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Highland, Ill. – June 20, 2012 – Rodney Melvin has won a few DIRTcar Summer Nationals races in his day, but maybe none more thrilling than his last lap victory at Highland Speedway on Wednesday night that netted him a nice $5,000 payday.
Melvin, of Benton, Ill., meticulously battled his way from a seventh-place starting spot over the 40-lap main event to put himself in a three-way battle for the lead in the last five laps with then leader Randy Korte of Highland, Ill., and 2010 Hell Tour champion Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill. Melvin worked the low side and moving past Feger with two to go and then grabbed the lead from Korte exiting turn two on the final lap. Korte, a former UMP DIRTcar Late Model National Champion finished second with Feger third. Current Hell Tour point leader Shannon Babb crossed the line fourth. Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., who is Babb’s closest contender in the point standings, rounded out the top five.
(Click here for news and information on the DIRTcar Summer Nationals.)
The tour will return to action Thursday night at Fayette County Speedway in Brownstown, Ill., where Jason Feger won the Summer Nationals event in 2011.
DIRTcar Summer Nationals Statistical Report; Highland Speedway; Highland, Ill.; June 20, 2012 A-Main (40-laps): 1. Rodney Melvin ($5,000), 2. Randy Korte, 3. Jason Feger, 4. Shannon Babb, 5. Brian Shirley, 6. Bobby Pierce, 7. Ryan Unzicker, 8. Wendell Wallace, 9. Kevin Weaver, 10. Brandon Sheppard, 11. Mike Spatola, 12. Chad Zobrist, 13. Jon Henry, 14. Tanner English, 15. Dennis Erb Jr., 16. Frank Heckenast Jr., 17. Jason McBride, 18. Kevin Cole, 19. Billy Moyer Jr., 20. Frankie Martin, 21. Mark Burgtorf, 22. Rusty Schlenk.Fast qualifiers (among 42 cars): Unzicker,Pierce, Heckenast, Wallace. Heat race winners: Feger, Shirley, Korte, Babb. B-main winner: Erb. Provisional starters: Moyer, Spatola, Schlenk, Martin. C-main winner: Jason Riggs.
2012 DIRTcar Summer Nationals Schedule
|
Date |
Track |
Location |
Winner (Cars) |
|
13-Jun |
Brownstown Speedway |
Brownstown, IN |
Billy Moyer Jr. (49) |
|
14-Jun |
Kankakee County Speedway |
Kankakee, IL |
Shannon Babb(45) |
|
15-Jun |
Cedar Lake Speedway |
Somerset, WI |
Billy Moyer Jr. (37) |
|
16-Jun |
Cedar Lake Speedway |
Somerset, WI |
Billy Moyer Jr. (32) |
|
17-Jun |
Wilmot Raceway |
Wilmot, WI |
Ryan Unzicker (31) |
|
19-Jun |
Spoon River Speedway |
Canton, IL |
Jon Henry (38) |
|
20-Jun |
Highland Speedway |
Highland, IL |
Rodney Melvin (42) |
|
21-Jun |
Fayette Co. Speedway |
Brownstown, IL |
|
|
22-Jun |
Tri City Speedway |
Pontoon Beach, IL |
|
|
23-Jun |
Fairbury Speedway |
Fairbury, IL |
|
|
24-Jun |
I-96 Speedway |
Lake Odessa, MI |
|
|
26-Jun |
Lincoln Park Speedway |
Putnamville, IN |
|
|
27-Jun |
Belle Clair Speedway |
Belleville, IL |
|
|
28-Jun |
Clay Hill Motorsports Park |
Atwood, TN |
|
|
29-Jun |
Paducah Int. Raceway |
Paducah, KY |
|
|
30-Jun |
Federated Auto Parts I-55 |
Pevely, MO |
|
|
1-Jul |
Lincoln Speedway |
Lincoln, IL |
|
|
2-Jul |
Peoria Speedway |
Peoria, IL |
|
|
3-Jul |
Jacksonville Speedway |
Jacksonville, IL |
|
|
4-Jul |
Lasalle Speedway |
Lasalle, IL |
|
|
5-Jul |
Macon Speedway |
Macon, IL |
|
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6-Jul |
Quincy Raceways |
Quincy, IL |
|
|
7-Jul |
Clarksville Speedway |
Clarksville, TN |
|
|
8-Jul |
Tri State Speedway |
Haubstadt, IN |
|
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10-Jul |
Florence Speedway |
Union, KY |
|
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11-Jul |
Brushcreek Motorsports |
Pebbles, OH |
|
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12-Jul |
Terre Haute Action Track |
Terre Haute, IN |
|
|
13-Jul |
Attica Raceway Park |
Attica, OH |
|
|
14-Jul |
Oakshade Raceway |
Wauseon, OH |
The DIRTcar Summer Nationals (The Hell Tour) is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and 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, Chevy Performance Parts, Intercomp, JE Pistons, Klotz Lubricants, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Quartermaster, Superflow Dyno’s, UNOH (University of Northwestern Ohio), Wix Filters, and Wrisco Aluminum.Â