Donovan Lodge
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LaSALLE, Ill. — July 4, 2013 — Donovan Lodge outdueled race-long leader Rusty Griffaw in the final turn on the final lap to claim his first victory of the 2013 Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals on Thursday night at LaSalle Speedway.
Griffaw, of Festus, Mo. and Lodge, of Moline, Ill., led the field to green, with Griffaw quickly escaping any challenges by pulling away. Griffaw was in charge the first 20 laps before Lodge reeled him in with five laps to go. As the leaders approached lapped traffic, Lodge moved his line up one lane, which proved crucial for the eventual race winner. Lodge got Griffaw’s door multiple times, but could never fully get around the leader until he finally got to Griffaw’s door in turn three on the last lap as the two encountered a lapped car. Griffaw had to lift out of the gas coming off turn four as he got stuck behind the lapper, giving Lodge the momentum and the lead coming to the $1,000 checkered flag, one night after fading at the finish at Jacksonville Speedway.
“After last night going from first place to fifth in the last five laps, this is great,” said Lodge, who only led for one turn on one lap the entire night. “Running with the Summer Nationals is always a class act, always 40 cars every night. It’s fast and it just makes us better. So this is great win.”
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Milo Veloz, Jr., Jamie Lomax, and Jeff Leka rounded out the top five.
Heat race winners included A.J May, Jamie Lomax, Rusty Griffaw, and Donovan Lodge.
The DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals continues Friday night at Fayette County Speedway located in Brownstown, Illinois.
DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals Statistical Report; LaSalle (Ill.) Speedway; July 4, 2013
A-Main (25-laps): 1. Donovan Lodge ($1,000), 2. Rusty Griffaw, 3. Milo Veloz Jr, 4. Jamie Lomax, 5. Jeff Leka, 6. Jeff Curl, 7. A.J. May, 8. Steven Brooks, 9. Travis Kohler, 10. Matt Goulden, 11. Brian Lynn, 12. Butch Weisser, 13. Vince Cooper, 14. Justin McCoy, 15. Cody Bauman, 16. Brock Bauman, 17. Jim Farris, 18. David Wietholder, 19. Tommy Duncan, 20. Jason Pershey, 21. Ray Bollinger, 22. Allen Weisser.
2013 DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals
| Day | Date | Track | Location | Winner |
| Saturday | June 8 | Tri-State Speedway | Haubstadt, IN | Devin Gilpin |
| Wednesday | June 12 | Brownstown Speedway | Brownstown, IN | Devin Gilpin (2) |
| Friday | June 14 | Kankakee County Speedway | Kankakee, IL | Nick Allen |
| Sunday | June 16 | Wilmot Raceway | Wilmot, WI | Mitch McGrath |
| Wednesday | June 19 | Spoon River Speedway | Canton, IL | Kenny Wallace |
| Thursday | June 20 | Belle-Clair Speedway | Belleville, IL | Brian Beilong |
| Friday | June 21 | Tri-City Speedway | Pontoon Beach, IL | Michael Long |
| Saturday | June 22 | Fairbury Speedway | Fairbury, IL | Lance Dehm |
| Sunday | June 23 | I-96 Speedway | Lake Odessa, MI | Dona Marcoullier |
| Monday | June 24 | Peoria Speedway | Peoria, IL | Cancelled (RAIN) |
| Wednesday | June 26 | Clarksville Speedway | Clarksville, TN | Matt Cooper |
| Thursday | June 27 | Clayhill Motorsports Park | Atwood, TN | Lucas Lee |
| Friday | June 28 | Paducah International Raceway | Paducah, KY | Mike Harrison |
| Saturday | June 29 | Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 | Pevely, MO | Postponed/Rain |
| Sunday | June 30 | Lincoln Speedway | Lincoln, IL | Ray Bollinger |
| Tuesday | July 2 | Quincy Raceways | Quincy, IL | Steven DeLonjay |
| Wednesday | July 3 | Jacksonville Speedway | Jacksonville, IL | David Wietholder |
| Thursday | July 4 | LaSalle Speedway | LaSalle, IL | Donovan Lodge |
| Friday | July 5 | Fayette County Speedway | Brownstown, IL | |
| Saturday | July 6 | Highland Speedway | Highland, IL | |
| Sunday | July 7 | Tri-State Speedway | Haubstadt, IN | |
| Tuesday | July 9 | Florence Speedway | Union, KY | |
| Wednesday | July 10 | Terre Haute Action Track | Terre Haute, IN | |
| Thursday | July 11 | Macon Speedway | Macon, IL | |
| Friday | July 12 | Kankakee County Speedway | Kankakee, IL | |
| Sunday | July 14 | Vermillion County Speedway | Danville, IL | |
| Wednesday | July 17 | Brushcreek Motorsports Park | Peebles, OH | |
| Thursday | July 18 | Twin Cities Raceway Park | North Vernon, IN | |
| Friday | July 19 | Attica Raceway Park | Attica, OH | |
| Saturday | July 20 | Oakshade Raceway | Wauseon, OH |
The Summit Racing Equipment 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), VP Racing Fuels (Official Fuel), along with these Contingency Parters: MSD Performance, TomCat Performance, Landrum Performance Springs, Dominator Race Products, QuarterMaster, KSE Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Wrisco Aluminum, Beyea Custom Headers, Fast Shafts, Bassett Wheels, QA1, Auto Meter, Schoenfeld Headers, University of Northwestern Ohio (UNOH), Racing Electronics, Intercomp, Bell Helmets, Shafer Enterprises’ Cool Shirts, XS Power Racing Batteries, and Chevy Performance.
