Brian Shirley – Jim Denhamer photo
By Jordan Morris
ATWOOD, Tenn. — June 26, 2014 — 2012 DIRTcar Summer Nationals champion Brian Shirley claimed his second win of the 2014 season on Thursday night at Clayhill Motorsports Park after overtaking pole-sitter Timothy Culp when motor troubles struck the race-long leader on lap 34.
Shirley, who picked up his first win of the season at I-96 Speedway Sunday night, found himself starting on the outside of Culp, who was looking to become the first Louisiana native to win a DIRTcar Summer Nationals feature. Culp quickly pulled away from Shirley and the rest of the field on the start of the race, looking to be the car to beat for most of the 40-lap A-Main.
Shirley slowly began to reel in Culp after his car began to slow battling lap-traffic, and eventually blew past the leader on lap 34, as Culp’s car was clearly suffering from mechanical problems. Culp’s car broke a water-pump early in the feature event, eventually leading to his motor frying, and ending his dreams of capturing his first career DIRTcar Summer Nationals victory.
Shirley dominated the final six laps, compiling a lead of 2.76 seconds over Bobby Pierce, rolling to an unlikely victory and claiming the $5,000 checkered flag at Clayhill Motorsports Park. Culp limped to a sixth place finish after leading races opening 33 laps.
“It was just a matter of time,” said Shirley, referring to when he would be able to pass Culp for the lead. “Things happen, we were just able to be in the right spot at the right time tonight.”
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Shannon Babb, Billy Moyer Jr., and Ryan Unzicker rounded out the top five.
Heat race winners included Babb, Culp, and Shirley.
The DIRTcar Summer Nationals continues on Friday night as they join the DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals at Paducah International Raceway in Paducah, Ky.
DIRTcar Summer Nationals Statistical Report; Clayhill Motorsports Park; Atwood, Tenn.;
June 26, 2014; A-Main (40-laps): 1. 81-Brian Shirley ($5,000), 2. 32-Bobby Pierce, 3. 18-Shannon Babb, 4. 21JR-Billy Moyer Jr, 5. 24-Ryan Unzicker, 6. C8-Timothy Culp, 7. B5-Brandon Sheppard, 8. 18S-Jack Sullivan, 9. 28E-Dennis Erb Jr, 10. 81JR-Jason Riggs, 11. 96T-Terry English, 12. 6M-Wendell Wallace, 13. 94-Austin Rettig, 14. 25L-Steve Lance Jr, 15. 71-Trace Westling, 16. 20-Alan Westling, 17. 96-Tanner English, 18. 1CJ-Gary Christian, 19. 12B-Kevin Weaver, 20. 15-Richard Frost, 21. 3X-Randy Sellars.
Heat 1:
1. Shannon Babb
2. Bobby Pierce
3. Dennis Erb, Jr.
4. Kevin Weaver
5. Austin Rettig
6. Randy Sellars
7. Gary Christian
Heat 2:
1. Timothy Culp
2. Billy Moyer, Jr.
3. Ryan Unzicker
4. Terry English
5. Jason Riggs
6. Wendell Wallace
7. Trace Westling
Heat 3:
1. Brian Shirley
2. Jack Sullivan
3. Brandon Sheppard
4. Tanner English
5. Richard Frost
6. Alan Westling
7. Steve Lance, Jr.
2014 DIRTcar Summer Nationals Schedule
| Date | Day | Track | Location | Win |
| June 11 | Wed | Brownstown Speedway | Brownstown, Ind. | RAIN |
| June 12 | Thur | Kankakee Co. Speedway | Kankakee, Ill. | Billy Moyer |
| June 13 | Fri | Cedar Lake Speedway | Somerset, Wis. | Rick Eckert |
| June 14 | Sat | Cedar Lake Speedway | Somerset, Wis. | RAIN |
| June 15 | Sun | Wilmot Raceway | Wilmot, Wis. | Rick Eckert(2) |
| June 16 | Mon | Off | ||
| June 17 | Tue | Farley Speedway | Farley, Iowa | Shannon Babb |
| June 18 | Wed | Spoon River Speedway | Canton, Ill. | Jason Feger |
| June 19 | Thur | Quincy Raceways | Quincy, Ill. | RAIN |
| June 20 | Fri | Tri-City Speedway | Pontoon Beach, Ill. | Billy Moyer(2) |
| June 21 | Sat | Fairbury Speedway | Fairbury, Ill. | RAIN |
| June 22 | Sun | I-96 Speedway | Ionia, Mich. | Brian Shirley |
| June 23 | Mon | Peoria Speedway | Peoria, Ill. | Brandon Sheppard |
| June 24 | Tue | Off | ||
| June 25 | Wed | Clarksville Speedway | Clarksville, Tenn. | Shannon Babb(2) |
| June 26 | Thur | Clayhill Motorsports | Atwood, Tenn. | Brian Shirley(2) |
| June 27 | Fri | Paducah Int. Raceway | Paducah, Ky. | $10,000 |
| June 28 | Sat | Federated Auto Parts Raceway | Pevely, Mo. | $10,000 |
| June 29 | Sun | Lincoln Speedway | Lincoln, Ill. | $5,000 |
| June 30 | Mon | Off | ||
| July 1 | Tue | Belle Clair Speedway | Belleville, Ill. | $5,000 |
| July 2 | Wed | Jacksonville Speedway | Jacksonville, Ill. | $5,000 |
| July 3 | Thur | LaSalle Speedway | LaSalle, Ill. | $5,000 |
| July 4 | Fri | Fayette Co. Speedway | Brownstown, Ill. | $7,500 |
| July 5 | Sat | Highland Speedway | Highland, Ill. | $10,000 |
| July 6 | Sun | Tri-State Speedway | Haubstadt, Ind. | $5,000 |
| July 7 | Mon | Off | ||
| July 8 | Tue | Florence Speedway | Union, Ky. | $5,000 |
| July 9 | Wed | Terre Haute Action Track | Terre Haute, Ind. | $5,000 |
| July 10 | Thur | Macon Speedway | Macon, Ill. | $5,000 |
| July 11 | Fri | Farmer City Raceway | Farmer City, Ill. | $10,000 |
| July 12 | Sat | 34 Raceway | Burlington, Iowa | $10,000 |
| July 13 | Sun | Vermilion Co. Speedway | Danville, Ill. | $5,000 |
| July 14 | Mon | Off | ||
| July 15 | Tue | TBA | ||
| July 16 | Wed | Atomic Speedway | Chillicothe, Ohio | $5,000 |
| July 17 | Thur | Brushcreek Motorsports Complex | Peebles, Ohio | $5,000 |
| July 18 | Fri | Attica Raceway Park | Attica, Ohio | $5,000 |
| July 19 | Sat | Oakshade Raceway | Wauseon, Ohio | $10,000 |
The DIRTcar Summer Nationals “Hell Tour” is brought to fans across the country by many important partners including: Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), Racing Electronics (Official Communication), Velocita (Official Uniform), VP Racing Fuel (Official Racing Fuel); in addition to these fine Contingency Partners: Beyea Headers, Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Dominator Race Products, Edelbrock, Fox Shocks, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, Mobil 1, MSD, Quartermaster, Superflow Dynos, Summit Racing Equipment and Wrisco Aluminum; Promotional Partners include: Chevy Performance Parts, Indiana Decal, Intercomp and Petroff Towing.
