East Moline, IL — Dennis Erb Jr. showed fans on Sunday night the reason that he’s been crowned the UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals Champion for two years in a row.
A model of consistency and patience throughout, Erb stalked second starting Ryan Unzicker for 18 laps before making his move under the El Paso, IL driver on the 19th circuit. “I had good runs coming off the corners, and I knew there was a mark if I hit it I could get by him.” commented Erb. “From there it was just about staying smooth and not messing up.”
Unzicker settled into the second position holding off 2008 Quad City winner Randy Korte in the closing laps securing his second runner up finish in as many nights. “We’re just trying to do the same stuff every night and get better,” analyzed Unzicker. “This is why we do the series, you can go night to night and build yourself as a racer and if we keep sticking our nose in there a win will come.”
Korte, who charged from the last row of his heat race to capture second, worked around pole sitter Kevin Weaver early and set his sights on the lead duo of Erb and Unzicker but fell just shy as the checkered flag fell. “After awhile you just could be as fast as the guys who would run the top,” remarked Korte. “You could get next to them off the corners but couldn’t clear them down the straights.”
Heat race action saw Unzicker hold of Jason Feger and Shannon Babb to claim the first heat while Weaver owned heat 2 and subsequently drew the pole for the Summer Nationals feature event. Heat 3 saw local Illinois driver Tim Lance charge through the field and hold off Terry Casey to claim victory while eventual winner Erb lead every lap of heat 4.
31 cars attempted qualifying time trials at the tight ¼ mile oval in East Moline, IL. UMP DIRTcar Late Model drivers qualified in four groups with the fastest of each earning a top spot in their respective heat race. An all Illinois cast dominated qualifying time trials at Quad City with Shannon Babb, Wes Steidinger, local star Mike Murphy, and Dennis Erb all claiming their group’s top honors.
Dennis Erb Jr. showed fans on Sunday night the reason that he’s been the model of consistency and patience throughout the previous two UMP DIRTcar Summer National Tour’s.
Erb stalked second starting Ryan Unzicker for 18 laps before making his move under the El Paso, IL driver on the 19th circuit. I had good runs coming off the corners, and I knew there was a mark if I hit it I could get by him.” commented Erb. “From there it was just about staying smooth and not messing up.”
Uzicker settled into the second position holding off 2008 Quad City winner Randy Korte in the closing laps securing his second runner up finish in as many nights. “We’re just trying to do the same stuff every night and get better,” analyzed Unzicker. “This is why we do the series, you can go night to night and build yourself as a racer and if we keep sticking our nose in there a win will come.”
Korte, who charged from the last row of his heat race to capture second, worked around pole sitter Kevin Weaver early and set his sights on the lead duo of Erb and Unzicker but fell just shy as the checkered flag fell. “After awhile you just could be as fast as the guys who would run the top,” remarked Korte. “You could get next to them off the corners but couldn’t clear them down the straights.”
Heat race action saw Unzicker hold of Jason Feger and Shannon Babb to claim the first heat while Weaver owned heat 2 and subsequently drew the pole for the Summer Nationals feature event. Heat 3 saw local Illinois driver Tim Lance charge through the field and hold off Terry Casey to claim victory while eventual winner Erb lead every lap of heat 4.
31 cars attempted qualifying time trials at the tight ¼ mile oval in East Moline, IL. UMP DIRTcar Late Model drivers qualified in four groups with the fastest of each earning a top spot in their respective heat race. An all Illinois cast dominated qualifying time trials at Quad City with Shannon Babb, Wes Steidinger, local star Mike Murphy, and Dennis Erb all claiming their group’s top honors.
Heat 1:
1. Ryan Unzicker
2. Jason Feger
3. Shannon Babb
4. Scott James
5. Richie Hedrick
6. Brian Harris
7. Shane Allen
8. Gerry Reeder Jr.
Heat 2:
1. Kevin Weaver
2. Randy Korte
3. Wes Steidinger
4. Scott Schmitt
5. Brent Kreke
6. Pete Parker
7. Donny Walden
8. Bryant Dickinson
Heat 3:
1. Tim Lance
2. Terry Casey
3. Rodney Melvin
4. Derek Chandler
5. Mike Murphy Jr.
6. Jason McBride
7. Russ Adams
8. Steve Sheppard Jr.
9. Jason McBride
Heat 4:
1. Dennis Erb Jr.
2. Mark Voigt
3. Jeep Van Wormer
4. Brandon Sheppard
5. Mike Hammerle
6. Justin Rattliff
7. Mike Cothron
C-Main:
1. Richie Hedrick
2. Brent Kreke
3. Mike Murphy, Jr.
4. Brian Harris
B-Main:
Not run – Top 3 from C-Main transferred to A-Main
Provisionals:
Brian Harris
Steve Sheppard, Jr.
Mike Hammerle
A-Main Finish – 40 Laps
- 28e – Dennis Erb
- 24 – Ryan Unzicker
- 00 – Randy Korte
- B12 – Kevin Weaver
- 30 – Mark Voigt
- 48 – Tim Lance
- 25 – Jason Feger
- 83 – Scott James
- 55 – Jeep Van Wormer
- 27 – Rodney Melvin
- 18 – Shannon Babb
- J1 – Wes Steidinger
- 10s – Scott Schmitt
- 35 – Derek Chandler
- B5 – Brandon Sheppard
- 0 – Richie Hedrick
- 14 – Mike Murphy
- 5s – Steve Sheppard
- 13 – Brent Kreke
- 16H – Mike Hammerle
- 42 – Terry Casey
- 75 – Brian Harris
For more information on the UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals Tour fans can visit http://www.thehelltour.com
Fans can now receive news, updates and other behind-the-scenes information about the UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals by following the tour’s official feed on Twitter, the internet’s fast-growing social-networking and micro-blogging website.
Fans can view the latest text posts and subscribe as “followers” of the WoO LMS at http://twitter.com/SummerNationals .
2009 UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals Schedule
Date/Track/Location/Purse/Winner/Laps
| 06/11/09 | Brownstown Speedway – Brownstown, IN – $6,000 (Jeep VanWormer – 43) |
| 06/12/09 | Kankakee Motor Speedway – Kankakee,IL – $10,000 (Billy Moyer – 51) |
| 06/13/09 | Kamp Motor Speedway – Boswell, IN – $10,000 (Eric Smith – 44) |
| 06/14/09 | Quad City Raceway – East Moline, IL – $6,000 (Dennis Erb Jr. – 31) |
| 06/16/09 | Highland Speedway – Highland, IL – $6,000 |
| 06/17/09 | Belle-Clair Speedway – Belleville, IL – $6,000 |
| 06/18/09 | Charleston Speedway – Charleston, IL – $6,000 |
| 06/19/09 | Farmer City Raceway – Farmer City, IL – $10,000 |
| 06/20/09 | Clarksville Speedway – Clarksville, TN – $10,000 |
| 06/21/09 | Tri-State Speedway – Haubstadt, IN – $6,000 |
| 06/23/09 | I-57/I-64 Speedway – Mt. Vernon, IL $6,000 |
| 06/24/09 | Tri-City Speedway – Pontoon Beach, IL $6,000 |
| 06/25/09 | Clay Hill Motorsports Park – Atwood, TN – $6,000 |
| 06/26/09 | Paducah International Raceway – Paducah, KY – $10,000 |
| 06/27/09 | Fairbury Speedway – Fairbury, IL – $10,000 |
| 06/28/09 | Lincoln Speedway – Lincoln, IL – $6,000 |
| 06/30/09 | Peoria Speedway – Peoria, IL – $6,000 |
| 07/01/09 | Morgan County Speedway – Jacksonville, IL – $6,000 |
| 07/02/09 | Macon Speedway – Macon, IL – $6,000 |
| 07/03/09 | Quincy Raceway – Quincy, IL – $10,000 |
| 07/04/09 | I-55 Raceway – Pevely, MO – $10,000 |
| 07/05/09 | Vermillion County Speedway – Danville, IL – $6,000 |
| 07/07/09 | Shepp Speedway – Alexandria, IL – $6,000 |
| 07/08/09 | Spoon River Speedway – Canton,IL $6,000 |
| 07/09/09 | LaSalle Speedway – LaSalle, IL – $6,000 |
| 07/10/09 | Waynesfield Motorsports Park – Waynesfield, OH – $10,000 |
| 07/11/09 | Oakshade Raceway – Wauseon, OH – 10,000 |
The UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals is brought to race fans by many important sponsors and partners, including: VP Racing Fuels, CJ Rayburn Race Cars, Hoosier Racing Tire, Quarter Master, Just Plugs, Special Olympics, Wrisco Aluminum, Eibach Springs, and Integra Racing Shocks.
