FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23, 2010

Pete Abell Memorial Fast Facts and Tidbits

-The Pete Abell Memorial first appeared on the Ponderosa Speedway in 1995 as a tribute to longtime Central Kentucky racer Pete Abell, who lost his life in an automobile accident on a Friday evening on his way home after racing earlier that evening at Ponderosa Speedway and Darrell Lanigan of Union, KY would be the winner of the inaugural running of the Pete Abell Memorial by taking the checkered flag first ahead of Josh Tarter, Mike Jewell, Dale Atwood, and Finn Watson.

-In 1996, legendary chassis builder Carl Jerome (C.J.) Rayburn of Whiteland, IN would put his name on the winner’s check of the 2nd Annual Pete Abell Memorial.  The win for Rayburn would be even sweeter as it came at the track just about 30 miles from Rayburn spent his childhood in Middleburg, KY.

-Darrell Lanigan would repeat in the 3rd Annual Pete Abell Memorial event in 1997 as he would outdistance Bobby Carrier, Jr., Jim Robinson, Randy Boggs, and Johnny Wheeler to the checkered flag.  Lanigan remains the only repeat winner of the Pete Abell Memorial event in its 10 year history.

-The 1998 Pete Abell Memorial event would see “The Real Deal” Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN grab the Pete Abell Memorial checkered flag ahead of two-time previous winner Darrell Lanigan, with Mike Jewell, Troy Green, and Terry English completing the top five.  

-The Northern All Stars Late Model Series would sanction the 1999 Pete Abell and “The Silver Shark” Scott James of Lawrenceburg, IN would claim the first of a NALMS weekend sweep by claiming the 5th Pete Abell Memorial win.  Darrell Lanigan would again turn in a runner-up performance for the second consecutive year, while Mike Jewell, Steve Barnett, and Audie McWilliams rounded out the top five.

-“The Chosen One” Timmy Yeager of Harrodsburg, KY would drive the Danny and Diane Preston owned Double D Motorsports Rayburn Race Cars entry to an extremely popular win in the 6th Pete Abell Memorial win in 2000, with Jeff Gullett turning the wrenches on the winning mount.

-The “Scottsburg Express” Mike Jewell of Scottsburg, IN would claim the 7th Annual Pete Abell Memorial in 2001 in his MasterSbilt Race Cars entry in an event that would also prove to be a popular victory with the race fans in attendance that evening.

-The Pete Abell Memorial event would not be held in 2002 as then track promoter James King closed the gates at “The Pond” about midway through the 2002 season.

-The event returned to the Ponderosa Speedway schedule in 2003 with the O’Reilly STARS Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series sanctioning the race and Johnny Wheeler of Campbellsville, KY would continue a 2003 hotstreak at “The Pond” as “The Wheel Man” scored the race win ahead of Mike Marlar, Whitney McQueary, Aaron Hatton, and Darrell Lanigan.

-The 2004 Pete Abell Memorial race was rained out and not rescheduled.

-The Northern All Stars Late Model Racing Series returned to the Ponderosa Speedway in 2005 for the 10th Annual Pete Abell Memorial that saw the “Sadorus Sensation” Steve Hillard of Sadorus, Illinois claim the $3,500 payday ahead of the brother tandem of Dustin Neat and Brad Neat, who were followed to the checkered flag by Victor Lee and Mike Jewell.  On a side note, 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series champion Tony Stewart of Columbus, IN would compete in the event on an off weekend from Nextel Cup competition and score a 9th place finish in the race.

-Chris Combs of Isom, KY would etch his name in the record books as the 2006 Pete Abell Memorial winner in the Northern All Stars Late Model Series sanctioned event that saw Combs outrun Mike Marlar, Mike Jewell, Tim Tungate, and Timmy Yeager to the checkered flag for a $3,500 payday.

-Aaron Hatton of Mount Sterling, KY would continue his 2007 hot streak at “Kentucky’s Baddest Bullring” by visiting victory lane in the 2007 Pete Abell Memorial race.  Finishing second through fifth behind the eventual 2007 Good Neighbor Pharmacy Super Late Model track champion would be Jerry Rice, David Webb, Chris Combs, and Victor Lee.

-Victor Lee of Stanford, KY would keep his roll of O’Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series victories at Ponderosa Speedway in check as the “Lincoln Leadfoot” would follow up his “Junebug” win with a win in the Pete Abell Memorial after lapping up to the 11th place finisher in just 40 laps.  The remainder of the top five finishers were Mike Marlar, Dustin Linville, Jason Keltner, and Chris Combs.

-Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN would etch his name in the record books as the 2009 Pete Abell Memorial winner and become a first time winner of this event.  Marlar’s victory would come in a hotly contested affair over David Webb, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Mike Jewell, and Justin Rattliff.

Pete Abell Memorial History

1995- Darrell Lanigan, Josh Tarter, Mike Jewell, Dale Atwood, Finn Watson, David Dixon, Royce McGowan, Doug Cox, Randy Boggs, Bobby Cordier, Terry Wilson, Jeff Walls, Larry Wicker, Sammy Sturgill, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Johnny Wheeler, Timmy Yeager, Paul Feistritzer, Charlie Miller, Jr., Tim Taylor

1996- C.J. Rayburn, Paul Feistritzer, Jack Boggs, Johnny Wheeler, Mike Jewell, Steve Smith, Finn Watson, Royce McGowan, Josh Tarter, Steve Barnett, Don O’Neal, Jerry Gentry, Sammy Sturgill, Eddie Hasty, Larry Wicker, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Darrell Lanigan, Dan Sturgeon, Tom Curtsinger

1997- Darrell Lanigan, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Jim Robinson, Randy Boggs, Johnny Wheeler, Steve Casebolt, Jr., Mike Jewell, Timmy Yeager, Delane Browning, Dustin Neat, Daryl Rucker, Jeff Johnson, Josh Tarter, Eddie Hasty, Larry Wicker, Win Smith, Frankie Coomer, Jeff Walls, Tim Tungate, Finn Watson

1998- Don O’Neal, Darrell Lanigan, Mike Jewell, Troy Green, Terry English, Timmy Yeager, Steve Barnett, Audie McWilliams, Delane Browning, Marty O’Neal, Larry Wicker, Dan Sturgeon, Matt Boknecht, Brad Neat, Paul Davis, Mike Hawley, Jesse Lay, Jeff Walls, C.J. Rayburn, Bobby Carrier, Jr.

1999- Scott James, Darrell Lanigan, Mike Jewell, Steve Barnett, Audie McWilliams, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Mike Hawley, Ernie Barrow, Joey Daniel, Delane Browning, John Tyler, Brad Neat, Johnny Wheeler, Shawn Negangard, Dustin Neat, Brian Asbury, Richard Smith, Dion Deason, Terry Eaglin, Doug Ault

2000- Timmy Yeager (full feature rundown not available)

2001- Mike Jewell (full feature rundown not available)

2002- Event Not Held

2003- Johnny Wheeler, Mike Marlar, Whitney McQueary, Aaron Hatton, Darrell Lanigan, Timmy Yeager, Victor Lee, Michael Chilton, Jesse Lay, Ed Behn, Bobby Wolter, Jr., Dustin Neat, Mike Jewell, Brad Neat, Steve Cornelius, Jason Setser, Scott James, Joey Daniel, John Blankenship, Billy Jones, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Tyrel Todd

2004- Event Rained Out

2005- Steve Hillard, Dustin Neat, Brad Neat, Victor Lee, Mike Jewell, Bryan Barber, Steve Barnett, John Gill, Tony Stewart, Aaron Hatton, Tyrel Todd, Johnny Wheeler, Michael Chilton, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Benji Lee, Chris Combs, Gary Yeager, Mike Mataragas, Jarryd Holshouser, Timmy Yeager, Michael England, Tim Tungate

2006- Chris Combs, Mike Marlar, Mike Jewell, Tim Tungate, Timmy Yeager, Jeff Watson, Brad Neat, Jordan Bland, Ben Adkins, Doug Smith, Bobby Wolter, Jr., Kirby Damery, Anthony Adams, Anthony Ferguson, Donald Rayborn, Justin Rattliff, Richard Smith, Arnie Fields, Dustin Neat, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Chase McWhorter, Victor Lee

2007- Aaron Hatton, Jerry Rice, David Webb, Chris Combs, Victor Lee, Dustin Neat, Mike Jewell, Jason Keltner, Jesse Lay, Tommy Carlton, Donald Rayborn, Doug Smith, Jerry Rutherford, Tyrel Todd, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Johnny Wheeler, Michael Chilton, Whitney McQueary, Tim Tungate, Jackie Boggs, Bryan Barber, Buzz Williams

2008- Victor Lee, Mike Marlar, Dustin Linville, Jason Keltner, Chris Combs, Tim Tungate, Michael Chilton, Tyrel Todd, Michael England, Jeff Watson, Eric Wells, Royce McGowan, Larry Gray, Zach Carney, Arnie Fields, Ricky Arms, Doug Smith, Jesse Lay, April Farmer, Duke Whiseant, David Webb, Johnny Wheeler, Jake Henry (DNS-Aaron Hatton)

2009- Mike Marlar, David Webb, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Mike Jewell, Justin Rattliff, Jason Keltner, Whitney McQueary, Michael Chilton, Victor Lee, Bobby Wolter, Jr., Larry Gray, Jr., Aaron Hatton, Jamie Ferguson, Brandon Fouts, Tyrel Todd, Johnny Wheeler, Buzz Williams, D.J. Wells, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Dustin Neat, Eric Wells, Jason Hinkle, Jimmy Crabtree (DQ)

Quick Track Facts

Name:  Ponderosa Speedway
Location:  Junction City, Kentucky
Promoter:  Larry, Chad, and Sarah Yantz
Nickname:  “The Pond”
Motto:  “Kentucky’s Baddest Bullring-Where The Action Is Always The Attraction”
Website:  www.ponderosaspeedway.net
Seating Capacity:  2,500
Tower Area Includes:  Race Control, Press Box, and Public Address Area
Racing Surface:  Clay
Lap Distance:  1,780 feet or 3/8 of a mile
First Event:  September 1972
Super Late Model Track Record: Victor Lee 12.744 (4-5-08)