HIGHLAND, Ill. — Updates and results from Saturday’s 15th round of the 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):
Feature
Winning back-to-back series races for the first time in 13 years, points leader Jason Feger dominated Saturday's 40-lapper at Highland Speedway for a $10,000 DIRTcar Summer Nationals payday. Feger, who led by two-second margins much of the race, captured his tour-leading fourth victory in finishing 1.431 seconds ahead of runner-up Shannon Babb.
Feature lineup
(40 laps)
Row 1: Jason Feger, Rodney Melvin
Row 2: Daryn Klein, Shannon Babb
Row 3: Garrett Alberson, Kyle Bronson
Row 4: Brandon Sheppard, Chad Zobrist
Row 5: Tyler Millwood, Mark Whitener
Row 6: Bob Gardner, Christian Hanger
Row 7: Dillon McCowan, Brenden Smith
Row 8: Carson Brown, Michael Kloos
Row 9: Tyler Erb, Jordan Suhre
Row 10: Trey Mills, Clay Stuckey
Row 11: Claude Walker, Jackson Hise
Consolation race results
(10 laps; top two transfer)
B-main: Tyler Erb, Jordan Suhre, Mike Harrison, Drew Armstrong, Jackson Hise, Brody Smith, Kyle McMahon, Haiden Cowan, Eli Johnson, Claude Walker, Jason Zobrist, Clay Stuckey, Trey Mills, Chris Cowden, Kayden Clatt. Scratched: Thomas Hunziker, Adam Tischauser, Matt Bailey, Jordan Bauer.
Heat race recap
Shannon Babb survived multiple restarts to lead all eight laps of the first heat race, winning by 0.405 of a second over third-starting Garrett Alberson. Tyler Millwood improved a spot to finish third, while second-starting Dillon McCowan held on for the fourth and final transfer position into Saturday’s 40-lap main event. The race’s opening incident was a 10-minute red flag after Matt Bailey and Drew Armstrong made contact, sending Bailey climbing the fronstretch wall and nearly getting upside down into the first turn. Bailey was OK but walked the length of the fronstretch to voice displeasure with Armstrong, kicking the No. 01a on its hood and air cleaner; Bailey was initially physically restrained by track officials, to be kept from running at Armstrong's sitting car. … Daryn Klein fired off from the outside pole and commanded the entire distance of the second heat, taking the checkers 1.252 seconds ahead of polesitter Brandon Sheppard. Bob Gardner started and finished third, while sixth-starting Carson Brown claimed the fourth and final transfer spot into the $10,000-to-win feature. … Rodney Melvin cruised to a flag-to-flag victory by 1.427 seconds over second-starting Kyle Bronson, with third-starting Mark Whitener holding serve and fifth-starting Brenden Smith completing the top-four finishers. … Second-starting Jason Feger led the final seven laps to win the fourth and final heat race by 2.332 seconds over third-starting Chad Zobrist. Pole-starting Christian Hanger slipped to third, with Michael Kloos holding serve in fourth. Thomas Hunziker went for a wild ride down the frontsrtrech on the fourth lap, leaving the ground, with the front of his car nosing into the ground and the bottom resting against the catch fence. Hunziker was OK, but it took track officials more than 15 minutes for cleanup and a brief fence repair.
Heat race results
(Eight laps; top four transfer)
First heat: Shannon Babb, Garrett Alberson, Tyler Millwood, Dillon McCowan, Clay Stuckey, Kayden Clatt, Trey Mills, Drew Armstrong, Matt Bailey.
Second heat: Daryn Klein, Brandon Sheppard, Bob Gardner, Carson Brown, Tyler Erb, Mike Harrison, Jackson Hise, Claude Walker, Eli Johnson.
Third heat: Rodney Melvin, Kyle Bronson, Mark Whitener, Brenden Smith, Jordan Suhre, Haiden Cowan, Brody Smith, Adam Tischauser. Scratched: Jordan Bauer.
Fourth heat: Jason Feger, Chad Zobrist, Christian Hanger, Michael Kloos, Jason Zobrist, Kyle McMahon, Thomas Hunziker, Chris Cowden.
Time trials
Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Shannon Babb (18), Moweaqua, Ill., 12.702
2. Brandon Sheppard (B5), New Berlin, Ill., 12.815
3. Dillon McCowan (75), Urbana, Mo., 12.816
4. Daryn Klein (10k), Fairview Heights, Ill., 12.872
5. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 12.882
6. Bob Gardner (4G), East Peoria, Ill., 12.953
7. Tyler Millwood (31m), Kingston, Ga., 12.960
8. Tyler Erb (1), New Waverly, Texas, 12.990
9. Trey Mills (14jr), St. Augustine, Fla., 13.045
10. Mike Harrison (33), Highland, Ill., 13.071
11. Matt Bailey (52), Highland, Ill., 13.087
12. Carson Brown (28B), New London, N.C., 13.127
13. Clay Stuckey (15), Shreveport, La., 13.238
14. Eli Johnson (55), Clewiston, Fla., 13.375
15. Kayden Clatt (50k), Edina, Mo., 13.407
16. Jackson Hise (388), Ocala, Fla., 13.426
17. Drew Armstrong (01a), Alexander, Ark., 13.587
18. Claude Walker (35), Moro, Ill., 13.729
Group B
1. Rodney Melvin (27m), Benton, Ill., 12.832
2. Christian Hanger (29), Winchester, Tenn., 13.056
3. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 13.100
4. Jason Feger (25F), Bloomington, Ill., 13.175
5. Mark Whitener (5), Middleburg, Fla., 13.259
6. Chad Zobrist (78), Highland, Ill., 13.264
7. Brody Smith (17sr), Dade City, Fla., 13.283
8. Michael Kloos (6k), Trenton, Ill., 13.315
9. Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla., 13.354
10. Kyle McMahon (45), Mount Vernon, Ill., 13.359
11. Jordan Suhre (4), Alhambra, Ill., 13.391
12. Thomas Hunziker (38), Bend, Ore., 13.416
13. Haiden Cowan (14), Rincon, Ga., 13.469
14. Jason Zobrist (87), Highland, Ill., 13.538
15. Adam Tischauser (T4), Mulberry Grove, Ill., 13.762
16. Chris Cowden (5c), Millsadt, Ill., 17.828
17. Jordan Bauer (10J), St. Jacob, Ill., no time
Saturday’s schedule
(All times local)
10 a.m. - Pits open
4 p.m. - Grandstands open
4:45-5:15 p.m. - Driver autograph session (pit gate)
5:30 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6 p.m. - On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- Modified group qualifying
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- Pro mod hot laps
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Modified heats (8 laps)
- Pro mod heats (8 laps)
- Late Model B-main (10 laps)
- Modified consolation (8 laps)
Intermission/track prep
- Late Model feature (40 laps)
- Modified feature (25 laps)
- Pro mod feature (15 laps)
