Atwood, Tenn. – June 28, 2012 – Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., worked his way to the lead on lap 16 and never looked back to win his first DIRTcar Summer Nationals event of 2012 Thursday night at Clayhill Motorsports Park. Sheppard picked up $5,000 for the win.
Sheppard stretched his lead over the final 15 circuits pulling away from second place finisher Klint Byars of Carrollton, Miss. Veteran Wendell Wallace of Batesville Ark., drove from eighth to third over the course of the 40-lap main event. Polesitter Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., finished fourth and defending Summer Nationals Champion Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., rounded out the top five.
Current Summer National point leader Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., faded to finish sixth after leading the race.
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The tour returns to action Friday night at Paducah International Raceway in Paducah, Ky., with the tour’s highest paying winner’s purse of $12,000 on the line. Ray Cook of Brasstown, N.C., claimed the Summer Nationals win in 2011.
DIRTcar Summer Nationals Statistical Report; Clayhill Motorsports Park; Atwood, Tenn.; June 28, 2012 A-Main (40-laps): 1. Brandon Sheppard ($5,000), 2. Klint Byars, 3. Wendell Wallace, 4. Jason Feger, 5. Shannon Babb, 6. Brian Shirley, 7. Rodney Melvin, 8. Jason McBride, 9. Dennis Erb Jr., 10. Tanner English, 11. Randy Sellars, 12. Terry English, 13. Frank Heckenast Jr., 14. Jon Henry, 15. Bobby Pierce, 16. Mike Spatola, 17. Nick Bartels, 18. Billy Moyer Jr., 19. Dale Nelson, 20. Billy Moyer, 21. Caleb Ashby, 22. Ryan Unzicker. Fast qualifiers (among 28 cars): Unzicker, Byars, Sheppard. Heat race winners: Feger, Shirley, Erb. Consolation race winner: Terry English. Provisional starters: Henry, Spatola, Moyer Jr., Bartels.
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 |
Brian Shirley (41) |
|
22-Jun |
Tri City Speedway |
Pontoon Beach, IL |
Billy Moyer (43) |
|
23-Jun |
Fairbury Speedway |
Fairbury, IL |
Brian Shirley (41) |
|
24-Jun |
I-96 Speedway |
Lake Odessa, MI |
Shannon Babb (36) |
|
26-Jun |
Lincoln Park Speedway |
Putnamville, IN |
Jason Feger (21) |
|
27-Jun |
Belle Clair Speedway |
Belleville, IL |
Jason Feger (34) |
|
28-Jun |
Clay Hill Motorsports Park |
Atwood, TN |
Brandon Sheppard (28) |
|
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 |
|
|
6-Jul |
Quincy Raceways |
Quincy, IL |
|
|
7-Jul |
Clarksville Speedway |
Clarksville, TN |
|
|
8-Jul |
Tri State Speedway |
Haubstadt, IN |
|
|
10-Jul |
Florence Speedway |
Union, KY |
|
|
11-Jul |
Brushcreek Motorsports |
Pebbles, OH |
|
|
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