Photo Courtesy: Jeff Hall Photography
LINCOLN, Ill. — June 30, 2013 — Bobby Pierce is only 16 years old but he accomplished a feat on Sundaynight at Lincoln Speedway that many in Dirt Late Model racing only dream about — winning a DIRTcar Summer Nationals event.
Pierce, of Oakwood, Ill., captured the $10,000 victory in dominating fashion at quarter-mile Lincoln Speedway on the 12th night of the six-week DIRTcar Summer Nationals Hell Tour, becoming the youngest winner in the 26-year history of the grueling summer series.
Pierce lined up on the outside of points leader Brandon Sheppard on the front row for the 60-lap feature, but it was three-time series champion Shannon Babb who charged from sixth to lead the 22-car field in the early going. Pierce caught and passed Babb on lap 9 then held off 2004 series champion Don O’Neal to the checkered flag.
“We’ve been trying so hard to do this, getting top-fives and coming close,” said Pierce, whose father, Bob, is a two-time DIRTcar Summer Nationals champion (1992, 1995). “It’s so hard to win these things. You’ve got the best of the best. I’m so glad to finally get one. It’s amazing.”
(Click here for news and information on the DIRTcar Summer Nationals.)
Sheppard, Ryan Unzicker and last year’s champion Brian Shirley rounded out the top five.
Heat race winners included Tyler Reddick, Sheppard, Dustin Griffin and Pierce.
The DIRTcar Summer Nationals Hell Tour continues on Tuesday night at Quincy Raceways located in Quincy, Illinois.
DIRTcar Summer Nationals Statistical Report; Lincoln (Ill.) Speedway: June 30, 2013
A-Main (60-laps): 1. Bobby Pierce ($10,000), 2. Don ONeal, 3. Brandon Sheppard, 4. Ryan Unzicker, 5. Brian Shirley, 6. Terry English, 7. Shannon Babb, 8. Jack Sullivan, 9. Dustin Griffin, 10. Tanner English, 11. Jason McBride, 12. Tyler Reddick, 13. Randy Korte, 14. Rich Bell, 15. Rusty Schlenk, 16. Brian Divley, 17. Scott Schmitt, 18. Kevin Weaver, 19. Daren Friedman, 20. Steve Sheppard Jr, 21. Bobby Dauderman, 22. Eric Smith.
DIRTcar Summer Nationals Top 10 Standings
Pos. Car Name Points
1 B5 Brandon Sheppard 807
2 24 Ryan Unzicker 713
3 32 Bobby Pierce 713
4 18 Shannon Babb 679
5 81 Randy Korte 571
6 20 Dustin Griffin 556
7 77 Jason McBride 552
8 11 Tyler Reddick 551
9 B12 Kevin Weaver 503
10 48 Tim Lance 422
2013 DIRTcar Summer Nationals ‘Hell Tour’ Schedule
| Day | Date | Track | Location | Winner |
| Wed. | June 12 | Brownstown Speedway | Brownstown, IN | Dennis Erb, Jr. |
| Thurs. | June 13 | Off | ||
| Fri. | June 14 | Cedar Lake Speedway | New Richmond, WI | Brian Birkhofer |
| Sat. | June 15 | Cedar Lake Speedway | New Richmond, WI | Cancelled (RAIN) |
| Sun. | June 16 | Wilmot Speedway | Wilmot, WI | Kevin Weaver |
| Mon. | June 17 | Off | ||
| Tues. | June 18 | Off | ||
| Wed. | June 19 | Spoon River Speedway | Canton, IL | Brandon Sheppard |
| Thurs. | June 20 | Belle Clair Speedway | Belleville, IL | Brandon Sheppard |
| Fri. | June 21 | Tri-City Speedway | Pontoon Beach, IL | Chris Simpson |
| Sat. | June 22 | Fairbury Speedway | Fairbury, IL | Ryan Unzicker |
| Sun. | June 23 | I-96 Speedway | Lake Odessa, MI | Shannon Babb |
| Mon. | June 24 | Peoria Speedway | Peoria, IL | Cancelled (RAIN) |
| Tues. | June 25 | Off | ||
| Wed. | June 26 | Clarksville Speedway | Clarksville, TN | Brandon Sheppard |
| Thurs. | June 27 | Clayhill Motorsports Park | Atwood, TN | Brandon Sheppard |
| Fri. | June 28 | Paducah International Raceway | Paducah, KY | Billy Moyer |
| Sat. | June 29 | Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 | Pevely, MO | Postponed/Rain (Aug. 17) |
| Sun. | June 30 | Lincoln Speedway | Lincoln, IL | Bobby Pierce |
| Mon. | July 1 | Off | ||
| Tues. | July 2 | Quincy Raceways | Quincy, IL | |
| Wed. | July 3 | Jacksonville Speedway | Jacksonville, IL | |
| Thurs. | July 4 | LaSalle Speedway | LaSalle, IL | |
| Fri. | July 5 | Fayette Co. Speedway | Brownstown, IL | |
| Sat. | July 6 | Highland Speedway | Highland, IL | |
| Sun. | July 7 | Tri-State Speedway | Haubstadt, IN | |
| Mon. | July 8 | Off | ||
| Tues. | July 9 | Florence Speedway | Union, KY | |
| Wed. | July 10 | Terre Haute Action Track | Terre Haute, IN | |
| Thurs. | July 11 | Macon Speedway | Macon, IL | |
| Fri. | July 12 | Kankakee County Speedway | Kankakee, IL | |
| Sat. | July 13 | 34 Raceway | Burlington, IA | |
| Sun. | July 14 | Vermilion County Speedway | Danville, IL | |
| Mon. | July 15 | Off | ||
| Tues. | July 16 | Off | ||
| Wed. | July 17 | Brushcreek Motorsports Park | Peebles, OH | |
| Thurs. | July 18 | Twin Cities Raceway Park | North Vernon, IN | |
| Fri. | July 19 | Attica Raceway Park | Attica, OH | |
| Sat. | July 20 | Oakshade Raceway | Wauseon, OH |
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 Electonics (Official Communication), Vicci (Official Uniform), VP Racing Fuel (Official Racing Fuel); in addition to these fine Contingency Sponsors: Beyea Headers, Butlerbuilt, Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Dominator Race Products, Edelbrock, Chevy Performance Parts, Integra Shocks, Intercomp, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, Klotz Lubricants, MSD Performance, Petroff Towing, Quartermaster, Superflow Dynos, UNOH (University of Northwestern Ohio), and Wrisco Aluminum.