DIRTcar Summer Nationals / Summit Modifieds

Winning never gets old, but winning the DIRTcar Summer Nationals’ debut at an Illinois bullring makes it so much sweeter.

Third time was the charm for Jason Feger Friday night at Coles County Speedway as the Hell Tour invaded the 1/8-mile oval for the first time ever. The two-time series champion had two past starts at Coles County, both netting him top-10 finishes, and Friday was his night to punch through to Victory Lane after winning a thrilling battle for the lead with fellow Illinois DIRTcar hero, Ryan Unzicker.

The green flag dropped with Ryan Unzicker pacing the field early in the No. 24. The tight confines of the Mattoon, IL, bullring meant lap traffic was in play by Lap 6, allowing second place Mitch McGrath and third place Brody Smith to quickly close in.

Unzicker maneuvered through lap traffic well until Clay Stuckey drew the caution flag on Lap 14. The restart is where things went sideways for third place Smith, as contact sent the Dade City, FL-driver into the wall causing a chain-reaction pileup in turns one and two.

After a second Lap 14 restart, a three-car race ensued for the lead between Unzicker, Billy Moyer, who took second on the restart, and third place McGrath. Moyer took multiple peeks under the Unzicker machine, pulling even multiple times as Moyer worked the inside berm all around Coles County.

Unzicker continued to rail the cushion and fended off multiple challenges by Moyer’s No. 21 before a Lap 18 caution derailed Moyer’s run. Sheet metal rubbing against the tire forced him to head to the pit area, relinquishing second to Tanner English.

The Lap 18 restart is where things got very entertaining as another three-car race for the lead began between Unzicker, Feger and English.

Feger quickly disposed of English and set his set his sights on race-long leader Unzicker. Feger worked the inside lap-after-lap as the lead duo went side-by-side multiple times in the closing 15 laps.

Unzicker played defense the best he could as Feger was relentless in pursuit of the win. Feger threw a slide job that cleared the Unzicker No. 24 in turn four to lead Lap 35 — the first lap he had led all race.

Unzicker battled back to the inside, but Feger was not to be denied as the Bloomington, IL-native sped away with the lead and picked up his first career win at Coles County Speedway.

“I love bullring racing, we know this is our third time getting to come here — the track’s been getting better and better,” Feger said. “I just got a really good jump on the restarts and then I was just able to get the pressure on Ryan (Unzicker). I just don’t think he knew where to go. It’s hard to be in that position, it’s easier being in second, the hole opened up and I took it. I knew we were getting close to him, so I just powered it in there and took it.”

Unzicker held onto second, English charged from eighth to finish third, Bob Gardner finished fourth and Daniel Adam rounded out the top five.

UP NEXT

The 40th anniversary season for the DIRTcar Summer Nationals continues at Fairbury Speedway in Fairbury, Illinois on Saturday, June 13th.

How can you watch the DIRTcar Summer Nationals? Every race is streamed live on DIRTVision.

FEATURE RESULTS

Feature (40 Laps): 1. 25-Jason Feger[7]; 2. 24-Ryan Unzicker[1]; 3. 96-Tanner English[8]; 4. 4G-Bob Gardner[6]; 5. 75A-Daniel Adam[13]; 6. 89-Mike Spatola[10]; 7. 15-Clay Stuckey[11]; 8. 74-Mitch McGrath[2]; 9. 30-Mark Voigt[20]; 10. 122-Timmy Dick[9]; 11. 7S-Morgan Staggs[15]; 12. 21B-Rich Bell[17]; 13. 21-Billy Moyer Sr[3]; 14. 87-Jake Rainey[18]; 15. 10J-Jordan Bauer[22]; 16. 17SR-Brody Smith[4]; 17. 09-Michael Leach[5]; 18. 3S-Brian Shirley[16]; 19. BK3-Billy Knippenberg III[12]; 20. 05-Tyler Leach[21]; 21. 99JR-Frank Heckenast Jr[14]; 22. 18-Shannon Babb[19]

Mike Harrison has shifted more of his focus to Late Models over the past few years. But Friday night at Coles County Speedway, the six-time DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals champion proved why he’s still one of the most dominant forces in Modified racing.

Harrison, of Highland, IL, reigned supreme over the field, fending off all challengers and leading all 25 laps enroute to his 63rd career Summit Modified Feature win in his debut at the 1/8-mile Micro Sprint course.

Sixty-three Summit Modified wins now puts him only six behind Nick Hoffman — the five-time series champion — who owns 69 Feature wins on the tour.

The Feature began with Harrison taking control early on, NASCAR Truck Series regular Justin Haley second, and Jeremy Nichols running third after the first lap.

Zeke McKenzie disposed of Nichols to take third on Lap 4 as lap traffic was quickly nearing on the tight bullring.

Traffic forced the leaders to begin experimenting with different lines, allowing Haley to close in on the No. 24H of Harrison but a caution would halt the progress for a car spun in turns one and two.

The Lap 10 restart proved to be catastrophic for Haley as he spun entering turn one which caused a chain reaction pileup blocking all of turn one, ending Haley’s hopes for a Summit Modified victory.

On the proceeding restarts, Harrison built up a big enough lead that he was not challenged the rest of the way enroute to the checkered flag.

“The cautions definitely got old after a while, especially sitting there on the reds,” Harrison said. “I wanted to come knock this one off the bucket list and it was fun. But tonight’s over now, that’s what sucks about it all, you gotta start focusing on tomorrow.”

Damian Kiefer climbed from eighth on the starting grid to finish second, Ray Bollinger came from sixth to finish third, while McKenzie and Nichols rounded out the top five.

UP NEXT

The DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals returns to action at Fairbury Speedway on Saturday, June 13th.

How can you watch the DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals? Every race is streamed live on DIRTVision.

FEATURE RESULTS

Feature (25 Laps): 1. 24H-Mike Harrison[1]; 2. 0-Damian Kiefer[8]; 3. 77-Ray Bollinger[6]; 4. 24-Zeke McKenzie[4]; 5. 01-Jeremy Nichols[2]; 6. 01K-Billy Knippenberg[7]; 7. 19C-Carter Sinkhorn[13]; 8. 05-Dave Wietholder[12]; 9. 2-Brayden Doyle[5]; 10. B5-Matthew Baker[18]; 11. 69-Noah Sugg[14]; 12. 4K-Taylor Kerz[17]; 13. 15H-Jeff Hamby[16]; 14. 21JR-Drew Schwartz[22]; 15. 74S-Chris Sieweke[20]; 16. 14-Carter Standerfer[21]; 17. 21D-John Dimmitt[10]; 18. 99-Justin Haley[3]; 19. 10Y-Trent Young[15]; 20. 88L-Christian Lee[19]; 21. 118-Dustin Atchison[24]; 22. 28B-Lucas Pace[23]; 23. B4U-Brad Eitniear[11]; 24. (DNS) 87-Collin Shain