http://www.battleofthebluegrass.com/2004champ.html
LEXINGTON, KY--The North American Racing Association (NARA) DirtCar Series became a reality in 2004 as the country's newest sanctioning body and introduced Dirt Late Model racing to ESPN2 and sanctioned some of the nation's biggest events.
When the season was all said and done, Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, IL is the very first NARA DirtCar Series champion taking the points title. Babb was the dominate force on the series this year winning three of the eight races ran including two that were taped for broadcast on ESPN2 (Bluegrass and Dixie).
Babb's wins came at Bluegrass Speedway in Bardstown, KY, the "Kentucky Klassic" at Barren County Speedway in Glasgow, KY and the Real Power Rumble, the night two portion of the "Dixie Shootout" at Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, GA. Babb's lucrative take from just those three wins alone was $37,000. Babb drove a C.J. Rayburn Chassis owned by Arkansas Motors with sponsorship from Jay Dickens Racing Engines, Car City, J&J Steel, Watters Auto Land, Platinum Motors and RV, Hoosier Racing Tires, Performance Rod and Custom, Rapture Racing Carburetors and Wicks Racing Products. The 30 year old Babb would outdistance R.J. Conley of Wheelersburg, OH, who finished in the final points standings.
There was a tie for third in the final point’s standings with John Gill of Mitchell, IN and Hall of Famer, Freddy Smith of Seymour, TN tying for third place. Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN was fifth in the final rundown.
The rest of the top ten in the NARA DirtCar Series standings were Greg Johnson, Brad Neat, Donnie Moran, Don O'Neal and Earl Pearson, Jr.
The first season of NARA racing saw the series average 64 cars with Babb leading the way with three victories. Scott Bloomquist, Mike Jewell, Mike Marlar, Eddie Carrier, Jr and Rick Eckert would enter victory circle in NARA DirtCar Series competition in 2004. The wins by Jewell in the "Hoosier Dirt Classic" at Brownstown (IN) Speedway, Marlar in the "Hillbilly 100" at Tyler County (WV) Speedway and Carrier, Jr. at KC (OH) Raceway were all career high wins for those drivers.
NARA also brought dirt track racing back to ESPN2 in 2004. There were four events taped for broadcast that will be shown in 87 and half million homes. Florence Speedway in Union, KY, Bluegrass Speedway in Bardstown, KY, K-C Raceway in Chillicothe, OH and the Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, GA were the race tracks where the cameras of ESPN2 caught the exciting NARA action this season.
The NARA DirtCar Series would like to thank those promoters that hosted events in 2004 including the King Family at Florence (KY) Speedway, the Jackson County Fairboard at the Brownstown (IN) Speedway, David and Anita Ferrell from Bluegrass (KY) Speedway, Spencer Wilson and Tony Rose of Barren County (KY) Speedway, BDS Promotions at Tyler County (WV) Speedway, Jim Nier and Family from K-C Raceway in Chillicothe, OH, and the Swims Family from Dixie (GA) Speedway.
Sponsors who contributed to the first season of NARA are appreciated with special thanks going to Lucas Oil Products, O'Reilly Auto Parts, Arizona Sport Shirts, Crown Spray Power, Real Power, American Racer Tires, Hoosier Racing Tires, Citgo, C.J. Rayburn Race Cars, Dart Machinery, DJ Designs, PPM Racing Products, Real Racing Wheels, Renegade Race Fuels, Trailer Parts and Sales, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply and Weld Racing.
LEXINGTON, KY--The North American Racing Association (NARA) DirtCar Series became a reality in 2004 as the country's newest sanctioning body and introduced Dirt Late Model racing to ESPN2 and sanctioned some of the nation's biggest events.
When the season was all said and done, Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, IL is the very first NARA DirtCar Series champion taking the points title. Babb was the dominate force on the series this year winning three of the eight races ran including two that were taped for broadcast on ESPN2 (Bluegrass and Dixie).
Babb's wins came at Bluegrass Speedway in Bardstown, KY, the "Kentucky Klassic" at Barren County Speedway in Glasgow, KY and the Real Power Rumble, the night two portion of the "Dixie Shootout" at Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, GA. Babb's lucrative take from just those three wins alone was $37,000. Babb drove a C.J. Rayburn Chassis owned by Arkansas Motors with sponsorship from Jay Dickens Racing Engines, Car City, J&J Steel, Watters Auto Land, Platinum Motors and RV, Hoosier Racing Tires, Performance Rod and Custom, Rapture Racing Carburetors and Wicks Racing Products. The 30 year old Babb would outdistance R.J. Conley of Wheelersburg, OH, who finished in the final points standings.
There was a tie for third in the final point’s standings with John Gill of Mitchell, IN and Hall of Famer, Freddy Smith of Seymour, TN tying for third place. Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN was fifth in the final rundown.
The rest of the top ten in the NARA DirtCar Series standings were Greg Johnson, Brad Neat, Donnie Moran, Don O'Neal and Earl Pearson, Jr.
The first season of NARA racing saw the series average 64 cars with Babb leading the way with three victories. Scott Bloomquist, Mike Jewell, Mike Marlar, Eddie Carrier, Jr and Rick Eckert would enter victory circle in NARA DirtCar Series competition in 2004. The wins by Jewell in the "Hoosier Dirt Classic" at Brownstown (IN) Speedway, Marlar in the "Hillbilly 100" at Tyler County (WV) Speedway and Carrier, Jr. at KC (OH) Raceway were all career high wins for those drivers.
NARA also brought dirt track racing back to ESPN2 in 2004. There were four events taped for broadcast that will be shown in 87 and half million homes. Florence Speedway in Union, KY, Bluegrass Speedway in Bardstown, KY, K-C Raceway in Chillicothe, OH and the Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, GA were the race tracks where the cameras of ESPN2 caught the exciting NARA action this season.
The NARA DirtCar Series would like to thank those promoters that hosted events in 2004 including the King Family at Florence (KY) Speedway, the Jackson County Fairboard at the Brownstown (IN) Speedway, David and Anita Ferrell from Bluegrass (KY) Speedway, Spencer Wilson and Tony Rose of Barren County (KY) Speedway, BDS Promotions at Tyler County (WV) Speedway, Jim Nier and Family from K-C Raceway in Chillicothe, OH, and the Swims Family from Dixie (GA) Speedway.
Sponsors who contributed to the first season of NARA are appreciated with special thanks going to Lucas Oil Products, O'Reilly Auto Parts, Arizona Sport Shirts, Crown Spray Power, Real Power, American Racer Tires, Hoosier Racing Tires, Citgo, C.J. Rayburn Race Cars, Dart Machinery, DJ Designs, PPM Racing Products, Real Racing Wheels, Renegade Race Fuels, Trailer Parts and Sales, Wayne Bowen Racing Supply and Weld Racing.