Key notes: After Wednesday’s planned stop at nearby Davenport (Iowa) Speedway rained out, Dubuque Speedway hosts the 40th annual DIRTcar Summer Nationals in Thursday’s 30-lap, $5,000-to-win seventh round. … It’s the series debut at the Dubuque, Iowa, 3/8-mile oval. … There are 26 races over the next 26 days. … A $150,000 points fund will be paid out weekly with $10,000 to each week’s champion. … Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., kicked off the second week of competition in dominating fashion, leading all 30 laps for a $5,000 payday at Wilmot (Wis.) Raceway. … Chris Simpson of Oxford, Iowa, earned a commanding flag-to-flag homestate victory Tuesday night at nearby West Liberty Raceway and seeks his second straight $5,000 Summer Nationals payday. The younger Simpson topped a MARS Late Model Series stop at Dubuque in the fall of 2022, worth $5,000. … Chris’s older brother, Chad Simpson of Mount Vernon, Iowa, has three Dubuque specials since May of 2007, including a $1,500 Premier Late Model Tour victory there last month. … Fifty-time Hell Tour winner Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., won the last major Super Late Model race at Dubuque on July 10, 2023, worth $20,000 on the now-defunct XR Super Series. … Hobby stocks and Crown Vics are on the undercard. … Pits open at 3 p.m. and grandstands open at 4:30 with hot laps at 6:30. … Watch live on DIRTVision.
Who to watch: Chris Simpson of Oxford, Iowa, chases his second straight Summer Nationals victory and sixth of his career.
Points chase: Week 2 before Dubuque: 1. Jason Feger (125); 2. Cade Dillard (122); 3. Tanner English (114); 4. Frank Heckenast Jr. (111); 5. Mitch McGrath (95).
Overall before Dubuque: 1. Tanner English (400); 2. Jason Feger (391); 3. Frank Heckenast Jr. (318); 4. Daniel Adam (299); 5. Clay Stuckey (293).
Expected entrants: Chris Simpson, Jason Feger, Tanner English, Cade Dillard, Billy Moyer, Chad Simpson, Frank Heckenast Jr., Dallon Murty, Dylan Thornton, Clay Stuckey, Daniel Adam, Mitch McGrath, Michael Leach, Tyler Millwood, Derrick Stewart, Kayden Clatt, Jake Rainey, Brody Smith, Matthew Larson, Curt Schroeder, Tyler Leach, Steve Stultz, Nick Marolf, Mark Voigt, Doug Tye and more.
Next series race: June 19, Farmer City Raceway (Farmer City, IL) $10,000
From staff reports
DUBUQUE, Iowa — Updates from Thursday’s seventh round of the 40th annual DIRTcar Summer Nationals at Dubuque Speedway, an event highlighted by a 30-lap, $5,000-to-win feature for DIRTcar Super Late Models (results unofficial):
Thursday’s schedule
(All times local)
3 p.m. - Pits open
4 p.m. - Tech and registration open
4:30 p.m. - Grandstands open
5:30 p.m. - Tech and registration close
6 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- Hobby stock hot laps
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- Crown Vic hot laps
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Hobby stock heats (5 laps)
- Late Model consolation (10 laps)
- Crown Vic heats (5 laps)
Feature events
- Late Models (30 laps)
- Hobby stocks (15 laps)
- Crown Vics (12 laps)
