LINCOLN, IL – June 24, 2007 – The drama of the UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals continued Sunday night at Lincoln Speedway.
Don O’Neal of Martinsville , Ind. , overtook Terry Casey of New London , Wis. , on the final circuit to capture the 40-lap tour A-Main, becoming the second driver in as many nights to win in such thrilling fashion.
Repeating Mike Marlar’s dramatic pass of Billy Moyer one night earlier at I-55 Raceway in Pevely , Mo. , O’Neal slipped by Casey amid lapped traffic with the white flag flying to lead the most important lap of the evening.
O’Neal, who started second, earned $6,000 for his first victory of the 2007 Summernationals. He became the fifth different driver to record a win in nine events.
It was O’Neal’s 33rd career Summernationals victory, ranking him third on the tour’s alltime win list. The checkered flag also gave the 2004 Summernationals champion at least one Summernationals triumph for the eighth consecutive year.
Casey settled for second place, falling just short of his first career Summernationals win.
Polesitter Steve Sheppard Jr. of New Berlin , Ill. , finished third, followed by Summernationals points leader Mike Marlar of Winfield , Tenn. , and Matt Taylor of Springfield, Ill.
A 2007 series-high total of 59 cars jammed the quarter-mile oval’s pit area for the event.
Heat winners were Scott Bull of Fairbury , Ill. , O’Neal, Taylor , Marlar, Casey and Sheppard. The three B-Mains were captured by Rodney Melvin of Benton , Ill. , Shannon Babb of Moweaqua , Ill. , and Brady Smith of Solon Springs , Wis.
UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals A-Main Finish (40 laps):
1. Don O’Neal
2. Terry Casey
3. Steve Sheppard Jr.
4. Mike Marlar
5. Matt Taylor
6. Billy Moyer
7. Dennis Erb Jr.
8. Wes Steidinger
9. Brady Smith
10. Rodney Melvin
11. Daren Friedman
12. Scott Bull
13. Jason Feger
14. Ryan Dauber
15. Jeep VanWormer
16. Eddie Kirchoff
17. Jordan Bland
18. Billy Drake
19. Tim Lance
20. Shannon Babb
21. Nick Bauman
DNQ: A.J. Diemel, Joe Harlan, Kyle Logue, Guy Taylor, Mike Hammerlee, Butch Smith, Gerry Reeder Jr., Shane Allen, Lance Alcorn, Billy Moyer Jr., Brandon Thirlby, Christian Rayburn, Charley Hess, Derek Chandler, Jim Felker Jr., Ricky Frankel, Ryan Unzicker, Keith Pino, Ryan Little, Kenny Adams, Derrick Bangert, Chad Jones, Chuck Mitchell, Dan O’Connor, Matt Murphy, Bill Bartels, Kevin Weaver, Jeff Taylor, Ron Bartels, Chris Dick, Nick Bauman, Rusty Griffaw, Donny Walden, Greg Kimmons, Matt Beadles, Brandon Sheppard, Matt Moore, Frank Shickel Jr., Russ Adams
UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals Point Standings (after 9 events):
1. Mike Marlar 667
2. Don O’Neal 629
3. Dennis Erb Jr. 623
4. Wes Steidinger 581
5. Rodney Melvin 569
6. Steve Sheppard Jr. 567
7. Terry Casey 525
8. Jeep VanWormer 501
9. Randy Korte 477
10. Kevin Weaver 455
11. Eddie Kirchoff 389
12. Jason Feger 367
13. Rusty Schlenk 303
14. A.J. Diemel 272
15. Greg Johnson 222
16. Billy Moyer 213
17. Chad Zobrist 206
18. Matt Taylor 202
19. Billy Faust 170
20. Michael Kloos 168
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
6/26 – Tues. – Poplar Bluff Speedway/Poplar Bluff, MO
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
