Sheppard Claws to Lincoln Win

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Brandon Sheppard thwarts off Shannon Babb at Lincoln - STLRacingPhotos.com

Sheppard Becomes Youngest Winner on Summer Nationals Tour with Lincoln Win

LINCOLN, Ill. – July 3, 2011 – Brandon Sheppard finally achieved his goal of winning a DIRTcar Summer Nationals Hell Tour event, taking the checkered flag Sunday night at Lincoln Speedway.

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Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., used a lap three restart to claim the lead from fellow front row starter Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill.  He then held off current ‘Hell Tour’ point leader Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., over the last half of the event to claim the win worth $5,000.  The victory is the 18-year-old driver’s first after following the tour full-time since the 2009 season.  Babb settled for second ahead of Greenbriar, Ark., driver Jack Sullivan who earned his second top five finish on the Summer Nationals Tour.  Waterville, Ohio driver Matt Miller would cross the line fourth one spot in front of Jeep VanWormer of Pinconning, Mich.

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Babb, once again extended his points lead after his second place finish at Lincoln. Second in points, Lawrenceburg, Ind., driver Scott James finished 9th, which puts him unofficially 125 points behind Babb. Defending ‘Hell Tour’ champ Jason Feger finished 16th after tire issues relegated him to the rear twice.

Click this link for more news and information about the DIRTcar Summer Nationals.

The DIRTcar Summer Nationals will return to action Monday, July 4 at 34 Raceway in Burlington, Iowa.

DIRTcar Summer Nationals Hell Tour Statistical Report; Lincoln Speedway; Lincoln, Ill.; July 3, 2011

A-Main (40-Laps): 1. Brandon Sheppard ($5,000), 2. Shannon Babb, 3. Jack Sullivan, 4. Matt Miller, 5. Jeep Van Wormer, 6. Dennis Erb Jr., 7. Billy Drake, 8. Bobby Pierce, 9. Scott James, 10. Dillan White, 11. Brian Shirley, 12. Ryan Unzicker, 13. Roger Brickler, 14. Mike Spatola, 15. Jason Oldfield, 16. Jason Feger, 17. Wes Steidinger, 18. Brian Diveley, 19. Donny Walden, 20. Eric Smith, 21. Rusty Schlenk, 22. Kevin Weaver. Fast qualifiers: (among 35 cars): Babb, Feger, Drake, Miller. Heat race winners: Spatola, Pierce, Sheppard, Miller. B-Main winner: Dively. Provisional starters: Erb, Schlenk, Smith, White.

2011 DIRTcar Summer Nationals “The Hell Tour” Schedule

Date

Track

Location

Winner (Cars)

June 15

Brownstown Speedway

Brownstown, Ind.

PPD/July 12

June 16

Kankakee County Speedway

Kankakee, Ill.

Mike Spatola (37)

June 17

Cedar Lake Speedway

Cedar Lake, Wis.

Scott James (29)

June 18

Cedar Lake Speedway

Cedar Lake, Wis.

Canceled Rain

June 20

LaSalle Speedway

LaSalle, Ill.

PPD/July 13

June 21

Spoon River Speedway

Canton, Ill.

PPD/July 14

June 22

Highland Speedway

Highland, Ill.

Scott James (50)

June 23

Fayette County Speedway

Brownstown, Ill.

Jason Feger (48)

June 24

Tri-City Speedway

Pontoon Beach, Ill.

Dan Schlieper (52)

June 25

Fairbury American Legion Speedway

Fairbury, Ill.

PPD/July 23

June 26

I-96 Speedway

Lake Odessa, Mich.

Shannon Babb(46)

June 28

Lincoln Park Speedway

Putnamville, Ind.

Shannon Babb (22)

June 29

Belle Clair Speedway

Belleville, Ill.

Michael Kloos (32)

June 30

Clay Hill Motorsports Park

Atwood, Tenn.

Mike Spatola (30)

July 1

Paducah International Raceway

Paducah, Ky.

Ray Cook(40)

July 2

I-55 Raceway

Pevely, Mo.

Billy Moyer(41)

July 3

Lincoln Speedway

Lincoln, Ill.

Brandon Sheppard (35)

July 4

34 Raceway

Burlington, Iowa

July 6

Peoria Speedway

Peoria, Ill.

July 7

Macon Speedway

Macon, Ill.

July 8

Farmer City Raceway

Farmer City, Ill.

July 9

Clarksville Speedway

Clarksville, Tenn.

July 10

Tri-State Speedway

Haubstadt, Ind.

July 12

Brownstown Speedway

Brownstown, Ind.

July 13

LaSalle Speedway

LaSalle, Ill.

July 14

Spoon River Speedway

Canton, Ill.

July 15

Attica Raceway Park

Attica, Ohio

July 16

Oakshade Raceway

Wauseon, Ohio

The DIRTcar Summer Nationals is brought to fans by many important sponsors and partners including Hoosier Racing Tires, GM Performance Parts, ASI Racewear, Comp Cams, Intercomp Racing, JE Pistons, QuarterMaster, Superflow, Wix Filters, Wrisco Aluminum, the University of Northwestern Ohio, R2C Competition Series Air Filters, VP Racing Fuels, Racing Electronics, ButlerBuilt, MSD Ignition, Chizmark Larson Insurance, Vicci Apparel, Beyea Custom Headers, Fusion Graphics & Sign Company, Dyer’s Rods, and Ohlins Shocks.