HomeDirt Late Model NewsMatt Miller claims 2014 UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals finale event at Oakshade...

Matt Miller claims 2014 UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals finale event at Oakshade Raceway!

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Matt Miller - Jim Denhamer photo
Matt Miller – Jim Denhamer photo

Miller Captures Oakshade Raceway Win, Babb Scores Fourth Career DIRTcar Summer Nationals Title

By Jordan Morris

WAUSEON, Ohio. — July 19, 2014 — On the night of champions, local star Matt Miller charged his way from the third position to capture the lead on lap 17 en route to claiming the $10,000 checkered flag at his hometown track of Oakshade Raceway for the second year in-a-row, and third time in his career.

Shannon Babb, who only needed a 19th place finish to secure his fourth DIRTcar Summer Nationals title, finished in the third position and easily scored the $25,000 series title for the first time since 2011.

Miller, of Whitehouse, Ohio, started the 40-lap feature from the third position as Mason Zeigler and Jeep Van Wormer started on the front row. Zeigler, after winning Thursday and Friday nights, looked as if he would accomplish the three-night sweep after jumping out to an early lead.

Saturday night had the look of the previous two nights as Zeigler managed to dominate the opening 16-laps of the feature. Unlike his previous two victories, the leader was reeled in by Miller who passed Van Wormer for second on lap five, and tracked down the leader by lap 16.

Miller, the 1991 Oakshade Raceway track champion, powered around ZeiglerÂ’s outside on lap 17, completing the pass and securing the lead. Miller stretched his lead by the halfway point as Zeigler came under fire from championship hopeful Ryan Unzicker for second.

Unzicker, who started the night 45-markers behind Shannon Babb for the title, worked his way around Zeigler for second just before Zeigler lost control of his car, causing the raceÂ’s only caution on lap 38. Unzicker pressured Miller for the top spot but fell short of claiming the victory yet again as he finished second for the seventh time of the 2014 season.

Miller led 24 laps and defeated Unzicker by .759 of a second en route to claiming the checkered flag for the second year in-a-row at his hometown track of Oakshade Raceway.

“This one is fun,” Miller said in victory lane. “There’s always going to be a race in September (the World 100 at nearby Eldora Speedway) that’s at the top of my list, but this is definitely a good one. We’re close to home and we’ve got tons of fans and people I know up there in the stands, so there’s no doubt I get pumped up for this race.”

Shannon Babb, of Moweaqua, Ill., started the feature in the seventh position, just behind championship rivals Ryan Unzicker and Brian Shirley. Babb chased Unzicker through the field, eventually finding their way to the front, as Shirley was a non-factor and finished in the sixth position.

Babb did what he needed to do in order to recapture the championship trophy. Babb glued himself to UnzickerÂ’s back-bumper, and even challenged him for the second position in the final stages of the race.

Babb settled for a third place finish – which was his series leading 17th top-five finish to go with four victories – as he captured his fourth career DIRTcar Summer Nationals title by 38-points over Ryan Unzicker.

“It’s really hard to get these,” said Babb, who admitted to getting nervous before the race started. “Thirty nights of racing is a lot. You have a lot of ups and downs, but we got it done.”

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

Brandon Sheppard and Jeep Van Wormer rounded out the top five.

Heat race winners were Zeigler, Miller, Sheppard and Van Wormer.

DIRTcar Summer Nationals Statistical Report; Oakshade Raceway; Wauseon, Ohio; July 19, 2014;

A-Main (40-laps): 1. 3-Matt Miller ($10,000), 2. 24-Ryan Unzicker, 3. 18-Shannon Babb, 4. B5-Brandon Sheppard, 5. 55-Jeep Van Wormer, 6. 81-Brian Shirley, 7. 32J-Jason Jaggers, 8. 21D-Dan Stone, 9. 20C-Duane Chamberlain, 10. 23V-Ryan Vanderveen, 11. 25Z-Mason Zeigler, 12. 49-Brian Ruhlman, 13. 91-Rusty Schlenk, 14. 77K-Steve Kester, 15. 9R-Curtis Roberts, 16. 1N-Casey Noonan, 17. 99M-Devin Moran, 18. 81JR-Jason Riggs, 19. 25L-Steve Lance Jr, 20. 0-Chris Keller, 21. 6M-Dona Marcoullier, 22. 20-Doug Drown.

2014 DIRTcar Summer Nationals Schedule

Date Day Track Location Win
June 11 Wed Brownstown Speedway Brownstown, Ind. RAIN
June 12 Thur Kankakee Co. Speedway Kankakee, Ill. Billy Moyer
June 13 Fri Cedar Lake Speedway Somerset, Wis. Rick Eckert
June 14 Sat Cedar Lake Speedway Somerset, Wis. RAIN
June 15 Sun Wilmot Raceway Wilmot, Wis. Rick Eckert(2)
June 16 Mon Off
June 17 Tue Farley Speedway Farley, Iowa Shannon Babb
June 18 Wed Spoon River Speedway Canton, Ill. Jason Feger
June 19 Thur Quincy Raceways Quincy, Ill. RAIN
June 20 Fri Tri-City Speedway Pontoon Beach, Ill. Billy Moyer(2)
June 21 Sat Fairbury Speedway Fairbury, Ill. RAIN
June 22 Sun I-96 Speedway Ionia, Mich. Brian Shirley
June 23 Mon Peoria Speedway Peoria, Ill. Brandon Sheppard
June 24 Tue Off
June 25 Wed Clarksville Speedway Clarksville, Tenn. Shannon Babb(2)
June 26 Thur Clayhill Motorsports Atwood, Tenn. Brian Shirley (2)
June 27 Fri Paducah Int. Raceway Paducah, Ky. RAIN
June 28 Sat Federated Auto Parts Raceway Pevely, Mo. Brian Birkhofer
June 29 Sun Lincoln Speedway Lincoln, Ill. Brady Smith
June 30 Mon Off
July 1 Tue Belle Clair Speedway Belleville, Ill. Bobby Pierce
July 2 Wed Jacksonville Speedway Jacksonville, Ill. Jason Feger(2)
July 3 Thur LaSalle Speedway LaSalle, Ill. Brian Birkhofer(2)
July 4 Fri Fayette Co. Speedway Brownstown, Ill. Brandon Sheppard(2)
July 5 Sat Highland Speedway Highland, Ill. Tyler Reddick
July 6 Sun Tri-State Speedway Haubstadt, Ind. Billy Moyer(3)
July 7 Mon Off
July 8 Tue Florence Speedway Union, Ky. Jason Jameson
July 9 Wed Terre Haute Action Track Terre Haute, Ind. Billy Moyer(4)
July 10 Thur Macon Speedway Macon, Ill. Shannon Babb(3)
July 11 Fri Farmer City Raceway Farmer City, Ill. Billy Moyer(5)
July 12 Sat 34 Raceway Burlington, Iowa Billy Moyer (6)
July 13 Sun Vermilion Co. Speedway Danville, Ill. Shannon Babb(4)
July 14 Mon Off
July 15 Tue TBA
July 16 Wed Atomic Speedway Chillicothe, Ohio Brian Shirley (3)
July 17 Thur Brushcreek Motorsports Complex Peebles, Ohio Mason Zeigler
July 18 Fri Attica Raceway Park Attica, Ohio Mason Zeigler (2)
July 19 Sat Oakshade Raceway Wauseon, Ohio Matt Miller

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 Electronics (Official Communication), Velocita (Official Uniform), VP Racing Fuel (Official Racing Fuel); in addition to these fine Contingency Partners: Beyea Headers, Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Dominator Race Products, Edelbrock, Fox Shocks, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, Mobil 1, MSD, Quartermaster, Superflow Dynos, Summit Racing Equipment and Wrisco Aluminum; Promotional Partners include: Chevy Performance Parts, Indiana Decal, Intercomp and Petroff Towing. 

 

Super Late Models – A-Main
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 3 3    Matt Miller    Findlay , Oh
2 5 24    Ryan Unzicker    El Paso, Il
3 7 18    Shannon Babb    Moweaqua , Il
4 4 B5    Brandon Sheppard    New Berlin, Il
5 2 55    Jeep Van Wormer    Pinconning , Mi
6 6 81    Brian Shirley    Chatham , Il
7 9 32J    Jason Jaggers    Wyanet , Il
8 8 21D    Dan Stone    Thompson , Pa
9 10 20C    Duane Chamberlain    Richmond , In
10 16 23V    Ryan Vanderveen    Six Lakes, Mi
11 1 25Z    Mason Zeigler    Uniontown , Pa
12 12 49    Brian Ruhlman    Clarklake , Mi
13 13 91    Rusty Schlenk    Weston , Oh
14 18 77K    Steve Kester    Holland , Oh
15 22 9R    Curtis Roberts    Coleman , Mi DNF
16 17 1N    Casey Noonan    Toledo , Oh DNF
17 14 99M    Devin Moran    Dresden , Oh DNF
18 11 81JR    Jason Riggs    Harrisburg , Il DNF
19 19 25L    Steve Lance Jr    Cuba , Il DNF
20 21 0    Chris Keller    Adrian , Mi DNF
21 20 6M    Dona Marcoullier    Houguton Lake, Mi DNF
22 15 20    Doug Drown    Wooster , Oh DNF

Super Late Models – B-Main
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 3 1N    Casey Noonan    Toledo , Oh
2 2 77K    Steve Kester    Holland , Oh
3 1 6M    Dona Marcoullier    Houguton Lake, Mi
4 8 1B    Jeff Babcock    Wayne , Oh
5 4 1C    Wayne Chinn    Bradford , Oh
6 7 9R    Curtis Roberts    Coleman , Mi
7 5 15H    Jon Henry    Ada , Oh
8 10 0    Chris Keller    Adrian , Mi
9 12 53H    Hillard Miller    Defiance , Oh
10 14 75    Dusty Moore    Swanton , Oh
11 6 49L    Matt Lindsey    Adrian , Mi
12 13 102D    Curtis Deisenroth    Oak Harbor, Oh
13 16 35    Ron Miller    Lambertville , Mi DNF
14 15 50Y    Ryan Missler    Bellevue , Oh DNF
15 9 51S    Devin Shiels    Britton , Mi DNF
16 11 27H    Ken Hahn    Gibsonburg , Oh DNS

Super Late Models – C-Main 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 2 75    Dusty Moore    Swanton , Oh
2 1 35    Ron Miller    Lambertville , Mi
3 3 51    Jamie Oldfield    Morley , Pe
4 8 74D    Craig Dippman    Oregon , Oh
5 7 39    Amy Clair    Toledo , Oh
6 6 8    Rob Anderzack    Metamora , Oh
7 9 2C    Mark Pifer    Coldwater , Mi
8 5 29    Rocky Owens    Mansfield , Oh DNF
9 4 98    Steve Sabo    Fremont , Oh DNF

Super Late Models – C-Main 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 2 102D    Curtis Deisenroth    Oak Harbor, Oh
2 1 50Y    Ryan Missler    Bellevue , Oh
3 5 21T    Derek Thebo    Ionia , Mi
4 6 42*    Bob Mayer    Holland , Oh
5 8 69R    Doug Baird    Aluada , Oh
6 7 66    Bobby Hutchins    Wauseon , Oh
7 9 95    Steve Miller    Toledo , Oh
8 10 101Z    Chad Zuver    Alvordton , Oh
9 3 25L    Steve Lance Jr    Cuba , Il DNF
10 4 34    Herb Reich    Ann Arbor, Mi DNF
11 11 31    Daniel Gehring    Pettisville , Oh DNS

Super Late Models – Heat Race 4
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 1 55    Jeep Van Wormer    Pinconning , Mi
2 2 21D    Dan Stone    Thompson , Pa
3 5 49    Brian Ruhlman    Clarklake , Mi
4 7 23V    Ryan Vanderveen    Six Lakes, Mi
5 10 1C    Wayne Chinn    Bradford , Oh
6 3 1B    Jeff Babcock    Wayne , Oh
7 4 53H    Hillard Miller    Defiance , Oh
8 6 75    Dusty Moore    Swanton , Oh
9 8 98    Steve Sabo    Fremont , Oh
10 9 8    Rob Anderzack    Metamora , Oh
11 11 74D    Craig Dippman    Oregon , Oh

Super Late Models – Heat Race 3
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 1 B5    Brandon Sheppard    New Berlin, Il
2 3 18    Shannon Babb    Moweaqua , Il
3 7 81JR    Jason Riggs    Harrisburg , Il
4 6 20    Doug Drown    Wooster , Oh
5 2 1N    Casey Noonan    Toledo , Oh
6 5 9R    Curtis Roberts    Coleman , Mi
7 8 27H    Ken Hahn    Gibsonburg , Oh
8 9 35    Ron Miller    Lambertville , Mi
9 10 51    Jamie Oldfield    Morley , Pe
10 4 29    Rocky Owens    Mansfield , Oh
11 11 39    Amy Clair    Toledo , Oh
12 12 2C    Mark Pifer    Coldwater , Mi

Super Late Models – Heat Race 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 1 3    Matt Miller    Findlay , Oh
2 2 81    Brian Shirley    Chatham , Il
3 4 20C    Duane Chamberlain    Richmond , In
4 3 99M    Devin Moran    Dresden , Oh
5 5 77K    Steve Kester    Holland , Oh
6 7 49L    Matt Lindsey    Adrian , Mi
7 6 0    Chris Keller    Adrian , Mi
8 8 102D    Curtis Deisenroth    Oak Harbor, Oh
9 10 34    Herb Reich    Ann Arbor, Mi
10 9 42*    Bob Mayer    Holland , Oh
11 11 69R    Doug Baird    Aluada , Oh
12 12 101Z    Chad Zuver    Alvordton , Oh DNF

Super Late Models – Heat Race 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 1 25Z    Mason Zeigler    Uniontown , Pa
2 2 24    Ryan Unzicker    El Paso, Il
3 3 32J    Jason Jaggers    Wyanet , Il
4 5 91    Rusty Schlenk    Weston , Oh
5 7 6M    Dona Marcoullier    Houguton Lake, Mi
6 6 15H    Jon Henry    Ada , Oh
7 4 51S    Devin Shiels    Britton , Mi
8 8 50Y    Ryan Missler    Bellevue , Oh
9 9 25L    Steve Lance Jr    Cuba , Il
10 10 21T    Derek Thebo    Ionia , Mi
11 11 66    Bobby Hutchins    Wauseon , Oh
12 13 95    Steve Miller    Toledo , Oh
13 12 31    Daniel Gehring    Pettisville , Oh DNF

Super Late Models – Qualifying 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 23 B5    Brandon Sheppard    New Berlin, Il
2 11 55    Jeep Van Wormer    Pinconning , Mi
3 2 1N    Casey Noonan    Toledo , Oh
4 6 21D    Dan Stone    Thompson , Pa
5 16 18    Shannon Babb    Moweaqua , Il
6 21 1B    Jeff Babcock    Wayne , Oh
7 5 29    Rocky Owens    Mansfield , Oh
8 17 53H    Hillard Miller    Defiance , Oh
9 3 9R    Curtis Roberts    Coleman , Mi
10 19 49    Brian Ruhlman    Clarklake , Mi
11 15 20    Doug Drown    Wooster , Oh
12 8 75    Dusty Moore    Swanton , Oh
13 22 81JR    Jason Riggs    Harrisburg , Il
14 18 23V    Ryan Vanderveen    Six Lakes, Mi
15 4 27H    Ken Hahn    Gibsonburg , Oh
16 9 98    Steve Sabo    Fremont , Oh
17 20 35    Ron Miller    Lambertville , Mi
18 7 8    Rob Anderzack    Metamora , Oh
19 12 51    Jamie Oldfield    Morley , Pe
20 14 1C    Wayne Chinn    Bradford , Oh
21 13 39    Amy Clair    Toledo , Oh
22 10 74D    Craig Dippman    Oregon , Oh
23 1 2C    Mark Pifer    Coldwater , Mi

Super Late Models – Qualifying 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 7 25Z    Mason Zeigler    Uniontown , Pa
2 10 3    Matt Miller    Findlay , Oh
3 3 24    Ryan Unzicker    El Paso, Il
4 2 81    Brian Shirley    Chatham , Il
5 4 32J    Jason Jaggers    Wyanet , Il
6 1 99M    Devin Moran    Dresden , Oh
7 5 51S    Devin Shiels    Britton , Mi
8 6 20C    Duane Chamberlain    Richmond , In
9 11 91    Rusty Schlenk    Weston , Oh
10 15 77K    Steve Kester    Holland , Oh
11 16 15H    Jon Henry    Ada , Oh
12 17 0    Chris Keller    Adrian , Mi
13 24 6M    Dona Marcoullier    Houguton Lake, Mi
14 8 49L    Matt Lindsey    Adrian , Mi
15 12 50Y    Ryan Missler    Bellevue , Oh
16 23 102D    Curtis Deisenroth    Oak Harbor, Oh
17 14 25L    Steve Lance Jr    Cuba , Il
18 20 42*    Bob Mayer    Holland , Oh
19 18 21T    Derek Thebo    Ionia , Mi
20 21 34    Herb Reich    Ann Arbor, Mi
21 9 66    Bobby Hutchins    Wauseon , Oh
22 19 69R    Doug Baird    Aluada , Oh
23 22 31    Daniel Gehring    Pettisville , Oh
24 25 101Z    Chad Zuver    Alvordton , Oh
25 13 95    Steve Miller    Toledo , Oh

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