Ponderosa Speedway Has 16th Annual Pete Abell Memorial $2,000 to win May 20

Ponderosa Speedway
365 Phillips Lane
Junction City, Kentucky 40440

2011 Official Media Release #28 (For Immediate Distribution: May 15, 2011)
Contact- Michael Despain (mgdespain@windstream.net and/or dirttrackracing@hotmail.com)

Ponderosa Speedway Has 16th Annual Pete Abell Memorial $2,000 to win May 20

Junction City, KY- May 15, 2011- Ponderosa Speedway track promoters Donnie Sullivan and family will present the 16th Annual Pete Abell Memorial presented by Bennett’s Car Care and Performance this Friday evening May 20. The event will feature the Good Neighbor Pharmacy Super Late Models in a $2,000 to win event. Also in action will be the Ken Towery’s Auto Tires and Super Service Modifieds, racing for $500 to win.

The May 20 racing program will be highlighted by the 16th Annual Pete Abell Memorial presented by Bennett’s Car Care and Performance for the Good Neighbor Pharmacy Super Late Models, paying $2,000 to win and $200 to start the 40 lap A-Main event. Also in competition at “Kentucky’s Baddest Bullring” on Friday May 20 will be the Ken Towery’s Auto Tires and Super Service Modifieds, racing for $500 to win in a 25 lap A-Main event. Any Pro Late Models that want to come and race will be welcome and can race with the Super Late Models, while the D&D Pallet Recyclers Sportsman, Simple Sign and Decal Street Stocks, and SkyTower Power Race Engines Open Four Cylinders will not be in competition at this event, but racers in those divisions are welcome to bring their cars and get practice laps if they would like, with those drivers admitted free to practice their cars. Both the Super Late Model and Modified divisions will time trial, with both divisions receiving two laps of qualifying. Race fans can bring along their portable radio and headsets and listen to all the action as it is called on the track’s radio frequency of 105.9. Also, there will be spectator drag races after the conclusion of the race program if time permits.

For the Pete Abell Memorial event, the Good Neighbor Pharmacy Super Late Model division will have a $50 entry fee, while the Ken Towery’s Auto Tires and Super Service Modified division will have no entry fee. The payoff for the Good Neighbor Pharmacy Super Late Model Pete Abell Memorial event is as follows: 1st- $2,000, 2nd- $1,000, 3rd- $750, 4th- $500, 5th- $400, 6th- $300, 7th- $275, 8th- $250, 9th- $225, 10th on back- $200 to start (all drivers not transferring into the A-Main event will receive $50 tow money). The Quick Six Dash will return for the Super Late Model division and pay $100 to winner, with those six racers locked into the A-Main, starting the way they finish the dash. The payoff for the Ken Towery’s Auto Tires and Super Service Modified division will be as follows: 1st- $500, 2nd- $300, 3rd- $200, 4th- $150, 5th- $125, 6th- $100, 7th- $90, 8th- $80, 9th- $75, 10th- $70, 11th on back- $65 to start (all drivers not transferring into the A-Main will receive $25 tow money). The Modifieds will also have a Quick Six Dash that will pay $50 to win, with those six racers locked into the A-Main and starting the way they finish the dash.

The May 20 event will also be another fundraiser for Trell Whitis, the young son of track Sportsman racer Logan Whitis of Hustonville, KY to help raise some more money to help defray medical cost for treatment of young Trell’s rare medical condition.

Activities for the May 20 Pete Abell Memorial presented by Bennett’s Car Care and Performance 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., followed by practice for all divisions at 7:15 p.m. Time trials will begin at 7:45 p.m., with green flag racing action set to begin at 8:30 p.m. Ticket prices for the May 20 event in the general admission area will be $15 for adults, $5 for young adults ages 11-16, and free to children ages 10 and under. A pit pass will be $35.

The Pete Abell Memorial debuted on the Ponderosa Speedway in 1995 and Darrell Lanigan of Union, KY would claim the inaugural event win, while legendary chassis builder C.J. Rayburn of Whiteland, IN would score the 1996 win, while Lanigan returned to victory lane in the race in 1997. Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN would take the race victory in 1998, while Scott James of Lawrenceburg, IN would win the 1999 version of the race. Timmy Yeager of Harrodsburg, KY would visit victory lane in the 2000 version of the race, while Mike Jewell of Scottsburg, IN would lay claim to the race win in 2001. The race would not be held in 2002, but returned in 2003 and Johnny Wheeler of Campbellsville, KY would be the victor. Mother nature would win the race in 2004, while Steve Hillard of Sadorus, IL would take the checkered flag in 2005, followed by a triumph by Isom, KY native Chris Combs in 2006. Aaron Hatton of Mount Sterling, KY would hit paydirt in the 2007 race, while Victor Lee of Danville, KY took the top spot in 2008. Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN would take the 2009 event win, while Justin Rattliff of Campbellsville, KY would win the 2010 race and is the defending race champion. Lanigan has been the only repeat winner of the previous Pete Abell Memorial event.

Ponderosa Speedway last raced on May 13 and feature event winners included Victor Lee of Danville, KY in Good Neighbor Pharmacy Super Late Models, J.T. Ayers of New Haven, KY in Ken Towery’s Auto Tires and Super Service Modifieds, Dennis Cross of Wilmore, KY in D&D Pallet Recyclers Sportsman, and Austin Taylor of Harrodsburg, KY in SkyTower Power Race Engines Open Four Cylinders.

Ponderosa Speedway is located at 365 Phillips Lane on the Boyle/Lincoln County border, outside of Junction City, KY, just minutes from Danville, KY. Donnie Sullivan and family are the track promoters and will present dirt track sports entertainment on Friday evenings throughout the 2011 race season. For more information about racing activities at Ponderosa Speedway, visit the track’s webpage on the internet at www.ponderosaspeedway.net or phone the Sullivan family at (606) 669-4009 or (606) 365-0402. Partons can phone the track at (859) 854-6808 on raceday.

After discussions with drivers of the Ponderosa Speedway, several of the 2011 rules will be revised.

We will no longer require the winner of the feature to start from the tail of the next feature that they race in. The Drivers expressed displeasure over this rule citing that passing the slower traffic would cause an unnecessary safety problem and create unwanted damage to their cars. We put this rule in thinking that it would create an exciting racing program, to see a great driver coming from the back of the pack to win, but it was extremely unpopular with the drivers. We have reviewed this policy and agree with the drivers and have removed it from our rules.

The next concern was the practice of shuffling the top six drivers in the field by a spectator. Again, we thought that mixing the field of competitors would create an exciting show.
The drivers again felt that a slower vehicle in front of them would become a difficult obstacle to get around and create an unwanted safety hazard. We again agreed that the drivers had a valid concern and decided to eliminate this practice, too.

The third concern that created a concern for our drivers was the payout plan. For 2011, the Ponderosa Speedway payout structure was based on a formula that used the total number of paying spectators to improve the base payout of each weekly event. With the payout not being standard, drivers were cautious to commit to racing at this facility. Again, the rule was in place to benefit the driver by rewarding them for creating a great show and increasing the spectator attendance. Again, it was unpopular with the drivers. We are in the process of revising the standard nightly payout for each division, and will release it soon.
Also all cars participating will qualify two laps.
Beginning on June 24, 2011 the tire rule for the Super Late Model division will return to a hard tire on the rear and an open tire rule on the fronts. Rear tire for the Super Late Models will durometer at 58, same as it was in the beginning of the year.

www.ponderosaspeedway.net

Ponderosa Speedway
365 Phillips Lane
Junction City, 40440
“Kentucky's Baddest Bullring-Where The Action Is Always The Attraction!”
Media Information-16th Annual Pete Abell Memorial-May 20, 2011
2010 Pete Abell Memorial Winner-Justin Rattliff of Campbellsville, Kentucky
Ponderosa Speedway-“Kentucky’s Baddest Bullring!”


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)

2010- Justin Rattliff. Dustin Linville, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Mike Marlar, David Webb, Michael Chilton, Dustin Neat, Greg Johnson, Jeff Watson, Todd Coffman, Tim Tungate, Aaron Ridley, Mike Weeks, Ross White, Wesley Brummett, Mike Strunk, Ray Jarnigan, Brandon Hardgrove, D.J. Wells, Mark Walters, Skylar Marlar, Kenny Cobble


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.

-The Volunteer Racing Series would sanction the 2010 version of the Pete Abell Memorial and would produce another new winner of the event as Justin Rattliff of Campbellsville, KY would grab the race lead from Dustin Linville on lap 28 of the 40 affair to score the win and $3,000 prize money. Linville would take runner-up honors, followed by Eddie Carrier, Jr., Mike Marlar, and 14th place starter David Webb.

-The 2011 version of the Pete Abell Memorial event will go off as an unsanctioned event for the track’s Good Neighbor Pharmacy Super Late Model division, with $2,000 to win and $200 to start up for grabs in the 40 lap main event. The track’s Ken Towery’s Auto Tires and Super Service Modifed division will be the only other division in action for this event, racing for $500 to win.

Will the purse be as advertised ?? Just sayin'.....:cool:

it is what as advertised.

The payoff for the Good Neighbor Pharmacy Super Late Model Pete Abell Memorial event is as follows: 1st- $2,000, 2nd- $1,000, 3rd- $750, 4th- $500, 5th- $400, 6th- $300, 7th- $275, 8th- $250, 9th- $225, 10th on back- $200 to start (all drivers not transferring into the A-Main event will receive $50 tow money). The Quick Six Dash will return for the Super Late Model division and pay $100 to winner, with those six racers locked into the A-Main, starting the way they finish the dash. The payoff for the Ken Towery’s Auto Tires and Super Service Modified division will be as follows: 1st- $500, 2nd- $300, 3rd- $200, 4th- $150, 5th- $125, 6th- $100, 7th- $90, 8th- $80, 9th- $75, 10th- $70, 11th on back- $65 to start (all drivers not transferring into the A-Main will receive $25 tow money). The Modifieds will also have a Quick Six Dash that will pay $50 to win, with those six racers locked into the A-Main and starting the way they finish the dash.

Just a friendly reminder.

The time to race is almost here.