MAPLE PARK, Unwell. — The previous two nights of DIRTcar Summer time Nationals late mannequin characteristic racing have supplied a basic Illinois battle from two of the state’s high drivers.
Sunday evening at Sycamore Speedway added one other chapter to their Hell Tour battles, as Jason Feger topped Brian Shirley for the victory.
Mike Spatola led the sphere to the inexperienced flag with Shirley to his outdoors, however the No. 3S Longhorn Chassis saved his tempo on the excessive facet to take the lead within the early phases.
Spatola maintained second place, whereas Christian Hanger, Shannon Babb, and Feger tried to find out which lane labored finest to drive round.
Feger discovered footing on the excessive facet of the race monitor as nearly all of the highest 10 stayed low within the corners.
On Lap 15, lapped visitors grew to become an element as Spatola bought squeezed between Dennis Erb Jr. and the lapped automobiles in entrance, evaporating the momentum he wanted to maintain Feger behind him. In return, the No. 25F late mannequin bought clear off of Flip 4 and commenced its second-half cost in direction of Shirley.
Shirley’s 1.3-second lead dwindled to 0.2 seconds within the following 4 laps as Feger discovered his acquainted stride on the “Excessive Facet Hustler.”
Feger made his transfer for the lead with 10 laps to go as he bought to the suitable rear quarter panel of “Squirrel” into Flip 1, creeped up nose-to-nose down the backstretch, then bought away from Shirley off the exit of Flip 4 to take the lead at Sycamore.
Shirley then took his automobile to the cushion of the monitor, however struggled to make floor on Feger as he led the ultimate laps for his thirty second journey to Hell Tour Victory Lane.
With the win, Feger clinched his fifth profession Summer time Nationals weekly title, and his first within the opening week for the late fashions.
“I felt like I used to be pretty much as good as Brian,” Feger stated. “The automobile was actually good. It was the case of Brian not understanding the place I’m, and the monitor ended up being actually racey. I believe everyone thought it was going to be bottom-dominant, and we was in a position to get near the highest and drive down into the crumbs. It ended up being a extremely good monitor.
“Brian most likely didn’t know the place I used to be, and it’s so much totally different whenever you chase versus whenever you lead. So me and him swapping positions backwards and forwards, he’s a very good bud, so it’s at all times a very good time. To have the ability to win two (options) within the first week and clinch the factors for the week is big for our crew.”
The end:
Characteristic (30 Laps): 1. 25F-Jason Feger[6]; 2. 3S-Brian Shirley[2]; 3. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[7]; 4. 89-Mike Spatola[1]; 5. 18B-Shannon Babb[5]; 6. 1-Tyler Erb[10]; 7. 10-Joseph Joiner[11]; 8. 09-Michael Leach[15]; 9. 21B-Wealthy Bell[8]; 10. 5-Mark Whitener[14]; 11. 10S-Taylor Scheffler[13]; 12. 15-Clay Stuckey[9]; 13. 75-Dillon McCowan[19]; 14. 14JR-Trey Mills[20]; 15. 8-Matthew Larson[16]; 16. 99JR-Frank Heckenast Jr[18]; 17. 29-Christian Hanger[3]; 18. D1-Turk Letizia[12]; 19. 21-Billy Moyer Sr[17]; 20. 3-Dale Markham[21]; 21. (DNF) 40B-Kyle Bronson[22]; 22. (DNF) 22*-Drake Troutman[4]
