DIRTcar Summer Nationals
I-96 Speedway
June 22, 2014
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Shirley Scores First Win of 2014 DIRTcar Summer Nationals at I-96 Speedway



by Jordan Morris
LAKE ODESSA, Mich. - June 22, 2014 - Brian Shirley rallied from a blown engine in hot laps, and then held off a red-hot Shannon Babb to capture his first victory of the 2014 DIRTcar Summer Nationals season Sunday night at I-96 Speedway.

Shirley, the 2012 DIRTcar Summer Nationals champion, dominated the 40-lap main event, leading every lap from flag-to-flag, as well as setting quick time for the night and winning his heat race.

Shirley started the feature from the pole-position and grabbed the lead early. Babb, who started four positions behind Shirley, needed only eight laps to make his way to second and 20 laps to reach Shirley's back bumper. Babb, who has dominated I-96 Speedway, winning four of the last five races held there during the Summer Nationals, found no luck getting around Shirley as lapped traffic came into play in the battle for the lead.

Shirley held a firm grip on the top spot, managing to lead every lap in a caution free feature, capturing the $5,000 checkered flag, his first of the season and 13th of his career.

"Tonight I was a little heartbroken," said a relieved Brian Shirley in victory lane. "We were fast in hot laps I felt like, and had to pull that car out because of mechanical problems, but glad it all worked out."

A-Main
1 1 81 Brian Shirley Chatham, IL
2 5 18 Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL
3 3 24 Ryan Unzicker El Paso, IL
4 4 B5 Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, IL
5 12 6M Dona Marcoullier Houguton Lake, MI
6 8 9R Curtis Roberts Coleman, MI
7 2 23V Ryan Vanderveen Six Lakes, MI
8 6 14M Brandon Thirlby Traverse City, MI
9 7 55 Jeep Van Wormer Pinconning, MI
10 10 27S Eric Spangler Lake City, MI
11 9 81JR Jason Riggs Harrisburg, IL
12 11 111 Curt Spalding Hartford, MI
13 16 77K Steve Kester Holland, OH
14 18 32J Jason Jaggers Wyanet, IL
15 19 1M Jim Moon New Florence, MO
16 21 2 Bry Sloan Lowell, MI
17 15 34 Herb Reich Ann Arbor, MI
18 22 41 Jason Playter Jr Saranac, MI
19 14 15A Phil Ausra Dowagiac, MI
20 13 52X Brad Harden Onid, MI
21 20 42* Bob Mayer Holland, OH
22 17 49 Brian Ruhlman Clark Lake, MI



B-Main
1 77K Steve Kester
2 49 Brian Ruhlman
3 32J Jason Jaggers
4 2 Bry Sloan
5 6R Carl Ries
6 1M Jim Moon
7 41 Jason Playter Jr
8 11 Rachel Carpenter
9 42* Bob Mayer
10 610 Blaine Hendrick
11 15H Jon Henry

Heat #1
1 81 Brian Shirley
2 B5 Brandon Sheppard
3 55 Jeep Van Wormer
4 27S Eric Spangler
5 52X Brad Harden
6 77K Steve Kester
7 49 Brian Ruhlman
8 2 Bry Sloan
9 11 Rachel Carpenter

Heat #2
1 24 Ryan Unzicker
2 18 Shannon Babb
3 9R Curtis Roberts
4 111 Curt Spalding
5 15A Phil Ausra
6 32J Jason Jaggers
7 41 Jason Playter Jr
8 15H Jon Henry
9 1M Jim Moon

Heat #3
1 23V Ryan Vanderveen
2 14M Brandon Thirlby
3 81JR Jason Riggs
4 6M Dona Marcoullier
5 34 Herb Reich
6 6R Carl Ries
7 610 Blaine Hendrick
8 42* Bob Mayer