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Griffaw Dominates Highland Speedway for First Victory of 2014 DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals
By Jordan Morris
HIGHLAND, Ill. — July 5, 2014 — Rusty Griffaw dominated his way to his first victory of the 2014 DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals season Saturday night, leading flag-to-flag en route to capturing the $1,000 prize at Highland Speedway.
After coming up a few spots short on Friday night at Fayette County Speedway, Griffaw kept the pressure on the rest of the field the entire night by starting up front and capturing the lead early.
Griffaw held off a hard-charging Mike Harrison who managed to set the quick time for the night, but due to a poor finish in his heat, had to rally his way to the front. Harrison charged through the field, eventually getting to the runner-up position, but it would be too late as Griffaw had built an insurmountable lead.
Harrison for the second night in-a-row had to settle for the runner-up position. With only 10 events remaining in the grueling six week-long 2014 DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals, Harrison holds a firm grasp in the championship hunt, maintaining a substantial points lead.
Griffaw, who is not running for the championship this year, still found a way to hold off a red-hot Harrison, leading every lap of the 30-lap feature event, and scoring the well-deserved $1,000 checkered flag at Highland Speedway.
(Click here for news and information on the Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals.)
Brian Beilong, Chris Smith and John Seets Sr. rounded out the top five.
Heat race winners were Griffaw, Tim Hancock and Matt Goulden.
The DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals joins the DIRTcar Summer Nationals on Saturday night at Highland Speedway in Highland, Ill.
DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals Statistical Report; Highland Speedway; Highland, Ill.; July 5, 2014;
A-Main (30-laps): 1. 16-Rusty Griffaw ($1,000), 2. 24H-Mike Harrison, 3. 70-Brian Beilong, 4. 15-Chris Smith, 5. 360-John Seets Sr, 6. 3D-Ryan Driemeyer, 7. 84-Tyler Deibert, 8. 16S-Steve Stotler, 9. 96-Matt Koch, 10. 128-Zach Schantz, 11. 52-Billy Knebel Jr, 12. 87Z-Zeb Moake, 13. 41G-Matt Goulden, 14. 76-Eric Goetter, 15. 7-Dennis Ponder, 16. 0-Tim Hancock, 17. 14R-Tim Burdel, 18. 18-Jake Seets, 19. 9S-Tommy Seets Jr, 20. 27-Len Garson, 21. 6K-Justin Ketrow, 22. 11-Chad Sellers.
2014 DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals Schedule
| June 7 | Sat | Tri-State Speedway | Haubstadt, Ind. | Tyler Nicely |
| June 11 | Wed | Brownstown Speedway | Brownstown, Ind. | RAIN |
| June 12 | Thur | Kankakee Co-Speedway | Kankakee, Ill. | Devin Gilpin |
| June 13 | Fri | Kankakee Co-Speedway | Kankakee, Ill. | Jacob Poel |
| June 15 | Sun | Off | ||
| June 16 | Mon | Off | ||
| June 17 | Tue | Off | ||
| June 18 | Wed | Spoon River Speedway | Canton, Ill. | Jacob Poel |
| June 19 | Thur | Quincy Raceways | Quincy, Ill. | RAIN |
| June 20 | Fri | Tri-City Speedway | Pontoon Beach, Ill. | Mike Harrison |
| June 21 | Sat | Fairbury Speedway | Fairbury, Ill. | RAIN |
| June 22 | Sun | I-96 Speedway | Ionia, Mich. | Jacob Poel |
| June 23 | Mon | Peoria Speedway | Peoria, Ill. | David Wietholder |
| June 24 | Tue | Off | ||
| June 25 | Wed | Clarksville Speedway Park | Clarksville, Tenn. | Mike Harrison |
| June 26 | Thur | Clayhill Motorsports Park | Atwood, Tenn. | Hunter Rasdon |
| June 27 | Fri | Paducah Int-Raceway | Paducah, Ky. | RAIN |
| June 28 | Sat | Federated I-55 Raceway | Pevely, Mo. | Mike Harrison |
| June 29 | Sun | Lincoln Speedway | Lincoln, Ill. | Jacob Poel |
| June 30 | Mon | Off | ||
| July 1 | Tue | Belle-Clair Speedway | Belleville, Ill. | Mike Harrison |
| July 2 | Wed | Jacksonville Speedway | Jacksonville, Ill. | Mike Harrison |
| July 3 | Thur | LaSalle Speedway | LaSalle, Ill. | Mike Harrison |
| July 4 | Fri | Fayette Co-Speedway | Brownstown, Ill. | Brian Shaw |
| July 5 | Sat | Highland Speedway | Highland, Ill. | Rusty Griffaw |
| July 6 | Sun | Tri-State Speedway | Haubstadt, Ind. | $1,000 |
| July 7 | Mon | Off | ||
| July 8 | Tue | Florence Speedway | Union, Ky. | $1,000 |
| July 9 | Wed | Terre Haute Action Track | Terre Haute, Ind. | $1,000 |
| July 10 | Thur | Macon Speedway | Macon, Ill. | $1,000 |
| July 11 | Fri | Farmer City Raceway | Farmer City, Ill. | $1,000 |
| July 13 | Sun | Vermilion Co-Speedway | Danville, Ill. | $1,000 |
| July 14 | Mon | Off | ||
| July 15 | Tue | Off | ||
| July 16 | Wed | Atomic Speedway | Chillicothe, Ohio | $1,000 |
| July 17 | Thu | Brushcreek Motorsports | Peebles, Ohio | TBA |
| July 18 | Fri | Attica Raceway Park | Attica, Ohio | $1,000 |
| July 19 | Sat | Oakshade Raceway | Wauseon, Ohio | $1,000 |
The Summit Racing Modified Nationals is proudly brought to you by these fine partners : Summit Racing Equipment (Title Sponsor), Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Provider), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Racing Tire), Racing Electronics (Official Communication ), Velocita (Official Uniform),VP Racing Fuels (Official Fuel), along with these Contingency Parters: MSD, TomCat Performance, Landrum Performance Springs, Dominator Race Products, QuarterMaster, KSE Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Joes Racing Products, Wrisco Aluminum, Beyea Custom Headers, Fast Shafts, Bassett Racing Wheels, QA1, Auto Meter, Fluidampr, Fox Shocks, Impact Race Products, Penske Shocks, Performance Friction Brakes, Strange Oval, Schoenfeld Headers, Bell Helmets, Shafer EnterprisesÂ’ Cool Shirts; Promotional Partners include: Chevy Performance Parts, Indiana Decal and Intercomp.
Modifieds – A-Main
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 1 16    Rusty Griffaw    Festus , Mo
2 8 24H    Mike Harrison    Highland , Il
3 5 70    Brian Beilong    Summerfield , Il
4 11 15    Chris Smith    Highland , Il
5 12 360    John Seets Sr    Brishton , Il
6 6 3D    Ryan Driemeyer    Pocahontas , Il
7 18 84    Tyler Deibert    Highland , Il
8 16 16S    Steve Stotler    O’fallon , Mo
9 17 96    Matt Koch    Aviston , Il
10 10 128    Zach Schantz    Highland , Il
11 20 52    Billy Knebel Jr    Pocahontas , Il
12 15 87Z    Zeb Moake    Freeburg , Il
13 3 41G    Matt Goulden    Sherman , Il
14 4 76    Eric Goetter    Summerfield , Il
15 9 7    Dennis Ponder    Collinsville , Il
16 2 0    Tim Hancock    Mt Olive, Il
17 7 14R    Tim Burdel    Duquoin , Il
18 13 18    Jake Seets    Brighton , Il
19 19 9S    Tommy Seets Jr    Alton , Il
20 22 27    Len Garson    Pocahonta , Il
21 14 6K    Justin Ketrow    Trenton , Il
22 21 11    Chad Sellers    Breese , Il
Modifieds – Heat Race 3
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 1 41G    Matt Goulden    Sherman , Il
2 2 3D    Ryan Driemeyer    Pocahontas , Il
3 4 7    Dennis Ponder    Collinsville , Il
4 3 360    John Seets Sr    Brishton , Il
5 5 87Z    Zeb Moake    Freeburg , Il
6 6 84    Tyler Deibert    Highland , Il
7 7 11    Chad Sellers    Breese , Il
Modifieds – Heat Race 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 4 0    Tim Hancock    Mt Olive, Il
2 2 70    Brian Beilong    Summerfield , Il
3 1 24H    Mike Harrison    Highland , Il
4 6 15    Chris Smith    Highland , Il
5 7 6K    Justin Ketrow    Trenton , Il
6 5 96    Matt Koch    Aviston , Il
7 3 52    Billy Knebel Jr    Pocahontas , Il
Modifieds – Heat Race 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 1 16    Rusty Griffaw    Festus , Mo
2 4 76    Eric Goetter    Summerfield , Il
3 2 14R    Tim Burdel    Duquoin , Il
4 5 128    Zach Schantz    Highland , Il
5 7 18    Jake Seets    Brighton , Il
6 6 16S    Steve Stotler    O’fallon , Mo
7 3 9S    Tommy Seets Jr    Alton , Il
8 8 27    Len Garson    Pocahonta , Il
Modifieds – Qualifying 3
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 1 41G    Matt Goulden    Sherman , Il
2 2 3D    Ryan Driemeyer    Pocahontas , Il
3 7 360    John Seets Sr    Brishton , Il
4 5 7    Dennis Ponder    Collinsville , Il
5 6 87Z    Zeb Moake    Freeburg , Il
6 4 84    Tyler Deibert    Highland , Il
7 3 11    Chad Sellers    Breese , Il
Modifieds – Qualifying 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 1 24H    Mike Harrison    Highland , Il
2 2 70    Brian Beilong    Summerfield , Il
3 7 52    Billy Knebel Jr    Pocahontas , Il
4 3 0    Tim Hancock    Mt Olive, Il
5 5 96    Matt Koch    Aviston , Il
6 6 15    Chris Smith    Highland , Il
7 4 6K    Justin Ketrow    Trenton , Il
Modifieds – Qualifying 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 1 16    Rusty Griffaw    Festus , Mo
2 7 14R    Tim Burdel    Duquoin , Il
3 5 9S    Tommy Seets Jr    Alton , Il
4 8 76    Eric Goetter    Summerfield , Il
5 3 128    Zach Schantz    Highland , Il
6 4 16S    Steve Stotler    O’fallon , Mo
7 6 18    Jake Seets    Brighton , Il
8 2 27    Len Garson    Pocahonta , Il