7/4/2025
American Late Model Iron-Man Series
Derek Fisher Rallies from 16th to Win Battle of the Bluegrass Race at 191 Speedway
CAMPTON, KENTUCKY (July 4, 2025)—Derek Fisher only needed eleven laps to get to the front of the pack.
The 16th starting Olympia, Ky. driver marched his way through the field to collect his second Battle of the Bluegrass DIRTcar Series presented by Slicker Graphics event at 191 Speedway. Fisher collected $5,000 while driving the Mike Swartz-owned, Jay Dickens-powered Longhorn Chassis. The sponsors on the 39-year-old Fisher’s entry includes Swartz Construction & Tree Removal, Swartz Rentals & Swartz Farms.
By the looks of the starting lineup, Fisher had his work cut out for him, but the highside momentum from the # 38 car early on in the main event proved otherwise. Fisher rolled the highline of the race track showing it definitely had two grooves for passing. Fisher passed race leader and outside polesitter Colten Burdette coming to complete the 11th lap and never looked back. In the closing laps of the race as the leaders were approaching slower traffic, the groove had moved to the bottom of the speedway and Burdette had put his nose at the back bumper of Fisher’s car. Burdette was unable to get enough momentum to get around Fisher to retake the lead. Fisher crossed the line 0.730 seconds ahead of Burdette, Blake Creech, Rob Anderzack and Rusty Schlenk completing the top-five. Austin Lay of Walton, Ky., in his first 191 Speedway appearance finished sixth while Tyler Hayes finished seventh collecting the track’s $300 highest-finishing Crate 604 bonus.
Ten Deatherage Racing Opticians Caution Flags slowed the 40-lapper. On the opening lap, Garet McCloud spun to the infield, then a multi-car accident slowed the field yet again. On yet another try for the opening lap, Mason Means spun in turn one and then Allen Turner hit the turn four guardrail to slow the field again for a fourth try. The fifth yellow flag would wave on lap four as Turner would come to a stop at the top of turn four. On lap eight, polesitter Kirk Phillips would stop at the bottom of turn one. By this time, Fisher, who started 16th, would work his way on the highside to be fourth for the restart. The next caution would be on lap 22 as Joe Mayabb hit the infield tire on the backstretch ending his night. The lap-25 caution flag was for Allan Helton and Cody Hunley both spinning simultaneously in turn three. The lap-32 yellow was for Shannon Thornsberry who came to rest at the bottom of turn one and the final yellow came on lap-36 for debris in turns three and four.
The Battle of the Bluegrass DIRTcar Series will be back in action on August 1 at Hidden Hollow Speedway in Colson, Ky. paying $5,000-to-win then Saturday August 2 at 201 Speedway in Sitka, Ky. paying $5,000-to-win. Both events are triple-sanctioned with the Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series and the Ultimate Heart of America Super Late Model Series.
For more information on the Battle of the Bluegrass DIRTcar Series, call (828) 361-5981 or log on to www.IMDIRT.net.
The Battle of the Bluegrass DIRTcar Series (American Late Model Iron-Man Series) presented by Slicker Graphics is brought to the fans in the region by many important sponsors and partners: Official partners include, Valvoline Global Operations (Official Oil), VP Racing Fuels (Official Fuel), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), Jail Breaker Brands (Official Potato Chip), STAKT Products, DIRTcar Racing, XS Power Batteries, Todd Steel Buildings (Move of the Race Award), FloRacing (Rookie of the Year Award), DirtonDirt.com, MD3 (Hard Charger of the Race Award), Conley River Terminal (Hard Luck Award), Impact RaceGear, Allgaier Performance Parts, Allgaier Racing Shocks, Domination Race Cars (Official Victory Lane Sponsor), Swafford Signs (Official Graphics), MyRacePass (Official Website), Deatherage Racing Opticians (Middleman Award), Wayne’s Auto Repair, Slicker Graphics (Presenting Sponsor), First Line Industries, Jim & Nancy Viox, LUSESTYLE.com, Octane Custom Trailers, CNR & Dirt Empire Magazine.
Official Summary of Results
Battle of the Bluegrass DIRTcar Series presented by Slicker Graphics
191 Speedway-Campton, KY
Friday, July 4, 2025
- Derek Fisher-Olympia, Ky.
- Colten Burdette-Parkersburg, W. Va.
- Blake Creech-Richmond, Ind.
- Rob Anderzack-Swanton, Ohio
- Rusty Schlenk-McClure, Ohio
- Austin Lay-Walton, Ky.
- Tyler Hayes-Beatttyville, Ky.
- Carter Schlenk-McClure, Ohio
- Cody Hunley-West Liberty, Ky.
- Allan Helton-Campton, Ky.
- Shannon Thornsberry-Martin, Ky.
- Joe Mayabb-Campton, Ky.
- Lee McKenzie-West Liberty, Ky.
- Seth Daniels-Jackson, Ohio
- Kirk Phillips-Ashland, Ky.
- Kenny Howell-Inez, Ky.
- Garet McCloud-Stambaugh, Ky.
- Allen Turner-East Point, Ky.
- Mason Means-Winchester, Ky.
- Andrew Mayabb-Campton, Ky.
- Jesse Puckett-Irvine, Ky. (Did Not Start)
Time of Race: 31 minutes, 13 seconds
Margin of Victory: 0.730 seconds
Deatheridge Racing Opticians Yellow Flags: Ten (laps 0, 0, 0, 0, 4, 8, 22, 25, 32, 36)
Red Flags: None
Lap Leaders: Burdette (1-10), Fisher (11-40)
Entries: 21
Provisionals: None
Emergency Provisionals: None
VP Racing Fuels “Challenge the Clock” Time Trials Top Qualifier: Derek Fisher- 13.578 seconds
Five Star Race Bodies/MD3 Hard Charger Award ($100 product certificate): Derek Fisher (advanced 16 positions)
Deatherage Racing Opticians Middleman Award ($50 product certificate to the 11th place finisher): Shannon Thornsberry
Hoosier Racing Tire Heat Race One Finish: Kirk Phillips, Rob Anderzack, Garet McCloud, Allan Helton, Cody Hunley, Derek Fisher, Andrew Mayabb.
FloRacing Heat Race Two Finish: Colten Burdette, Blake Creech, Kenny Howell, Joe Mayabb, Allen Turner, Lee McKenzie, Mason Means.
Impact RaceGear Heat Race Three Finish: Rusty Schlenk, Austin Lay, Carter Schlenk, Tyler Hayes, Shannon Thornsberry, Seth Daniels (DNS), Jesse Puckett (DNS)
Current Battle of the Bluegrass DIRTcar Series by Slicker Graphics Points:
- Colten Burdette-215
- Derek Fisher-213
- Seth Daniels-131
- Shannon Thornsberry-122
- Blake Creech-119
- Rob Anderzack-104
- Rusty Schlenk-103
- Kenny Howell-95
- Andrew Mayabb-91
- Carter Schlenk-83