Dirt on Dirt - Debut at Crystal pays $10,000 for Unzicker

July 10

Crystal Motor Speedway,

Crystal, MI

Sanction: DIRTcar Summer Nationals - $10,000

Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated July 11, 1:11 pm)

Debut at Crystal pays $10,000 for Unzicker

Ryan Unzicker
Tanner English
Frank Heckenast Jr.
Devin Shiels
Luke Morey
Travis Stemler
Chad Finley
Sam Seawright
Dona Marcoullier
Rylee Knoll
Mitch McGrath
Eric Spangler
Rich Bell
Brenten DeYoung
Chase Burda
Mark Voigt
Jake Rendel
Chad Roush
Mason VanderVeen
Brandon Thirlby
Logan Nickerson
Mike VanderMark Jr.

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Terry Page

Ryan Unzicker celebrates his $10,000 victory in Crystal, Mich.

What won the race: Leading all 40 laps Friday in his debut at Crystal Motor Speedway, Ryan Unzicker of El Paso, Ill., grabbed his first DIRTcar Summer Nationals victory of the season while pocketing $10,000. Unzicker deftly handled traffic and kept series points leader Tanner English in check winning by 2.241 seconds on a rugged track in front of a big crowd.

Quotable: “Yeah, that feels real good,” Unzicker said. “After losing those last couple $10,000s we were leading — and we lost them both to Jason (Feger) — this one feels really good.”

Key notes: Ryan Unzicker won his 15th career series victory and first since June 20, 2024, at Spoon River Speedway in Banner, Ill. ... He's a part-time Summer Nationals racer and full-timer on the MARS Championship Series, where he's leading the points. ... Unzicker hit an infield tire barrier on the 29th lap but didn't appear to suffer any damage. ... A single caution slowed the action on the 11th lap when Mitch McGrath went around in turn three (fifth-running Brandon Thirlby retired during the caution). ... The 16-minute feature concluded at 10:01 p.m. ... Rugged track conditions required a reworking of the surface twice during the program at Crystal, which doesn't run DIRTcar rules in its regular season division. ... The hardest hit of the night came in the consolation race when a spun Jacob Stuhr collected Chris Nethers in turn three (no one was hurt, but Stuhr flung his helmet at Brenten DeYoung as he rolled by under caution). ... Twenty-three of 34 entrants hailed from Michigan. ... Michigan native Rusty Schlenk elected to skip the event to prepare for Saturday's Oakshade Raceway action.

On the move: Dona Marcoullier of Houghton Lake, Mich., started 15th and finished ninth.

Winner's sponsors: Unzicker’s Longhorn Chassis has a Pro Power Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from RJR Transportation, Brucker Farms, Low Voltage Solutions, Mosquito Hero, Fairbury Fastener & Supply, Larimer Cows & Calves, Absolute Home Repair & Remodeling, Gary Miller’s Classic Auto, El Paso Outdoor Center, Big City Automotive, Arkansas Septic Plumbing, Unzicker Equipment, Konstruction Services, Pro Tire and Automotive, Mackinaw Valley Powder Coating, Logan Smith Collectibles, Clean It Up Pressure Washing Professionals, A Solution HVAC & Construction, Bert by Budda Transmissions, DirtcarLift.com, Keyser Manufacturing, NAPA El Paso, Fuel Factory, Varsitee Screenprint, Bilstein Shocks and Fuel Factory.

Points chase: Week 5 after Crystal: 1. Tanner English (278); 2. Luke Morey (228); 3. Chad Finley (226); 4. Frank Heckenast Jr. (219); 5. Travis Stemler (208). Overall after Crystal: 1. Tanner English (1,467); 2. Jason Feger (1,185); 3. Mitch McGrath (912); 4. Clay Stuckey (837); 5. Frank Heckenast Jr. (821).

Current weather: Clear, 72°F

Car count: 34

Fast qualifier: Tanner English

Time: 13.979 seconds

Polesitter: Ryan Unzicker

Heat race winners: Tanner English, Ryan Unzicker, Devin Shiels, Brandon Thirlby

Consolation race winners: Mason VanderVeen

Provisional starters: Mark Voigt, Chad Roush, Mike VanderMark Jr., Jake Rendel

Next series race: July 11, Oakshade Raceway (Wauseon, OH) $10,000

Editor's note: Corrects 14th-pace finisher and spelling of Brenten DeYoung's first name throughout.

From staff reports

CRYSTAL, Mich. — Updates from Friday’s 21st round of the 40th annual DIRTcar Summer Nationals at Crystal Motor Speedway, an event highlighted by a 40-lap, $10,000-to-win feature for DIRTcar Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature lineup

(40 laps)

Row 1: Ryan Unzicker, Devin Shiels
Row 2: Tanner English, Brandon Thirlby
Row 3: Frank Heckenast Jr., Luke Morey
Row 4: Chad Finley, Mitch McGrath
Row 5: Sam Seawright, Logan Nickerson
Row 6: Travis Stemler, Eric Spangler
Row 7: Rylee Knoll, Rich Bell
Row 8: Dona Marcoullier, Chase Burda
Row 9: Mason VanderVeen, Brenten DeYoung
Row 10: Mark Voigt, Chad Roush
Row 11: Mike VanderMark Jr., Jake Rendel

B-main results

(10 laps; top two transfer)

Results: Mason VanderVeen, Brenten DeYoung, Dillon Kohn, Jake Rendel, Kody Johnson, Austin Harnick, Chad Roush, Cody Bauer, Brayden Shiels, Jamie Grochowski, Luke Anstett, Kyle Hunt, Mike VanderMark Jr., Chris Nethers, Jacob Stuhr, Carter Murday. Scratched: Mark Voigt, Garrett Wiles.

Heat race results

(Eight laps; top four transfer)

First heat: Tanner English, Frank Heckenast Jr., Sam Seawright, Rylee Knoll, Mason VanderVeen, Chad Roush, Dillon Kohn, Brayden Shiels. Scratched: Mike VanderMark Jr.

Second heat: Ryan Unzicker, Chad Finley, Travis Stemler, Dona Marocullier, Brenten DeYoung, Austin Harnick, Chris Nethers, Cody Bauer.

Third heat: Devin Shiels, Luke Morey, Logan Nickerson, Rich Bell, Jacob Stuhr, Jake Rendel, Jamie Grochowski, Luke Anstett, Garrett Wiles.

Fourth heat: Brandon Thirlby, Mitch McGrath, Eric Spangler, Chase Burda, Carter Murday, Kyle Hunt, Mark Voigt, Kody Johnson.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)

Tanner English (96), Benton, Ky., 13.979
Ryan Unzicker (24), El Paso, Ill., 14.116
Sam Seawright (16), Rainsville, Ala., 14.201
Cody Bauer (19x), Farwell, Mich., 14.333
Frank Heckenast Jr. (99jr), Frankfort, Ill., 14.369
Travis Stemler (4), Ionia, Mich., 14.441
Mike VanderMark Jr. (41), Cedar Springs, Mich., 14.524
Chad Finley (42), St. Johns, Mich., 14.639
Rylee Knoll (07), Lake, Mich., 14.661
Dona Marcoullier (6m), Houghton Lake, Mich., 14.715
Mason VanderVeen (57v), Six Lakes, Mich., 14.986
Austin Harnick (15), Clare, Mich., 14.989
Chad Roush (32), Reedsville, Ohio, 15.080
Brenten DeYoung (18), Crystal, Mich., 15.470
Brayden Shiels (51B), Britton, Mich., 15.558
Chris Nethers (41N), Watertown, N.Y., 15.603
Dillon Kohn (26), Sheridan, Mich., 15.608

Group B

Luke Morey (49), Denver, N.C., 14.325
Brandon Thirlby (M14), Buckley, Mich., 14.434
Devin Shiels (51), Britton, Mich., 14.743
Chase Burda (18B), Lapeer, Mich., 14.812
Garrett Wiles (16), Hubbardson, Mich., 14.908
Mitch McGrath (74), Waukesha, Wis., 14.976
Logan Nickerson (21), Vestaburg, Mich., 15.037
Eric Spangler (27), Lake City, Mich., 15.045
Rich Bell (21B), Sheffield, Ill., 15.053
Carter Murday (19m), Adrian, Mich., 15.309
Jacob Stuhr (18s), Harrison, Mich., 15.345
Mark Voigt (30), Marine, Ill., 15.389
Jake Rendel (06), Adrian, Mich., 15.402
Kyle Hunt (55), Bannister, Mich., 15.540
Jamie Grochowski (45G), Toledo, Ohio, 15.611
Kody Johnson (55j), Vestaburg, Mich., 15.735
Luke Anstett (64), Greenville, Mich., 16.001

Friday’s schedule

(All times local; updates with removal of Late Model C-main)
2 p.m. - Pits open
3:45 p.m. - Tech and registration open
4 p.m. - Grandstands open
5:15 p.m. - Tech and registration close
5:45 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6:15 p.m. - On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- Modified group qualifying
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Modified heats (8 laps)
- Late Model consolation (10 laps)
Feature events
- Modifieds (25 laps)
- Late Models (40 laps)