Ponderosa Speedway "Junebug" Rowland Memorial Facts, History, and Preview

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Ponderosa Speedway
Media Information
14th Annual Hugh “Junebug” Rowland Memorial
July 18, 2014

2012 Hugh “Junebug” Rowland Memorial Winner
Dustin Neat of Dunnville, Kentucky

Ponderosa Speedway-“Kentucky’s Baddest Bullring!”
Quick Track Facts

Name: Ponderosa Speedway

Location: Junction City, Kentucky

Promoter: Jerry Denson

Nickname: “Kentucky’s Baddest Bullring”

Website: www.ponderosaspeedway.net

Twitter: @MichaelDespain

Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/131180253585931/

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)


Hugh “Junebug” Rowland Memorial History
1999- Don O’Neal, Delane Browning, Josh Tarter, Mike Jewell, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Dale Atwood, Greg Johnson, Audie McWilliams, Mike Hawley, Brad Neat, Richard Smith, Doug Smith, Terry Wilson, Johnny Wheeler, C.J. Rayburn, Finn Watson, Junior Smith, Larry Foxx

2000- Jay Mobley, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Jeff Coulter, Timmy Yeager, Brad Neat, Jason Hinkle, Matthew Cottongim, Jerry Denson, Rod Carter, Jr., Mike Jewell (Top Ten)

2001- Dustin Neat, Timmy Yeager, Mike Hawley, Brad Neat, Steve Cornelius, Jeff Coulter, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Dwight Embree, Billy Jones, Doug Smith (Top Ten)

2002- Event Not Held

2003- Mike Marlar, Scott James, Mike Jewell, Darrell Lanigan, Jesse Lay, Steve Barnett, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Eddie Carrier, Jr., Duayne Hommel, Steve Casebolt, Jr., Timmy Yeager, Aaron Hatton, Steve Cornelius, Tyrel Todd, Michael Chilton, Bobby Wolter, Jr., John Blankenship, Victor Lee, Duane Chamberlain, Jason Setser, Dustin Neat

2004- Mike Marlar, Johnny Wheeler, Shannon Thornsberry, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Anthony Ferguson, Billy Jones, Steven Ashby, Bobby Wolter, Jr., David Webb, Shawn Martin, Michael Chilton, Chris Cummings, Jason Hinkle, Matthew Cottongim, D.J. Wells, Victor Lee

2005- Bryan Barber, Steve Hillard, Mike Marlar, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Wayne Chinn, Whitney McQueary, Frankie Coomer, Chris Combs, Aaron Hatton, Johnny Wheeler, Mike Jewell, John Gill, Bobby Wolter, Jr., Brad Neat, Tyrel Todd, Tim Tungate, Chuckie May, Michael England, Shannon Thornsberry, Blake Chinn, Benji Lee, Bobby Carrier, Jr.

2006- Joey Daniel, Chris Combs, Justin Rattliff, Aaron Hatton, Tim Tungate, Mike Jewell, Michael Chilton, Brad Neat, Marty O’Neal, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Dan Deaton, Shannon Thornsberry, Wayne Chinn, Dustin Neat, Bryan Barber, Blake Chinn, Aaron Jenkins, Jason Hinkle, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Brent Londeree, Bobby Wolter, Jr.

2007- Brad Neat, Mike Marlar, Victor Lee, David Webb, Jason Keltner, Johnny Wheeler, Tyrel Todd, Donald Rayborn, Tim Tungate, Jerry Rice, Mike Jewell, Jesse Lay, Michael Chilton, Josh McGuire, Bobby Wolter, Jr., Aaron Hatton, Buzz Williams, Tommy Carlton, Justin Rattliff, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Damon Eller, Doug Smith, Dustin Neat, Bryan Barber

2008- Victor Lee, Tyrel Todd, Mike Marlar, Jeff Watson, Brad Neat, Don O’Neal, Dustin Linville, Mike Jewell, David Webb, Bobby Wolter, Jr., Zach Carney, Dustin Neat, Royce McGowan, Larry Gray, Arnie Fields, Aaron Hatton, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Joey Daniel, Chris Combs, Michael Chilton, Damon Eller, Eric Wells, Rocky Hodges, Tim Tungate

2009- Victor Lee, Justin Rattliff, Brad Neat, Eric Wells, Dustin Neat, Michael Chilton, Aaron Hatton, David Webb, Buzz Williams, Chris Combs, Greg Johnson, Dustin Linville, Jimmy Crabtree, Bobby Wolter, Jr., Brandon Fouts, Larry Gray, Jr., Jeff Watson, Scott James, John Gill, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Tyrel Todd, Tim Tungate

2010- Mike Marlar, Dustin Neat, Victor Lee, Brad Neat, Eric Wells, Tim Tungate, Aaron Ridley, Justin Rattliff, Skylar Marlar, Randy Weaver, David Webb, Whitney McQueary, Derek Fisher, Christian Rayburn, Dale Dillon, Aaron Hatton, Dustin Linville, Bobby Wolter, Jr., Ernie Cordier, Steve Smith, Michael Chilton, Jeff Watson, Arnie Fields

2011- Dustin Linville, Greg Johnson, Johnny Wheeler, Victor Lee, David Webb, Brandon Hardgrove, Stephen Breeding, Jarrod Breeding, Todd Coffman, Chase McWhorter, Wesley Brummett, Peydon Pelphrey, Joey Daniel, Michael Chilton, Justin Rattliff, Bobby Carrier, Jr., Skylar Marlar, Jason Hinkle, Josh McGuire

2012- Dustin Neat, Dustin Linville, Michael Chilton, Todd Coffman, Johnny Wheeler, Kevin Colston, Tommy Carlton, Wesley Brummett, Jeff Watson, Clarence Belcher

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Hugh “Junebug” Rowland Memorial Fast Facts and Tidbits
-This event first appeared on the Ponderosa Speedway racing schedule back in 1999 under then track promoter James King as a tribute to the late Mr. Rowland, who sold racing parts and was very instrumental in several drivers racing careers around the Central Kentucky area.

-The inaugural “Junebug” Memorial was contested in 1999 and saw “The Real Deal” Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN win the event over Delane Browning, Josh Tarter, Mike Jewell, and Bobby Carrier, Jr. O’Neal would find a low line around the D-shaped oval to his liking and drive away for the win.

-In 2000, Jay Mobley of Harrodsburg, KY scored what was the biggest Late Model win of his career at the time when he drove the Yantz Motorsports Rayburn chassis entry to the “Junebug” Memorial win. Mobley held off Bobby Carrier, Jr. in the late stages of the race for the win, with that duo followed by Jeff Coulter, Timmy Yeager, and Brad Neat at the drop of the checkered flag.

-Dustin Neat of Dunnville, KY would scored the biggest win of his career up to that point when he hit paydirt in the 2001 “Junebug” Memorial race behind the wheel of his father Greg Neat’s owned entry. Neat would outhustle Timmy Yeager to the checkered flag for the win, followed by Mike Hawley, Brad Neat, and Steve Cornelius

-The event was not held in 2002 as promoter James King would close the gates of the Ponderosa Speedway about midway through that 2002 race season.

-The “Junebug” Memorial would return to the Ponderosa Speedway schedule in late 2003 after Jerry Denson took the promotional reigns at “The Pond” after the untimely death of then promoter John Bradshaw. Second-generation driver Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN was the winner of the 2003 race by driving to the checkered flag first ahead of Scott James, Mike Jewell, Darrell Lanigan, and Jesse Lay.

-The 2004 race was scheduled to be sanctioned by the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series event, but the sanction was pulled from the race after track officials informed series officials that they may not be able to pay the full purse for the race. The event was ran as a $1,500 to win non-sanctioned race and saw Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN follow-up his 2003 win by claiming his second straight “Junebug” win over Johnny Wheeler, Shannon Thornsberry, Bobby Carrier, Jr., and Anthony Ferguson.

-Bryan Barber of Greensburg, KY would claim the biggest win of his career by claiming the O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series sanctioned 6th Annual “Junebug” Memorial race in 2005. The third-generation racer would hold off Steve Hillard for the win, as a large last lap crash in turn four coming to the checkered flag would shuffle the final running order drastically, with third through fifth being credited to Mike Marlar, Eddie Carrier, Jr., and Wayne Chinn.

-Joey Daniel would pick up his first-ever O’Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series victory by winning the 2006 “Junebug” event over Chris Combs, Justin Rattliff, Aaron Hatton, and Tim Tungate. The race was a special Saturday night event that was the track’s first Saturday night special event in over five and one-half years that was contested on a very cool and damp evening.

-Brad Neat of Dunnville, KY would take his first “BoB Late Model” victory of 2007 and become the seventh different winner of the “Junebug” as the likable Casey County native was enjoying an off evening from action with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series to pick up the win at the track where he first competed at back in the mid 90’s in the Pure Street and Bomber divisions. Neat’s win would come over the likes of Mike Marlar, Victor Lee, David Webb, and Jason Keltner. Brad and older brother Dustin are now both winners of this race, as Dustin won the event back in 2001.

-Victor Lee of Stanford, KY would become the 6th different winner of the “Junebug” and become the first driver to win three straight Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series events in the history of the series. Lee would win the 2008 edition of the “Junebug” event over Tyrel Todd, ’03 and ’04 race winner Mike Marlar, Jeff Watson, and defending “Junebug” champion Brad Neat.

-In 2009, it would be again be the “Lincoln Leadfoot” Victor Lee of Stanford, KY winning his second straight “Junebug” event after holding off the charges of Justin Rattliff and Brad Neat after a late race caution with nine laps remaining. Rattliff would finish second, with Brad Neat third, while Eric Wells and Dustin Neat would complete the top five.

-The 2010 edition of the “Junebug” race carried sanctioning by the National All Star Racing Association and 35 entries would be in attendance and Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN would become the first three-time champion of the race. The “Winfield Warrior” would win the race over a hard-charging Dustin Neat, Victor Lee, Brad Neat, and Eric Wells.

-The 2011 version of the “Junebug” race would be unsanctioned, but produced some very good racing action. Justin Rattliff would lead the first 16 laps before his mount was struck with mechanical problems. Dustin Linville would take over the lead at this point and hold off Greg Johnson to take a $2,500 payday and first win in this event. Johnny Wheeler would take third, with Victor Lee nipping David Webb for the fourth spot.

-The 2012 edition of the “Junebug” would be a Saturday night affair and Dustin Neat of Dunnville, KY would become the third multi-time winner of the race as he would dominate the $1,500 to win event and would see the checkered flag first ahead of Dustin Linville, Michael Chilton, Todd Coffman, and Johnny Wheeler.

-A total of 104 different drivers have made the A-Main in the previous thirteen “Junebug” events. A pair of drivers, Clarence Belcher of Junction City, KY and Kevin Colston of Frankfort, KY, would add their names to the list of drivers that have made a start in the event.

-There have been twelve drivers that have started the “Junebug” event at least six times. Bobby Carrier, Jr. of Harrodsburg, KY has started more times in the race than anyone with 11 starts. Michael Chilton of Salvisa, KY and Brad Neat of Dunnville, KY have nine starts in the race, while Dustin Neat of Dunnville, KY and Bobby Wolter, Jr. of Lexington, KY have eight starts in the event. A trio of racers have seven starts in the race and they include Aaron Hatton of Mount Sterling, KY, Mike Jewell of Scottsburg, IN, and Victor Lee of Danville, KY, while there is a quartet of drivers scoring six starts in the race, including Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN, Tim Tungate of Campbellsville, KY, David Webb of Nicholasville, KY, and Johnny Wheeler of Campbellsville, KY.

-After being absent from the schedule in 2013, the Hugh “Junebug” Rowland Memorial returns to the Ponderosa Speedway 2014 schedule on Friday July 18. The Super Late Model division will race for $2,500 to win, Modifieds will race for $1,500 to win, Pro Late Models will race for $600 to win, and Sportsman will race for $600 to win; PLUS: Make-up features for the Modifieds ($700 to win) and Sportsman ($300 to win) that were rained out on June 27.

-Activities for the 14th Annual Hugh “Junebug” Rowland Memorial event will see the pit area and general admission area open at 4:00 p.m. The drivers meeting will be at 7:00 p.m., with practice laps set to begin at 7:20 p.m. Time trials will begin around 7:45 p.m., with racing at 8:30 p.m. All times listed are Eastern time. Adult general admission for this event will be $20, while all children ages 12 and under will be FREE (with a paid adult) and a pit pass will be $35.

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Ponderosa Speedway 14th Annual Hugh “Junebug” Rowland Memorial A-Main Event Payouts:
Super Late Models (35 laps): 1st- $2,500, 2nd- $1,000, 3rd- $600, 4th- $400, 5th- $350, 6th- $300, 7th- $275, 8th- $250, 9th- $225, 10th through 18th- $200 to start
Modifieds (25 laps): 1st- $1,500, 2nd- $700, 3rd- $350, 4th- $250, 5th- $225, 6th- $200, 7th- $190, 8th- $175, 9th- $160, 10th through 18th- $150 to start..
Pro Late Models (20 laps): 1st- $600, 2nd- $300, 3rd- $250, 4th- $200, 5th- $150, 6th- $125, 7th through 18th- $100 to start (if there are 18 or more entries, the division will pay $1,000 to win).
Sportsman (20 laps): 1st- $600, 2nd- $300, 3rd- $200, 4th- $150, 5th- $125, 6th- $100, 7th- $95, 8th- $90, 9th- $85, 10th through 18th- $75 to start.

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Have a great weekend! See everyone on Friday July 18!

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Friday July 18! Be There!