Post by LMR on 07/20/13 at 10:07pm
DIRTcar Summer Nationals
Oakshade Raceway
July 20, 2013
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Miller Wins DIRTcar Summer Nationals ‘Hell Tour’ Finale at Oakshade
Sheppard crowned youngest champion in series history
WAUSEON, Ohio (July 20) - Matt Miller looked virtually unstoppable on Saturday night as he charged from ninth to take the lead from Jeep Van Wormer on lap 23 en route to claiming the victory in the finale of the six-week-long DIRTcar Summer Nationals “Hell Tour” at Oakshade Raceway.
Brandon Sheppard, a 20-year-old four-time winner this season, became the youngest DIRTcar Summer Nationals champion when he took the green flag.
Casey Noonan started the feature on the pole but outside-starting Van Wormer quickly shot to the lead. Miller, of Whitehouse, Ohio, powered from row five into a battle for the top spot.
Van Wormer was forced to fend off several early charges, including one by Sheppard, who was trying to clinch the championship in style with a victory but his car eventually slowed and he settled for a 19th-place finish.
Miller caught Van Wormer by lap 20 of the 60-lap event and finally maneuvered around him on lap 23. Miller quickly expanded his lead by up to a half-track advantage as the second half of the race ran caution free as he dominated his way to the $10,000 checkered flag.
“We’ve been good all year, especially when we get in slick conditions,” said Miller, who earned his first Hell Tour victory since 2008. “We came here last week and got tore up and had to take the car to Rocket and get it clipped. My guys busted their butts, especially (car owner) Rick (DeLong) and Rodney and those guys, working till 1 in the morning every night. It feels good to pay them back. The car couldn’t have been any better.”
A 19th-place finish was a minor disappointment for Sheppard. The 20-year-old claimed the $25,000 title over 16-year-old Bobby Pierce in the 27th season of the six-week-long tour. Pierce became the youngest driver to win a DIRTcar Summer Nationals feature during this year’s tour, accomplishing the feat four times.
“We’ve been doing this for a long time and working really hard at it just trying to get to where we’re at now,” said Sheppard, of New Berlin, Ill. “It means a lot to me and it means a lot to my family cause they’ve been doing it just as long.”
NOTES: Dustin Griffin was named the DIRTcar Summer Nationals “Hell Tour” Rookie of the Year. ... Sheppard, Pierce and Griffin are the only three drivers who survived each race in the series that ran from June 12 through Saturday night. ... In all, 26 events were completed over the course of the six weeks. ... Shannon Babb’s six victories were the most by any driver. ...Among the winners during the course of this year’s series were former champions Billy Moyer, Scott Bloomquist, Kevin Weaver, Dennis Erb Jr., and Babb.
A-Main
1 9 3M Matt Miller $10,000
2 6 18JH Jon Henry
3 8 32 Bobby Pierce
4 3 1B Jeff Babcock
5 10 99M Devin Moran
6 2 55 Jeep Van Wormer
7 17 6M Dona Marcoullier
8 12 20 Dustin Griffin
9 16 49R Brian Ruhlman
10 5 63 Doug Drown
11 7 00K Chris Keller
12 21 75 Dusty Moore
13 1 1N Casey Noonan
14 14 18R Chris Ross
15 13 91S Rusty Schlenk
16 19 77K Steve Kester
17 20 51S Devin Shiels
18 15 15A Phil Ausra
19 b5 Brandon Shepperd
20 18 50Y Ryan Missler
21 11 1C Wayne Chinn
22 22 34R Herb Reich
B-Main
1 6M Dona Marcoullier
2 50Y Ryan Missler
3 77K Steve Kester
4 75 Dusty Moore
5 8A Rob Anderzack
6 51S Devin Shiels
7 49ML Matt Lindsey
8 42* Bob Mayer
9 35 Ron Miller
10 28S Rody Schroyer
11 2D Curtis Deisenroth
12 72 Mike Miller
13 56 B J Gregory
14 66H Bobby Hutchins
15 6R Carl Ries
16 20C Duane Chamberlin
C-Main
1 56 BJ Gregory
2 51S Devin Shiels
3 35 Ron Miller
4 28S Rody Schroyer
5 34R Herb Reich
6 31 Mickey Jr Carman
7 74D Craig Dippman
8 71E Pat Ehlert
9 316 Tim Murphy
10 27H Ken Hahn
11 21 Todd Frank
Heat #1
1 b5 Brandon Shepperd
2 63 Doug Drown
3 3M Matt Miller
4 91S Rusty Schlenk
5 77K Steve Kester
6 8A Rob Anderzack
7 72 Mike Miller
8 35 Ron Miller
9 316 Tim Murphy
10 74D Craig Dippman
Heat #2
1 55 Jeep Van Wormer
2 18JH Jon Henry
3 99M Devin Moran
4 18R Chris Ross
5 20C Duane Chamberlin
6 42* Bob Mayer
7 49ML Matt Lindsey
8 34R Herb Reich
9 31 Mickey Jr Carman
10 71E Pat Ehlert
Heat #3
1 1N Casey Noonan
2 00K Chris Keller
3 1C Wayne Chinn
4 15A Phil Ausra
5 75 Dusty Moore
6 6R Carl Ries
7 66H Bobby Hutchins
8 28S Rody Schroyer
9 51S Devin Shiels
10 21 Todd Frank
Heat #4
1 1B Jeff Babcock
2 32 Bobby Pierce
3 20 Dustin Griffin
4 49R Brian Ruhlman
5 6M Dona Marcoullier
6 50Y Ryan Missler
7 2D Curtis Deisenroth
8 56 B J Gregory
9 27H Ken Hahn
Event Photos courtesy of Jim Denhamer
