Dirt on Dirt - Shirley outruns Feger for Fairbury's $10,000 prize

June 14

Fairbury Speedway,

Fairbury, IL

Sanction: DIRTcar Summer Nationals - $10,000

Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated June 15, 1:06 pm)

Shirley outruns Feger for Fairbury's $10,000 prize

Brian Shirley
Jason Feger
Dennis Erb Jr.
Joseph Joiner
Frank Heckenast Jr.
Tanner English
Shannon Babb
Brandon Sheppard
Brayton Wallace
Trevor Gundaker
Tyler Erb
McKay Wenger
Billy Moyer
Kyle Bronson
Clay Stuckey
Jeffrey Ledford
Oakley Johns
Mark Whitener
Ryan Unzicker
Mike Spatola
Dillon McCowan
Jake Little
Trey Mills
Drake Troutman
Christian Hanger
Mike Harrison

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Tyler Carr

Brian Shirley celebrates a $10,000 Summer Nationals victory at Fairbury.

What won the race: Ringing the outside lane to regain command from Jason Feger on lap 38, Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., scored a $10,000 victory in Saturday’s 50-lap DIRTcar Summer Nationals feature at Fairbury Speedway. The four-time tour champ lost the top spot to Feger on lap 29 but took advantage of a lap-37 restart en route to defeating his friendly rival by 1.807 seconds.

Quotable: “Feger was just really good on that hub again, and then I just didn’t realize I needed to slow down and just try and get by them (slower) guys (to lap them),” Shirley said. “Like he just had a little better patience being behind me and not seeing, you know, where everybody was. But once we went down there, I felt like we wasn’t as good as him on the bottom, but boy, when we got on top, the old right foot went.”

Key notes: Shirley came off the pole to lead the race’s first 28 laps before the low-running Feger overtook him, but the 44-year-old rallied once he rediscovered high-line speed following the lap-37 restart. … Shirley recorded his 43rd series victory but first since July 7, 2023, at Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway. It was his fourth at Fairbury (2012, ’19 and ’20). … Gunning for his first-ever Summer Nationals win at Fairbury, Feger led laps 29-37 but settled for second after being unable to seriously challenge Shirley once he ceded command. … Dennis Erb Jr. finished third after wrestling the position from Joseph Joiner on lap 49, who finished fourth after holding third for laps 39-48. … Six caution flags slowed the feature. … The first came when Mike Spatola and Mike Harrison tangled on the first lap. ... The caution-filled early circuits also included slowdowns for Christian Hanger spinning backwards in the cushion between turns one and two (lap five); Drake Troutman breaking while running second (lap seven); and Ryan Unzicker slowing while battling for second (lap nine). … The race’s biggest incident came on lap 37 when the lapped Mike Spatola bobbled on the cushion in turn four and was struck by third-running Tyler Erb, who was then rammed by fifth-running Ryan Unzicker. Erb nearly rolled over from Unzicker’s contact, but he kept his wheels moving and blended in at sixth for the restart (though he faded to finish 11th). … Unzicker retired after the multicar incident and finished 19th. … The final caution flew on lap 45 for Mark Whitener getting stuck in the heavy turn-two cushion. ... The race lasted 29 minutes, with 14 starters completing 50 laps.

On the move: Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., started 23rd and finished seventh.

Winner's sponsors: Shirley’s Bob Cullen Racing Longhorn 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 Performance Parts, East Central Coin, Cheers, Ted Brown Auto Body, Race Ranch and Bilstein Shocks.

Points chase: After Fairbury: 1. Jason Feger (250); 2. Billy Moyer (243); 3. Dennis Erb Jr. (225); 4. Shannon Babb (222); 5. Drake Troutman (218).

Current weather: Clear, 68°F

Car count: 58

Fast qualifier: Dennis Erb Jr.

Time: 12.857 seconds

Polesitter: Brian Shirley

Heat race winners: Ryan Unzicker, Jason Feger, Tyler Erb, Dennis Erb Jr., Drake Troutman, Brian Shirley

Consolation race winners: Billy Moyer, Mike Harrison

Provisional starters: Shannon Babb, McKay Wenger, Jeffrey Ledford, Kyle Bronson

Next series race: June 15, Sycamore Speedway (Maple Park, IL) $5,000

Editor's note: Corrects feature length to 50 laps (sted 40).

From staff reports

FAIRBURY, Ill. — Updates and results from Saturday’s fourth round of the DIRTcar Summer Nationals at Fairbury Speedway, an event highlighted by a 50-lap, $10,000-to-win feature for DIRTcar Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Ringing the outside lane to regain command from Jason Feger on lap 38, Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., scored a $10,000 victory in Saturday night’s 50-lap DIRTcar Summer Nationals feature at Fairbury Speedway. The four-time Hell Tour champion lost the top spot to Feger on lap 29 but took advantage of a lap-37 restart to find a second wind en route to defeating his friendly rival by 1.807 seconds.

Feature lineup

Row 1: Brian Shirley, Tyler Erb
Row 2: Ryan Unzicker, Drake Troutman
Row 3: Dennis Erb Jr., Jason Feger
Row 4: Trey Mills, Christian Hanger
Row 5: Mike Spatola, Brandon Sheppard
Row 6: Tanner English, Joseph Joiner
Row 7: Clay Stuckey, Jake Little
Row 8: Frank Heckenast Jr., Oakley Johns
Row 9: Mark Whitener, Brayton Wallace
Row 10: Billy Moyer, Mike Harrison
Row 11: Dillon McCowan, Trevor Gundaker
Row 12: Shannon Babb, McKay Wenger
Row 13: Jeffrey Ledford, Kyle Bronson

Consolation results

(10 laps; top two transfer)

First consolation finish: Billy Moyer, Dillon McCowan, Dale Markham, Bob Gardner, Michael Leach, Austin Howes, Tyler Millwood, Jackson Hise, Carson Brown, Brody Smith, Thomas Hunziker, Brent Larson, Chevy Miller, Sean Mattingly, Greg Wagner, Mike Provenzano, Kyle Bronson (DNS) Camden Gardner, Matthew Larson, Braiden Keller.

Second consolation finish: Mike Harrison, Trevor Gundaker, McKay Wenger, Chase Osterhoff, Taylor Scheffler, Brenden Smith, Jeffrey Ledford, Billy Hough, Lyle Zanker, Mike Winn, Eli Johnson, Allen Ellis, Easton Bollinger, Rodney Melvin, Daniel Flessner, Chuck Southard, Harrison Oliver (DNS) Shannon Babb, Kevin Weaver, Andy Clark.

Heat race recap

Second-starting Ryan Unzicker overcame several restarts to lead all eight laps, winning the first heat race over fourth-starting Trey Mills and fifth-starting Clay Stuckey. The first caution flew on the second lap when Cam Gardner slowed to a stop along the frontstretch wall. He continued and spun again on a lap-four restart, collecting Matthew Larson; they both retired. The second stoppage came on the fourth lap when second-running Braiden Keller slowed with a flat left-rear and opted not to change the tire. … Second-starting Jason Feger controlled all eight laps in winning the second heat over pole-starting Mike Spatola and seventh-starting Frank Heckenast Jr. The race’s lone caution came near the halfway mark when Brent Larson slowed to a stop down the backstretch and did not continue. … Tyler Erb held off Tanner English to win the third heat race, with seventh-starting Mark Whitener joining them in securing a spot in Saturday’s 50-lap, $10,000-to-win main event. Bob Gardner recovered to finish fourth after slowing on the opening lap when he got stuck in the turn-two cushion and spun toward the infield. … Dennis Erb Jr. earned a flag-to-flag victory from the pole in the fourth heat, taking the checkers 3.054 seconds ahead of third-starting Christian Hanger, who nipped Jake Little at the line by 0.047 of a second. … Drake Troutman survived a late-race restart to win the fifth heat by 0.370 of a second over sixth-starting Brandon Sheppard, with Oakley Johns claiming the fourth and final transfer position. The race’s lone caution flew on the seventh lap when Harrison Oliver spun in front of second-running Shannon Babb, collecting third-running McKay Wenger as they attempted to lap him; Wenger continued to finish sixth, while Babb and Oliver retired from the race. … Brian Shirley was unfazed by multiple restarts and won the sixth and final heat race by 0.578 of a second over Joseph Joiner, with fifth-starting Brayton Wallace rounding out the podium finishers. The first yellow flag flew on the fifth lap when third-running Kevin Weaver hopped the turn-three cushion and contacted the wall; he did not continue. The second stoppage came after Chase Osterhoff and Eli Johnson made contact on the ensuing restart, sending Johnson spinning, with Jeffrey Ledford stopping to avoid contact; Johnson continued and slammed the turn-three wall to cause the third and final slowdown on the seventh lap; Osterhoff and Ledford continued to finish fourth and fifth.

Heat results

(Eight laps; top three transfer)

First heat: Ryan Unzicker, Trey Mills, Clay Stuckey, Michael Leach, Dale Markham, Brody Smith, Thomas Hunziker, Cam Gardner, Matthew Larson, Braiden Keller.

Second heat: Jason Feger, Mike Spatola, Frank Heckenast Jr., Billy Moyer, Dillon McCowan, Kyle Bronson, Jackson Hise, Mike Provenzano, Greg Wagner, Brent Larson.

Third heat: Tyler Erb, Tanner English, Mark Whitener, Bob Gardner, Sean Mattingly, Tyler Millwood, Austin Howes, Chevy Miller, Carson Brown.

Fourth heat: Dennis Erb Jr., Christian Hanger, Jake Little, Trevor Gundaker, Taylor Scheffler, Rodney Melvin, Brenden Smith, Easton Bollinger, Chuck Southard, Mike Winn.

Fifth heat: Drake Troutman, Brandon Sheppard, Oakley Johns, Mike Harrison, Billy Hough, McKay Wenger, Daniel Flessner, Allen Ellis, Shannon Babb, Harrison Oliver.

Sixth heat: Brian Shirley, Joseph Joiner, Brayton Wallace, Chase Osterhoff, Jeffrey Ledford, Lyle Zanker, Eli Johnson, Kevin Weaver. Scratched: Andy Clark.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Braiden Keller (k67), West Lebanon, Ind., 12.870
2. Mike Spatola (89), Manhattan, Ill., 12.942
3. Tyler Erb (1), New Waverly, Texas, 12.980
4. Ryan Unzicker (24), El Paso, Ill., 13.017
5. Jason Feger (25F), Bloomington, Ill., 13.052
6. Tanner English (96), Benton, Ky., 13.065
7. Michael Leach (09) Sun River, Mont., 13.082
8. Billy Moyer (21), Batesville, Ark., 13.159
9. Tyler Millwood (31m), Kingston, Ga., 13.160
10. Trey Mills (14jr), St. Augustine, Fla., 13.161
11. Jackson Hise (388), Ocala, Fla., 13.203
12. Bob Gardner (4G), East Peoria, Ill., 13.215
13. Clay Stuckey (15), Shreveport, La., 13.231
14. Brent Larson (B1), Lake Elmo, Minn., 13.232
15. Austin Howes (17A), Lewistown, Mo., 13.262
16. Cam Gardner (38G), East Peoria, Ill., 13.329
17. Dillon McCowan (75), Urbana, Mo., 13.342
18. Carson Brown (28B), New London, N.C., 13.390
19. Dale Markham (3), Maple Park, Ill., 13.408
20. Frank Heckenast Jr. (99jr), Frankfort, Ill., 13.503
21. Mark Whitener (5), Middleburg, Fla., 13.510
22. Thomas Hunziker (38), Bend, Ore., 13.537
23. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 13.576
24. Sean Mattingly (22m), Cortland, Ill., 13.613
25. Brody Smith (17sr), Dade City, Fla., 13.740
26. Mike Provenzano (m27), Marseilles, Ill., 13.780
27. Chevy Miller (59), Clinton, Ill., 13.886
28. Matthew Larson (8), Lake Elmo, Minn., 13.972
29. Greg Wagner (79w), Polo, Ill., 14.239
Group B
1. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 12.857
2. Drake Troutman (22*), Hyndman, Pa., 12.861
3. Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 12.907
4. Rodney Melvin (27m), Benton, Ill., 12.911
5. Shannon Babb (18), Moweaqua, Ill., 12.917
6. Joseph Joiner (10), Milton, Fla., 13.003
7. Christian Hanger (29), Winchester, Tenn., 13.004
8. McKay Wenger (99), Fairbury, Ill., 13.149
9. Kevin Weaver (B12), Gibson City, Ill., 13.158
10. Jake Little (38J), Springfield, Ill., 13.181
11. Oakley Johns (c6), Hohenwald, Tenn., 13.204
12. Eli Johnson (55), Clewistown, Fla., 13.215
13. Trevor Gundaker (11T), St. Charles, Mo., 13.222
14. Mike Harrison (33), Highland, Ill., 13.226
15. Brayton Wallace (T2), Peoria, Ill., 13.250
16. Taylor Scheffler (10s), Waukesha, Wis., 13.317
17. Brandon Sheppard (B5), New Berlin, Ill., 13.409
18. Jeffrey Ledford (8L), Pontiac, Ill., 13.488
19. Chuck Southard (108), Franklin, N.C., 13.604
20. Billy Hough (334), Thomasboro, Ill., 13.680
21. Chase Osterhoff (130), Kankakee, Ill., 13.939
22. Easton Bollinger (31), Bruce, Miss., 14.020
23. Daniel Flessner (D33), Roberts, Ill., 14.151
24. Lyle Zanker (9), Rockford, Ill., 14.213
25. Mike Winn (729), Bourbonnais, Ill., 14.397
26. Harrison Oliver (74), Frankfort, Ind., 15.324
27. Andy Clark (17), Mackinaw, Ill., no time
28. Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla., no time
29. Allen Ellis (93), Peoria, Ill., no time

Saturday’s schedule

(All times local)
11 a.m. - Pits and grandstands open
5:15 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
5:45 p.m. - On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- Modified group qualifying
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- Street stock group qualifying
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Modified heats (8 laps)
- Street stock heats (8 laps)
- Late Model consolations (10 laps)
- Modified consolations (8 laps)
- Street stock consolation (8 laps)
Intermission/track prep
- Late Model feature (50 laps)
- Modified feature (30 laps)
- Street stock feature (15 laps)