POPLAR BLUFF, MO – June 26, 2007 – The King of the UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals is back in the series spotlight.
Dirt Late Model legend Billy Moyer of Batesville , Ark. , who has won the Summernationals title a record six times, won on the grueling tour for the first time in nearly three years, capturing Tuesday night’s 40-lap A-Main at Poplar Bluff Speedway.
Moyer, 49, started from the outside pole in his Banner Valley Hauling No. 21 and outgunned Rodney Melvin of Benton , Ill. , for the lead. He was flawless for the entire distance, beating Melvin to the finish line by several car lengths.
It was Moyer’s record 61st career UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals triumph, but first since June 28, 2004, at Lawrenceburg ( Ind. ) Speedway . Moyer, who is entering selected Summernationals event this season, has not run the tour as a regular since winning his last points championship in 2003.
Melvin’s second-place finish matched his ’07 Summernationals best, achieved in the opener, on June 15 at Kankakee ( Ill. ) Motor Speedway.
Points leader Mike Marlar of Winfield , Tenn. , finished third, followed by Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville , Ill. , who made repeated attempts to overtake Marlar, and Jeep VanWormer of Pinconning, Mich. , last year’s Summernationals points runner-up who enjoyed his best finish of the 2007 series.
Thirty-two dirt Late Models participated in the event.
Heat winners were VanWormer, Moyer, Melvin and Marlar, and the B-Mains were captured by Terry Phillips of Springfield , Ill. , and Randy Korte of Highland , Ill.
UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals A-Main Finish (40 laps):
1. Billy Moyer
2. Rodney Melvin
3. Mike Marlar
4. Dennis Erb Jr — Erb was all over Marlar trying to pass at several points.
5. Jeep VanWormer
6. Wes Steidinger
7. Randy Korte
8. Steve Rushin
9. Ed Kirchoff
10. Kevin Cole
11. Jeff Taylor
12. Don O’Neal
13. Todd Hall
14. Steve Sheppard Jr.
15. Terry Phillips
16. Billy Moyer Jr.
17 Billy James
18. Jack Sullivan
19. Rusty Griffaw
20. Jason Feger
21. Bryan Collins
22. Terry Casey
UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals Point Standings (unofficial – after 11 events):
1. Mike Marlar 800
2. Dennis Erb Jr. 770
3. Don O’Neal 756
4. Wes Steidinger 722
5. Rodney Melvin 708
6. Steve Sheppard Jr. 666
7. Jeep VanWormer 620
8. Terry Casey 618
9. Randy Korte 538
10. Kevin Weaver 525
11. Eddie Kirchoff 512
12. Jason Feger 474
13. Billy Moyer 360
14. A.J. Diemel 326
15. Rusty Schlenk 303
16. Jordan Bland 222
16. Greg Johnson 222
18. Ryan Dauber 214
19. Chad Zobrist 206
20. Matt Taylor 202
2007 UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals Schedule
6/15 – Fri. – Kankakee Motor Speedway/Kankakee, IL (Dennis Erb Jr.)
6/16 – Sat. – Kamp Motor Speedway/Boswell, IN (Dennis Erb Jr.)
6/17 – Sun. – Tri-State Speedway/Haubstadt, IN (Randy Korte)
6/18 – Mon. – Jefferson County Raceway/ Mt. Vernon , IL (Randy Korte)
6/19 – Tues. – Lebanon I-44 Speedway/Lebanon, MO (Mike Marlar)
6/20 – Wed. – Highland Speedway/Highland, IL (Dennis Erb Jr.)
6/21 – Thurs. – Morgan County Speedway / Jacksonville , IL (Kevin Weaver)
6/22 – Fri. – Farmer City Raceway/Farmer City, IL (Rain – Rescheduled to July 13)
6/23 – Sat. – I-55 Raceway/Pevely, MO (Mike Marlar)
6/24 – Sun. – Lincoln Speedway/Lincoln, IL (Don O’Neal)
6/25 – Mon. – Peoria Speedway/Peoria, IL (Dennis Erb Jr.)
6/26 – Tues. – Poplar Bluff Speedway/Poplar Bluff, MO (Billy Moyer)
6/27 – Wed. – Lake Ozark Speedway / Eldon , MO
6/28 – Thurs. – Paducah International Raceway/Paducah, KY
6/29 – Fri. – Western Kentucky Speedway/Nebo, KY
6/30 – Sat. – Clarksville Speedway/Clarksville, TN
7/1 – Sun. – Vermilion County Speedway / Danville , IL
7/2 – Mon. – Midway Speedway/Crooksville, OH
7/3 – Tues. – Lawrenceburg Speedway/Lawrenceburg, IN
7/4 – Wed. – Day Off
7/5 – Thurs. – Macon Speedway/Macon, IL
7/6 – Fri. – Tri-City Speedway / Pontoon Beach , IL
7/7 – Sat. – Fairbury American Legion Speedway/Fairbury, IL
7/8 – Sun. – Quad City Speedway/East Moline , IL
7/9 – Mon. – C.J. Raceway/Columbus Junction, IA
7/10 – Tues. – Quincy Raceway/Quincy, IL
7/11 – Wed. – Spoon River Speedway/Canton, IL
7/12 – Thurs. – LaSalle Speedway/LaSalle, IL
7/13 – Fri. – Farmer City Raceway/Farmer City, IL
7/14 – Sat. – Oakshade Raceway/Wauseon, OH
