Pierce Conquers Kankakee

 

Pierce Claims Third DIRTcar Summer Nationals “Hell Tour” Victory at Kankakee County Speedway

 

KANKAKEE, Ill. July 12, 2013 Bobby Pierce, much like his previous two wins, kept his car glued to the bottom of the track all night as he stormed from his row six starting position to claim his third win of the 2013 DIRTcar Summer Nationals “Hell Tour” on Friday night at Kankakee County Speedway.

 

Pierce, of Oakwood, Ill., started 11th, five rows behind the pole-sitter Matt Miller, of Whitehouse, Ohio. Miller, who has not won a “Hell Tour” event since 2008, was clearly in charge the first half of the feature. Pierce, locked to the bottom, needed 24 laps to reel in Miller before passing him for the lead with a little over half of the race to go. Pierce went on to lead the rest of the way and capture the $10,000 checkered flag in the 20th race of the 2013 “Hell Tour” schedule at Kankakee County Speedway.

 

“I didn’t think I was gonna be able to do it from 11th,” said Pierce, a 16-year-old who continues his strong points year as he currently sits fourth in the standings with a week to go. “But I was watching the track and seen that the bottom was really coming in a lot. I knew that I was good down here last year when I got second so I just had to keep doing the same thing over and over again and hitting my marks.”

 

 

Brian Shirley, Ryan Unzicker and Brandon Sheppard rounded out the top five. Shannon Babb, who entered the night as the hottest driver on the tour with five victories and closing the gap to points leader Sheppard for the championship, was running second early on but a mechanical issue with his car forced him out of the race after 13 laps.

 

Heat race winners included Shannon Babb, Matt Miller and Torin Mettille.

 

The DIRTcar Summer Nationals Hell Tour continues on Saturday night at 34 Raceway in Burlington, Iowa.

 

DIRTcar Summer Nationals Statistical Report; Kankakee (Ill.) County Speedway; July 12, 2013

A-Main (50-laps): 1. Bobby Pierce ($10,000), 2. Matt Miller, 3. Brian Shirley, 4. Ryan Unzicker, 5. Brandon Sheppard, 6. Torin Mettille, 7. Frank Heckenast Jr, 8. Mike Spatola, 9. Dustin Griffin, 10. Allen Murray, 11. Tim Lance, 12. Jay Morris, 13. Jason McBride, 14. Todd Frank, 15. Steve Thorsten, 16. Glen Thompson, 17. Kevin Weaver, 18. Aaron Ricketts, 19. Shannon Babb, 20. Herb Reich, 21. Tanner English, 22. Steve Kester, 23. Steve Dimmick, 24. Kent Robinson.

 

2013 DIRTcar Summer Nationals ‘Hell Tour’ Schedule

Day

Date

Track

Location

Winner

Wed.

June 12

Brownstown Speedway

Brownstown, IN

Dennis Erb, Jr.

Thurs.

June 13

Off

   

Fri.

June 14

Cedar Lake Speedway

New Richmond, WI

Brian Birkhofer

Sat.

June 15

Cedar Lake Speedway

New Richmond, WI

Canceled/Rain

         

Sun.

June 16

Wilmot Speedway

Wilmot, WI

Kevin Weaver

Mon.

June 17

Off

   

Tues.

June 18

Off

   

Wed.

June 19

Spoon River Speedway

Canton, IL

Brandon Sheppard

Thurs.

June 20

Belle Clair Speedway

Belleville, IL

Brandon Sheppard (2)

Fri.

June 21

Tri-City Speedway

Pontoon Beach, IL

Chris Simpson

Sat.

June 22

Fairbury Speedway

Fairbury, IL

Ryan Unzicker

         

Sun.

June 23

I-96 Speedway

Lake Odessa, MI

Shannon Babb

Mon.

June 24

Peoria Speedway

Peoria, IL

PPD/Rain July 15

Tues.

June 25

Off

   

Wed.

June 26

Clarksville Speedway

Clarksville, TN

Brandon Sheppard (3)

Thurs.

June 27

Clayhill Motorsports Park

Atwood, TN

Brandon Sheppard (4)

Fri.

June 28

Paducah International Raceway

Paducah, KY

Billy Moyer

Sat.

June 29

Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55

Pevely, MO

Postponed/Rain

         

Sun.

June 30

Lincoln Speedway

Lincoln, IL

Bobby Pierce

Mon.

July 1

Off

   

Tues.

July 2

Quincy Raceways

Quincy, IL

Shannon Babb (2)

Wed.

July 3

Jacksonville Speedway

Jacksonville, IL

Shannon Babb (3)

Thurs.

July 4

LaSalle Speedway

LaSalle, IL

Bobby Pierce (2)

Fri.

July 5

Fayette Co. Speedway

Brownstown, IL

Ryan Unzicker (2)

Sat.

July 6

Highland Speedway

Highland, IL

PPD/Rain Aug. 25

         

Sun.

July 7

Tri-State Speedway

Haubstadt, IN

Shannon Babb (4)

Mon.

July 8

Off

   

Tues.

July 9

Florence Speedway

Union, KY

Scott Bloomquist

Wed.

July 10

Terre Haute Action Track

Terre Haute, IN

Canceled/Rain

Thurs.

July 11

Macon Speedway

Macon, IL

Shannon Babb (5)

Fri.

July 12

Kankakee County Speedway

Kankakee, IL

Bobby Pierce (3)

Sat.

July 13

34 Raceway

Burlington, IA

 
         

Sun.

July 14

Vermilion County Speedway

Danville, IL

 

Mon.

July 15

Peoria Speedway

Peoria, IL

 

Tues.

July 16

Off

   

Wed.

July 17

Brushcreek Motorsports Park

Peebles, OH

 

Thurs.

July 18

Off

   

Fri.

July 19

Attica Raceway Park

Attica, OH

 

Sat.

July 20

Oakshade Raceway

Wauseon, OH

 

 

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 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, Edelbrock, Chevy Performance Parts, Integra Shocks, Intercomp, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, Klotz Lubricants, MSD Performance, Petroff Towing, Quartermaster, Superflow Dynos, UNOH (University of Northwestern Ohio), and Wrisco Aluminum.