UMP Summer Nationals
Terre Haute Action Track
July 12, 2012
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O’Neal Slides to DIRTcar Summer Nationals Victory at Terre Haute Action Track 

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (July 12) - Don O'Neal of Martinsville, Ind., captured his first DIRTcar Summer Nationals win of 2012 Thursday night at the Terre Haute Action Track worth $5,000.

O'Neal used a strong restart on lap 20 to tail leader Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., before making a lap 22 pass for the lead when Sheppard slipped over the cushion exiting turn two.

"Turns one and two were rough getting in and it was hard to hit your line every time," analyzed O'Neal. "Right before the yellow flag we kind of got a run on him and I knew we had a shot there if we could stay out of the lapped cars."

"We got the job done though, after the way we've struggled. My guys have worked really hard and it's paying off."

Sheppard struggled to navigate the treacherous turn two cushion over the next few circuits eventually allowing current Hell Tour point leader Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., by. Shirley settled for second behind O'Neal who distanced himself over the races final eight circuits. Sheppard was third with Frank Heckenast Jr., of Frankfort, Ill., in fourth. Defending DIRTcar Summer Nationals Champion Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., rounded out the top five.

Shirley's point lead was extended to 76 markers over Babb. The 2012 DIRTcar Summer Nationals Tour wraps up with a visit to Attica Raceway Park in Attica, Ohio on Friday night for a $5,000-to-win race followed by the finale at Oakshade Raceway in Wauseon, Ohio for the $10,000-to-win Birthday Race.

A-Main
1 4 1D Don O'Neal
2 1 3S Brian Shirley
3 2 1 Brandon Sheppard
4 14 99JR Frank Heckenast Jr
5 5 18 Shannon Babb
6 7 32P Bobby Pierce
7 8 24 Ryan Unzicker
8 13 77M Jason McBride
9 11 6J Joe Janowski
10 17 48 Tim Lance
11 15 80 Duke Mounce
12 21 53 Lee Thomason
13 18 4S Rob Starkey
14 6 89 Mike Spatola
15 10 25 Jason Feger
16 16 31 Shane Cottle
17 9 7L Jerry Lierly
18 3 28E Dennis Erb Jr
19 20 27 Nick Bartels
20 12 74 Russ Adams
21 19 97B Marvin Burton
22 22 76 Butch Kruckeberg


Photos courtesy of Jim Denhamer