Dirt on Dirt - English rules Kankakee for third Hell Tour victory

July 6

Kankakee County Speedway,

Kankakee, IL

Sanction: DIRTcar Summer Nationals - $5,000

Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated July 7, 12:31 am)

English rules Kankakee for third Hell Tour victory

Tanner English
Carson Ferguson
Sam Seawright
Jason Feger
Brenden Smith
Mike Spatola
Rusty Schlenk
Luke Morey
Chase Osterhoff
Rylee Knoll
Chris Simpson
Bob Gardner
Brody Smith
Frank Heckenast Jr.
Carter Schlenk
Mark Voigt
Mike Provenzano
Jack Franklin
Jacob Kolwyck
Billy Knippenberg
Mike Winn
Alex Wilson
Dan DeYoung
Mitch McGrath

presented by

Photo slideshow

Mike Ruefer/mikerueferphotos.photoreflect.com

Tanner English (96) outdueled Sam Seawright (16) at Kankakee.

What won the race: Winning a lengthy midrace side-by-side battle with fellow front-row starter Sam Seawright, polesitter Tanner English took command on the 18th lap and led the rest of the way for his third DIRTcar Summer Nationals victory of the season. The series points leader earned $5,000 in taking the checkers 2.422 seconds ahead of Carson Ferguson, a surprise entrant in his series debut who nipped Seawright for second in the 30-lapper.

Quotable: "I can't say enough about this car. It's awesome," English said. "We've been dialing it in. That's what I wanted to come out here and do and race a bunch of times and just try to get better and build a notebook."

Key notes: Tanner English won his ninth career series victory. ... His three 2026 victories have come in the last six series races. ... Alabama invader Sam Seawright led the first 17 laps from outside the front row, but he struggled to exit turn two on the high side. He and English ran side-by-side for several laps midrace with English's lower groove finally paying off amid traffic. ... Seawright slipped to third behind Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series regular Carson Ferguson, who barely held off Seawright at the finish for second. ... A single caution slowed the action on the seventh lap for backmarker Dan DeYoung's turn-two spin. ... The 11-minute feature concluded at 9:18 p.m. ... All entries able to run started the feature (John Provenzano scratched). ... Frank Heckenast Jr. was late and missed time trials. .... Engine problems prevented Mitch McGrath from time-trialing or running a heat; he started-and-parked a Jason Feger backup car in the main event. ... Kankakee's event was a makeup of a June 10 rainout (because of that, the event wrapped up Week 1 points for champ Tanner English). ... Sixth-place finisher Mike Spatola is a five-time 2026 winner at Kankakee, which this season upgraded to Super Late Models from Crate Late Models. ... Former Kankakee promoter (1988-99) and Hall of Fame racer Tony Izzo Sr. died the night before the race at age 82 at his Homer Glen, Ill., home.

On the move: In his first series start of 2026, Rylee Knoll of Lake, Mich., started 14th and finished 10th.

Winner's sponsors: English's AK Race Car is powered by a Pro Built Race Engine and sponsored by Riggs Fiber, M&M Painting & Construction, Thoroughbred Auto Auction, Seay Motors, Custom Automotive, Supreme Enterprises, Chase Motorsports, Bel-O Cooling & Heating, Melvin's Towing, Bad Boy Moyers, DeFew's Body Shop, Minon Construction, Bailey's Trucking, Lance's Garage Door, Rural Route Repair and SI Towing & Recovery.

Points chase: Overall after Kankakee: Tanner English (1,189); 2. Jason Feger (1,066); 3. Clay Stuckey (837); 4. Mitch McGrath (733); 5. Brody Smith (701).

Current weather: Clear, 70°F

Car count: 25

Fast qualifier: Mike Spatola

Time: 14.418 seconds

Polesitter: Tanner English

Heat race winners: Carson Ferguson, Tanner English, Sam Seawright

Next series race: July 7, Montpelier Speedway (Montpelier, IN) $5,000

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

From staff reports

KANKAKEE, Ill. — Updates from Monday’s 17th round of the DIRTcar Summer Nationals at Kankakee County Speedway, an event highlighted by a 30-lap, $5,000-to-win feature for DIRTcar Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Winning a midrace side-by-side battle with fellow front-row starter Sam Seawright, polesitter Tanner English took command on the 18th lap and led the rest of the way for his third DIRTcar Summer Nationals victory of the season. The series points leader earned $5,000 in taking the checkers 2.422 seconds ahead of Carson Ferguson, a surprise entrant in his series debut who nipped Seawright for second in the 30-lapper.

Feature lineup

(30 laps)

Row 1: Tanner English, Sam Seawright
Row 2: Carson Ferguson, Brenden Smith
Row 3: Jason Feger, Luke Morey
Row 4: Mike Spatola, Chase Osterhoff
Row 5: Rusty Schlenk, Brody Smith
Row 6: Chris Simpson, Carter Schlenk
Row 7: Bob Gardner, Rylee Knoll
Row 8: Jacob Kolwyck, Jack Franklin
Row 9: Billy Knippenberg, Mike Provenzano
Row 10: Alex Wilson, Frank Heckenast Jr.
Row 11: Dan DeYoung, Mark Voigt
Row 12: Mike Winn, Mitch McGrath

Heat race results

(Eight laps; top five transfer)

First heat: Carson Ferguson, Brenden Smith, Mike Spatola, Brody Smith, Bob Gardner, Jack Franklin, Alex Wilson, Mark Voigt. Scratched: John Provenzano.

Second heat: Tanner English, Jason Feger, Chase Osterhoff, Chris Simpson, Rylee Knoll, Billy Knippenberg, Frank Heckenast Jr., Mike Winn.

Third heat: Sam Seawright, Luke Morey, Rusty Schlenk, Carter Schlenk, Jacob Kolwyck, Mike Provenzano, Dan DeYoung. Scratched: Mitch McGrath.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
Mike Spatola (89), Manhattan, Ill., 14.418
Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla., 14.450
Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 14.615
Brody Smith (17sr), Dade City, Fla., 14.656
Jack Franklin (12), Murfreesboro, Tenn., 15.292
Mark Voigt (30), Marine, Ill., 15.336
Bob Gardner (4G), Washington, Ill., 15.502
Alex Wilson (Z61), Chenoa, Ill., 15.543
John Provenzano (18c), Princeton, Ill., no time
Group B
Tanner English (96), Benton, Ky., 14.657
Jason Feger (25), Bloomington, Ill., 15.118
Chase Osterhoff (130), Kankakee, Ill., 15.185
Rylee Knoll (07), Lake, Mich., 15.324
Chris Simpson (32), Oxford, Iowa, 15.334
Billy Knippenberg, Plainfield, Ill., 16.199
Mike Winn (729), Bourbonnais, Ill., 16.664
Frank Heckenast Jr. (99jr), Frankfort, Ill., no time
Group C
Sam Seawright (16), Rainsville, Ala., 15.194
Luke Morey (49), Denver, N.C., 15.267
Rusty Schlenk (91), Jackson, Mich., 15.394
Jacob Kolwyck (21k), Griffith, Ind., 15.760
Carter Schlenk (L91), Jackson, Mich., 16.060
Mike Provenzano (M27), Marseilles, Ill., 16.265
Dan DeYoung (74D), Hobart, Ind., 17.721
Mitch McGrath (74), Waukesha, Wis., no time

Monday’s schedule

(All times local)
3 p.m. - Pits open
3:30 p.m. - Tech and registration open
5 p.m. - Tech and registration close
5:30 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6:15 p.m. - On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- Modified group qualifying
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- Stock car group qualifying
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Modified heats (8 laps)
- Stock car heats (8 laps)
- Sport compact heats (8 laps)
- Crown Vic heats (8 laps)
Intermission/track prep
- Modified consolation (8 laps)
- Late Model consolation (8 laps)
Feature events
- Late Models (30 laps)
- Modifieds (25 laps)
- Stock cars (15 laps)
- Sport compacts (15 laps)
- Crown Vics (15 laps)