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What you need to know as the DIRTCar Summer Nationals tour readies for its 38th year

Rocky Ragusa
·6 min read
Chatham's Brian Shirley picked up his fourth career "World 50" win last week at the Paducah International Speedway. The Paducah race was a World of Outlaw event, giving Shirley seven career WOO feature wins. Shirley will be headed to Eldora Speedway for this weekend's "Dream" race.
Chatham's Brian Shirley picked up his fourth career "World 50" win last week at the Paducah International Speedway. The Paducah race was a World of Outlaw event, giving Shirley seven career WOO feature wins. Shirley will be headed to Eldora Speedway for this weekend's "Dream" race.

The green flag will be dropping for one of the biggest racing events in the Midwest in a matter of days as the DIRTCar Summer Nationals tour is set to begin its 38th year with the first meet taking place at the Peoria Speedway on June 14.

The Summer Nationals has grown from six races in 1988, its inaugural season, to 28 events this season. The DIRTCar late models will be competing in 28 races while the Summit modifieds will compete in 25 meets.

This year's “Hell Tour” will cover eight states with stops in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee.

The schedule for the Illinois races begin with Peoria on June 14 and will be followed with stops at Kankakee (June 15), Granite City (June 16), Fairbury (June 17), Sycamore (June 18), Spoon River (June 22), Lincoln (June 25), Quincy (June 28), Granite City (July 4), Sumner (July 5), Macon (July 6), Farmer City (July 7) and Highland (July 8).

Friday Racing

Farmer City Raceway

The Vintage Racing of Illinois series will join the Kidz Mods, along with late models, pro late models, modified and stock cars at the Dewitt County Fairground oval. Gates open at 4 p.m., practice starts at 6:30, qualifying is at 7 and racing is at 7:30. The track phone is 309-928-9110.

Grundy County Speedway

The ⅓-mile paved track will host late models, sportsman and hobby-stocks. Stands open at 5 p.m. with qualifying at 6:45 and racing at 8. For more information call 815-942-5958.

Points Leaders

Late Model — 1. Jim Weber 336; 2. Eddie Hoffman, 325; 3. Keith Tolf, 314.

Sportsman — 1. Kenny Benson, 290; 2. Kevin Murphy, 282; 3. Matt Clemens, 271.

Street Stock — 1. Matt Chester, 301; 2. Randy Weese, 278; 3. Scotty Gardner, 274

Kankakee County Speedway

The quarter-mile dirt oval will pay tribute to the late Bill Davis. Davis, from Chesterton, Indiana, won five track championships in three divisions at the fairground track and had 43 career wins. Racing for seven decades, Davis passed away in 2022.

Chebanse's Don Hilleary, here with his daughter Kinzley, took the second stock car feature race at the Fairbury Speedway last weekend. Hilleary, a four-time track champion at the Kankakee County Speedway who currently ranks fourth there and second at Fairbury.
Chebanse's Don Hilleary, here with his daughter Kinzley, took the second stock car feature race at the Fairbury Speedway last weekend. Hilleary, a four-time track champion at the Kankakee County Speedway who currently ranks fourth there and second at Fairbury.

The modified class will have a $2,100-to-win, 50-lap race, presented by Dyer’s Top Rods of Forrest. Factory stock drivers will also have bonus money in their race, with $600 going to the winner. Pro late models, stock cars, pro mods and sport compacts will also be racing. The race day phone is 815-935-9000. Grandstands open at 5:30, practice/time trials are at 6:15 and racing will follow.

Points Leaders

Pro Late Model — 1. Torin Mettille, 350; 2. Chase Osterhoff, 340; 3. Matt Hammond, 330; 4. Austin McCarty, 295; 5. Amber Crouch, 289.

Modified — 1. Jamie Lomax, 365; 2. Jason Hastings, 290; 3. Nick Seplak, 254; 4. Braiden Bohlmann, 226; 5. Dillon Nussbaum, 215.

Stock Car — 1. Austin Hubbard, 445; 2. Cody Clubb, 376; 3. Jerrad Krick, 372; 4. Don Hilleary, 356; 5. Tony Hemp, 266.

Pro Modified — 1. Deece Schwartz, 445; 2. Ryan Kohler, 410; 3. Pete Argianas, 360; 4. Curtis Caldwell, 326; 5. Scott McDonald, 310.

Factory Stock — 1. Lee Joseph Hall, 338; 2. Nathan Arterberry, 330; 3. Trevor Bitterling, 319; 4. David Hurst, 255; 5. Mike Reitz, 254.

Sport Compacts — 1. David Lauritson 440; 2. Joshua Wright 375; 3. Jimmy Dutlinger 350.

Lincoln Speedway

Racing will return with a show of pro late models, Big 10 Series Modified, pro mods, sportsman, midgets and a special race for the hornet class. Gates will open at 5 p.m., hot laps are at 6 and racing will start at 7. Call 217-735-1833.

Saturday Racing

Fairbury Speedway

The 27th annual “Pappy and Bob Allen” Memorial race will take place at the fairground dirt track. Race teams will have the opportunity to pay homage to the Allen family and tune up for the upcoming DIRTCar Summer National race.

Fairbury's McKay Wenger will have his eyes on joining an exclusive list of Allen Memorial race winners this Saturday at the Fairbury Speedway. Wenger, who finished second last week and ranks second in the Fairbury late model point standings, will be looking for his first win of the season.
Fairbury's McKay Wenger will have his eyes on joining an exclusive list of Allen Memorial race winners this Saturday at the Fairbury Speedway. Wenger, who finished second last week and ranks second in the Fairbury late model point standings, will be looking for his first win of the season.

Late models will be featured in a 30-lap, $2,500-to-win race. Tanner English is the defending race winner.

Modified (25 laps), sportsman (15 laps), stock car (15 laps) and hobby-modified (12 laps) will also be on the program. Gates open at 2 p.m., hot laps/qualifying are at 5:45 and racing will start at 7. There will also be a Dash for Cash held on the front stretch for children ages 7-8 years of age. The race day phone is 815-692-3222.

Points Leaders

Late Model — 1. Mike Spatola 135; 2. McKay Wenger 120; 3. Kevin Weaver 115; 4. Bob Gardner 104; 5. Jason Wagner 83; 6. Bill Hough 81; 7. Dale Markham 75; 8. Donny Walden 67; 9. Brian Diveley 61; 10. Shannon Babb 60.

Modified — 1. Allen Weisser, 135; 2. Mike McKinney, 130; 3. Michael Ledford, 125; 4. Alan Stipp, 117; 5. Steven Brooks 110; 6. Caden McWhorter 108; 7. Eric Vaughan, 85; 8. Austin Friedman, 82; 9. Lyndon Whitfill, 73; 10. Jared Thomas, 71.

Stock Car — 1. Cody Clubb, 145; 2. Don Hilleary, 135; 3. Tim Loomis, 130; 4. Andy Thompson, 124; 5. Eric Legner, 108; 6. Brandon Tracy, 105; 7. Kevin Anderson, 103; 8. Brice Slavens, 93; 9. Randy Schoener, 93; 10. Michael Schomas, 89.

Sportsman — 1. Tommy Duncan, 150; 2. Landen Miller, 135; 3. Tyler Roth, 125; 4. Steven Mattingly, 118; 5. Josh Hetherington, 114; 6. Makinzi Semmens, 102; 7. Aaron Reid, 93; 8. Wes Odell, 60; 9. Joel Funk, 54; 10. Doug Carls, 54.

Macon Speedway

In conjunction with its sister track (Lincoln Speedway), the second night of the Hornet Special will be the featured race. Action on the “World's Fastest” 1/5-mile dirt track will include pro late models, modified, pro mods, stock cars and micros. Stands open at 5 p.m., practice is at 6 and racing will start at 7.

Series Points Leaders

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series — 1. Ricky Thornton Jr., 3410; 2. Hudson O'Neal, 3245; 3. Brandon Overton, 3195; 4. Tim McCreadie, 3040; 5. Devin Moran, 2950; 6. Jonathan Davenport, 2885; 7. Daulton Wilson, 2825; 8. Max Blair, 2755; 9. Tyler Erb, 2730; 10. Spencer Hughes, 2685.

World of Outlaws Case Late Models — 1. Chris Madden, 2328; 2T. Kyle Bronson, 2288; 2T. Nick Hoffman, 2288; 2T. Bobby Pierce, 2288; 5. Brian Shirley, 2266; 6. Ryan Gustin, 2252; 7. Brandon Sheppard, 2242; 8. Tanner English, 2180; 9. Dennis Erb Jr., 2114; 10. Gordy Gundaker, 2108.

Sunday Racing

Bohmer's Rt. 66 Raceway

A full slate of kart racing action will be held on the 1/8-mile clay track. Located on Rt. 66 between Pontiac and Chenoa, gates will open at 10:30 a.m., practice is at noon and racing will follow.

This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: Speed Week: Summer Nationals revving up for 38th campaign