Dirt on Dirt - Terbo ends drought, steals Lee County debut

June 19

Lee County Speedway,

Donnellson, IA

Sanction: DIRTcar Summer Nationals - $5,000

Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated June 20, 1:09 pm)

Terbo ends drought, steals Lee County debut

Tyler Erb
Chris Simpson
Mark Whitener
Christian Hanger
Ryan Gustin
Jake Timm
Joseph Joiner
Dillon McCowan
Kyle Bronson
Ethan Dotson
Ashton Winger
Sammy Mars
Jason Feger
Dennis Erb Jr.
Drake Troutman
Kayden Clatt
Derrick Stewart
Clay Stuckey
Carson Brown
Frank Heckenast Jr.
Justin Reed
Austin Howes

presented by

Photo slideshow Feature highlights Video recap Related story

Brendon Bauman/brendonbaumanphotos.com

Tyler Erb (1) goes to the lead over Christian Hanger (29).

What won the race: Storming past pole-starting Christian Hanger on the high side on the 19th lap, reigning series champion Tyler Erb of New Waverly, Texas, led the rest of Thursday's nonstop 30-lap DIRTcar Summer Nationals debut at Lee County Speedway. Previously winless in 2025 after 11 tour victories last season, Erb took the checkers 2.570 seconds ahead of Chris Simpson to pocket $5,000 for his 16th career series victory.

Quotable: “I haven’t been doing what I need to do. It’s pretty simple, I need to drive the dogs—t out of it and when it’s my night, it’s my night,” Erb said. “I’ve been getting frustrated, searching for something that I’m probably never gonna have. I know what this car is good at and I know how to do it good and tonight was a perfect example. (I) just found the cushion and, really, I could peel off and run the bottom and be okay too.”

Key notes: Erb's 16th career Summer Nationals victory surpasses Jeep Van Wormer for 12th on the all-time win list. ... Debuting a new car following a vicious accident earlier this month at Ohio's Eldora Speedway, home-state driver Chris Simpson advanced two positions to capture a runner-up finish. ... Floridian Mark Whitener climbed as high as second from the eighth starting spot, but gave way to Simpson with two to go and took the checkers in third, his best-ever tour finish. ... Polesitter Christian Hanger led the opening 18 circuits until losing control to Erb and slipping to fourth. ... Third-starting Ryan Gustin contended early but slipped back to complete the top five. ... For the first time this season, no drivers from the state of Illinois finished inside the top 10; 13th-place finisher Jason Feger was the highest finishing Illini driver. ... Feger of Bloomington, Ill., winner of two series events thus far and the opening week points title, improved six spots after starting via provisional. ... Austin Howes pulled to the infield as the first retiree on the ninth circuit. ... The caution-free 30-lapper lasted less than 10 minutes with 17 starters completing the distance.

On the move: Ashton Winger of Hamton, Ga., started 20th and finished 11th.

Winner's sponsors: Erb’s winning Best Performance Motorsports Rocket Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Langenfelder Mechanical Contractors, Bulk Material Lift, First Class Septic, Roberts Bee Company, Anthony’s Pizza, JRR Trucking, Base Racing Fuel, Base Oil, Sani-Weld, Inc., Keyser Manufacturing, Integra Racing Shocks, Go Lithium Batteries, Midwest Sheet Metal, Terbo Threads and KBC Graphix.

Points chase: Week 2 points after Lee County: 1. Tyler Erb (198); 2. Ryan Gustin (189); 3. Joseph Joiner (174); 4. Dennis Erb Jr. (167); T5. Drake Troutman (164); T5. Kyle Bronson (164). Overall points after Lee County: 1. Jason Feger (486); 2. Dennis Erb Jr. (462); 3. Tyler Erb (440); 4. Joseph Joiner (420); 5. Drake Troutman (416).

Current weather: Clear, 70°F

Car count: 35

Fast qualifier: Kayden Clatt

Time: 15.485 seconds

Polesitter: Christian Hanger

Heat race winners: Dillon McCowan, Chris Simpson, Ryan Gustin, Christian Hanger

Consolation race winners: Derrick Stewart

Provisional starters: Jason Feger, Ashton Winger, Austin Howes, Frank Heckenast Jr.

Next series race: June 20, Federated Raceway at I-55 (Pevely, MO) $12,000

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

From staff reports

DONNELLSON, Iowa — Updates and results from Thursday’s eighth round of the DIRTcar Summer Nationals at Lee County Speedway, an event highlighted by a 30-lap, $5,000-to-win feature for DIRTcar Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Storming past pole-starting Christian Hanger on the high side on the 19th lap, reigning series champion Tyler Erb of New Waverly, Texas, led the rest of Thursday's nonstop 30-lap DIRTcar Summer Nationals debut at Lee County Speedway. Previously winless in 2025 after 11 tour victories last season, Erb took the checkers 2.570 seconds ahead of Chris Simpson to pocket $5,000 for his 16th career series victory.

Feature lineup

(30 laps)

Row 1: Christian Hanger, Dillon McCowan
Row 2: Ryan Gustin, Chris Simpson
Row 3: Jake Timm, Tyler Erb
Row 4: Ethan Dotson, Mark Whitener
Row 5: Kayden Clatt, Justin Reed
Row 6: Joseph Joiner, Sammy Mars
Row 7: Dennis Erb Jr., Clay Stuckey
Row 8: Kyle Bronson, Drake Troutman
Row 9: Derrick Stewart, Carson Brown
Row 10: Jason Feger, Ashton Winger
Row 11: Austin Howes, Frank Heckenast Jr.

Consolation race results

(10 laps; top two transfer)

B-main: Derrick Stewart, Carson Brown, Michael Leach, Frank Heckenast Jr., Ashton Winger, Rickey Frankel, Brenden Smith, Tyler Millwood, Austin Howes, Brody Smith, Jason Feger, Jackson Hise, Trey Mills, Matthew Larson, Brandon Queen, Thomas Hunziker, Easton Bollinger, Matt Bailey.

Heat race recap

Second-starting Dillon McCowan took command on the opening circuit and wired the night's opening heat race. Jake Timm improved two positions to finish second, ahead of pole sitter Kayden Clatt and Dennis Erb Jr. ... Iowa's own Chris Simpson dominated the second heat race from the pole, leading every lap and taking the checkers 3.587 seconds ahead of third-starting Ethan Dotson, and a pair of Florida invaders; Joseph Joiner and Kyle Bronson. ... Another home state driver, Ryan Gustin of Marshalltown, led flag-to-flag to win the third heat race by over two seconds. Defending DIRTcar Summer Nationals champion, Tyler Erb grabbed the runner-up spot from eventual third place finisher Justin Reed on the fourth circuit in a sixth-to-second rally. Clay Stuckey advanced one position to nab the final transfer spot. Ninth-place finisher Trey Mills spun from fifth to bring out the caution on the second circuit, before charging back to the fifth spot and spinning again on the final circuit. ... In his Lee County debut, Christian Hanger won the fourth and final heat race over fifth-starting Mark Whitener. Sammy Mars and Drake Troutman also punched their tickets into the $5,000-to-win feature.

Heat race results

(Eight laps; top four transfer)

First heat: Dillon McCowan, Jake Timm, Kayden Clatt, Dennis Erb Jr., Carson Brown, Ashton Winger, Matt Bailey, Jason Feger, Jackson Hise.

Second heat: Chris Simpson, Ethan Dotson, Joseph Joiner, Kyle Bronson, Frank Heckenast Jr., Tyler Millwood, Thomas Hunziker, Easton Bollinger. Scratched: David Payne.

Third heat: Ryan Gustin, Tyler Erb, Justin Reed, Clay Stuckey, Derrick Stewart, Austin Howes, Brody Smith, Matthew Larson, Trey Mills.

Fourth heat: Christian Hanger, Mark Whitener, Sammy Mars, Drake Troutman, Michael Leach, Rickey Frankel, Brenden Smith, Brandon Queen.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Kayden Clatt (50k), Edina, Mo., 15.485
2. Chris Simpson (32s), Oxford, Iowa, 15.542
3. Dillon McCowan (75), Urbana, Mo., 15.695
4. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 15.844
5. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 15.953
6. Ethan Dotson (74x), Bakersfield, Calif., 15.966
7. Jake Timm (49), Winona, Minn., 15.975
8. Joseph Joiner (10), Milton, Fla., 16.056
9. Matt Bailey (52), Highland, Ill., 16.099
10. Thomas Hunziker (38), Bend, Ore., 16.135
11. Ashton Winger (12), Hampton, Ga., 16.164
12. Frank Heckenast Jr. (99jr), Frankfort, Ill., 16.189
13. Jason Feger (25F), Bloomington, Ill., 16.237
14. Tyler Millwood (31m), Kingston, Ga., 16.317
15. Carson Brown (28B), New London, N.C., 16.391
16. Easton Bollinger (31), Bruce, Miss., 16.469
17. Jackson Hise (388), Ocala, Fla., 16.491
18. David Payne (7), Cabot, Ark., no time
Group B
1. Ryan Gustin (19R), Marshalltown, Iowa, 15.694
2. Christian Hanger (29), Winchester, Tenn., 16.121
3. Justin Reed (1st), Camp Point, Ill., 16.135
4. Sammy Mars (28m), Menomonie, Wis., 16.173
5. Derrick Stewart (43), Ainsworth, Iowa, 16.206
6. Drake Troutman (22*), Hyndman, Pa., 16.236
7. Trey Mills (14jr), St. Augustine, Fla., 16.285
8. Rickey Frankel (33F), Quincy, Ill., 16.348
9. Clay Stuckey (15), Shreveport, La., 16.437
10. Mark Whitener (5), Middleburg, Fla., 16.447
11. Tyler Erb (1), New Waverly, Texas, 16.487
12. Michael Leach (09), Sun River, Mont., 16.501
13. Matthew Larson (8), Lake Elmo, Minn., 16.574
14. Brody Smith (17sr), Dade City, Fla., 17.616
15. Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla., 16.647
16. Austin Howes (17A), Lewistown, Mo., 16.725
17. Brandon Queen (12Q), Keokuk, Iowa, 17.558

Thursday’s schedule

(All times local)
4:30 p.m. - All gates open
6 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- Modified group qualifying
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- Stock car hot laps
- Sport mod hot laps
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Modified heats (8 laps)
- Stock car heats (8 laps)
- Sport mod heats (8 laps)
- Late Model C-main (8 laps)
- Modified consolation (8 laps)
- Late Model B-main (10 laps)
Intermission/track prep
- Late Model feature (30 laps)
- Modified feature (25 laps)
- Stock car feature (20 laps)
- Sport mod feature (15 laps)