Key notes: The 40th annual DIRTcar Summer Nationals continues its fourth week of competition with Saturday’s 40-lap, $10,000-to-win return to Highland Speedway. … There are nine Hell Tour races scheduled over the next nine days. … A $150,000 points fund will be paid out weekly with $10,000 to each week’s champion. … Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., earned the week two title after narrowly beating Tanner English. Feger enters Saturday with seven career Highland specials, including four on the Summer Nationals, worth more than $50,000. … English, of Benton, Ky., won last fall’s $12,000 World of Outlaws series stop at Highland after topping 2022’s Summer Nationals visit. English, the overall points leader, enters Saturday with seven runner-up finishes and 13 top fives in 14 tour starts thus far. … Frank Heckenast Jr. of Frankfort, Ill., survived a rough-and-tumble 40-lapper Friday night at Red Hill Raceway in Sumner, Ill., earning his first Summer Nationals win in nearly six years and the $10,000 payday. … Two-time winner this season Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., has eight major wins since 2004 at Highland, including five Summer Nationals victories there, combining for more than $50,000. … Modifieds, factory stocks and pro mods are on the undercard. … Pits open at 8 a.m. and grandstands open at 4 p.m. with hot laps at 6; a driver autograph session will take place at 4:15. … Watch live on DIRTVision.
Who to watch: Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., seeks his sixth Summer Nationals win this season and fifth of his career at Highland.
Points chase: Week 4 before Highland: 1. Tanner English (363); 2. Sam Seawright (343); 3. Jason Feger (312); T4. Clay Stuckey (281); T4. Luke Morey (281); 6. Kyle Hardy (271).
Overall before Highland: Tanner English (964); 2. Jason Feger (904); 3. Clay Stuckey (737); 4. Michael Leach (601); 5. Mitch McGrath (599).
Expected entrants: Jason Feger, Tanner English, Shannon Babb, Sam Seawright, Frank Heckenast Jr., Ryan Unzicker, Mike Harrison, Rusty Schlenk, Kyle Hardy, Daniel Adam, Clay Stuckey, Daryn Klein, Jordan Bauer, Tyler Millwood, Luke Morey, Michael Leach, Chad Zobrist, Rich Bell, Kyle Hammer, Brandon Carpenter, Michael Kloos, Carter Schlenk, Brody Smith, Dean Carpenter, Mark Voigt and more.
Next series race: July 5, Macon Speedway (Macon, IL) $7,500
From staff reports
HIGHLAND, Ill. — Updates from Saturday’s 15th round of the 40th annual DIRTcar Summer Nationals at Highland Speedway, an event highlighted by a 40-lap, $10,000-to-win feature for DIRTcar Super Late Models (results unofficial):
Saturday’s schedule
(All times local)
8 a.m. - Pits open
3:30 p.m. - Tech and registration open
4 p.m. - Grandstands open
4:15 p.m. - Driver autograph session
5 p.m. - Tech and registration close
6 p.m. - On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- Modified group qualifying
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- Pro mod hot laps
- Factory stock hot laps
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Modified heats (8 laps)
- Pro mod heats (8 laps)
- Factory stock heats (8 laps)
Intermission/track prep
- Modified consolation (8 laps)
- Late Model consolation (10 laps)
Feature events
- Late Models (40 laps)
- Modifieds (25 laps)
- Pro mods (20 laps)
- Factory stocks (15 laps)
