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Dennis Erb Jr. pulled off a dramatic last-lap pass of Randy Korte to capture Sunday night’s 40-lap UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals A-Main at Tri-State Speedway.
Erb, 36, of Carpentersville , Ill. , earned $6,000 for his first victory of the 2008 Summer Nationals. He’s the defending champion of the grueling, month-long tour for Super Late Models.
Highland , Ill. ’s Korte, who returned to the cockpit one week ago after being sidelined since suffering a back injury in a February accident during Florida Speedweeks, nearly emerged triumphant in Tri-State’s Summer Nationals show for the second consecutive season. He started second and led all but three laps of the feature.
After losing the top spot to the ninth-starting Erb for laps 33-34, Korte regained command and appeared primed for a return to Victory Lane . But he lost momentum while lapping Patrick Sheltra of Indiantown , Fla. , in turn two on the final lap, allowing Erb to sneak underneath and assume command in his Rayburn No. 28e.
Korte had to settle for second place in his familiar No. 00. Brian Shirley of Chatham , Ill. , advanced from the 13th starting spot to place third in Ed Petroff’s No. 3s, with six-time Summer Nationals champ Billy Moyer of Batesville , Ark. , taking fourth after starting from the pole position and 2004 Summer Nationals titlist Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., placing fifth.
Erb’s victory was the eighth of his career in Summer Nationals action. It also moved him into the tour’s points lead after three events.
The event was slowed by only a single caution flag.
Thirty-nine cars were signed in for the night’s competition.
Jeep VanWormer of Pinconning , Mich. , was the fastest overall qualifier in the group time-trial session, recording a lap of 12.842 seconds.
Heat winners were Moyer, Korte, O’Neal and Michael Kloos of Trenton , Ill. Will Vaught of Crane, Mo. , captured the C-Main and Shirley topped the B-Main.
Following a scheduled off-night on Monday (June 16), the Summer Nationals returns to action on Tuesday night (June 17) at Highland ( Ill. ) Speedway .
For more information on UMP DIRTcar Racing, visit www.dirtcar.com.
UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals A-Main Finish (40 laps):
1. Dennis Erb Jr.
2. Randy Korte
3. Brian Shirley
4. Billy Moyer
5. Don O’Neal
6. Jeep VanWormer
7. Wes Steidinger
8. Kevin Claycomb
9. Rodney Melvin
10. Michael Kloos
11. Will Vaught
12. Jason Feger
13. Kevin Weaver
14. Patrick Sheltra
15. Derek Fisher
16. Dewayne Keifer
17. Jordan Bland
18. Billy Faust
19. Chad Zobrist
20. Kevin Cole
21. Steve Sheppard Jr.
B-Main Finish: Brian Shirley, Jason Feger, Derek Fisher, Rodney Melvin, Wes Steidinger, Will Vaught, Dan Jacober, Chad Zobrist, Ryan Unzicker, Terry English, Brandon Sheppard, Kerry Mathew, Tim Lance, Steve Karnes, Brant Fehrer, B.J. McCammon
C-Main Finish: Will Vaught, Terry English, B.J. McCammon, Tim Lance, Jarryd Holshouser, Kevin Cole, Jason McBride, Steve n Ashby, Jim Moon, Mike Hammerle, Rocky Hodges. Scratched: Matt Weidner, Brian Dively, Caleb Ashby, Kevin Weaver
Unofficial UMP DIRT Summer Nationals Points Standings (after 3 events):
1. Dennis Erb Jr. 240
2. (tie) Billy Moyer 235
2. (tie) Brian Shirley 235
4. Wes Steidinger 208
5. Jeep VanWormer 199
6. Will Vaught 197
7. Kevin Claycomb 177
8. Dewayne Keifer 172
9. Jason Feger 172
10. Kevin Weaver 165
11. Steve Sheppard Jr. 148
12. Don O’Neal 130
13. Jordan Bland 125
14. Kevin Cole 116
15. Darren Miller 110 |
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