Shirley Scores First Win of 2014 DIRTcar Summer Nationals Season at I-96 Speedway
By Jordan Morris
LAKE ODESSA, Mich. – June 22, 2014 – Brian Shirley rallied from a blown engine in hot laps, and then held off a red-hot Shannon Babb to capture his first victory of the 2014 DIRTcar Summer Nationals season Sunday night at I-96 Speedway.
Shirley, the 2012 DIRTcar Summer Nationals champion, dominated the 40-lap main event, leading every lap from flag-to-flag, as well as setting quick time for the night and winning his heat race.
Shirley started the feature from the pole-position and grabbed the lead early. Babb, who started four positions behind Shirley, needed only eight laps to make his way to second and 20 laps to reach Shirley’s back bumper. Babb, who has dominated I-96 Speedway, winning four of the last five races held there during the Summer Nationals, found no luck getting around Shirley as lapped traffic came into play in the battle for the lead.
Shirley held a firm grip on the top spot, managing to lead every lap in a caution free feature, capturing the $5,000 checkered flag, his first of the season and 13th of his career.
“Tonight I was a little heartbroken,” said a relieved Brian Shirley in victory lane. “We were fast in hot laps I felt like, and had to pull that car out because of mechanical problems, but glad it all worked out.”
Ryan Unzicker, Brandon Sheppard and Dona Marcoullier rounded out the top five.
Heat race winners included Shirley, Unzicker and Ryan Vanderveen.
The DIRTcar Summer Nationals continues on Monday night at Peoria Speedway in Peoria, Ill.
DIRTcar Summer Nationals Statistical Report; I-96 Speedway; Lake Odessa, Mich.; June 22, 2014
A-Main (40-laps): 1. 81-Brian Shirley ($5,000), 2. 18-Shannon Babb, 3. 24-Ryan Unzicker, 4. B5-Brandon Sheppard, 5. 6M-Dona Marcoullier, 6. 9R-Curtis Roberts, 7. 23V-Ryan Vanderveen, 8. 14M-Brandon Thirlby, 9. 55-Jeep Van Wormer, 10. 27S-Eric Spangler, 11. 81JR-Jason Riggs, 12. 111-Curt Spalding, 13. 77K-Steve Kester, 14. 32J-Jason Jaggers, 15. 1M-Jim Moon, 16. 2-Bry Sloan, 17. 34-Herb Reich, 18. 41-Jason Playter Jr, 19. 15A-Phil Ausra, 20. 52X-Brad Harden, 21. 42*-Bob Mayer, 22. 49-Brian Ruhlman.
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 |
Lake Odessa, Mich. |
Brian Shirley |
|
June 23 |
Mon |
Peoria Speedway |
Peoria, Ill. |
$5,000 |
|
June 24 |
Tue |
Off |
||
|
June 25 |
Wed |
Clarksville Speedway |
Clarksville, Tenn. |
$5,000 |
|
June 26 |
Thur |
Clayhill Motorsports |
Atwood, Tenn. |
$5,000 |
|
June 27 |
Fri |
Paducah Int. Raceway |
Paducah, Ky. |
$10,000 |
|
June 28 |
Sat |
Federated Auto Parts Raceway |
Pevely, Mo. |
$10,000 |
|
June 29 |
Sun |
Lincoln Speedway |
Lincoln, Ill. |
$5,000 |
|
June 30 |
Mon |
Off |
||
|
July 1 |
Tue |
Belle Clair Speedway |
Belleville, Ill. |
$5,000 |
|
July 2 |
Wed |
Jacksonville Speedway |
Jacksonville, Ill. |
$5,000 |
|
July 3 |
Thur |
LaSalle Speedway |
LaSalle, Ill. |
$5,000 |
|
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 |
2014 DIRTcar Summer Nationals Championship Standings
|
Rank |
Car |
First |
Last |
Points |
|
1 |
24 |
Ryan |
Unzicker |
449 |
|
2 |
18 |
Shannon |
Babb |
440 |
|
3 |
81 |
Brian |
Shirley |
408 |
|
4 |
B5 |
Brandon |
Sheppard |
405 |
|
5 |
1 |
Rick |
Eckert |
391 |
|
6 |
32 |
Bobby |
Pierce |
308 |
|
7 |
21 |
Billy |
Moyer Jr |
298 |
|
8 |
81 |
Jason |
Riggs |
284 |
|
9 |
22 |
Gregg |
Satterlee |
278 |
|
10 |
21 |
Billy |
Moyer |
269 |
|
11 |
10 |
Scott |
Schmitt |
261 |
|
12 |
15b |
Brian |
Birkhofer |
173 |
|
13 |
25 |
Jason |
Feger |
172 |
|
14 |
28 |
Jimmy |
Mars |
171 |
|
15 |
2 |
Brady |
Smith |
163 |
|
16 |
96 |
Tanner |
English |
163 |
|
17 |
1m |
Jimmy |
Moon |
162 |
|
18 |
89 |
Mike |
Spatola |
125 |
|
19 |
32j |
Jason |
Jaggers |
118 |
|
20 |
17 |
Jim |
Shereck |
111 |
|
21 |
B12 |
Kevin |
Weaver |
104 |
|
22 |
Oo |
Randy |
Korte |
98 |
|
23 |
1cj |
Gary |
Christian |
95 |
|
24 |
83 |
Scott |
Bull |
86 |
|
25 |
32 |
Chris |
Simpson |
86 |
|
26 |
98 |
Jason |
Rauen |
86 |
|
27 |
2 |
Allen |
Murray |
74 |
|
28 |
99 |
Franky |
Heckenast |
73 |
|
29 |
58 |
A J |
Diemel |
72 |
|
30 |
10 |
Pete |
Parker |
71 |
|
31 |
77 |
Jason |
McBride |
71 |
|
32 |
5m |
Mike |
Fryar |
71 |
|
33 |
20 |
Rodney |
Sanders |
70 |
|
34 |
25 |
Steve |
Lance |
69 |
|
35 |
45 |
Kyle |
Hammer |
65 |
|
36 |
21 |
Rich |
Bell |
65 |
|
37 |
33h |
Billy |
Hough |
64 |
|
38 |
6m |
Dona |
Marcoullier |
56 |
|
39 |
77 |
Jay |
Morris |
55 |
|
40 |
33 |
Tim |
Manville |
53 |
|
41 |
42 |
Mckay |
Wenger |
51 |
|
42 |
9r |
Curtis |
Roberts |
51 |
|
43 |
15 |
Brian |
Harris |
50 |
|
44 |
77 |
Tim |
McCreadie |
49 |
|
45 |
7s |
Jay |
Spark |
49 |
|
46 |
6k |
Michael |
Kloss |
49 |
|
47 |
23 |
Ryan |
Vanderveen |
49 |
|
48 |
33 |
Kevin |
Cole |
47 |
|
49 |
M14 |
Brandon |
Thirlby |
47 |
|
50 |
55 |
Jeep |
Vanwormer |
45 |
|
51 |
116 |
Torrin |
Mettille |
44 |
|
52 |
58 |
Ray |
Guss |
44 |
|
53 |
7k |
Jason |
Krohn |
43 |
|
54 |
Oov |
Kolby |
Vandenbergh |
43 |
|
55 |
27 |
Eric |
Spangler |
43 |
|
56 |
10 |
Don |
Hilleary |
42 |
|
57 |
74 |
Mitch |
Mcgrath |
42 |
|
58 |
7b |
Mark |
Burgtorf |
42 |
|
59 |
1w |
Wendell |
Wallace |
41 |
|
60 |
42 |
Shawn |
Toczek |
41 |
|
61 |
33 |
Adam |
Hensel |
41 |
|
62 |
7 |
Steve |
Thornsten |
40 |
|
63 |
111 |
Curtis |
Spalding |
40 |
|
64 |
77 |
Steve |
Kester |
39 |
|
65 |
90 |
Lance |
Mathees |
38 |
|
66 |
9d |
Dan |
Flessner |
36 |
|
67 |
D7 |
Jim |
Letizia |
36 |
|
68 |
2 |
Bry |
Sloan |
36 |
|
69 |
56 |
Andy |
Eckrich |
35 |
|
70 |
B1 |
Nick |
Bauman |
35 |
|
71 |
27 |
Rodney |
Melvin |
35 |
|
72 |
34 |
Herb |
Reich |
35 |
|
73 |
11 |
Pat |
Doar |
34 |
|
74 |
8 |
Bill |
Rezetek |
34 |
|
75 |
92 |
Scott |
Weber |
34 |
|
76 |
41 |
Jason |
Playter |
34 |
|
77 |
15a |
Phil |
Ausra |
33 |
|
78 |
75 |
Billy |
Drake |
32 |
|
79 |
52 |
Brad |
Harden |
32 |
|
80 |
M27 |
Mike |
Provenzano |
31 |
|
81 |
42 |
Bob |
Mayer |
31 |
|
82 |
28 |
Jeff |
Provinzino |
30 |
|
83 |
4g |
Bob |
Gardner |
30 |
|
84 |
33 |
Rickey |
Frankel |
30 |
|
85 |
49 |
Brian |
Ruhlman |
30 |
|
86 |
2 |
Mike |
Nutzmann |
29 |
|
87 |
16 |
Tyler |
Bruening |
29 |
|
88 |
94 |
Evan |
Fink |
29 |
|
89 |
6r |
Carl |
Ries |
29 |
|
90 |
40 |
Joel |
Callahan |
28 |
|
91 |
11 |
Rachel |
Carpenter |
28 |
|
92 |
6 |
Nick |
Herrick |
27 |
|
93 |
20 |
Jake |
Meier |
27 |
|
94 |
28 |
Clint |
Kirkham |
27 |
|
95 |
610 |
Blaine |
Hendrick |
27 |
|
96 |
14 |
Glen |
Thompson |
26 |
|
97 |
15 |
Caley |
Emerson |
26 |
|
98 |
21 |
Joel |
Collins |
25 |
|
99 |
82 |
Billy |
Laycock |
25 |
|
100 |
65 |
Lucas |
Peterson |
24 |
|
101 |
16h |
Mike |
Hammerle |
24 |
|
102 |
38 |
Ryan |
Little |
23 |
|
103 |
74 |
Russ |
Adams |
22 |
|
104 |
0 |
Dewayne |
Kiefer |
22 |
|
105 |
17x |
Matt |
Santel |
21 |
|
106 |
20 |
Alan |
Westling |
20 |
|
107 |
71 |
Trace |
Westling |
18 |
|
108 |
38 |
Jake |
Little |
17 |
|
109 |
3 |
Scott |
Henseler |
16 |
|
110 |
94 |
Austin |
Rettig |
14 |
|
111 |
9 |
Eric |
Smith |
10 |
|
112 |
Z |
Joe |
Harlan |
10 |
|
113 |
35 |
Derek |
Chandler |
10 |
|
114 |
89 |
Daren |
Freidman |
10 |
|
115 |
36 |
Eric |
Vaughn |
10 |
|
116 |
D2 |
Snooky |
Dehm |
10 |
|
117 |
4 |
Mike |
Mullvain |
10 |
|
118 |
1w |
Donny |
Walden |
10 |
|
119 |
15 |
Jon |
Henry |
10 |
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.
