(MUSCATINE, IOWA) Winless in his first seventeen events of 2012, Brian Birkhofer busted through in a big way on Friday night, June 29 at the Paducah International Raceway in Paducah, Kentucky! The grueling UMP Summer Nationals tour invaded PIR last Friday to sanction the annual ‘Chris Smith Memorial.’ Brian laid down the fastest lap in his group during qualifying and later finished third in his loaded heat race.
After rolling off from the inside of the fifth row in the 40-lap feature event, Brian drove to the front of the stellar field and grabbed the top spot from leader Shannon Babb on the eighteenth circuit. The Muscatine, Iowa star then led the remainder of the distance to pocket the hefty $12,000 top prize over Billy Moyer, Jr., Jason Feger, Scott James, and Mike Spatola. The victory was Brian’s richest since he bagged $20,000 on July 15, 2011 at the Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Illinois!
Following the PIR triumph, the Birkhofer Racing team headed to the Federated Raceway at I-55 in Pevely, Missouri on Saturday evening for another “Hell Tour” tussle. Brian timed in second fastest in his group during UMP Summer Nationals qualifying and later posted a third place effort in his heat race. The popular driver known as the “Muscatine Madman” then picked off eight competitors in the $10,000 to win, 40-lap feature event to claim a strong third place performance behind only winner Billy Moyer and runner-up Brian Shirley. Full coverage and video footage from both of these programs can be viewed online at www.dirtondirt.com.
“We needed that win in a big way, not only for the money, but also for the confidence,” stated Birkhofer earlier this week. “I finally got a feel back in the car that I am looking for and I am excited about that. Aside from some truck problems, it was a great weekend at Paducah and Pevely. It seems like all year we have taken two steps forward and then three steps back. Maybe this time, we can keep moving forward and continue running strong this week at LaSalle and Deer Creek!”
Brian and his #15b team have settled on two events this week in the states of Illinois and Minnesota. The dirt-slinging action will heat back up tonight, July 4 at the LaSalle Speedway in LaSalle, Illinois. The barnstorming UMP Summer Nationals tour heads to the 1/4-mile bullring tonight and a $5,000 winner’s check is on the line. Following a couple of days off, Brian is scheduled to travel to the Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minnesota on Saturday, July 7 for the annual running of the ‘Gopher 50.’ The World of Outlaws Late Model Series will once again preside over the prestigious event, which boasts a $10,000 payday. Additional information concerning both of these races can be obtained online at www.thehelltour.com and www.worldofoutlaws.com.
View the latest dirt on the Birkhofer Racing team all year long by accessing www.brianbirkhoferracing.com.
Media Contact: Ryan Delph – Delph Communications
www.delphcommunications.com