Don Adams Cashes in With NARA Battle of The Bluegrass Modified Series Win
Sitka, KY
Jun 04, 2007
Veteran chassis builder Don Adams stormed past Joey Kramer to take the lead on lap 18, and held on through the side-by-side action packed final 7 circuits to score his first NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Modified Series win of 2007 Saturday night at 201 Speedway in Sitka, KY. Adams scored the repeat victory after winning the same event in 2006 at 201 Speedway.
The 22-car starting field was led to green by Jimmy Payne and Kramer, followed by Adams and Kevin Copher. Payne got the hole shot heading into turn one of the first lap, but Kramer make the pass on the highside in turn 4 to lead the opening lap.
As the fast paced race continued, a furious battle developed for 2nd as Payne fell into the clutches of Adams and Copher, followed by Corey McKenzie. Just as Adams got by Payne for 2nd on lap 3, a slowing Russ Gabbert brought out the first caution of the 25-lap A-Main.
After it was determined that Adams beat Payne to the line by inches the previous lap, the London, KY driver chose the inside line for the Delaware Double-File restart, followed by Payne, Copher, and McKenzie. As the field took the green, this time it was Kevin Copher who made the big move with a daring 3-wide pass to the inside of Adams and Payne, taking over the 2nd position.
Just as Copher began to apply pressure to Kramer for the race lead, the race’s 2nd caution came out for a 2-car incident in turn two. Copher chose the inside line of the double file restart, leaving Payne on the outside followed by Adams and McKenzie in the next row. At the drop of the green, Adams replicated Copher’s move from the previous restart, piloting his #07 machine to the inside to make a 3-wide pass around Payne and Copher down the backstretch, with the field slicing two and three-wide behind. It appeared as though Adams had caught a second wind, as he quickly found his way to race leader Joey Kramer by lap 14.
The next several laps would see a thrilling battle for the lead between Kramer and Adams, as the duo swapped the top spot numerous times. The two drivers brought the huge crowd to its feet as nearly every lap ended in a figurative photo-finish at the line, with neither driver gaining an advantage. The advantage eventually went Adams’ way, as he was able to secure a car-length lead on lap 18, but Kramer maintained pressure on the high side, as the leaders began to approach the back of the field. Behind the leaders, Corey McKenzie began to assert himself as he raced Copher in a heated battle for third.
Just when it appeared that Adams might start to put distance between himself and Kramer, the complexion of the race changed with a caution on lap 21, just 4 laps shy of the finish. After running the cushion for nearly the entire race, Kramer chose the outside line for the double-file restart, leaving Corey McKenzie to his inside in 3rd. The ensuing restart would see a mad scramble for position, even including a 4-wide battle for 2nd between Kramer, McKenzie, Copher, and Payne off of turn 2.
Adams would go on to take the checkered flag and the $1,500 win by about 5 car-lengths over McKenzie, Followed by Kramer, Copher, and Payne rounding out the top 5.
After battling an ill-handling car and bringing out the race’s first caution, Russ Gabbert managed to maneuver his way through traffic to score an 8th place finish, advancing 8 spots from his 16th starting position, garnering the Berea, KY driver Hard Charger honors.
Preliminary action saw Joey Kramer capture the fast time with a lap of 15.316 seconds. Four 10-lap heat races were won by Kramer, Kevin Copher, Don Adams, and Jimmy Payne. The B-Mains went to Josh Lucas and Dennis Roberson
The next NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Open Wheel Modified Series event will mark the Series’ first venture in the Volunteer state, as the BoB Mod Squad rolls into the Tazewell Speedway in Tazewell, TN on Saturday night, June 9th, paying $1,500 to winner. For more information on the event, please visit the series website at www.battleofthebluegrass.com.
Event Summary 201 Speedway - Sitka, KY June 2nd, 2007 NARA Battle of the Bluegrass Modified Series (29 entries)
Fast Qualifier- Joey Kramer - 15.316 seconds
1st Heat- Joey Kramer, Benji Lee, John Harrell, Randy Fouts, Walt Mayabb, Charlie Jude, Clint Shutts, Mickey Sansom
2nd Heat- Kevin Copher, Corey McKenzie, Tim York, Dennis Roberson, Darren Muncy, Paul Jordan, Derek Powers
3rd Heat- Jimmy Payne, Brandon Johnson, Shon Flanary, Josh Lucas, Jason Hall, Kevin Mayabb, Troy Teegarden
4th Heat- Don Adams, Kelly Warren, Dustin Linville, J.J. Brock, Bobby Tackett, Duss Gabbert, Jeremy Hayes
B-Main #1- Dennis Roberson, Randy Fouts, Walt Mayabb, Derek Powers, Paul Jordan, Charlie Jude, Mickey Sansom
B-Main #2- Josh Lucas, Russ Gabbert, J.J. Brock, Jason Hall, Jeremy Hayes, Troy Teegarden, Kevin Mayabb, Bobby Tackett
A-Main- Don Adams, Corey McKenzie, Joey Kramer, Kevin Copher, Jimmy Payne, Kelly Warren, Dennis Roberson, Russ Gabbert, Shon Flanary, Josh Lucas, Dustin Linville, Randy Fouts, Darren Muncy, Walt Mayabb, Jason Hall, Troy Teegarden, Benji Lee, John Harrell, Brandon Johnson, Tim York, Mickey Sansom, J.J. Brock
Series Provisionals- Mickey Sansom, Troy Teegarden Track Provisional- Darren Muncy, Jason Hall
