PEEBLES, Ohio — July 17, 2013 — Pole-sitter Doug Adkins stormed out to an early lead and never looked back as he led flag-to-flag to claim his first win on the 2013 DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals tour at Brushcreek Motorsports Park.

Although it was a non-points race, a full field of modifieds roared into the 3/8-mile oval. Adkins, of West Portsmouth, Ohio, started from the inside of row one and never relinquished the lead over the 20-lap A-Main.

Adkins was challenged though, as Jess Hartman charged from fourth to second. Adkins moved from the bottom to the middle to try and hold off Hartman, who was glued to the top of the racetrack. Hartman would take several shots to the inside of Adkins, but Adkins would carry the momentum off of the high side of the track and beat Hartman out of the corner. (more…)

PEEBLES, Ohio — July 17, 2013 — Pole-sitter R.J. Conley claimed his first career DIRTcar Summer Nationals “Hell Tour” victory Wednesday night at Brushcreek Motorspoirts Park.

Conley, of Wheelersburg, Ohio, started on the inside of row one with Dustin Griffin on the outside. Conley pulled out to an early lead but relinquished it on a lap-17 restart to Jason Jameson, who had maneuvered his way to the front after starting in fifth. Jameson, who utilized the top groove to make his way to the front, stretched his lead over the rest of the field.

Jameson, of Lawrenceburg, Ind., dominated the next five laps and looked to be the car to beat, until his machine slowed on lap 23, letting Conley slip back in front. Conley then moved up the track and held off a late-race charge from Greg Johnson, who kept his car glued to the bottom and had a fender under Conley a few times but could never gather enough momentum to make a pass for the lead, letting Conley capture the $5,000 checkered flag. (more…)

PEORIA, Ill. — July 15, 2013 — Mike Harrison extended his DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals points lead over Rusty Griffaw after he turned leader Kenny Wallace in the final corner and drove to the checkers to claim his fourth win of the 2013 tour on Monday night at Peoria Speedway.

The top two in final points of the 2012 series championship, Harrison, of Highland, Ill., and Wallace, of St. Louis, Mo., shared the front row. Wallace got the jump on Harrison in the high groove and pulled out to an early lead before an early race caution bunched the field.

Wallace again started quickly and tried to hold off Harrison, who could get to Wallace’s bumper but could never get a nose under him. Harrison finally got position on Wallace as Milo Veloz Jr. joined the battle for the lead. Harrison and Wallace raced side-by-side for the next handful of laps with Veloz lurking behind them, but Wallace maintained the top spot in the faster outside line. (more…)

PEORIA, Ill. — July 15, 2013 — Defending Summer Nationals champion Brian Shirley claimed his first victory of the six week-long tour Monday night after completing a daring last-lap pass on leader Mike Spatola exiting turn two en route to capturing the checkered flag at Peoria Speedway.

Shirley, of Chatham, Ill., started on the pole of the 40-lapper alongside Spatola and charged out to an early lead, but the quarter-mile track proved to be tricky, as Shirley hopped the cushion on lap 16 letting Spatola around him for the lead.

Shirley and Spatola continued to swap the lead back-and-forth for most of the race before Spatola finally pulled away on lap 30. Once again, though, the track bit the leader, this time getting Spatola and allowing Shirley and points-leader Brandon Sheppard to join the battle for the win. (more…)

DANVILLE, Ill. — July 14, 2013 — Ryan Thomas scored his second victory of the 2013 Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals in dominating fashion on Sunday night, leading every lap but the first one at Vermilion County Speedway.

Thomas, of Martinsville, Ind., becomes only the third repeat winner of the six-week 2013 season. Thomas started on the outside of Steven Brooks, of New Lenox, Ill., on the front row as the field thundered to the green flag. Brooks got the early jump on Thomas before surrendering the lead on lap 2 to Thomas, who made his move to the front in the low groove.

Thomas quickly extended his lead over Brooks, who had his hands full with Brian Lynn and Nick Allen. Brooks allowed Lynn by him for a few laps before finally recapturing the second position, but no one could catch Thomas, who had extended his lead over the field. Eventually Brooks had a chance to pass Thomas with two to go but could not pull even with him as Thomas held him off to capture the $1,000 checkered flag. (more…)