DirtonDirt Dispatches
Dispatches: English pockets Bullring's $10,000
Tanner English (96) leads Jason Feger (25). (joshjamesartwork.com)
Among the latest notes and quotes from around Dirt Late Model racing during the Sept. 18-21 weekend (look for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series from Iowa’s Knoxville Raceway elsewhere). Also find a listing of live-streaming video from specials around the country:
Improving English
As good as Tanner English’s car was at the end of Friday’s MARS Championship Series event at the Brownstown (Ill.) Bullring, it didn’t feel very good at the outset, the Benton, Ky., driver said.
“Really, at the beginning I thought, ‘Man, I have messed up.’ I felt like I had a terrible car,” said the 32-year-old English, who started seventh at the high-banked, quarter-mile oval. “And then, just, I guess they just wore their tires out.”
With contenders Michael Leach and Ryan Unzicker falling by the wayside mid-race, moving English to second behind leader Jason Feger, the driver of the Coltman Farms No. 96 got better and better in pressuring the MARS points leader and eight-time series winner.
English’s slide job in turn three with 11 laps remaining briefly carried him ahead of Feger, but Feger answered the move to go right back out front before the start-finish line. English didn’t give up, again sliding underneath Feger entering turn three four laps later. This time he made the move stick and raced to a $10,000 victory, the 17th of his career on the MARS circuit.
By that time, Feger was losing the handling of his car, in part, he later discovered, because of a deflating tire.
“The car was really good. The right-rear tire is pretty much on the rim right now, so it was going down,” Feger said. “I just kept getting tighter and tighter. I mean, Tanner is always really good here and once that thing started going down, I just couldn't make the moves he was making in lap[ed traffic. Just lucky to finish and run second, but like I said, we were really good there until the tire started going down. That’s just part of it, especially when you run the top like that.”
English himself had tire concerns, saying that with a softer-than-usual compound on his left-rear corner, "you really got a baby it.” He paced himself and "tried to stay off the cushion and just tried to stay calm and wait for some lapped traffic and for (Feger) to fade a little bit.”
English thanked his team, family, supporters and sponsors in victory lane after his third victory of the season, including a World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series triumph at Highland (Ill.) Speedway a month earlier.
Adding his appreciation to wife Mallorie for putting up with his long hours at the shop and on the road, English noted she was on vacation. He had mixed feelings about where he’d rather have been.
"I wish I was there,” English said, “but this is a little cooler.” — Staff reports
Correction: Fixes English's victory total to three sted two.
Streaming schedule
Among upcoming Dirt Late Model special and sanctioned events available via live streaming:
Thursday, Sept. 18
• Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series at Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway (FloRacing)
Friday, Sept. 19
• Comp Cams Super Dirt Series prelims at Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, Miss. (ArrowVision Live)
• Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series at Anderson (S.C.) Motor Speedway (Ultra Broadcasting)
• Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series at Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway (FloRacing)
• MARS Championship Series at Brownstown (Ill.) Bullring (FloRacing)
• Alabama State Championships at East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City (XRevents Plus)
• Stock Car Stampede at Jamestown (N.D.) Speedway (IMCA TV)
• 4 State Dirt Late Model Series at Springfield (Mo.) Raceway (RaceON)
• Red Clay 602 Series at Anderson (S.C.) Motor Speedway (Ultra Broadcasting)
• Punky Manor Challenge of Champions at Red Cedar Speedway in Menomonie, Wis. (Dirt Race Central)
Saturday, Sept. 20
• Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series at Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway (FloRacing)
• Comp Cams Super Dirt Series at Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, Miss. (ArrowVision Live)
• Mountaineer 50 at Beckley (W.Va.) Motor Speedway (Dirt Rich TV)
• Alabama State Championships at East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City (XRevents Plus)
• Southern Thunder Super Dirt Series at North Georgia Speedway in Chatsworth, Ga. (Hunt the Front TV)
• Punky Manor Challenge of Champions at Red Cedar Speedway in Menomonie, Wis. (Dirt Race Central)
• Stock Car Stampede at Jamestown (N.D.) Speedway (IMCA TV)
• Bernheisel Racing Components Fall Clash at Clinton County Speedway in Mill Hall, Pa. (FloRacing)
• MARS Championship Series at Peoria (Ill.) Speedway (FloRacing)
• Jail Breaker Topless Outlaw Late Model Series at Smoky Mountain Speedway in Maryville, Tenn. (Mad Speed TV)
• Malvern Bank East-West Series at Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway (FloRacing)
• American Crate All-Star Series at Mountain View Raceway in Spring City, Tenn. (Dirt Rich TV)
• Cagle Automotive Blue Ridge Outlaws at Lake View Motor Speedway in Nichols, S.C. (Ultra Broadcasting)
• Nutrien Ag Revival Super Dirt Series at Candy (Kan.) Valley Speedway (Start2Finish TV)
• 4 State Dirt Late Model Series at Springfield (Mo.) Raceway (RaceON)
• Wabam Dirt Kings Tour at Plymouth (Wis.) Dirt Track (Dirt Race Central)
• Southern Wedge Late Model Series at Lake View Motor Speedway in Nichols, S.C. (Ultra Broadcasting)
Sunday, Sept. 21
• Alabama State Championships at East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City (XRevents Plus)
