Don O’Neal
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Terre Haute, Ind. – July 12, 2012 – Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., captured his first DIRTcar Summer Nationals win of 2012 Thursday night at the Terre Haute Action Track worth $5,000.
O’Neal used a strong restart on lap 20 to tail leader Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., before making a lap 22 pass for the lead when Sheppard slipped over the cushion exiting turn two.
“Turns one and two were rough getting in and it was hard to hit your line every time,” analyzed O’Neal. “Right before the yellow flag we kind of got a run on him and I knew we had a shot there if we could stay out of the lapped cars.”
“We got the job done though, after the way we’ve struggled. My guys have worked really hard and it’s paying off.”
Sheppard struggled to navigate the treacherous turn two cushion over the next few circuits eventually allowing current Hell Tour point leader Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., by. Shirley settled for second behind O’Neal who distanced himself over the races final eight circuits. Sheppard was third with Frank Heckenast Jr., of Frankfort, Ill., in fourth. Defending DIRTcar Summer Nationals Champion Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., rounded out the top five.
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Shirley’s point lead was extended to 76 markers over Babb. The 2012 DIRTcar Summer Nationals Tour wraps up with a visit to Attica Raceway Park in Attica, Ohio on Friday night for a $5,000-to-win race followed by the finale at Oakshade Raceway in Wauseon, Ohio for the $10,000-to-win Birthday Race.
DIRTcar Summer Nationals Statistical Report; Terre Haute Action Track; Terre Haute, Ind.; July 12, 2012 A-Main (30-laps): 1. Don O’Neal ($5,000), 2. Brian Shirley, 3. Brandon Sheppard, 4. Frank Heckenast Jr., 5. Shannon Babb, 6. Bobby Pierce, 7. Ryan Unzicker, 8. Jason McBride, 9. Joe Janowski, 10. Tim Lance, 11. Duke Mounce, 12. Lee Thomason, 13. Rob Starkey, 14. Mike Spatola, 15. Jason Feger, 16. Shane Cottle, 17. Jerry Lierly, 18. Dennis Erb Jr., 19. Nick Bartels, 20. Russ Adams, 21. Marvin Burton, 22. Butch Kruckeberg. Fast qualifiers (among 22 cars): Pierce, Shirley, Erb. Heat race winners: Sheppard, Shirley, Erb.
2012 DIRTcar Summer Nationals Schedule
|
Date |
Track |
Location |
Winner (Cars) |
|
13-Jun |
Brownstown Speedway |
Brownstown, IN |
Billy Moyer Jr. (49) |
|
14-Jun |
Kankakee County Speedway |
Kankakee, IL |
Shannon Babb(45) |
|
15-Jun |
Cedar Lake Speedway |
Somerset, WI |
Billy Moyer Jr. (37) |
|
16-Jun |
Cedar Lake Speedway |
Somerset, WI |
Billy Moyer Jr. (32) |
|
17-Jun |
Wilmot Raceway |
Wilmot, WI |
Ryan Unzicker (31) |
|
19-Jun |
Spoon River Speedway |
Canton, IL |
Jon Henry (38) |
|
20-Jun |
Highland Speedway |
Highland, IL |
Rodney Melvin (42) |
|
21-Jun |
Fayette Co. Speedway |
Brownstown, IL |
Brian Shirley (41) |
|
22-Jun |
Tri City Speedway |
Pontoon Beach, IL |
Billy Moyer (43) |
|
23-Jun |
Fairbury Speedway |
Fairbury, IL |
Brian Shirley (41) |
|
24-Jun |
I-96 Speedway |
Lake Odessa, MI |
Shannon Babb (36) |
|
26-Jun |
Lincoln Park Speedway |
Putnamville, IN |
Jason Feger (21) |
|
27-Jun |
Belle Clair Speedway |
Belleville, IL |
Jason Feger (34) |
|
28-Jun |
Clay Hill Motorsports Park |
Atwood, TN |
Brandon Sheppard (28) |
|
29-Jun |
Paducah Int. Raceway |
Paducah, KY |
Brian Birkhofer (35) |
|
30-Jun |
Federated Auto Parts I-55 |
Pevely, MO |
Billy Moyer (34) |
|
1-Jul |
Lincoln Speedway |
Lincoln, IL |
Canceled (Heat) |
|
2-Jul |
Peoria Speedway |
Peoria, IL |
Brian Shirley (41) |
|
3-Jul |
Jacksonville Speedway |
Jacksonville, IL |
Jason Feger (40) |
|
4-Jul |
Lasalle Speedway |
Lasalle, IL |
Brian Birkhofer (36) |
|
5-Jul |
Macon Speedway |
Macon, IL |
Brian Shirley (38) |
|
6-Jul |
Quincy Raceways |
Quincy, IL |
Brian Shirley (31) |
|
7-Jul |
Clarksville Speedway |
Clarksville, TN |
Dennis Erb Jr. (32) |
|
8-Jul |
Tri State Speedway |
Haubstadt, IN |
Scott Weber (28) |
|
10-Jul |
Florence Speedway |
Union, KY |
Shannon Babb (44) |
|
11-Jul |
Brushcreek Motorsports |
Pebbles, OH |
Eddie Carrier Jr. (32) |
|
12-Jul |
Terre Haute Action Track |
Terre Haute, IN |
Don O’Neal (22) |
|
13-Jul |
Attica Raceway Park |
Attica, OH |
|
|
14-Jul |
Oakshade Raceway |
Wauseon, OH |
The DIRTcar Summer Nationals (The Hell Tour) is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), Racing Electonics (Official Communication), Vicci (Official Uniform), VP Racing Fuel (Official Racing Fuel); in addition to these fine contingency sponsors: Beyea Headers, Butlerbuilt, Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Dominator Race Products, Chevy Performance Parts, Intercomp, JE Pistons, Klotz Lubricants, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Quartermaster, Superflow Dyno’s, UNOH (University of Northwestern Ohio), Wix Filters, and Wrisco Aluminum.
