O’Neal Triumphs at Terre Haute

ONeal_TerreHaute_Dolack
Photo Credit: Chris Dolack

O’Neal Slides to Terre Haute Action Track DIRTcar Summer Nationals Victory

 

Terre Haute, Ind. – July 12, 2012 – Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., captured his first DIRTcar Summer Nationals win of 2012 Thursday night at the Terre Haute Action Track worth $5,000.

 

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O’Neal used a strong restart on lap 20 to tail leader Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., before making a lap 22 pass for the lead when Sheppard slipped over the cushion exiting turn two.

 

“Turns one and two were rough getting in and it was hard to hit your line every time,” analyzed O’Neal. “Right before the yellow flag we kind of got a run on him and I knew we had a shot there if we could stay out of the lapped cars.”

 

“We got the job done though, after the way we’ve struggled.  My guys have worked really hard and it’s paying off.”

 

Sheppard struggled to navigate the treacherous turn two cushion over the next few circuits eventually allowing current Hell Tour point leader Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., by.  Shirley settled for second behind O’Neal who distanced himself over the races final eight circuits.  Sheppard was third with Frank Heckenast Jr., of Frankfort, Ill., in fourth.  Defending DIRTcar Summer Nationals Champion Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., rounded out the top five.


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Shirley’s point lead was extended to 76 markers over Babb. The 2012 DIRTcar Summer Nationals Tour wraps up with a visit to Attica Raceway Park in Attica, Ohio on Friday night for a $5,000-to-win race followed by the finale at Oakshade Raceway in Wauseon, Ohio for the $10,000-to-win Birthday Race.

 

DIRTcar Summer Nationals Statistical Report; Terre Haute Action Track; Terre Haute, Ind.; July 12, 2012 A-Main (30-laps): 1. Don O’Neal ($5,000), 2. Brian Shirley, 3. Brandon Sheppard, 4. Frank Heckenast Jr., 5. Shannon Babb, 6. Bobby Pierce, 7. Ryan Unzicker, 8. Jason McBride, 9. Joe Janowski, 10. Tim Lance, 11. Duke Mounce, 12. Lee Thomason, 13. Rob Starkey, 14. Mike Spatola, 15. Jason Feger, 16. Shane Cottle, 17. Jerry Lierly, 18. Dennis Erb Jr., 19. Nick Bartels, 20. Russ Adams, 21. Marvin Burton, 22. Butch Kruckeberg. Fast qualifiers (among 22 cars): Pierce, Shirley, Erb. Heat race winners: Sheppard, Shirley, Erb.

 

2012 DIRTcar Summer Nationals Schedule

Date

Track

Location

Winner (Cars)

13-Jun

Brownstown Speedway

Brownstown, IN

Billy Moyer Jr. (49)

14-Jun

Kankakee County Speedway

Kankakee, IL

Shannon Babb(45)

15-Jun

Cedar Lake Speedway

Somerset, WI

Billy Moyer Jr. (37)

16-Jun

Cedar Lake Speedway

Somerset, WI

Billy Moyer Jr. (32)

17-Jun

Wilmot Raceway

Wilmot, WI

Ryan Unzicker (31)

19-Jun

Spoon River Speedway

Canton, IL

Jon Henry (38)

20-Jun

Highland Speedway

Highland, IL

Rodney Melvin (42)

21-Jun

Fayette Co. Speedway

Brownstown, IL

Brian Shirley (41)

22-Jun

Tri City Speedway

Pontoon Beach, IL

Billy Moyer (43)

23-Jun

Fairbury Speedway

Fairbury, IL

Brian Shirley (41)

24-Jun

I-96 Speedway

Lake Odessa, MI

Shannon Babb (36)

26-Jun

Lincoln Park Speedway

Putnamville, IN

Jason Feger (21)

27-Jun

Belle Clair Speedway

Belleville, IL

Jason Feger (34)

28-Jun

Clay Hill Motorsports Park

Atwood, TN

Brandon Sheppard (28)

29-Jun

Paducah Int. Raceway

Paducah, KY

Brian Birkhofer (35)

30-Jun

Federated Auto Parts I-55

Pevely, MO

Billy Moyer (34)

1-Jul

Lincoln Speedway

Lincoln, IL

Canceled (Heat)

2-Jul

Peoria Speedway

Peoria, IL

Brian Shirley (41)

3-Jul

Jacksonville Speedway

Jacksonville, IL

Jason Feger (40)

4-Jul

Lasalle Speedway

Lasalle, IL

Brian Birkhofer (36)

5-Jul

Macon Speedway

Macon, IL

Brian Shirley (38)

6-Jul

Quincy Raceways

Quincy, IL

Brian Shirley (31)

7-Jul

Clarksville Speedway

Clarksville, TN

Dennis Erb Jr. (32)

8-Jul

Tri State Speedway

Haubstadt, IN

Scott Weber (28)

10-Jul

Florence Speedway

Union, KY

Shannon Babb (44)

11-Jul

Brushcreek Motorsports

Pebbles, OH

Eddie Carrier Jr. (32)

12-Jul

Terre Haute Action Track

Terre Haute, IN

Don O’Neal (22)

13-Jul

Attica Raceway Park

Attica, OH

14-Jul

Oakshade Raceway

Wauseon, OH

The DIRTcar Summer Nationals (The Hell Tour) is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), Racing Electonics (Official Communication), Vicci (Official Uniform), VP Racing Fuel (Official Racing Fuel); in addition to these fine contingency sponsors: Beyea Headers, Butlerbuilt, Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Dominator Race Products, Chevy Performance Parts, Intercomp, JE Pistons, Klotz Lubricants, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Quartermaster, Superflow Dyno’s, UNOH (University of Northwestern Ohio), Wix Filters, and Wrisco Aluminum.