Contact: Chris Dolack
DIRTcar Racing PR
704-795-7223 | cdolack@dirtcar.com
Shirley Dominates Atomic Speedway for Third Win of 2014 DIRTcar Summer Nationals Season
By Jordan Morris
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio. July 16, 2014 2012 DIRTcar Summer Nationals champion Brian Shirley survived an over-heating engine en route to dominating all 40-laps and claiming the $5,000 checkered flag Wednesday night at Atomic Speedway.
Shirley started the feature event in the third position behind front-row starters Duane Chamberlain and Delmas Conley. On the races opening lap, Shirley quickly made his way to the lead by rocketing around both drivers before either had a chance to lead a single lap.
Conley fell back through the field, eventually settling for an 18th place finish. Chamberlain stayed glued to the leaders back-bumper for the first handful of laps, as he challenged Shirley for the top spot on several occasions. Shirley had trouble pulling away from Chamberlain in the early laps of the race, but by lap 18 the leader began to inch further from the field after finding a faster line higher up the track.
Shirley had the car to beat, eventually building a lead of over two-seconds on second-place, but in the final stages of the event his car began to overheat. The leader suffered a punctured hole in his radiator, turning his car into a ticking bomb waiting to explode. Shirley continued on, never surrendering the lead during the duration of the event, and surviving an overheating engine to claim his third victory of the 2014 DIRTcar Summer Nationals season at Atomic Speedway.
Its nice to still have a shot at the championship, but were not worrying about the points deal, said Shirley, who last won at Clayhill Motorsports Park on June 26. We just came out here to try to win races and make as much money as we can - so were just gonna try to win the rest of the races and let the points fall where they fall.
If the battle atop the championship standings wasnt close enough before the race, it has since gotten closer. Points-leader Shannon Babb started the feature in the eighth position, six spots better than Ryan Unzicker who trailed Babb in the standings by 41-points heading into the night.
On lap 29, Babb managed to climb to the fifth position and was slowly working his way to the front of the field when his car suddenly slowed on the front stretch. Babb was forced to retire following mechanical issues, giving Unzicker the opportunity to gain ground on the points-leader. Unzicker took advantage, finishing the night in the seventh position, and cutting Babbs points lead to 26-points.
After capturing the win on Wednesday night, Brian Shirley now sits third in the championship standings only 45-markers behind Babb for the top spot and 19 behind Unzicker for second. The championship battle now becomes a three driver fight with three races remaining.
(Click here for news and information on the DIRTcar Summer Nationals.)
RJ Conley, Doug Drown and Jeep Van Wormer rounded out the top five.
Heat race winners were Chamberlain, Delmas Conley and Shirley.
With only three races remaining in the 2014 DIRTcar Summer Nationals season, the tour joins the DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals on Thursday night at Brushcreek Motorsports Complex in Peebles, Ohio.
DIRTcar Summer Nationals Statistical Report; Atomic Speedway; Chillicothe, Ohio; July 16, 2014; A-Main (40-laps): 1. 81-Brian Shirley ($5,000), 2. 20C-Duane Chamberlain, 3. 71C-RJ Conley, 4. 20-Doug Drown, 5. 55-Jeep Van Wormer, 6. 99M-Devin Moran, 7. 24-Ryan Unzicker, 8. B5-Brandon Sheppard, 9. 81JR-Jason Riggs, 10. 21M-Jason Montgomery, 11. 5M-Ryan Markham, 12. 51-Jamie Oldfield, 13. 96-Tanner English, 14. 77K-Steve Kester, 15. 25L-Steve Lance Jr, 16. 19-Chad Smith, 17. 18-Shannon Babb, 18. 71-Delmas Conley, 19. 29K-Garrett Krummert, 20. 9F-Mark Frazier, 21. 71R-Rod Conley, 22. 33-Kevin Wagner.
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 |
Ionia, Mich. |
Brian Shirley |
June 23 |
Mon |
Peoria Speedway |
Peoria, Ill. |
Brandon Sheppard |
June 24 |
Tue |
Off |
|
|
June 25 |
Wed |
Clarksville Speedway |
Clarksville, Tenn. |
Shannon Babb(2) |
June 26 |
Thur |
Clayhill Motorsports |
Atwood, Tenn. |
Brian Shirley (2) |
June 27 |
Fri |
Paducah Int. Raceway |
Paducah, Ky. |
RAIN |
June 28 |
Sat |
Federated Auto Parts Raceway |
Pevely, Mo. |
Brian Birkhofer |
June 29 |
Sun |
Lincoln Speedway |
Lincoln, Ill. |
Brady Smith |
June 30 |
Mon |
Off |
|
|
July 1 |
Tue |
Belle Clair Speedway |
Belleville, Ill. |
Bobby Pierce |
July 2 |
Wed |
Jacksonville Speedway |
Jacksonville, Ill. |
Jason Feger(2) |
July 3 |
Thur |
LaSalle Speedway |
LaSalle, Ill. |
Brian Birkhofer(2) |
July 4 |
Fri |
Fayette Co. Speedway |
Brownstown, Ill. |
Brandon Sheppard(2) |
July 5 |
Sat |
Highland Speedway |
Highland, Ill. |
Tyler Reddick |
July 6 |
Sun |
Tri-State Speedway |
Haubstadt, Ind. |
Billy Moyer(3) |
July 7 |
Mon |
Off |
|
|
July 8 |
Tue |
Florence Speedway |
Union, Ky. |
Jason Jameson |
July 9 |
Wed |
Terre Haute Action Track |
Terre Haute, Ind. |
Billy Moyer(4) |
July 10 |
Thur |
Macon Speedway |
Macon, Ill. |
Shannon Babb(3) |
July 11 |
Fri |
Farmer City Raceway |
Farmer City, Ill. |
Billy Moyer(5) |
July 12 |
Sat |
34 Raceway |
Burlington, Iowa |
Billy Moyer (6) |
July 13 |
Sun |
Vermilion Co. Speedway |
Danville, Ill. |
Shannon Babb(4) |
July 14 |
Mon |
Off |
|
|
July 15 |
Tue |
TBA |
|
|
July 16 |
Wed |
Atomic Speedway |
Chillicothe, Ohio |
Brian Shirley (3) |
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 |
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.
Contact: Chris Dolack
DIRTcar Racing PR
704-795-7223 | cdolack@dirtcar.com
Gilpin Scores Third Victory of 2014 Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals Season at Atomic Speedway
By Jordan Morris
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio July 16, 2014 Devin Gilpin claimed his third victory of the 2014 Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals after recapturing the lead with 10-laps remaining en route to securing the $1,000 checkered flag at Atomic Speedway.
Gilpin led the field to the green-flag with Cody Parker starting to his outside. Gilpin jumped out to an early lead as Parker faded through the field, surrendering second-place to Jackie Boggs, who started just behind the leaders in the second row.
Gilpin controlled the field for the opening four circuits, but could never pull away from Boggs who stayed glued to his back-bumper. Boggs had the fastest car and made his way around Gilpin for the lead on lap five.
Boggs looked to have the car to beat as held the lead for the next six laps. Unfortunately for the leader, his night would come to an early end after his car spun in turn four on lap 11, causing damage to his left-front suspension.
With Boggs out of the race, Gilpin would inherit the lead. Gilpin dominated the final 11-laps, but had to hold off a hard-charging Daniel Ebert on a late race caution with three laps remaining. Gilpin, following several attempts by Ebert to muscle his way to the lead, held off second-place and captured the checkered flag at Atomic Speedway.
Championship leader Mike Harrison failed to race his way into the A-Main giving second-place Jacob Poel the opportunity to cut into the slim six-point deficit. Poel only managed a 10th place finish, failing to close in on Harrison in the closest points battle in DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals history. With three races remaining, the point deficit still sits at six-points.
(Click here for news and information on the Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals.)
Kenny Johnson, Jeremy Rayburn and Cody Parker rounded out the top five.
Heat race winners were Cody Parker, Kenny Johnson and Devin Gilpin.
With only three races remaining, the DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals joins the DIRTcar Summer Nationals, continuing the closest points battle in series history on Thursday night at Brushcreek Motorsports Complex in Peebles, Ohio.
DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals Statistical Report; Atomic Speedway; Chillicothe, Ohio; July 16, 2014;
A-Main (25-laps): 1. 1G-Devin Gilpin ($1,000), 2. 60-Daniel Ebert, 3. 1-Kenny Johnson, 4. 12-Jeremy Rayburn, 5. 42-Cody Parker, 6. 25B-Philip Bapst, 7. 21-Taylor Cook, 8. 8P-Fireball Pinkerton, 9. 13J-Adam Colley, 10. 82-Jacob Poel, 11. 36-Kenny Wallace, 12. 18-David McWilliams, 13. K9-Scott Gerdeman, 14. 17-Brandon Ramsey, 15. 75C-Steven Clemmons, 16. 8-Jimmy Lennex, 17. 20-Kevin Dulaney, 18. D4-Jackie Boggs, 19. 21S-Seth Daniels, 20. 1PJ-Shawn Holliday, 21. 22-Brandon Oliver, 22. 10L-Nathan Loney.
2014 DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals Schedule
June 7 |
Sat |
Tri-State Speedway |
Haubstadt, Ind. |
Tyler Nicely |
June 11 |
Wed |
Brownstown Speedway |
Brownstown, Ind. |
RAIN |
June 12 |
Thur |
Kankakee Co-Speedway |
Kankakee, Ill. |
Devin Gilpin |
June 13 |
Fri |
Kankakee Co-Speedway |
Kankakee, Ill. |
Jacob Poel |
June 15 |
Sun |
Off |
|
|
June 16 |
Mon |
Off |
|
|
June 17 |
Tue |
Off |
|
|
June 18 |
Wed |
Spoon River Speedway |
Canton, Ill. |
Jacob Poel |
June 19 |
Thur |
Quincy Raceways |
Quincy, Ill. |
RAIN |
June 20 |
Fri |
Tri-City Speedway |
Pontoon Beach, Ill. |
Mike Harrison |
June 21 |
Sat |
Fairbury Speedway |
Fairbury, Ill. |
RAIN |
June 22 |
Sun |
I-96 Speedway |
Ionia, Mich. |
Jacob Poel |
June 23 |
Mon |
Peoria Speedway |
Peoria, Ill. |
David Wietholder |
June 24 |
Tue |
Off |
|
|
June 25 |
Wed |
Clarksville Speedway Park |
Clarksville, Tenn. |
Mike Harrison |
June 26 |
Thur |
Clayhill Motorsports Park |
Atwood, Tenn. |
Hunter Rasdon |
June 27 |
Fri |
Paducah Int-Raceway |
Paducah, Ky. |
RAIN |
June 28 |
Sat |
Federated I-55 Raceway |
Pevely, Mo. |
Mike Harrison |
June 29 |
Sun |
Lincoln Speedway |
Lincoln, Ill. |
Jacob Poel |
June 30 |
Mon |
Off |
|
|
July 1 |
Tue |
Belle-Clair Speedway |
Belleville, Ill. |
Mike Harrison |
July 2 |
Wed |
Jacksonville Speedway |
Jacksonville, Ill. |
Mike Harrison |
July 3 |
Thur |
LaSalle Speedway |
LaSalle, Ill. |
Mike Harrison |
July 4 |
Fri |
Fayette Co-Speedway |
Brownstown, Ill. |
Brian Shaw |
July 5 |
Sat |
Highland Speedway |
Highland, Ill. |
Rusty Griffaw |
July 6 |
Sun |
Tri-State Speedway |
Haubstadt, Ind. |
Jacob Poel |
July 7 |
Mon |
Off |
|
|
July 8 |
Tue |
Florence Speedway |
Union, Ky. |
Devin Gilpin |
July 9 |
Wed |
Terre Haute Action Track |
Terre Haute, Ind. |
Kenny Wallace |
July 10 |
Thur |
Macon Speedway |
Macon, Ill. |
Ken Schrader |
July 11
July 12 |
Fri
Sat |
Farmer City Raceway
Fairbury Speedway |
Farmer City, Ill.
Fairbury, Ill. |
Jacob Poel
RAIN |
July 13 |
Sun |
Vermilion Co-Speedway |
Danville, Ill. |
Jacob Poel |
July 14 |
Mon |
Off |
|
|
July 15 |
Tue |
Off |
|
|
July 16 |
Wed |
Atomic Speedway |
Chillicothe, Ohio |
Devin Gilpin |
July 17 |
Thu |
Brushcreek Motorsports |
Peebles, Ohio |
TBA |
July 18 |
Fri |
Attica Raceway Park |
Attica, Ohio |
$1,000 |
July 19 |
Sat |
Oakshade Raceway |
Wauseon, Ohio |
$1,000 |
The Summit Racing Modified Nationals is proudly brought to you by these fine partners : Summit Racing Equipment (Title Sponsor), Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Provider), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Racing Tire), Racing Electronics (Official Communication ), Velocita (Official Uniform),VP Racing Fuels (Official Fuel), along with these Contingency Parters: MSD, TomCat Performance, Landrum Performance Springs, Dominator Race Products, QuarterMaster, KSE Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Joes Racing Products, Wrisco Aluminum, Beyea Custom Headers, Fast Shafts, Bassett Racing Wheels, QA1, Auto Meter, Fluidampr, Fox Shocks, Impact Race Products, Penske Shocks, Performance Friction Brakes, Strange Oval, Schoenfeld Headers, Bell Helmets, Shafer Enterprises Cool Shirts; Promotional Partners include: Chevy Performance Parts, Indiana Decal and Intercomp.