Dirt on Dirt - Kankakee makes streaking Shirley 2-for-2

June 15

Kankakee County Speedway,

Kankakee, IL

Sanction: DIRTcar Summer Nationals - $5,000

Information provided by: Robert Holman, series and track reports (last updated June 16, 8:21 am)

Kankakee makes streaking Shirley 2-for-2

Brian Shirley
Jason Feger
Dennis Erb Jr.
Frank Heckenast Jr.
Kevin Weaver
Bob Gardner
Tommy Sheppard Jr.
Tyler Clem
Ethan Dotson
Rich Bell
Ashton Winger
Mike Spatola
Kye Blight
Taylor Scheffler
Chase Osterhoff
Jordan Bauer
Doug Tye
Daryn Klein
Forrest Trent
Shannon Babb
Cody Bauer
Curtis Roberts

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Jim DenHamer

Brian Shirley won his 40th DIRTcar Summer Nationals event.

What won the race: For the second consecutive night, second-starting Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., led all 40 laps unchallenged to secure a $5,000 DIRTcar Summer Nationals victory, this one coming on Thursday at Kankakee County Speedway. Shirley notched his 40th career Summer Nationals triumph, moving him into sole possession of fourth on the tour's all-time list.

Quotable: “I could see (Jason Feger’s) crew guy there in (turns) one and two, was showing (Feger) that he had a big signal and I knew Jason was there the whole time,” Shirley said. “He’s as good as anybody at running that cushion and honestly, I really wasn’t that great to setup to run the cushion, so I just tried to hold my line. I stuffed it (in the wall) a couple of times and then when I stuffed it really good there in one and two, I just told myself ya know at the end of the day, I’m just gonna calm down and try to hit (the cushion) the best I could and hopefully hold on to get the win.”

Key notes: Polesitter Jason Feger failed to lead a lap but remained within striking distance of Shirley for the entire distance, finishing 0.683 of a second back. ... Fifth-starting Dennis Erb Jr. finished third. ... Frank Heckenast Jr. overcame a flat right rear tire on lap 12 and recovered to finish fourth at his home track. ... Kevin Weaver ran as high as third before fading in the closing laps, finishing fifth. ... Tommy Sheppard Jr. advanced seven positions and finished seventh. ... Tyler Clem gained three spots and finished eighth. ... Shannon Babb ran as high as third in the opening laps before clipping an infield tractor tire and sustaining heavy left front nose damage; Babb continued to run inside the top-five before pulling off on lap 30. ... After hooking a rut and violently flipping in his heat race — he wasn't hurt — provisional feature starter Cody Bauer of Farwell, Mich., pulled off on lap 23 aboard his backup car after being part of a caution. ... Thursday's feature, the second of five straight races in the Land of Lincoln to start the 38th annual DIRTcar Summer Nationals, was slowed by four separate incidents and lasted 20 minutes, with 16 competitors completing 40 laps.

On the move: Rich Bell of Sheffield, Ill., started 21st and finished 10th.

Winner's sponsors: Shirley’s Bob Cullen Racing Rocket Chassis is powered by an Andy Durham Racing Engine and sponsored by Thomason Express, Hoker Trucking, J&J Ventures Gaming, Kid’s Castle Learning Center, KBC Graphics, Cheap Cars, Bass Livestock Nutrition, Allgaier Motorsports, East Central Coin, Cheers and Integra Shocks.

Points chase: After Kankakee County: 1. Brian Shirley (160); 2. Dennis Erb Jr. (140); 3. Jason Feger (128); 4. Bob Gardner (115); 5. Ethan Dotson (114); 6. Frank Heckenast Jr. (112); 7. Shannon Babb (111); 8. Kye Blight (92); 9. Jordan Bauer (91); 10. Tommy Sheppard Jr. (85).

Current weather: Clear, 55°F

Car count: 37

Fast qualifier: Dennis Erb Jr.

Time: 14.026 seconds

Polesitter: Jason Feger

Heat race winners: Brian Shirley, Jason Feger, Kevin Weaver, Shannon Babb

Consolation race winners: Jordan Bauer

Provisional starters: Curtis Roberts, Cody Bauer, Rich Bell, Doug Tye

Next series race: June 16, Tri-City Speedway (Granite City, IL) $10,000

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

From staff and series reports

KANKAKEE, Ill. — Updates and results from Thursday's second round of the DIRTcar Summer Nationals, highlighted by a $5,000-to-win Super Late Model main event (results unofficial):

Feature

For the second consecutive night, second-starting Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., led all 40 laps unchallenged to secure a $5,000 DIRTcar Summer Nationals victory, this one coming on Thursday at Kankakee County Speedway. Shirley notched his 40th career Summer Nationals triumph, moving him into sole possession of fourth on the tour's all-time wins list.

Feature lineup

(40 laps)
Row 1: Jason Feger, Brian Shirley
Row 2: Kevin Weaver, Shannon Babb
Row 3: Dennis Erb Jr., Kye Blight
Row 4: Bob Gardner, Ethan Dotson
Row 5: Taylor Scheffler, Frank Heckenast Jr.
Row 6: Tyler Clem, Daryn Klein
Row 7: Ashton Winger, Tommy Sheppard Jr.
Row 8: Chase Osterhoff, Forrest Trent
Row 9: Jordan Bauer, Mike Spatola
Row 10: Curtis Roberts, Cody Bauer
Row 11: Rich Bell, Doug Tye

Consolation race results

B-main (top two transfer): Jordan Bauer, Mike Spatola, Rich Bell, Paul Parker, Charlie Cole, Lyle Zanker, Brenden Smith, Chris Hawkins, Curtis Roberts, Kylan Garner, Thomas Hunziker, Doug Tye, Mick Quin. Scratched: Rodney Melvin, Spencer Dierks.

C-main (top three transfer): Thomas Hunziker, Doug Tye, Mick Quin, Jeff Robertson, Tim Gauntt, Dan DeYoung. Scratched: Cody Bauer, Mark Voigt, Scott Robertson.

Heat race results

(Top four transfer)
First heat: Brian Shirley, Dennis Erb Jr., Taylor Scheffler, Ashton Winger, Jordan Bauer, Rich Bell, Lyle Zanker, Thomas Hunziker, Cody Bauer. Scratched: Scott Robertson.

Second heat: Jason Feger, Bob Gardner, Tyler Clem, Chase Osterhoff, Curtis Roberts, Paul Parker, Spencer Diercks, Jeff Robertson, Mark Voigt.

Third heat: Kevin Weaver, Kye Blight, Frank Heckenast Jr., Tommy Sheppard Jr., Mike Spatola, Charlie Cole, Kylan Garner, Doug Tye, Dan DeYoung.

Fourth heat: Shannon Babb, Ethan Dotson, Daryn Klein, Forrest Trent, Rodney Melvin, Chris Hawkins Brenden Smith, Mick Quin, Tim Gauntt.

Time trial results

Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
Group A
Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 14.026
Curtis Roberts (9r), Coleman, Mich., 14.156
Taylor Scheffler (10s), Waukesha, Wis., 14.178
Jason Feger (25), Bloomington, Ill., 14.222
Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 14.225
Spencer Diercks (29D), Davenport, Iowa, 14.250
Ashton Winger (89), Hampton, Ga., 14.285
Chase Osterhoff (130), Kankakee, Ill., 14.294
Thomas Hunziker (38), Bend, Ore., 14.313
Bob Gardner (4G), East Peoria, Ill., 14.345
Jordan Bauer (10J), St. Jacob, Ill., 14.407
Mark Voigt (30), Marine, Ill., 14.546
Rich Bell (21B), Sheffield, Ill., 14.602
Tyler Clem (58), St. Petersburg, Fla., 14.634
Cody Bauer (19x), Farwell, Mich., 14.673
Paul Parker (10), Kaukauna, Wis., 14.779
Lyle Zanker (9z), Rockford, Ill., 15.085
Jeff Robertson (P3), Defiance, Ohio, 15.959
Scott Robertson (67), Defiance, Ohio, no time
Group B
Kye Blight (31AUS), Bunbury, W. Australia, 14.270
Daryn Klein (26H), Fairview Heights, Ill., 14.591
Kevin Weaver (B12), Gibson City, Ill., 14.644
Shannon Babb (18), Moweaqua, Ill., 14.703
Frank Heckenast Jr. (99jr), Frankfort, Ill., 14.770
Ethan Dotson (174), Bakersfield, Calif., 14.839
Tommy Sheppard Jr. (T6), New Berlin, Ill., 14.875
Forrest Trent (101), Morristown, Tenn., 14.892
Charlie Cole (2), Wynne, Ark., 15.112
Rodney Melvin (27M), Benton, Ill., 15.174
Kylan Garner (USA128), Diamond, Mo., 15.183
Brenden Smith (17ss), Dage City, Fla., 15.196
Mike Spatola (89), Manhattan, Ill., 15.396
Chris Hawkins (USA1), Neosho, Mo., 15.493
Doug Tye (4D), Collinsville, Ill., 15.624
Tim Gauntt (T8), Brighton, Ill., 16.239
Dan DeYoung (74), Hobart, Ind., no time
Mick Quin (23), Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, no time

Thursday’s schedule

(All times local)

5:30 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6 p.m. - On-track activity
- Super Late Model hot laps
- Modified hot laps/time trials
- Super Late Model time trials
- Crate Late Model hot laps/time trials
- Stock car hot laps/time trials
- Factory stock hot laps/time trials
Opening ceremonies
- Modified heat races (8 laps)
- Super Late Model heat races (10 laps)
- Crate Late Model heat races (8 laps)
- Stock car heat races (8 laps)
- Super Late Model C-main (if necessary; 10 laps)
- Modified consolation (10 laps; if necessary)
- Super Late Model B-main (if necessary; 12 laps)
- Factory stock heats (8 laps)
Feature races
- Modifieds (25 lap)
- Super Late Models (40 laps)
- Crate Late Models (20 laps)
- Stock car (15 laps)
- Factory stock (15 laps)