Post by LMR on 06/26/14 at 8:49pm
DIRTcar Summer Nationals
Clayhill Motorsports Park
June 26, 2014
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Shirley Surges to Second DIRTCar Summer Nationals 2014 Season at Clayhill Motorsports Park
by Jordan Morris
ATWOOD, Tenn. (June 26) - 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.”
A-Main
1 81 Brian Shirley
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 18 Shannon Babb
2 32 Bobby Pierce
3 28E Dennis Erb Jr
4 12B Kevin Weaver
5 94 Austin Rettig
6 3X Randy Sellars
7 1CJ Gary Christian
Heat #2
1 C8 Timothy Culp
2 21JR Billy Moyer Jr
3 24 Ryan Unzicker
4 96T Terry English
5 81JR Jason Riggs
6 6M Wendell Wallace
7 71 Trace Westling
Heat #3
1 81 Brian Shirley
2 18S Jack Sullivan
3 B5 Brandon Sheppard
4 96 Tanner English
5 15 Richard Frost
6 20 Alan Westling
7 25L Steve Lance Jr
Fast Qualifier: 32 Bobby Pierce 15.865
