Dirt on Dirt - Mitchell shines at Crystal to secure $10,000

July 11

Crystal Motor Speedway,

Crystal, MI

Sanction: DIRTcar Summer Nationals - $10,000

Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated July 12, 2:56 am)

Mitchell shines at Crystal to secure $10,000

Zack Mitchell
Tyler Erb
Dillon McCowan
Eric Spangler
Mark Whitener
Jason Feger
Trey Mills
Dona Marcoullier
Devin Shiels
Brandon Thirlby
Garrett Wiles
Christian Hanger
Jeff Erickson Jr.
Tyler Millwood
Rusty Schlenk
Jacob Stuhr
Chad Finley
Cody Bauer
Travis Stemler
Mike Vandermark
Brenten DeYoung
Logan Nickerson

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Photo slideshow Feature highlights Video recap

Tyler Carr

Zack Mitchell won his second Hell Tour victory of the week.

What won the race: Polesitter Zack Mitchell of Enoree, S.C., led all 40 laps largely unchallenged to win Friday's $10,000 DIRTcar Summer Nationals return to Crystal Motor Speedway. Mitchell beat defending event winner Tyler Erb by 1.755 seconds for his second Summer Nationals victory in his last four starts after winning July 8's $5,000 series stop at Shadyhill Speedway in Medaryville, Ind.

Quotable: "Just don’t screw up like I did at Montpelier," Mitchell said, when asked what he was thinking in the closing laps. "Man this thing was on a rail tonight. It’s been on a rail all week, you know we got that win at Shadyhill. I feel like I messed up and didn’t get us a win at Montpelier. It is what it is, part of racing, but that was my fault, I just didn’t get a good restart. … We fired off really good, just everything clicked tonight and it was our night.”

Key notes: Mitchell's second victory in the last four days marks his fourth overall feature win of the season. ... Reigning Summer Nationals champ Tyler Erb trailed Mitchell for all 40 laps, but never truly challenged him, even over two late-race restarts during the final seven circuits. ... Ninth-starting Dillon McCowan grabbed third from Mark Whitener on a lap-22 restart. ... Whitener reclaimed fourth from Travis Stemler until Michigan racer Eric Spangler took the spot from him on a lap-34 restart. The sixth-starting Stemler, of Ionia, Mich., momentarily held fourth until slowing with a flat right-rear tire, drawing the race's third caution on lap 34; he opted not to change the flat and was credited with 19th. ... Jason Feger, who utilized a series provisional, briefly held fifth until Whitener got back by him as they raced towards the white flag. ... Mitchell made contact with Jeff Erickson Jr. as he attempted to lap him on the 19th circuit, sending Erickson spinning and triggering the first yellow flag. Erickson continued to finish 13th. ... Rusty Schlenk slowed from eighth with a flat right rear on lap 22, but could only recover to 15th after pitting. ... Jacob Stuhr spun for the fourth and final stoppage on lap 38. He was credited with 16th, the final starter to complete 40 laps. ... Logan Nickerson retired on the 14th lap after having trouble firing his engine before taking the green flag.

On the move: Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., started 19th and finished sixth.

Winner's sponsors: Mitchell's Brett Coltman-owned Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by Coltman Farms Racing, Autism Awareness, Special Needs Schools of Gwinnett, MPM Marketing, SoCar Chemical, DirtCarLift.com, Boswell Oil, VP Racing Fuels, SRI Performance, Bayea Headers, Swift Springs and Bilstein Shocks.

Points chase: Week 5 after Crystal: 1. Trey Mills (272); 2. Zack Mitchell (256); 3. Mark Whitener (247); 4. Dillon McCowan (235); 5. Tyler Erb (227). Overall after Crystal: 1. Jason Feger (1,561); 2. Tyler Erb (1,505); 3. Dillon McCowan (1,304); 4. Mark Whitener (1,289); 5. Trey Mills (1,214).

Current weather: Overcast, 75°F

Car count: 38

Fast qualifier: Trey Mills

Time: 14.993 seconds

Polesitter: Zack Mitchell

Heat race winners: Trey Mills, Mark Whitener, Zack Mitchell, Tyler Erb

Consolation race winners: Mike Vandermark, Jeff Erickson Jr.

Provisional starters: Jason Feger, Chad Finley, Mike Vandermark, Christian Hanger

Next series race: July 12, Oakshade Raceway (Wauseon, OH) $10,000

Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.

CRYSTAL, Mich. — Updates and results from Friday's 26th round of the DIRTcar Summer Nationals at Crystal Motor Speedway, an event highlighted by a 40-lap, $10,000-to-win feature for DIRTcar Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Zack Mitchell of Enoree, S.C., led all 40 laps largely unchallenged to win Friday's $10,000 DIRTcar Summer Nationals return to Crystal Motor Speedway. Mitchell beat defending Crystal winner Tyler Erb by 1.755 seconds for his second Summer Nationals victory in his last four starts after winning July 8's $5,000 stop at Shadyhill Speedway in Medaryville, Ind.

Feature lineup

(40 laps)

Row 1: Zack Mitchell, Tyler Erb
Row 2: Mark Whitener, Trey Mills
Row 3: Rusty Schlenk, Travis Stemler
Row 4: Dona Marcoullier, Devin Shiels
Row 5: Dillon McCowan, Eric Spangler
Row 6: Jacob Stuhr, Brandon Thirlby
Row 7: Cody Bauer, Tyler Millwood
Row 8: Garrett Wiles, Logan Nickerson
Row 9: Jeff Erickson Jr., Brenten DeYoung
Row 10: Jason Feger, Chad Finley
Row 11: Mike Vandermark, Christian Hanger

Consolation race results

(10 laps; top two transfer)

B-main: Jeff Erickson Jr., Brenten DeYoung, Dave Baker, Eli Johnson, Brody Smith, Carter Schlenk, Brenden Smith, Mike Vandermark, Bill Bray, Zack Swarts, Brayden Shiels, Rod Conley, Chase Burda, Dillon Kohn, Chad Finley. Scratched: Jason Feger.

(Eight laps; top four transfer to B-main)

C-main: Mike Vandermark, Brenden Smith, Zack Swarts, Dillon Kohn, Riley Bowen, Lukus Anstett, Thomas Hunziker, Bob Mayer. Scratched: Christian Hanger, John Adams II.

Heat race recap

Trey Mills overcame several restarts to lead all eight laps in winning the first heat race by 0.255 of a second over a quickly-closing Rusty Schlenk, who started seventh. Dillon McCowan started and finished third, while ninth-starting Cody Bauer overcame a lap-three spin to claim the fourth and final transfer spot into Friday’s 40-lap main event. The first caution slowed the action on the opening lap when Jason Feger slowed from fourth; he continued, but settled for seventh. Jeff Erickson Jr. had jumped the turn-two cushion on the first lap, but resumed his second starting spot, then faded to fifth. Bauer’s spin caused the race’s second stoppage. The third and final yellow flag came on the fifth lap when Thomas Hunziker had a solo spin; he continued to finish 10th. … Second-starting Mark Whitener cruised to win a green-to-checkered heat two, crossing the line 3.084 seconds ahead of third-starting Dona Marcoullier. Polesitter Jacob Stuhr settled for third, while Garrett Wiles started and finished fourth. … Zack Mitchell dominated heat three, leading the entire distance and winning by 1.347 seconds over second-starting Travis Stemler. Eric Spangler started and finished third, while fifth-starting Tyler Millwood took fourth from Chad Finley on the fifth lap, relegating Finley to fifth. … Fourth-starting Tyler Erb took control a lap-four restart and led the final five laps to win the fourth and final heat race by 1.615 seconds over seconds-starting Devin Shiels, who led the opening three laps. Sixth-starting Brandon Thirlby finished third, while seventh-starting Logan Nickerson grabbed the fourth and final transfer position into the $10,000-to-win feature. The race’s lone caution flew on the fourth lap when Dillon Kohn slowed to a stop down the frontstretch and required a push back to the pits.

Heat results

(Eight laps; top four transfer)

First heat: Trey Mills, Rusty Schlenk, Dillon McCowan, Cody Bauer, Jeffrey Erickson, Chase Burda, Jason Feger, Mike Vandermark, Christian Hanger, Thomas Hunziker.

Second heat: Mark Whitener, Dona Marcoullier, Jacob Stuhr, Garrett Wiles, Dave Baker, Eli Johnson, Brayden Shiels, Brenden Smith, John Adams II.

Third heat: Zack Mitchell, Travis Stemler, Eric Spangler, Tyler Millwood, Chad Finley, Carter Schlenk, Rod Conley, Zack Swarts, Lukus Anstett, Bob Mayer.

Fourth heat: Tyler Erb, Devin Shiels, Brandon Thirlby, Logan Nickerson, Brenten DeYoung, Brody Smith, Bill Bray, Riley Bowen, Dillon Kohn.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Trey Mills (14jr), St. Augustine, Fla., 14.993
2. Jacob Stuhr (18), Harrison, Mich., 15.272
3. Jeffrey Erickson (1E), Muskegon, Mich., 15.413
4. Mark Whitener (5), Middleburg, Fla., 15.441
5. Dillon McCowan (75), Urbana, Mo., 15.537
6. Dona Marcoullier (6m), Houghton Lake, Mich., 15.624
7. Jason Feger (25F), Bloomington, Ill., 15.706
8. Garrett Wiles (16), Hubbardson, Mich., 15.710
9. Mike Vandermark (41), Cedar Springs, Mich., 15.725
10. Dave Baker (15), Grand Rapids, Mich., 15.726
11. Christian Hanger (29), Winchester, Tenn., 15.733
12. Eli Johnson (55), Clewiston, Fla., 15.752
13. Rusty Schlenk (91), McClure, Ohio, 15.779
14. Brayden Shiels (51B), Britton, Mich., 15.993
15. Chase Burda (18B), Lapeer, Mich., 15.999
16. John Adams II (32xxx), Maryville, Tenn., 16.003
17. Cody Bauer (19x), Lake, Mich., 16.079
18. Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla., 16.142
19. Thomas Hunziker (38), Bend, Ore., 16.260
Group B
1. Zack Mitchell (57), Enoree, S.C., 15.457
2. Brenten DeYoung (55w), Crystal, Mich., 15.794
3. Travis Stemler (4), Ionia, Mich., 15.844
4. Devin Shiels (51), Britton, Mich., 15.898
5. Eric Spangler (27), Lake City, Mich., 15.910
6. Dillon Kohn (26), Sheridan, Mich., 15.961
7. Chad Finley (42), St. Johns, Mich., 15.966
8. Tyler Erb (1), New Waverly, Texas, 16.016
9. Tyler Millwood (31m), Kingston, Ga., 16.039
10. Riley Bowen (5B), Sheridan, Mich., 16.050
11. Zack Swarts (28s), Muskegon, Mich., 16.074
12. Brandon Thirlby (m14), Traverse City, Mich., 16.107
13. Rod Conley (71R), Wheelersburg, Ohio, 16.115
14. Logan Nickerson (21N), Vestaburg, Mich., 16.147
15. Carter Schlenk (lil91), McClure, Ohio, 16.223
16. Brody Smith (17sr), Dade City, Fla., 16.253
17. Lukus Anstett (64), Greenville, Mich., 16.321
18. Bill Bray (94), Spring Lake, Mich., 16.328
19. Bob Mayer (42*), Holland, Ohio, 16.661

Friday's schedule

(All times local)
2 p.m. - Pits open
3 p.m. - Grandstands open
6 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- Modified group qualifying
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- Street stock hot laps
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Modified heats (8 laps)
- Street stock heats
- Late Model C-main (8 laps)
- Modified consolation (8 laps)
- Late Model B-main (10 laps)
- Street stock consolation
Intermission/track prep
- Late Model feature (40 laps)
- Modified feature (25 laps)
- Street stock feature