LaSalle, Ill. – July 4, 2012 – Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, cruised to his second DIRTcar Summer Nationals ‘Hell Tour’ victory of 2012 on Wednesday night at LaSalle (Ill.) Speedway. Birkhofer earned $5,000 for winning the 40-lap main event.
Starting on the pole, Birkhofer jumped to an early lead over current Summer Nationals point leader Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., and held off a late race charge from Frank Heckenast Jr. of Frankfort, Ill., for the win. Heckenast finished second and Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., finished third. 2011 DIRTcar Late Model National Champion Ryan Unzicker of El Paso, Ill., finished fourth and previous night winner Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., rounded out the top five.
Point leader Shirley’s night went south after contact with safety barriers sent him pit-side, only to return and later be involved in an accident that ended his night in 21st. Defending Summer Nationals champion Shannon Babb finished the event in sixth, and closed to within 24 points of Shirley with nine events remaining.
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The tour returns to action Thursday night at tiny Macon (Ill.) Speedway for the $5,000-to-win Herald & Review 100. Shannon Babb won the rescheduled Herald & Review 100 on July 21st, 2011.
DIRTcar Summer Nationals Statistical Report; LaSalle Speedway; LaSalle, Ill.; July 4, 2012 A-Main (40-laps): 1. Brian Birkhofer ($5,000), 2. Frank Heckenast Jr. 3. Brandon Sheppard, 4. Ryan Unzicker, 5. Jason Feger, 6. Shannon Babb, 7. Jon Henry, 8. Jason Jaggers, 9. Dennis Erb Jr., 10. Morgan Bagley, 11. Scott Schmitt, 12. Kevin Weaver, 13. Mike Spatola, 14. Rich Bell, 15. Bret Sievert, 16. Jerry Lierly, 17. Jason McBride, 18. Ray Guss Jr., 19. Tim Isenberg, 20. Richie Hendrick, 21. Brian Shirley, 22. Jack Sullivan. Fast qualifiers (among 36 cars): Shirley, Jaggers, Shirley, Heckenast Jr. Heat race winners: Birkhofer, Henry, Shirley, Sehppard.
2012 DIRTcar Summer Nationals Schedule
|
Date |
Track |
Location |
Winner (Cars) |
|
13-Jun |
Brownstown Speedway |
Brownstown, IN |
Billy Moyer Jr. (49) |
|
14-Jun |
Kankakee County Speedway |
Kankakee, IL |
Shannon Babb(45) |
|
15-Jun |
Cedar Lake Speedway |
Somerset, WI |
Billy Moyer Jr. (37) |
|
16-Jun |
Cedar Lake Speedway |
Somerset, WI |
Billy Moyer Jr. (32) |
|
17-Jun |
Wilmot Raceway |
Wilmot, WI |
Ryan Unzicker (31) |
|
19-Jun |
Spoon River Speedway |
Canton, IL |
Jon Henry (38) |
|
20-Jun |
Highland Speedway |
Highland, IL |
Rodney Melvin (42) |
|
21-Jun |
Fayette Co. Speedway |
Brownstown, IL |
Brian Shirley (41) |
|
22-Jun |
Tri City Speedway |
Pontoon Beach, IL |
Billy Moyer (43) |
|
23-Jun |
Fairbury Speedway |
Fairbury, IL |
Brian Shirley (41) |
|
24-Jun |
I-96 Speedway |
Lake Odessa, MI |
Shannon Babb (36) |
|
26-Jun |
Lincoln Park Speedway |
Putnamville, IN |
Jason Feger (21) |
|
27-Jun |
Belle Clair Speedway |
Belleville, IL |
Jason Feger (34) |
|
28-Jun |
Clay Hill Motorsports Park |
Atwood, TN |
Brandon Sheppard (28) |
|
29-Jun |
Paducah Int. Raceway |
Paducah, KY |
Brian Birkhofer (35) |
|
30-Jun |
Federated Auto Parts I-55 |
Pevely, MO |
Billy Moyer (34) |
|
1-Jul |
Lincoln Speedway |
Lincoln, IL |
Canceled (Heat) |
|
2-Jul |
Peoria Speedway |
Peoria, IL |
Brian Shirley (41) |
|
3-Jul |
Jacksonville Speedway |
Jacksonville, IL |
Jason Feger (40) |
|
4-Jul |
Lasalle Speedway |
Lasalle, IL |
Brian Birkhofer (36) |
|
5-Jul |
Macon Speedway |
Macon, IL |
|
|
6-Jul |
Quincy Raceways |
Quincy, IL |
|
|
7-Jul |
Clarksville Speedway |
Clarksville, TN |
|
|
8-Jul |
Tri State Speedway |
Haubstadt, IN |
|
|
10-Jul |
Florence Speedway |
Union, KY |
|
|
11-Jul |
Brushcreek Motorsports |
Pebbles, OH |
|
|
12-Jul |
Terre Haute Action Track |
Terre Haute, IN |
|
|
13-Jul |
Attica Raceway Park |
Attica, OH |
|
|
14-Jul |
Oakshade Raceway |
Wauseon, OH |
The DIRTcar Summer Nationals (The Hell Tour) is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), Racing Electonics (Official Communication), Vicci (Official Uniform), VP Racing Fuel (Official Racing Fuel); in addition to these fine contingency sponsors: Beyea Headers, Butlerbuilt, Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Dominator Race Products, Chevy Performance Parts, Intercomp, JE Pistons, Klotz Lubricants, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Quartermaster, Superflow Dyno’s, UNOH (University of Northwestern Ohio), Wix Filters, and Wrisco Aluminum.Â