UMP Summer Nationals
LaSalle Speedway
July 4, 2012
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Birkhofer Cruises to DIRTcar Summer Nationals Triumph at LaSalle 

LASALLE, IL (July 4) - Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, cruised to his second DIRTcar Summer Nationals 'Hell Tour' victory of 2012 on Wednesday night at LaSalle (Ill.) Speedway. Birkhofer earned $5,000 for winning the 40-lap main event.

Starting on the pole, Birkhofer jumped to an early lead over current Summer Nationals point leader Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., and held off a late race charge from Frank Heckenast Jr. of Frankfort, Ill., for the win. Heckenast finished second and Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., finished third. 2011 DIRTcar Late Model National Champion Ryan Unzicker of El Paso, Ill., finished fourth and previous night winner Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., rounded out the top five.

Point leader Shirley's night went south after contact with safety barriers sent him pit-side, only to return and later be involved in an accident that ended his night in 21st. Defending Summer Nationals champion Shannon Babb finished the event in sixth, and closed to within 24 points of Shirley with nine events remaining.

A-Main
1 1 15B Brian Birkhofer $5,000
2 8 99JR Frank Heckenast Jr
3 3 1 Brandon Sheppard
4 11 24 Ryan Unzicker
5 7 25 Jason Feger
6 15 18 Shannon Babb
7 4 15H Jon Henry
8 6 32J Jason Jaggers
9 12 28E Dennis Erb, Jr
10 16 14M Morgan Bagley
11 5 10S Scott Schmitt
12 20 12B Kevin Weaver
13 19 89 Mike Spatola
14 10 21B Rich Bell
15 21 5 Brett Sievert
16 13 7L Jerry Lierly
17 22 77M Jason McBride
18 9 58 Ray Guss Jr
19 18 9T Tim Isenberg
20 14 0 Richie Hendrick
21 2 3S Brian Shirley
22 17 1S Jack Sullivan

B-Main
1 1S Jack Sullivan
2 9T Tim Isenberg
3 77M Jason McBride
4 81 Scott James
5 27 Nick Bartels
6 91T Tony Toste
7 8R Bill Rezutek
8 5 Brett Sievert
9 12B Kevin Weaver
10 61 Jon Rogers
11 91P Jason Papich
12 15R Mark Burgtorf
13 69 John Mayes Jr
14 94 Wes Steidinger
15 89 Mike Spatola

C-Main
1 91T Tony Toste
2 15R Mark Burgtorf
3 91P Jason Papich
4 76 Kellen Conover
5 33P John Poccatto
6 74 Russ Adams
7 30J Kathy Jarvis
8 A1 Duke Whiseant

Heat #1
1 15B Brian Birkhofer
2 10S Scott Schmitt
3 58 Ray Guss Jr
4 7L Jerry Lierly
5 9T Tim Isenberg
6 8R Bill Rezutek
7 27 Nick Bartels
8 91T Tony Toste
9 76 Kellen Conover

Heat #2
1 15H Jon Henry
2 32J Jason Jaggers
3 21B Rich Bell
4 0 Richie Hendrick
5 94 Wes Steidinger
6 61 Jon Rogers
7 69 John Mayes Jr
8 30J Kathy Jarvis
9 A1 Duke Whiseant

Heat #3
1 3S Brian Shirley
2 25 Jason Feger
3 24 Ryan Unzicker
4 18 Shannon Babb
5 1S Jack Sullivan
6 77M Jason McBride
7 81 Scott James
8 15R Mark Burgtorf
9 74 Russ Adams

Heat #4
1 1 Brandon Sheppard
2 99JR Frank Heckenast Jr
3 28E Dennis Erb, Jr
4 14M Morgan Bagley
5 12B Kevin Weaver
6 89 Mike Spatola
7 5 Brett Sievert
8 33P John Poccatto
9 91P Jason Papich