UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals Night 1: Erb Opens Tour With Victory At Kankakee
KANKAKEE , IL – June 15, 2007 – Dennis Erb Jr. is off to a great start on the 2007 UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals.
One of the Midwest ’s hottest drivers entering this year’s grueling tour, Erb marched to victory in Friday night’s 40-lap Summernationals opener at Kankakee Motor Speedway.
Erb, 34, of Carpentersville , Ill. , earned $10,000 for capturing the UMP DIRTcar Summernationals lidlifter for the second consecutive season. Last year he went on finish fifth in the tour point standings.
A winner of two $10,000 World of Outlaws Late Model Series A-Mains last month, Erb continued his big-money surge by driving forward from the eighth starting spot in his Petroff Towing/Thomason Transportation Rayburn. He passed race-long pacesetter Rodney Melvin of Benton , Ill. , for the lead on lap 25 and never looked back.
It was the fourth career Summernationals triumph for Erb, a favorite to stand as the points champion at the end of this year’s 28-race/30-day series.
Melvin, who has raced infrequently so far this season while gearing up for a Summernationals assault, held on to finish second at the high-banked oval.
Mike Marlar, a first-time Summernationals hopeful from Winfield , Tenn. , came from the 12th starting spot to finish third, followed by 2004 Summernationals titlist Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., and current UMP DIRTcar Racing national Late Model points leader Wes Steidinger of Fairbury, Ill., who started from the pole position.
Getting off to a tough start was 2006 Summernationals points runner-up Jeep VanWormer of Pinconning, Mich. He started seventh but was the first driver out of race, finishing 21st.
Forty-four cars entered the event.
Heat winners were Melvin, O’Neal, Ryan Dauber of Tonica , Ill. , and Steidinger, and Matt Miller of Waterville , Ohio , and Jason Feger of Springfield , Ill. , captured the B-Mains.
Heat 1
1. 64 Dauber
2. 42 Casey
3. 4 Johnson
4. 56 Carney
5. 7 Miller
6. B12 Weaver
7. 88 Babb
8. 16 Izzo
9. 12 Bland
10. 3Z Zakrajsek
11. 58 Diemel
Heat 2
1. J1 Stiedinger
2. 6K Korte
3. 55T Toczek
4. 10H Hilleary
5. E5K Kirchott
6. 18 Knippenburg
7. 14K Adams
8. 5S Sheppard
9. 74 Scheffler
10. 99 Heckanast
11. 92 Pleasant
Heat 3
1. 27 Melvin
2. 55 Vanwormer
3. 19 Slager
4. 25 Fegers
5. 33 Manville
6. 10S Scheffler
7. 0 Hedrick
8. 75 Moore
9. 14M Mathew
10. 11 Dimmick
11. 61 Clemmons
Heat 4
1. 71 O'Neal
2. 28 Erb
3. 34 Marlar
4. 1M Mataragas
5. 7B Durgtorf
6. 91 Schelenk
7. 23 Lommis
8. 24 Unzicker
9. M27 Provanzano
10. 43 Felker
11. 15 Mineo
Consi 1
1. 7 Matt Miller
2. B12 Kevin Weaver
3. 74 Russ Scheffler
4. 5 Eddie Kirchott
5. 58 AJ Diemel
6. 12 Jordan Bland
7. 56 Zach Carney
8. 18 Knippenburg
9. 3Z Steve Zakrajsek
10. 14 Kenny Adams
11. 92 Rusty Pleasant
12. 16 Tony Izzo
13. 99 Frank Heckanast
14. 88 Terry Babb
15. 10H Don Hilleary
16. 5S Steve Sheppard
Consi 2
1. 25 Jason Fegers
2. 91 Rusty Schlenk
3. M27 Mike Provanzano
4. 10S George Scheffler
5. 7B Mark Durgtorf
6. 33 Timm Manville
7. 75 Dusty Moore
8. 11 Steve Dimmick
9. 43 Jim Felker
10. 15 Jim Mineo
11. 14M Kerry Mathew
12. 0 Ritchie Hedrick
13. 1M Mike Matragas
14. 23 Ted Loomis-NS
15. 24 Ryan Unzicker-NS
16. 61 John Clemmons-NS
UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals Feature Finish (40 laps):
1. 28 Dennis Erb(8)
2. 27 Rodney Melvin(2)
3. 34 Mike Marlar(12)
4. 71 Don Oneal(4)
5. J1 Wes Steidinger(1)
6. 4 Greg Johnson(9)
7. 42 Terry Casey(5)
8. B12 Kevin Weaver(15)
9. 7M Matt Miller(13)
10. 6K Randy Korte(6)
11. 5S Steve Sheppard(19)
12. 55 Shawn Toczek(10)
13. 0 Ritchie Hedrick(20)
14. 25 Jason Fegers(14)
15. 91 Rusty Schlenk(16)
16. 74 Russ Scheffler(17)
17. 64 Ryan Dauber(3)
18. 19 Garrett Slager(11)
19. M27 Mike Provanzano(18)
20. 16 Tony Izzo(21)
21. 55V Jeep Vanwormer(7)
2007 UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals Schedule
6/15 – Fri. – Kankakee Motor Speedway/Kankakee, IL (Dennis Erb Jr.)
6/16 – Sat. – Kamp Motor Speedway/Boswell, IN
6/17 – Sun. – Tri-State Speedway / Haubstadt , IN
6/18 – Mon. – Jefferson County Raceway/ Mt. Vernon , IL
6/19 – Tues. – Lebanon I-44 Speedway/Lebanon, MO
6/20 – Wed. – Highland Speedway/Highland, IL
6/21 – Thurs. – Morgan County Speedway / Jacksonville , IL
6/22 – Fri. – Farmer City Raceway/Farmer City, IL
6/23 – Sat. – I-55 Raceway/Pevely, MO
6/24 – Sun. – Lincoln Speedway/Lincoln, IL
6/25 – Mon. – Peoria Speedway/Peoria, IL
6/26 – Tues. – Poplar Bluff Speedway/Poplar Bluff, MO
6/27 – Wed. – Lake Ozark Speedway / Eldon , MO
6/28 – Thurs. – Paducah International Raceway/Paducah, KY
6/29 – Fri. – Western Kentucky Speedway/Nebo, KY
6/30 – Sat. – Clarksville Speedway/Clarksville, TN
7/1 – Sun. – Vermilion County Speedway / Danville , IL
7/2 – Mon. – Midway Speedway/Crooksville, OH
7/3 – Tues. – Lawrenceburg Speedway/Lawrenceburg, IN
7/4 – Wed. – Day Off
7/5 – Thurs. – Macon Speedway/Macon, IL
7/6 – Fri. – Tri-City Speedway / Pontoon Beach , IL
7/7 – Sat. – Fairbury American Legion Speedway/Fairbury, IL
7/8 – Sun. – Quad City Speedway/East Moline , IL
7/9 – Mon. – C.J. Raceway/Columbus Junction, IA
7/10 – Tues. – Quincy Raceway/Quincy, IL
7/11 – Wed. – Spoon River Speedway/Canton, IL
7/12 – Thurs. – LaSalle Speedway/LaSalle, IL
7/13 – Fri. – Day Off
7/14 – Sat. – Oakshade Raceway/Wauseon, OH
KANKAKEE , IL – June 15, 2007 – Dennis Erb Jr. is off to a great start on the 2007 UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals.
One of the Midwest ’s hottest drivers entering this year’s grueling tour, Erb marched to victory in Friday night’s 40-lap Summernationals opener at Kankakee Motor Speedway.
Erb, 34, of Carpentersville , Ill. , earned $10,000 for capturing the UMP DIRTcar Summernationals lidlifter for the second consecutive season. Last year he went on finish fifth in the tour point standings.
A winner of two $10,000 World of Outlaws Late Model Series A-Mains last month, Erb continued his big-money surge by driving forward from the eighth starting spot in his Petroff Towing/Thomason Transportation Rayburn. He passed race-long pacesetter Rodney Melvin of Benton , Ill. , for the lead on lap 25 and never looked back.
It was the fourth career Summernationals triumph for Erb, a favorite to stand as the points champion at the end of this year’s 28-race/30-day series.
Melvin, who has raced infrequently so far this season while gearing up for a Summernationals assault, held on to finish second at the high-banked oval.
Mike Marlar, a first-time Summernationals hopeful from Winfield , Tenn. , came from the 12th starting spot to finish third, followed by 2004 Summernationals titlist Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., and current UMP DIRTcar Racing national Late Model points leader Wes Steidinger of Fairbury, Ill., who started from the pole position.
Getting off to a tough start was 2006 Summernationals points runner-up Jeep VanWormer of Pinconning, Mich. He started seventh but was the first driver out of race, finishing 21st.
Forty-four cars entered the event.
Heat winners were Melvin, O’Neal, Ryan Dauber of Tonica , Ill. , and Steidinger, and Matt Miller of Waterville , Ohio , and Jason Feger of Springfield , Ill. , captured the B-Mains.
Heat 1
1. 64 Dauber
2. 42 Casey
3. 4 Johnson
4. 56 Carney
5. 7 Miller
6. B12 Weaver
7. 88 Babb
8. 16 Izzo
9. 12 Bland
10. 3Z Zakrajsek
11. 58 Diemel
Heat 2
1. J1 Stiedinger
2. 6K Korte
3. 55T Toczek
4. 10H Hilleary
5. E5K Kirchott
6. 18 Knippenburg
7. 14K Adams
8. 5S Sheppard
9. 74 Scheffler
10. 99 Heckanast
11. 92 Pleasant
Heat 3
1. 27 Melvin
2. 55 Vanwormer
3. 19 Slager
4. 25 Fegers
5. 33 Manville
6. 10S Scheffler
7. 0 Hedrick
8. 75 Moore
9. 14M Mathew
10. 11 Dimmick
11. 61 Clemmons
Heat 4
1. 71 O'Neal
2. 28 Erb
3. 34 Marlar
4. 1M Mataragas
5. 7B Durgtorf
6. 91 Schelenk
7. 23 Lommis
8. 24 Unzicker
9. M27 Provanzano
10. 43 Felker
11. 15 Mineo
Consi 1
1. 7 Matt Miller
2. B12 Kevin Weaver
3. 74 Russ Scheffler
4. 5 Eddie Kirchott
5. 58 AJ Diemel
6. 12 Jordan Bland
7. 56 Zach Carney
8. 18 Knippenburg
9. 3Z Steve Zakrajsek
10. 14 Kenny Adams
11. 92 Rusty Pleasant
12. 16 Tony Izzo
13. 99 Frank Heckanast
14. 88 Terry Babb
15. 10H Don Hilleary
16. 5S Steve Sheppard
Consi 2
1. 25 Jason Fegers
2. 91 Rusty Schlenk
3. M27 Mike Provanzano
4. 10S George Scheffler
5. 7B Mark Durgtorf
6. 33 Timm Manville
7. 75 Dusty Moore
8. 11 Steve Dimmick
9. 43 Jim Felker
10. 15 Jim Mineo
11. 14M Kerry Mathew
12. 0 Ritchie Hedrick
13. 1M Mike Matragas
14. 23 Ted Loomis-NS
15. 24 Ryan Unzicker-NS
16. 61 John Clemmons-NS
UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals Feature Finish (40 laps):
1. 28 Dennis Erb(8)
2. 27 Rodney Melvin(2)
3. 34 Mike Marlar(12)
4. 71 Don Oneal(4)
5. J1 Wes Steidinger(1)
6. 4 Greg Johnson(9)
7. 42 Terry Casey(5)
8. B12 Kevin Weaver(15)
9. 7M Matt Miller(13)
10. 6K Randy Korte(6)
11. 5S Steve Sheppard(19)
12. 55 Shawn Toczek(10)
13. 0 Ritchie Hedrick(20)
14. 25 Jason Fegers(14)
15. 91 Rusty Schlenk(16)
16. 74 Russ Scheffler(17)
17. 64 Ryan Dauber(3)
18. 19 Garrett Slager(11)
19. M27 Mike Provanzano(18)
20. 16 Tony Izzo(21)
21. 55V Jeep Vanwormer(7)
2007 UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals Schedule
6/15 – Fri. – Kankakee Motor Speedway/Kankakee, IL (Dennis Erb Jr.)
6/16 – Sat. – Kamp Motor Speedway/Boswell, IN
6/17 – Sun. – Tri-State Speedway / Haubstadt , IN
6/18 – Mon. – Jefferson County Raceway/ Mt. Vernon , IL
6/19 – Tues. – Lebanon I-44 Speedway/Lebanon, MO
6/20 – Wed. – Highland Speedway/Highland, IL
6/21 – Thurs. – Morgan County Speedway / Jacksonville , IL
6/22 – Fri. – Farmer City Raceway/Farmer City, IL
6/23 – Sat. – I-55 Raceway/Pevely, MO
6/24 – Sun. – Lincoln Speedway/Lincoln, IL
6/25 – Mon. – Peoria Speedway/Peoria, IL
6/26 – Tues. – Poplar Bluff Speedway/Poplar Bluff, MO
6/27 – Wed. – Lake Ozark Speedway / Eldon , MO
6/28 – Thurs. – Paducah International Raceway/Paducah, KY
6/29 – Fri. – Western Kentucky Speedway/Nebo, KY
6/30 – Sat. – Clarksville Speedway/Clarksville, TN
7/1 – Sun. – Vermilion County Speedway / Danville , IL
7/2 – Mon. – Midway Speedway/Crooksville, OH
7/3 – Tues. – Lawrenceburg Speedway/Lawrenceburg, IN
7/4 – Wed. – Day Off
7/5 – Thurs. – Macon Speedway/Macon, IL
7/6 – Fri. – Tri-City Speedway / Pontoon Beach , IL
7/7 – Sat. – Fairbury American Legion Speedway/Fairbury, IL
7/8 – Sun. – Quad City Speedway/East Moline , IL
7/9 – Mon. – C.J. Raceway/Columbus Junction, IA
7/10 – Tues. – Quincy Raceway/Quincy, IL
7/11 – Wed. – Spoon River Speedway/Canton, IL
7/12 – Thurs. – LaSalle Speedway/LaSalle, IL
7/13 – Fri. – Day Off
7/14 – Sat. – Oakshade Raceway/Wauseon, OH
