PONTOON BEACH, Ill. – June 21, 2013 -Michael Long had the DIRTcar UMP Modified to beat all night on Friday at Tri-City Speedway, but he had to outduel late-charging Levi Kissinger to become the sixth different winner during the 2013 DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals tour.

Long, of Fowler, Ill., started from the pole and led 24 of the 25 laps, only losing the lead once as the field came to the white flag. Long faced challenges from three different drivers during the feature, but he didn’t lose the lead until he jumped the cushion in turn four allowing Kissinger to move in front. Kissinger led for one lap before being outdueled in the final turn by Long, who went on to secure the $1,000 checkered flag. (more…)

PONTOON BEACH, Ill. – June 21, 2013 – Chris Simpson passed Brady Smith for the lead on lap 18, then led the remaining 22 laps en route to his first DIRTcar Summer Nationals “Hell Tour” victory on Friday night at Tri-City Speedway.

With a field of 43 cars in attendance, Simpson of Oxford, Iowa, started the race from the fourth position and ran third for the first 10 laps. Then he changed his driving line and ran down pole-sitter Brian Shirley, who was running second. Simpson was definitely in the right groove because after he cruised past Shirley, he went by Smith and captured the $10,000 checkered flag.

“I jumped up to the top early there and wasn’t too good,” Simpson said. “So I just ran that momentum line. I bought this car from Brian Birkhofer and I’ve watched him win a lot of races running that line. It worked for us tonight.” (more…)

BELLEVILLE, Ill.— Brian Beilong started on the outside of the front row on Thursday night at Belle-Clair Speedway and kept his DIRTcar UMP Modified on the outside all night, cruising to his first win in the 2013 DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals.

Beilong, of Summerfield, Ill., made slight contact with the wall early in A-main as he passed Rusty Griffaw for the lead. The only challenge to Beilong’s lead after that came from eventual runner-up Dean Hoffman, as the two caught the back of the field late in the race. Beilong cut through the traffic and picked up his $1,000 paycheck.

“The starting spot kind helped a little,” Bielong said. (more…)

BELLEVILLE, Ill. – June 20, 2013 – Brandon Sheppard continues to own his home state of Illinois, dominating the DIRTcar Summer Nationals “Hell Tour” event on Thursday night at Belle-Clair Speedway for his second consecutive victory.

Sheppard started on the pole and utilized the high side on the small 1/6th-mile oval. Kevin Weaver challenged him early before a tangle with lapped traffic ended his chances.

Sheppard, from New Berlin, Ill., cashed his second $5,000 paycheck in the fifth installment of this year’s Hell Tour. Former DIRTcar Late Model national champion Ryan Unzicker, of El Paso, Ill., continued his strong run at the title with a runner-up finish.

“I just love to coming to Belleville, you get on the top and let her eat,” said Sheppard in victory lane. “That’s what I love about this place. There’s always something to hold you up there.” (more…)

CANTON, Ill. — June 19, 2013 —Defending DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals champion Kenny Wallace picked up his first victory of the 2013 tour on Wednesday night at Spoon River Speedway.

Wallace started on the outside of the front row and quickly charged to the front with Michael Long in pursuit at the 3/8-mile track. As the top five pulled away, Jake Griffin thrilled the crowd by wheeling his car around the cushion in an effort to run down Wallace and Long. Griffin’s efforts went for naught, though, when he slipped over the banking on the backstretch while running second with two laps to go.

Wallace held off Long for the $1,000 victory on a green-white-checkered finish, with Jeff Curl, Griffin and Allen Weisser rounding out the top five.

(more…)

“Dirty Jersey 60” Co-Promoter Stewart Friesen Takes Second after Starting Fifteenth
NEW EGYPT, N. J. – Thursday, June 20 – It seemed like nothing could stop Pennsylvania’s Rick Laubach, who led a tough 60 laps at New Egypt Speedway Wednesday, June 19, staying ahead of a highly competitive field and fending off late-race charges from the series point leader to claim a Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modified victory.

“I just got the lead, and I know this place,” said Laubach, out of Quakertown, Penn. “I’ve run here — not in the past two years, but, prior to that, three years in a row. I know the lines, and what to do, and it worked out.” (more…)

WILMOT, Wis. — June 16, 2013 — Mitch McGrath topped a field of 53 modifieds on Sundaynight at Wilmot Raceway to win the fourth stop on this year’s DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals tour.

McGrath, of Neosho, Wis., battled Craig Priewe wheel-to-wheel down the stretch before Priewe’s motor let go just as the two were coming to the white flag. McGrath went around Priewe on the outside and powered to the checkered flag worth $1,000.

“I was just trying to keep mine together,” McGrath said. “Mine was running a little bit rough at the end and I was getting real loose. He was a lot better than I was. I hate to see his motor go south. It’s always good fun racing with him.” (more…)

Photo Courtesy: DirtonDirt

WILMOT, Wis. — June 16, 2013 — After breaking a driveshaft while leading two nights earlier, Kevin Weaver bounced back in a big way on Sunday night by capturing his first DIRTcar Summer Nationals “Hell Tour” victory in five seasons at Wilmot Raceway.

Weaver, of Gibson City, Ill., started outside of the first row in his Jimmy John’s-sponsored car and was definitely “freaky fast” on the high side the majority of the night en route to capturing the $5,000 checkered flag. Weaver held off pole sitter Brandon Sheppard, giving Sheppard his second consecutive runner-up finish.

“It was just an awesome car and an awesome race for me tonight,” said Weaver, the 2000 DIRTcar Summer Nationals champion. (more…)

BROWNSTOWN, Ind. — June 12, 2013 — Three-time DIRTcar Summer Nationals champion Dennis Erb Jr. kicked off the 2013 Hell Tour with a big victory in the 30th Annual Hoosier Dirt Classic at Brownstown Speedway.

Erb opened the grueling six-week series with in thrilling fashion, starting 18th and charging through the field to run down leader Jason Jameson with five to go, then hold on to the $5,000 checkered flag. Jameson was second with Shannon Babb, Bobby Pierce and Mike Jewell rounding out the top five.

(Click here for news and information on the DIRTcar Summer Nationals.)

Heat race winners included Brandon Sheppard, Mike Jewell, Tim Rivers and Jason McBride. Steve Francis topped the 32-car field in qualifying with a lap of 14.842 seconds.

The DIRTcar Summer Nationals Hell Tour continues on Friday and Saturday with the annual Masters event at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis. (more…)

Tremendous Racing Highlights Start Of New Expanded Dream Format

ROSSBURG, OH – June 6, 2013 – Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., and Matt Miller of Whitehouse, Ohio, kicked off the new expanded Dirt Late Model Dream XIX Presented by Ferris Commercial Mowers weekend with victories in Thursday night’s Twin 25-lap features at Eldora Speedway.

With the DIRTcar UMP-sanctioned event’s 84-car field split in half by time-trial results, Richards captured the frenetic first A-Main for odd-numbered qualifiers and Miller soared to the checkered flag in the nightcap reserved for even-numbered qualifiers.

Richards, 25, pulled off a dramatic last-lap pass of Ashland, Ky.’s Steve Francis to grab the $2,500 top prize in the wildly-competitive first feature, which included seven lead changes among four drivers. A caution flag with two laps remaining put Richards on Francis’s outside for the restart and he took full advantage of the opportunity, surging by Francis off the top of turn two on the final circuit. (more…)