Brian Ruhlman – Jim Denhamer photo
By Jordan Morris
WAUSEON, Ohio July 19, 2014 Brian Ruhlman charged past Taylor Cook to claim the lead on lap two as he dominated the remaining 24-laps and scored his first win of the 2014 DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals on Saturday night at Oakshade Raceway.
For the second year in-a-row, and third time in four years, Mike Harrison claimed the overall season title after scoring six victories during the six week-long tour.
Ruhlman, of Clarklake, Mich., started the 25-lap feature event in the third position, just behind pole-sitter Randy Lines. Lines failed to lead the opening lap as Taylor Cook, who started on the outside of row one, surged to the top spot.
Cook, Lines and Ruhlman raced three-wide for the lead on lap two, as Ruhlman eventually captured the top spot exiting turn two. Ruhlman quickly pulled away from Lines and Cook to build an early lead as Matt Hamilton and Jeff Babcock joined the battle for the second position.
With most drivers stuck to the outside line, Hamilton found grip on the inside and charged his way to the second position as he passed Cook, who began to fade back, eventually finishing in the seventh position.
In a race that ran caution free, Ruhlmans early lead proved to be beneficial as Hamilton didnt have enough laps to reel in the leader. Hamilton settled for a second place finish as Ruhlman easily coasted to his first and only victory of the 2014 DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals at Oakshade Raceway.
Neither Mike Harrison nor Jacob Poel were present for the Saturday night feature, handing the $5,000 series title to Harrison, who held a slim six-point lead on Poel. Harrisons six wins were good enough for second most of the year as only Poel had more (seven). The two drivers battled all season long for victories, with Poel winning the battle but Harrison winning the war as he successfully defended his 2013 series title, repeating in 2014.
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Jeff Babcock, Collin Thirlby and Josh Scott rounded out the top five.
Heat race winners were Brad Wilson, Brian Ruhlman, Randy Lines and Taylor Cook.
DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals Statistical Report; Oakshade Raceway; Wauseon, Ohio; July 19, 2014;
A-Main (25-laps): 1. 49-Brian Ruhlman ($1,000), 2. 9H-Matt Hamilton, 3. 7B-Jeff Babcock, 4. 47C-Collin Thirlby, 5. 11JS-Josh Scott, 6. 18L-Randy Lines, 7. 21-Taylor Cook, 8. 555-Justin Coulter, 9. 42-Bob Baldwin, 10. 2-Travis Stemler, 11. 4-Taylor Wiles, 12. 4K-Jason Kinney, 13. 9J-Jared Guinn, 14. 52-Jordan Bailey, 15. 6-Dave Golembrewski, 16. 15B-Dave Baker, 17. 91T-Adam Thrush, 18. 71E-Pat Elhert, 19. 8C-Corey Bevard, 20. 15G-Jacob Gamber, 21. 43-Mark Anderson, 22. 21W-Brad Wilson.
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. | Jacob Poel |
| July 7 | Mon | Off | ||
| July 8 | Tue | Florence Speedway | Union, Ky. | Devin Gilpin |
| July 9 | Wed | Terre Haute Action Track | Terre Haute, Ind. | Kenny Wallace |
| July 10 | Thur | Macon Speedway | Macon, Ill. | Ken Schrader |
| July 11July 12 | Fri Sat |
Farmer City RacewayFairbury Speedway | Farmer City, Ill.Fairbury, Ill. | Jacob PoelRAIN |
| July 13 | Sun | Vermilion Co-Speedway | Danville, Ill. | Jacob Poel |
| July 14 | Mon | Off | ||
| July 15 | Tue | Off | ||
| July 16 | Wed | Atomic Speedway | Chillicothe, Ohio | Devin Gilpin |
| July 17 | Thu | Brushcreek Motorsports | Peebles, Ohio | Daniel Ebert |
| July 18 | Fri | Attica Raceway Park | Attica, Ohio | Dave Baker |
| July 19 | Sat | Oakshade Raceway | Wauseon, Ohio | Brian Ruhlman |
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 Enterprises Cool Shirts; Promotional Partners include: Chevy Performance Parts, Indiana Decal and Intercomp.
