Dirt on Dirt - Shirley fells Sycamore foes, ends skid

June 14

Sycamore Speedway,

Maple Park, IL

Sanction: DIRTcar Summer Nationals - $5,000

Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated June 15, 9:11 am)

Shirley fells Sycamore foes, ends skid

Brian Shirley
Jason Feger
Tanner English
Clay Stuckey
Daniel Adam
Frank Heckenast Jr.
Michael Leach
Jordan Bauer
Bob Gardner
Matthew Larson
Mike Spatola
Jake Rainey
Tyler Millwood
Dale Markham
Mark Voigt
Brody Smith
Tyler Leach
Doug Tye
Mitch McGrath
Mike Lofgren
Sean Mattingly
Chad Finley

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Brian Shirley led all 30 laps at Sycamore Speedway.

What won the race: A track that's been good to Brian Shirley before with three DIRTcar Summer Nationals victories, Sycamore Speedway helped the Chatham, Ill., driver end a nearly 11-month dry spell with a $5,000 Hell Tour triumph. Shirley wasn't challenged over 30 laps from his pole position and took the checkers 0.786 of a second ahead of reigning series champion Jason Feger while series points leader Tanner English was third.

Quotable: "It's been a little bit of a rough year," Shirley said, adding thanks for his sponsors, crew and family. "I wasn't sure for a minute if we was even going to be able to win one there for a while ... this week's been pretty rough. But each night we did find a couple of things that were wrong, so that helped, and in my mind it helped me know that, 'Hey, we're not as bad as what I think we are.' All in all, we've got a lot of work to do still."

Key notes: Shirley's 44th tour victory ranks fourth on the all-time list. ... Shirley's previous victory came July 26, 2025, at Fairbury (Ill.) Speedway for the Prairie Dirt Classic on the World of Outlaws Late Model Series. ... The 2026 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series regular had finished better than 11th just once in his previous eight starts. ... Shirley won 2021-23 Summer Nationals races at Sycamore, just west of Chicago. ... Third-finishing Tanner English has been on the podium of all four series events. ... Three cautions slowed the action, the first on the 13th lap when Sean Mattingly and Doug Tye tangled in turn two. ... Tyler Millwood spun inside turn one on the 19th lap. ... The final yellow appeared on the 29th lap when Mitch McGrath stopped with a flat right-rear tire. ... The scattered cautions kept 18 drivers on the lead lap. ... The 17-minute feature concluded at 9:27 p.m. ... A $150,000 points fund will be paid out weekly with $10,000 to each week’s champion (the opening week champion won't be crowned until the Peoria makeup June 22 and Kankakee County makeup on July 6). ... Shannon Babb, winner of two of three series races, was a no-show.

On the move: Jake Rainey of Powder Springs, Ga., started 18th and finished 12th.

Winner's sponsors: Shirley’s Bob Cullen Racing Longhorn Chassis is powered by an Andy Durham Racing Engine and sponsored by Thomason Express, Hoker Trucking, J&J Ventures Gaming, Kid’s Castle Learning Center, KBC Graphics, Cheap Cars, Bass Livestock Nutrition, Allgaier Performance Parts, East Central Coin, Cheers, Ted Brown Auto Body, Race Ranch and Bilstein Shocks.

Points chase: After Sycamore: 1. Tanner English (286); 2. Jason Feger (266); 3. Daniel Adam (213); T4. Frank Heckenast Jr. (207); T4. Bob Gardner (207); 6. Clay Stuckey (204).

Current weather: Scattered Clouds, 59°F

Car count: 30

Fast qualifier: Jordan Bauer

Time: 14.908 seconds

Polesitter: Brian Shirley

Heat race winners: Jason Feger, Brian Shirley, Clay Stuckey

Consolation race winners: Mike Spatola

Provisional starters: Brody Smith, Mark Voigt, Mike Lofgren, Sean Mattingly

Next series race: June 15, Wilmot Raceway (Wilmot, WI) $5,000

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

From staff reports

MAPLE PARK, Ill. — Updates from Sunday’s fourth round of the 40th annual DIRTcar Summer Nationals at Sycamore Speedway, an event highlighted by a 30-lap, $5,000-to-win feature for DIRTcar Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

A track that's been good to Brian Shirley before with three DIRTcar Summer Nationals victories, Sycamore Speedway helped the Chatham, Ill., driver end a nearly 11-month dry spell with a $5,000 Hell Tour triumph. Shirley wasn't challenged over 30 laps from his pole position and took the checkers 0.786 of a second ahead of reigning series champion Jason Feger while series points leader Tanner English was third.

Feature lineup

(30 laps)

Row 1: Brian Shirley, Clay Stuckey
Row 2: Jason Feger, Bob Gardner
Row 3: Daniel Adam, Tanner English
Row 4: Jordan Bauer, Tyler Millwood
Row 5: Frank Heckenast Jr., Michael Leach
Row 6: Matthew Larson, Mitch McGrath
Row 7: Tyler Leach, Chad Finley
Row 8: Dale Markham, Mike Spatola
Row 9: Doug Tye, Jake Rainey
Row 10: Brody Smith, Mark Voigt
Row 11: Mike Lofgren, Sean Mattingly

Consolation race results

(Eight laps; top three transfer)

B-main: Mike Spatola, Doug Tye, Jake Rainey, Sean Mattingly, Mike Provenzano, Dan White, Paul Parker, Mike Winn, Mike Mataragas, Curt Schroeder, Mike Lofgren, Luke Robbins, Mark Voigt, Brody Smith, John Provenzano.

Heat race results

(Eight laps; top five transfer)

First heat: Jason Feger, Bob Gardner, Jordan Bauer, Michael Leach, Tyler Leach, Jake Rainey, Doug Tye, Mark Voigt, Mike Mataragas, Curt Schroeder.

Second heat: Brian Shirley, Daniel Adam, Tyler Millwood, Matthew Larson, Chad Finley, Mike Spatola, Sean Mattingly, Paul Parker, Bordy Smith, Mike Logfren.

Third heat: Clay Stuckey, Tanner English, Frank Heckenast Jr., Mitch McGrath, Dale Markham, Dan White, Mike Provenzano, Mike Winn, Luke Robbins, John Provenzano.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
Jordan Bauer (10J), St. Jacob, Ill., 14.908
Micheal Leach (09), Sun River, Mont., 14.916
Jason Feger (25), Bloomington, Ill., 14.929
Tyler Leach (05), Sun River, Mont., 14.961
Bob Gardner (4G), Washington, Ill., 15.002
Jake Rainey (87), Powder Springs, Ga., 15.016
Mike Mataragas (1m), DeKalb, Ill., 15.207
Mark Voigt (30), Marine, Ill., 15.300
Curt Schroeder (15c), Newton, Iowa, 15.529
Doug Tye (4D), Troy, Ill., 15.999
Group B
Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 15.182
Daniel Adam (75), Peru, Ill., 15.251
Chad Finley (42), St. Johns, Mich., 15.351
Tyler Millwood (31), Kingston, Ga., 15.455
Matthew Larson (8), Lake Elmo, Minn., 15.508
Mike Spatola (89), Manhattan, Ill., 15.523
Brody Smith (17sr), Dade City, Fla., 15.729
Paul Parker (10), Kaukauna, Wis., 15.935
Mike Lofgren (55x), Lombard, Ill., 16.334
Sean Mattingly (22m), Cortland, Ill., no time
Group C
Clay Stuckey (15), Shreveport, La., 15.303
Tanner English (96), Benton, Ky., 15.328
Frank Heckenast Jr. (99jr), Frankfort, Ill., 15.416
Dale Markham (3), Maple Park, Ill., 15.626
Mitch McGrath (74), Waukesha, Wis., 15.744
John Provenzano (18), Princeton, Ill., 15.753
Luke Robbins (25), Winfield, Ill., 16.009
Dan White (03), Elgin, Ill., 16.340
Mike Winn (729), Bourbonnais, Ill., 16.416
Mike Provenzano (M27), Marseilles, Ill., no time

Sunday’s schedule

(All times local)
1 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
- Street stock group qualifying
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- Pure stock group qualifying
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Pure stock heats (8 laps)
- Street stock heats (8 laps)
Intermission/track prep
- Late Model consolation (10 laps)
Feature events
- Late Models (30 laps)
- Pure stocks (15 laps)
- Street stocks (20 laps)