Dirt on Dirt - Pierce's demise helps Chris Simpson to victory

June 16

Davenport Speedway,

Davenport, IA

Sanction: DIRTcar Summer Nationals - $5,000

Information provided by: Kyle McFadden and staff reports (last updated June 17, 6:41 pm)

Pierce's demise helps Chris Simpson to victory

Chris Simpson
Jason Feger
Ryan Unzicker
Trevor Gundaker
Logan Martin
Bob Gardner
Brian Shirley
Dennis Erb Jr.
Tommy Sheppard Jr.
Gordy Gundaker
Chad Simpson
Payton Freeman
Justin Duty
Rich Bell
Daniel Hilsabeck
Joe Godsey
Bobby Pierce
Matt Furman
Frank Heckenast Jr.
Justin Kay
Drake Troutman
Daryn Klein
Curtis Roberts

presented by

Photo slideshow Feature highlights Video recap Related story

Mike Ruefer/mikerueferphotos.photoreflect.com

Winner Chris Simpson gets a hug from sponsor Jeff Hoker.

What won the race: Regaining the lead when Bobby Pierce retired with six laps remaining, Chris Simpson of Oxford, Iowa, captured Thursday's DIRTcar Summer Nationals 40-lapper at Davenport Speedway for a $5,000 payday. The fourth-starting Pierce made an outside pass of Simpson on the 16th lap and dominated until a broken driveshaft forced him to the infield after completing 34 laps.

Quotable: "I jumped into lead right away and I felt pretty good up top, but I was spinning (his tires) pretty good off of (turn) two. I knew Bobby (Pierce would) be up top and I could see (Brian) Shirley on the bottom, so I was like 'Who do I block?' " Simpson said. "Bobby's got such a good record here. You know, I know I can't run the top as good as (Pierce) can but I can sure run the bottom just as good as he can. It sucks for him. I hate that he broke, but man, we're due and I'll take it."

Key notes: Chris Simpson broke a Late Model victory drought of more than a year; he last won June 5, 2021, in Lucas Oil Midwest LateModel Racing Association competition at Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn. ... His two previous series victories came in 2013 at Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Ill., and 2015 at La Salle (Ill.) Speedway. ... Pierce, last season's Davenport winner, was going for his second straight series victory after winning Wednesday in Peoria, Ill. ... Polesitter Chad Simpson, the winner's brother, was never in contention after sliding over the turn-three banking on the first lap to draw a yellow. ... Three other cautions slowed the action (Joe Godsey spun on the original start; Daryn Klein slipped over the banking on lap 13; and Justin Kay spun on lap 17). ... Fourteen drivers completed 40 laps. ... Along with the four regular provisionals, Bob Gardner was also added to the feature lineup by the track; he rallied from 23rd to finish sixth. ... Justin Kay won the IMCA Late Model feature.

On the move: Ryan Unzicker of El Paso, Ill., started 16th and finished third.

Winner's sponsors: Simpson’s Longhorn Chassis is powered by an Andy Durham Racing Engine and sponsored by Cheap Cars, Five Star Shop Service, Randy Davidson Trucking, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Hoker Trucking, Superior Cleaning, Capital Capsigns, Allgaier Performance, Chase Decals, Simpson Farms, IITI and Lucas Oil.

Points chase: After Davenport: 1. Ryan Unzicker (215); 2. Jason Feger (210): 3. Bobby Pierce (194); 4. Dennis Erb Jr. (176); 5. Brian Shirley (174); 6. Drake Troutman (153); 7. Payton Freeman (146); 8. Logan Martin (144); 9. Tommy Sheppard Jr. (140); 10. Joe Godsey (134).

Current weather: Clear, 81°F

Car count: 39

Fast qualifier: Bobby Pierce

Time: 13.801 seconds

Polesitter: Chad Simpson

Heat race winners: Bobby Pierce, Dennis Erb Jr., Chad Simpson, Chris Simpson

Consolation race winners: Justin Duty

Provisional starters: Tommy Sheppard Jr., Frank Heckenast Jr., Justin Kay, Curtis Roberts, Bob Gardner

Next series race: June 17, Tri-City Speedway (Granite City, IL) $10,000

Editor's note: Corrects Pierce's demise to broken driveshaft sted transmission.

From staff reports

DAVENPORT, Iowa — Updates and results from Thursday's third round of the DIRTcar Summer Nationals at Davenport Speedway's quarter-mile oval, highlighted by a $5,000-to-win Super Late Model feature (results unofficial):

Feature

Regaining the lead when Bobby Pierce retired with six laps remaining, Chris Simpson of Oxford, Iowa, captured Thursday's DIRTcar Summer Nationals 40-lapper at Davenport Speedway for a $5,000 payday. The fourth-starting Pierce made an outside pass of Simpson on the 16th lap and dominated until a broken transmission forced him to the infield after completing 34 laps.

Feature lineup

(40 laps)

Row 1: Chad Simpson, Dennis Erb Jr.
Row 2: Chris Simpson, Bobby Pierce
Row 3: Brian Shirley, Daniel Hilsabeck
Row 4: Payton Freeman, Jason Feger
Row 5: Trevor Gundaker, Daryn Klein
Row 6: Logan Martin, Drake Troutman
Row 7: Joe Godsey, Rich Bell
Row 8: Gordy Gundaker, Ryan Unzicker
Row 9: Justin Duty, Matt Furman
Row 10: Tommy Sheppard Jr., Frank Heckenast Jr.
Row 11: Justin Kay, Curtis Roberts

Consolation race results

(10 laps; top two transfer)

B-main (12 laps; top two transfer): Justin Duty, Matt Furman, Frank Heckenast Jr., Bob Gardner, Paul Parker, Curtis Roberts, Tommy Sheppard Jr., Justin Kay, Luke Goedert, Brent McKinnon.

C-main (10 laps; top four transfer): Justin Kay, Luke Goedert, David Webster, Brent McKinnon, Paul Stubber, Doug Tye, Deshawn Gingerich, Mick Quin, Tim Gauntt, Spencer Diercks, Todd Cooney.

Heat race results

(10 laps; top four transfer)

First heat: Bobby Pierce, Brian Shirley, Trevor Gundaker, Joe Godsey, Rich Dawson, Jeff Roth, Brandon Hamburg, Mick Quin, Spencer Diercks. Disqualified: Justin Kay (rear-deck height infraction).

Second heat: Dennis Erb Jr., Daniel Hilsabeck, Daryn Klein, Rich Bell, Justin Duty, Tommy Sheppard Jr., Preston Luckman, Paul Stubber, Deshawn Gingerich, Doug Tye.

Third heat: Chad Simpson, Payton Freeman, Logan Martin, Gordy Gundaker, Bob Gardner, Matt Furman, Curtis Roberts, Brent McKinnon, Luke Goedert, Todd Cooney.

Fourth heat: Chris Simpson, Jason Feger, Drake Troutman, Ryan Unzicker, Paul Parker, Frank Heckenast Jr., Mark Voigt, David Webster, Tim Gauntt.

Time trials

(Heat races start straightup by qualifying times)

Driver (car no.), hometown , time
First group 
Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 13.801
Brian Shirley (3S), Chatham, Ill., 13.913
Jeff Roth (14R), Bentonville, Ark., 14.143
Trevor Gundaker (11T), St. Charles, Mo., 14.300
Rich Dawson (80), Lowell, Ind., 14.310
Joe Godsey (14G), Edinburgh, Ind., 14.571
Justin Kay (15K), Wheatland, Iowa, 14.638
Spencer Diercks (29), Davenport, Iowa, 14.908
Mick Quin (23NZ), Hawks Bay, New Zealand, 14.996
Brandon Hamburg (C15), Dixon, Ill., 15.885 
Second group 
Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 13.904
Daniel Hilsabeck (22), Earlham, Iowa, 14.289
Daryn Klein (10K), Fairview Heights, Ill., 14.380
Paul Stubber (31), Bunbury, W.Au., 14.489
Tommy Sheppard (T6), New Berlin, Ill., 14.564
Rich Bell (21B), Sheffield, Ill., 14.564
Justin Duty (15), Mulino, Ore., 14.613
Deshawn Gingerich (0), Dover, Pa., 14.817
Preston Luckman (77), Coos Bay, Ore., 15.096
Doug Tye (4D), Troy, Ill., no time
Third group 
Payton Freeman (F1), Commerce, Ga., 13.871
Chad Simpson (25S), Mt. Vernon, Iowa, 13.944
Logan Martin (36), West Plains, Mo., 14.047
Gordy Gundaker (11), St. Charles, Mo., 14.295
Matt Furman (51), Iowa City, Iowa, 14.366
Luke Goedert (44), Guttenburg, Iowa, 14.436
Bob Gardner (4G), Washington, Ill., 14.507
Todd Cooney (30C), Des Moines, Iowa, 14.668
Brent McKinnon (26M), Carlyle, Ill., 14.767
Curtis Roberts (9R), Coleman, Mich., 15.508
Fourth group
Chris Simpson (32S), Oxford, Iowa, 13.902
Frank Heckenast Jr. (99JR), Frankford, Ill., 14.130
Jason Feger (25), Bloomington, Ill., 14.174
Drake Troutman (7). Hyndman, Pa., 14.207
Ryan Unzicker (24), El Paso, Ill., 14.271
Paul Parker (10), Kaukauna, Wis., 14.369
Mark Voigt (30), Marine, Ill., 14.816
David Webster (44W), Monroe, Wis., 15.553
Tim Gauntt (T8), Brighton, Ill., 17.513

Thursday's schedule

(All times local)
6 p.m. - Drivers' meeting
6:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- IMCA Late Model hot laps
- DIRTcar Late Model hot laps
- Modified hot laps
- DIRTcar Late Model time trials
Opening ceremonies
- IMCA Late Model heats (10 laps)
- DIRTcar Late Model heats (10 laps)
- Modified heats (8 laps)
- IMCA Late Model consolation (12 laps if necessary)
- DIRTcar Late Model C-main (10 laps)
- Modified consolation (10 laps if necessary)
- DIRTcar Late Model B-main (12 laps)
Features
- IMCA Late Models (25 laps)
- DIRTcar Late Models (40 laps)
- Modifieds (20 laps)