Birkhofer Claims LaSalle

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Birkhofer Rockets to Second Win of 2014 DIRTcar Summer Nationals Season at LaSalle Speedway

 

By Jordan Morris

 

LaSALLE, Ill. July 3, 2014 — Brian Birkhofer marched from his fourth starting position to overtake Wednesday night winner Jason Feger on lap 11 en route to his second victory of the season, claiming the $5,000 checkered flag Thursday night at LaSalle Speedway.

 

Feger, who started from the pole, slipped around Ryan Unzicker for the lead on the opening lap with Birkhofer, who started in the row right behind the leaders, falling back to fifth. Birkhofer managed to find grip on the inside line, which changed his race drastically as he rocketed back to the front of the field a few laps later.

 

Feger lead the opening 10 laps of the 40-lap feature, but he was no match for Birkhofer. Birkhofer quickly made his way to the front, and shot around the leader on lap 11. The leader quickly extended his advantage on the field as Feger faded back to fourth.

 

Birkhofer dominated the remaining 29 laps, only being challenged once on a late race restart by Unzicker, but he eventually pulled away from second place and secured his second DIRTcar Summer Nationals victory of the season at LaSalle Speedway.

 

“Right now I got a good feel for the car and I’m just confident in what it does,” said Birkhofer referring to his Rocket Chassis race car. “Any driver will tell you that they can do a lot with the car when they get that confidence level, and I kind of have that right now. It is racing, though, and it can turn in a heartbeat, so we’ll just keep taking it while it’s coming this way.

 

Bobby Pierce, Jason Feger, and Curtis Roberts rounded out the top five.

 

Heat race winners included Frank Heckenast Jr., Birkhofer, Feger and Unzicker.

 

The DIRTcar Summer Nationals continues on Thursday night as they join the DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals at Fayette County Speedway in Brownstown, Ill.

 

DIRTcar Summer Nationals Statistical Report; LaSalle Speedway; LaSalle, Ill.; July 3, 2014;

A-Main (40-laps): 1. 15B-Brian Birkhofer ($5,000), 2. 24-Ryan Unzicker, 3. 32-Bobby Pierce, 4. 25-Jason Feger, 5. 9R-Curtis Roberts, 6. 99JR-Frank Heckenast Jr, 7. B5-Brandon Sheppard, 8. 21JR-Billy Moyer Jr, 9. 10S-Scott Schmitt, 10. 0-Randy Korte, 11. 18-Shannon Babb, 12. 83-Scott Bull, 13. 96-Tanner English, 14. 81-Brian Shirley, 15. 81JR-Jason Riggs, 16. 32J-Jason Jaggers, 17. 1M-Jim Moon, 18. 782-Mark Larson, 19. 7T-Steve Thorsten, 20. 12B-Kevin Weaver, 21. 21B-Rich Bell, 22. 32S-Chris Simpson, 23. 89-Mike Spatola.

 

2014 DIRTcar Summer Nationals Schedule

Date

Day

Track

Location

Win

June 11

Wed

Brownstown Speedway

Brownstown, Ind.

RAIN

June 12

Thur

Kankakee Co. Speedway

Kankakee, Ill.

Billy Moyer

June 13

Fri

Cedar Lake Speedway

Somerset, Wis.

Rick Eckert

June 14

Sat

Cedar Lake Speedway

Somerset, Wis.

RAIN

June 15

Sun

Wilmot Raceway

Wilmot, Wis.

Rick Eckert(2)

June 16

Mon

Off

   

June 17

Tue

Farley Speedway

Farley, Iowa

Shannon Babb

June 18

Wed

Spoon River Speedway

Canton, Ill.

Jason Feger

June 19

Thur

Quincy Raceways

Quincy, Ill.

RAIN

June 20

Fri

Tri-City Speedway

Pontoon Beach, Ill.

Billy Moyer(2)

June 21

Sat

Fairbury Speedway

Fairbury, Ill.

RAIN

June 22

Sun

I-96 Speedway

Ionia, Mich.

Brian Shirley

June 23

Mon

Peoria Speedway

Peoria, Ill.

Brandon Sheppard

June 24

Tue

Off

   

June 25

Wed

Clarksville Speedway

Clarksville, Tenn.

Shannon Babb(2)

June 26

Thur

Clayhill Motorsports

Atwood, Tenn.

Brian Shirley(2)

June 27

Fri

Paducah Int. Raceway

Paducah, Ky.

RAIN

June 28

Sat

Federated Auto Parts Raceway

Pevely, Mo.

Brian Birkhofer

June 29

Sun

Lincoln Speedway

Lincoln, Ill.

Brady Smith

June 30

Mon

Off

   

July 1

Tue

Belle Clair Speedway

Belleville, Ill.

Bobby Pierce

July 2

Wed

Jacksonville Speedway

Jacksonville, Ill.

Jason Feger(2)

July 3

Thur

LaSalle Speedway

LaSalle, Ill.

Brian Birkhofer(2)

July 4

Fri

Fayette Co. Speedway

Brownstown, Ill.

$7,500

July 5

Sat

Highland Speedway

Highland, Ill.

$10,000

July 6

Sun

Tri-State Speedway

Haubstadt, Ind.

$5,000

July 7

Mon

Off

   

July 8

Tue

Florence Speedway

Union, Ky.

$5,000

July 9

Wed

Terre Haute Action Track

Terre Haute, Ind.

$5,000

July 10

Thur

Macon Speedway

Macon, Ill.

$5,000

July 11

Fri

Farmer City Raceway

Farmer City, Ill.

$10,000

July 12

Sat

34 Raceway

Burlington, Iowa

$10,000

July 13

Sun

Vermilion Co. Speedway

Danville, Ill.

$5,000

July 14

Mon

Off

   

July 15

Tue

TBA

   

July 16

Wed

Atomic Speedway

Chillicothe, Ohio

$5,000

July 17

Thur

Brushcreek Motorsports Complex

Peebles, Ohio

$5,000

July 18

Fri

Attica Raceway Park

Attica, Ohio

$5,000

July 19

Sat

Oakshade Raceway

Wauseon, Ohio

$10,000

 

The DIRTcar Summer Nationals “Hell Tour” is brought to fans across the country by many important partners including: Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), Racing Electronics (Official Communication), Velocita (Official Uniform), VP Racing Fuel (Official Racing Fuel); in addition to these fine Contingency Partners: Beyea Headers, Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Dominator Race Products, Edelbrock, Fox Shocks, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, Mobil 1, MSD, Quartermaster, Superflow Dynos, Summit Racing Equipment and Wrisco Aluminum; Promotional Partners include: Chevy Performance Parts, Indiana Decal, Intercomp and Petroff Towing.