Dirt on Dirt - Mills nips B-Shepp to win Summer Nationals first

June 26

Macon Speedway,

Macon, IL

Sanction: DIRTcar Summer Nationals (Herald & Review 100) - $7,500

Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated June 27, 8:00 am)

Mills nips B-Shepp to win Summer Nationals first

Herald & Review 100

Trey Mills
Brandon Sheppard
Ryan Unzicker
Tyler Millwood
Kyle Bronson
Christian Hanger
Jason Feger
Brenden Smith
Tyler Erb
Dillon McCowan
Drew Armstrong
Haiden Cowan
Blaze Burwell
Clay Stuckey
Austin Howes
Mark Whitener
Jackson Hise
Dakota Ewing
Jayme Zidar
Eli Johnson
Jake Little
Rusty Griffaw
Rockett Bennett

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Brendon Bauman/brendonbauman.com

Trey Mills celebrates his career-high $7,500 victory at Macon.

What won the race: After a heated battle for the lead in the closing circuits, Trey Mills of St. Augustine, Fla., narrowly defeated a hard-charging Brandon Sheppard to capture his first career DIRTcar Summer Nationals victory in Thursday's Herald & Review 100 at Macon Speedway. The 17-year-old took the checkers just 0.118 of a second ahead of Sheppard in a photo finish to earn a career-high $7,500 payday.

Quotable: "I seen (Brandon Sheppard) on my inside coming to the (checkered) flag," Mills said. "I almost thought I lost it, but I held on to it.”

Key notes: Mills's victory is his first since June 23, 2023, at Whynot Motorsports Park in Meridian, Miss. ... At 17 years and one month old, Mills becomes the second youngest winner in series history to Bobby Pierce (16 years, seven months in 2013 at Lincoln (Ill.) Speedway), and third-ever driver from Florida to win on tour (following Earl Pearson and Kyle Bronson). ... Tyler Erb led the opening 45 circuits from the pole, before losing command after a crossover move by Mills. ... A pair of deep rallies earned Brandon Sheppard a runner-up finish, leading briefly on laps 92 and 93. The 23rd-starting Sheppard pitted from 10th under caution on the 13th circuit, dropping him as low as 20th. ... Eighth-starting Ryan Unzicker improved five positions to round out the podium. ... Tyler Millwood started 12th and finished fourth in his Macon debut. ... Austin Howes and Jason Feger got together while battling for fifth on the 66th lap. Howes retired while Feger salvaged a seventh-place finish. ... Second-running Mark Whitener suffered a broken driveshaft while challenging for the lead on the 54th lap; he finished 16th. ... Second-starting Jake Little spun from fourth on lap eight, eventually retiring on the 34th lap. ... A multi-car incident on lap seven involving Rockett Bennett, Christian Hanger and Dakota Ewing brought out the initial caution. Bennett was unable to continue. ... The 100-lapper was slowed by 10 cautions and lasted 55 minutes, with 13 starters completing the distance.

On the move: Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., started 23rd and finished second.

Winner's sponsors: Mills drives a Longhorn Chassis with sponsorship from Mills Concrete, Fitz Factory, Integra Racing Shocks, H&R Racing Engines, Hoosier Competition Cutz, GW Performance, VG Performance, Swift Springs, Simpson, Boswell Oil, Five Star Shop Service, Keyser Manufacturing, Earnhardt Technologies, TopNotch Kustom Koncepts and MyRacePass.

Points chase: Summer Nationals Week 3 after Macon: 1. Brandon Sheppard (145); 2. Tyler Erb (129); 3. Tyler Millwood (120); 4. Trey Mills (117); 5. Jason Feger (102). Summer Nationals overall after Macon: 1. Tyler Erb (702); 2. Jason Feger (700); 3. Dennis Erb Jr. (588); 4. Dillon McCowan (583); 5. Kyle Bronson (571).

Current weather: Clear, 86°F

Car count: 31

Fast qualifier: Trey Mills

Time: 11.401 seconds

Polesitter: Tyler Erb

Heat race winners: Trey Mills, Jake Little, Tyler Erb

Consolation race winners: Rusty Griffaw

Provisional starters: Dillon McCowan, Blaze Burwell, Dakota Ewing, Christian Hanger, Brandon Sheppard

Next series race: June 27, Farmer City Raceway (Farmer City, IL) $10,000

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

From staff reports

MACON, Ill. — Updates from Thursday’s 13th round of the DIRTcar Summer Nationals at Macon Speedway, an event highlighted by the Herald & Review 100, a $7,500-to-win feature for DIRTcar Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

After a heated battle for the lead in the closing circuits, Trey Mills of St. Augustine, Fla., narrowly defeated a hard-charging Brandon Sheppard to capture his first-career DIRTcar Summer Nationals victory in Thursday's Herald & Review 100 at Macon Speedway. The 17-year-old took the checkers just 0.118 of a second ahead of Sheppard in a photo finish to earn a career-high $7,500 payday.

Feature lineup

(100 laps)

Row 1: Tyler Erb, Jake Little
Row 2: Trey Mills, Kyle Bronson 
Row 3: Mark Whitener, Jayme Zidar 
Row 4: Brenden Smith, Ryan Unzicker 
Row 5: Austin Howes, Haiden Cowan 
Row 6: Eli Johnson, Tyler Millwood 
Row 7: Jason Feger, Jackson Hise 
Row 8: Clay Stuckey, Rusty Griffaw 
Row 9: Drew Armstrong, Rockett Bennett 
Row 10: Dillon McCowan, Blaze Burwell 
Row 11: Dakota Ewing, Christian Hanger
Row 12: Brandon Sheppard

Consolation race results

(Eight laps; top three transfer)

B-main finish: Rusty Griffaw, Drew Armstrong, Rockett Bennett, Dillon McCowan, Dakota Ewing, Greg Kimmons, Brody Smith, Kade Ballinger, Claude Walker, Blaze Burwell, Tim Boomer, Thomas Hunziker, Graham Fate. Scratched: Brandon Sheppard, Christian Hanger, Daulton Wilson.

Heat race recap

Fast qualifier Trey Mills wired the opening heat race, winning by 0.469 of a second over Kyle Bronson, who nabbed the runner-up position from third-place finisher Brenden Smith on the final circuit. Second-starting Daulton Wilson retired after slowing while running third on the sixth circuit. Haiden Cowan and Jason Feger also transferred into the 100-lap feature. … Jake Little repelled Mark Whitener to win the second heat, with Ryan Unzicker rounding out the podium in third. Eli Johnson advanced two positions to finish fourth in front of fellow Floridian Jackson Hise. Dillon McCowan salvaged a seventh place finish after spinning from sixth on the sixth circuit. … Series points leader, Tyler Erb won a wild final heat race, taking the checkers 1.535 seconds ahead of Jayme Zidar, who climbed four spots. Front row starters, Brandon Sheppard and Christian Hanger got together in the first corner, forcing Hanger’s No. 29 to be towed off the speedway. Sheppard went on to lead the opening two circuits, before retiring with a flat left-rear tire. Austin Howes, Tyler Millwood and Clay Stuckey also raced their way into the Herald & Review 100.

Heat results

(Eight laps; top five transfer)

First heat: Trey Mills, Kyle Bronson, Brenden Smith, Haiden Cowan, Jason Feger, Drew Armstrong, Rusty Griffaw, Kade Ballinger, Dakota Ewing, Brody Smith, Daulton Wilson.

Second heat: Jake Little, Mark Whitener, Ryan Unzicker, Eli Johnson, Jackson Hise, Rockett Bennett, Dillon McCowan, Thomas Hunziker, Graham Fate, Claude Walker.

Third heat: Tyler Erb, Jayme Zidar, Austin Howes, Tyler Millwood, Clay Stuckey, Blaze Burwell, Greg Kimmons, Brandon Sheppard, Christian Hanger, Tim Boomer.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Trey Mills (14jr), St. Augustine, Fla., 11.401
2. Daulton Wilson (18D), Fayetteville, N.C., 11.576
3. Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla., 11.583
4. Brody Smith (17sr), Dade City, Fla., 11.711
5. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 11.747
6. Haiden Cowan (14), Rincon, Ga., 11.804
7. Drew Armstrong (01), Alexander, Ark., 11.891
8. Rusty Griffaw (16), Festus, Mo., 11.976
9. Jason Feger (25F), Bloomington, Ill., 11.979
10. Dakota Ewing (25E), Warrensburg, Ill., 12.132
11. Kade Ballinger (k24), Lovington, Ill., 12.282
Group B
1. Jake Little (38J), Springfield, Ill., 11.863
2. Ryan Unzicker (24), El Paso, Ill., 11.924
3. Mark Whitener (5), Middleburg, Fla., 11.969
4. Jackson Hise (388), Ocala, Fla., 12.013
5. Claude Walker (35), Moro, Ill., 12.092
6. Eli Johnson (55), Clewistown, Fla., 12.135
7. Dillon McCowan (75), Urbana, Mo., 12.211
8. Thomas Hunziker (38), Bend, Ore., 12.304
9. Rockett Bennett (55B), Argenta, Ill., 12.310
10. Graham Fate (1G), Peoria, Ill., 13.323
Group C
1. Brandon Sheppard (B5), New Berlin, Ill., 11.684
2. Christian Hanger (29), Winchester, Tenn., 11.769
3. Tyler Erb (1), New Waverly, Texas, 11.881
4. Tyler Millwood (31m), Kingston, Ga., 12.119
5. Austin Howes (17A), Lewistown, Mo., 12.275
6. Jayme Zidar (9z), Hales Corners, Wis., 12.370
7. Blaze Burwell (44), Mount Vernon, Ill., 12.440
8. Clay Stuckey (15), Shreveport, La., 12.502
9. Greg Kimmons (27), Pleasant Plains, Ill., 13.019
10. Tim Boomer (T2), Bethany, Ill., 14.239

Thursday’s schedule

(All times local)
3 p.m. - Pits open
3 p.m. - Tech and registration open
5 p.m. - Grandstands open
5 p.m. - Tech and registration close
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)
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Modified heats (8 laps)
- Late Model C-main (8 laps)
- Modified consolation (8 laps)
- Late Model B-main (10 laps)
Intermission/track prep
- Modified feature (25 laps)
- Herald & Review 100