Ashton Winger, Brandon Sheppard, Bobby Pierce, Dennis Erb Jr. and Nick Hoffman talk what it takes to survive on the Hell Tour
Running every DIRTcar Summer Nationals Hell Tour race is not a task for the faint-hearted.
This year’s edition of the famed tour resembles the schedule of years past with a grueling pace of 31 races in 34 days. Not all have the resources or stamina complete it in full, but those who have took away lessons for their career and life.
In Part I of this series, Summer Nationals champions Ashton Winger, Bobby Pierce, Brandon Sheppard, Brian Shirley, Dennis Erb Jr., Nick Hoffman, and Tyler Erb talked about their path to the Hell Tour. Here, several of them expand on what it took to be successful on the tour.
Learning Yourself Through Hell
The challenge of taking good care of the race car and parts day in and day out teaches drivers about their work ethic and living lessons they’ve used throughout their careers on national dirt Late Model tours.
2022 World of Outlaws Late Model champion Dennis Erb Jr took his lessons of mixing the positive and negatives he experienced from the time spent with the Summer Nationals that helped prepare him better for national dirt Late Model tours.
“There were a lot of things there (to learn),” Erb Jr said. “Going up and down the road, taking care of all the equipment while racing near 30 nights in a row. You obviously had to make good decisions, definitely mixing good and bad, but there’s a lot of things that went on through that time.
“It was a learning curve to be able to learn how to race for points, know where to pick your battles throughout that month or two. There was a lot there that helped me as far as learning how to be consistent, finishing races, and being up front. That was one of the biggest things, where you can group them all together to concentrate on being consistent, because that’s what wins championships.”
Nick Hoffman had a special challenge in 2019 when it was just, he, his two-month-old son, Maddox, and his wife, Lacy, on the Hell Tour. Hoffman got by with only family by his side, recording 13 Feature wins and his second-career Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals title.
“It definitely teaches you to work hard because you ain’t got a choice,” Hoffman said candidly. “Very grueling days, long weeks, but as long as you can put nights together and have a little bit of success, it makes it a hell of a lot easier. It’s very rewarding, but it can also beat you down pretty quick.
“Maddox, my firstborn, the first year I did it with just my wife and him, he was only two months old. So, it was just us three on the road, and that’s a memory that I’ll never forget as we were able to win the championship and race every single race. That will always be special to me.”
Nick Hoffman took 13 Feature wins en route to his second title (Rick Neff Photo)
Ashton Winger noted the difference in competition from traditional national tours. In 2023, he had to square up against Bloomington, IL’s Jason Feger for his Hell Tour championship while racing against other prominent “Illinois Bad Boys” through the summer.
Winger compares the caliber of drivers to racing against southeastern staples Brandon Overton, Jonathan Davenport, and Chris Madden.
“I definitely think Feger has picked it up in the last few years,” Winger said. “He’s definitely gotten way better, but you’re gonna have to race (Shannon) Babb everywhere, (Ryan) Unzicker’s fast, obviously “Squirrel” (Brian Shirley) and Bobby (Pierce) have gone onto the Outlaws.
“I mean, hell, when I go, I feel like me and Terbo are probably the adopted sons of Illinois. You’re gonna race some guys that are coming up and the usual veterans, it’s like going to race (Brandon) Overton, (Jonathan) Davenport, and (Chris) Madden at Cherokee (Speedway). You go race with (Midwest) guys every single night in their backyard, and we always get to enjoy that.”
Ashton Winger won his first Hell Tour title in 2023 (Josh James Photo)
Before scoring his first World of Outlaws Late Model championship in 2023, Bobby Pierce made a name for himself on the Summer Nationals tour, collecting five championships – his last coming in 2022. When he moved to the World of Outlaws full-time in 2023 – his first full year with the tour – he was already driving and winning like a champion early in the season due to his experience gained on the Hell Tour.
“I feel like Summer Nationals makes you better when you’re racing all the time like that,” Pierce said. “Everyone gets into the routine more, and it’s like a muscle memory thing too when you’re racing every time and it’s like riding a bike the next time you race. When you can do it, I think it just makes you better and gave me the confidence to go out and win.”
Since scoring his lone Summer Nationals championship in 2013, Brandon Sheppard has gone on to hold the most victories and championships with the World of Outlaws Late Models. He too cited his acceptance of the grind on the Hell Tour as a key factor for his success on the national tour.
“Basically, the experience [helped me],” Sheppard said. “What it takes to go up and down the road, and race night after night with no breaks, no days off, and even the days off were harder work than the days we raced. At the end of the day, it is the experience that if you’re a young racer getting into the sport and need to gain experience in a short amount of time, [Summer Nationals] is a good way to do it for sure.”
There’s no easy road on the Hell Tour. Not all can do it, but those who do find they leave a better driver and a better person. In Part III of this series – out Monday, March 24 – these champions share what it meant to win their first Hell Tour race and title and what those milestones meant to their careers.
The 2025 edition of the Hell Tour begins at the Brownstown Bullring in Brownstown, IL on Tuesday, June 10 – kicking off a stretch of 31 races in 34 days. For the full series schedule, visit the Summer Nationals website.
Read More: 2025 SCHEDULE: 40th Summer Nationals Tour Holds 30 Races in 33 Days
