICHARD SMITH in one and two gave way to a step to the rim in 4 when the Winfield Warrior circled Smith with a vicious pass off four to move into the top five just before Brad Neat stopped to bring out the final caution on lap 27.

The final 13 laps were indeed classic examples of hard racing. With the Wheel Man out front Yeager took a look around Carrier off two before Lil Ed pointed his blue oval back in front of the Chosen One. Behind them Marlar hounded Jewell for 5th.

With Marlar handing out all sorts of pressure, Jewell rolled up to the back of Yeager and began to race for third. As Wheeler enjoyed a half straightaway lead Jewell looked to the bottom of Yeager for third. With a lack of room in the basement, the Scottsburg Express moved to the high side to look around the Chosen One. This allowed Marlar to move in on both drivers with less to ten to go.

With the battle for third waging, consi winner JIM CURRY, Chilton and James raced for 8th. Back to the battle for third, with Yeager fending off both Marlar and Jewell with a whip and a chair, Marlar rolled into three alongside Jewell on the high side. Yeager's line on the outside slowed Marlar's momentum and kept him behind Jewell. When Jewell decided to look to the outside of Yeager in one, Marlar dove to the bottom in one poking a nose under Jewell. When the duo came off two paint was trade as Marlar drove through to take fourth. The contact slowed Jewell's rhythm and allowed Marlar and Yeager to drive out 3 car lengths.

Meanwhile, James, Chilton and Curry continued to dance together in a battle for 8th. Curry's slip that let the Wild Child under also left enough room for James to step around both drivers down the back chute as the field raced into the final five laps.

With Wheeler and Carrier alone in first and second the mayhem for third continued as Jewell grabbed a handful of wheel following his drop to 5th. Marlar dogged Yeager for third as Jewell reeled the duo in with five to go.

While Chilton drove under Curry off two and than alongside James down the back stretch, Jewell pulled under Marlar in three. Yeager's line in front of Jewell kept the Scottsburg Express from going under yet the lack of room on the outside kept th Winfield Warrior behind Yeager but ahead of Jewell. The same thing happended again the next lap before Marlar found his way around Yeager for third as the field took the white flag.

As Johnny Wheeler picked up his second career BoB win and Carrier brought his new team home a very solid second, Marlar got away from Yeager and Jewell to finish third. Yeager and Jewell continued to race for fourth on the last lap as Jewell attempted to throw a slide job at Yeager exiting turn four. The slider itself failed when Jewell slid into the left front of Yeager and winning the race to the line. Unhappy about the last lap, Yeager spun Jewell in turn four on the cool down lap as retaliation.


OTHER ODDS AND ENDS...

-DUSTIN NEAT made a return tonight driving one of the R&P cars numbered 11. After a mediocre heat, the Dust Buster found his way in the main event in the consi.

-JOEY KRAMER had a tough go of things. The Rocket Man set 2nd quick time and found the wall in the heat and got into the back of a slower car in the feature.

-Some of the drivers missing the main event were: Audie McWilliams, Carnell Parker, Jason Hinkle, Victor Lee, Joey Daniel, Larry Martin, Jr., and Ronnie Smith.

-Even though the race was hard on tires and had a healthy dose of cautions, the staff did a great job of keeping things moving and getting them over at a reasonable hour. And as well as things went 2 weeks again, some things seemed even better this go around. It looked like everyone was more comfortable with thier jobs and positions. The parking is still a bit of a problem, but for the promoter it's a good problem in that there's people filling the place. Plus, hopefully a dry week will be in store to help the ground become more user friendly.


Off to Richmond Saturday for a second night of BoB action. Hopefully Mother Nature will be kind and keep her threats of the wet stuff away. I guess we'll see and until then, we'll be recooping from a long day of Louisville Zoo, a tee ball down pour and a night of racing and rollin' em around!