Spatola Sweeps to Clay Hill Win

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Mike Spatola Celebrates in Clay Hill Victory Lane - PhotoBilly Photo

Spatola Impressive In Clay Hill Summer Nationals Victory

ATWOOD, Tenn. – June 30, 2011 – Mike Spatola is quickly familiarizing himself with victory lane on the  DIRTcar Summer Nationals Hell Tour after winning Thursday night at Clay Hill Motorsports Park.

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Spatola, a weekly DIRTcar Late Model rookie this year, grabbed the lead from the outset of the 40-lap main event.  He turned back a furious onslaught from second-place starter Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., early and held off Hall-of-Famer Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., to earn the Hell Tour victory worth $5,000.  Moyer finished second just ahead of Shirley.  Current point leader Shannon Babb was fourth ahead of Moyer’s son, Billy Moyer Jr.  Babb extended his points lead over Lawrenceburg, Ind., driver Scott James, who finished seventh.

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The victory is the second for the Manhattan, Ill., standout on the 2011 Hell Tour. Spatola also claimed the opening night event at Kankakee County (Ill.) Speedway on June 16.

The DIRTcar Summer Nationals will return to action Friday, July 1 at Paducah International Raceway in Paducah, Ky.

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Mike Spatola Leads at Clay Hill Motorsports Park – PhotoBilly Photo

DIRTcar Summer Nationals Hell Tour Statistical Report; Clay Hill Motorsports Park; Atwood, Tenn.; June 30, 2011

A-Main (40-Laps): 1. Mike Spatola ($5,000), 2. Billy Moyer, 3. Brian Shirley, 4. Shannon Babb, 5. Billy Moyer Jr., 6. Jack Sullivan, 7. Scott James, 8. Will Vaught, 9. Brandon Sheppard, 10. Ray Cook, 11. Terry English, 12. Ryan Unzicker, 13. Austin Dillon, 14. Dennis Erb Jr. 15. Donny Walden, 16. Jason Feger, 17. Dillan White, 18. Tanner English, 19. Jason McBride, 20. Dane Dacus, 21. T.J. Henderson, 22. Ronnie Cooper. Fast qualifiers (among 30 cars): Shirley, Spatola, Moyer, Feger,.  C-Main winner: Henderson. Provisional starters: Unzicker, McBride, Cooper, Tanner English. 

Heat 4: Shannon Babb, Jason Feger, Will Vaught, Donny Walden, Steven Sellars, Jason Riggs, Leon Henderson.

Heat 3: Billy Moyer, Scott James, Brandon Sheppard, Ray Cook, Dane Dacus, Tanner English, Chris Shelton.

Heat 2: Mike Spatola, Jack Sullivan, Dillan White, Dennis Erb Jr., Steven Ashby, Jim Gray, Ronnie Cooper, Eric Perry.

Heat 1: Brian Shirley, Austin Dillon, Billy Moyer Jr., Terry English, T.J. Herndon, Steve Karnes, Jason McBride.

Time Trials
First group

Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 15.845
Austin Dillon (3), Welcome, N.C., 16.135
Billy Moyer Jr. (21jr), Batesville, Ark., 16.142
Jason McBride (77), Carbondale, Ill., 16.336
Ryan Unzicker (24), El Paso, Ill., 16.548
T.J. Herndon (139), Atwood, Tenn., 16.594
Terry English (33), Benton, Ky., 16.597
Steve Karnes (53), Marion, Ill., 17.064

Second group
Mike Spatola (89), Manhattan, Ill., 16.26
Dillan White (54), Crofton, Ky., 16.262
Jack Sullivan (1), Greenbrier, Ark., 16.322
Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 16.368
Steven Ashby (16), Cunningham, Tenn., 16.7
Ronnie Cooper (10) McKenze, Tenn., 16.99
Jim Gray (47), Lynchburg, Tenn., 17.209
Eric Perry (22), Benton, Ky., 26.051

Third group
Billy Moyer (21), Batesville, Ark., 15.729
Scott James (81), Lawrenceburg, Ind., 16.186
Ray Cook (53), Brasstown, N.C., 16.282
Brandon Sheppard (B5), New Berlin, Ill., 16.482
Dane Dacus (54), Arlington, Tenn., 16.509
Tanner English (96), Benton, Ky., 16.613
Chris Shelton (16), Paducah, Ky., 16.877

Fourth group
Jason Feger (25), Bloomington, Ill., 15.859
Shannon Babb (18), Moweaqua, Ill., 16.219
Donny Walden (1w), Towanda, Ill., 16.232
Will Vaught (1), Crane, Mo., 16.41
Randy Sellers (3), Mayfield, Ky., 16.45
Leon Henderson (10), Laurel, Miss., 16.722
Jason Riggs (81jr), Harrisburg, Ill., 17.502

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.

July 2

I-55 Raceway

Pevely, Mo.

July 3

Lincoln Speedway

Lincoln, Ill.

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.