Hoffman Scores $2,000 Summit Modified Nationals Victory

Results | Points | Story & Pictures by Rocky Ragusa

The Fairbury Speedway played host to the fifth stop on the DIRTcar Summer Nationals tour Saturday night. Oxford, Iowa’s Chris Simpson got his second win earning $10,000 in the featured race that was presented by Rhino Ag. Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., continued his domination by winning the Summit Modified Nationals race, and Pontiac’s Tanner Sullivan came out ahead in the Stock Car feature.

49 drivers made qualifying attempts that saw Commerce, Georgia’s Payton Freeman blistering the track with a lap at 12.702 seconds to take overall quick time honors. Brian Shirley, Tanner English, Frank Heckenast Jr., Preston Luckman, and Chris Simpson topped their respective qualifying groups. Six heat races had first-year Late Model driver, Nick Allen, Shirley, English, Max Blair, Mike Mataragas, and Simpson taking the wins. Trevor Gundaker and Shannon Babb were the two consolation race winners. They earned a spot in the Last Chance Showdown that was won by Jason Feger. Allen got the jump on Simpson at the start of the 50-lap race as Simpson, English, Blair, and Shirley trailed. Allen was able to hold a half straightaway lead over the competition as English took over second. Tour points leader Bobby Pierce, who started in the 22nd position, charged through the field and was in fifth as the field slowed on a lap 23 yellow flag. On the restart, Simpson and English went three-wide with Allen on the frontstretch. Simpson emerged as the race leader as English and Dennis Erb Jr. followed. Simpson led for three laps before Erb took over to lead laps 28 and 29. Simpson and Erb raced side-by-side for the lead, while Pierce and English went toe-to-toe for third. Simpson, Erb, Pierce, and English began to distance themselves from fifth running Shirley. English’s night came to an end on lap 41 as he made contact with the backstretch wall. The restart had Simpson leading Pierce, Erb, Ryan Unzicker, and Blair. Simpson held a five-car length lead over Pierce during the waning laps and took his second Summer Nationals win of the week. “I knew Pierce would charge to the front,” Simpson said. “They said at Davenport that I didn’t earn that win. Tonight, I earned this one.” Pierce had to settle for second with Erb in third and Unzicker following in fourth. The remainder of the top ten saw Blair, Shirley, 21st starter Ryan Gustin, McKay Wenger, Derek Chandler, and Kevin Weaver finish in that order.

Forrest driver Austin Friedman was the overall fastest qualifier for the 25-lap, $2,000 to win Summit Modified Nationals race with a time of 13.683 seconds. Kyle Steffens and Michael Long were quickest in their respective qualifying groups. The heat races saw Steffens, tour points leader Nick Hoffman, and Long taking the wins. Hoffman took the lead at the start as Long, Steffens, Michael Ledford, and Chad Bauer followed. Hoffman opened up a lead, but the caution flag would come out to erase his advantage. Following a lap 11 yellow, Long looked to the inside of Hoffman for the lead, but the defending Summit Modified Nationals champion closed the door and pulled away. Ethan Weber experienced mechanical problems in time trials and in his heat race that had him start last in the 22-car field. Weber had the fans cheering wildly, running the bottom of the track, and moved into the top five with ten laps to go. Hoffman went on to remain unbeaten on the tour to win the $2,000 prize. “The car was pretty good,” said Hoffman. “The track began to rubber up toward the end of the Late Model race. I started playing the lane where the rubber was at until it started to rinse off. Once it did, I was able to charge pretty hard.” Weber had a career-best finish in second. Steffens finished third with Ledford in fourth. Trevor Neville finished fifth. Friedman, Bauer, Bob Pohlman Jr., Alan Stipp, and Eric Vaughan completed the top ten.

The night ended with a 15-lap, $500 to win Stock Car feature. A time of 15.693 seconds gave Zane Reitz quick time honors. Reitz and Ian Keller won their respective heat races. Keller put his car in the lead for the first four laps before Tanner Sullivan took over and began to distance himself from the field. Sullivan went on to snap a long drought and take the win. “I have been struggling lately,” said Sullivan. “I like it when the track has a nice cushion and dry slick.” Reitz held off Braiden Keller for second. Ian Keller was fourth, with Devin Hoskins, Don Hilleary, Brice Slavens, Brandon Tracy, Eric Legner, and Jeff Czemske completing the top ten.

Results | Story & Pictures by Rocky Ragusa

Race fans were treated to a diverse group of race cars Saturday night at the Fairbury Speedway. Making their lone appearance of the season, the 410 Winged Sprint Car feature went to Millersville, Missouri driver Joe B. Miller. Taking the checkers in the Late Model race was World of Outlaws Series Rookie of the Year contender Tanner English of Benton, Kentucky. Making his first victory lane appearance of the season in the Modified division was defending track champion, Plainfield’s Mike McKinney.

The Interstate Racing Association teamed up with the Midwest Open Wheel Association in presenting the 10th Annual Bill Waite Jr. Memorial race. A field of 36 racers were on hand for their 30-lap, $6,000 to win race. A time of 11.586 seconds gave Anthony D’Alessio of Apollo Beach, Fla., fast time honors. Oswego’s Blake Nimee, Kevin Thomas Jr. of Cullman, Ala., Scotty Thiel of Sheboygan, Wis., and Morton’s Ryan Bunton took the four heat race wins. Joe B. Miller was the winner of the B-main. Hanna City’s Jake Blackhurst and Thomas Jr. claimed the Dash wins. Starting in the 21st position, Miller found something running the Fairbury cushion. Miller was able to wrestle the lead away from Bunton with five laps remaining and pulled away to earn his first-ever IRA feature race win in the caution-plagued event. “The cautions fell our way,” commented Miller. “Those guys were committed to running the bottom. I thought it was slowing down. I started ripping it around the fence, and it got pretty good up there.” Thiel finished in second, followed by Zane Devault, Jake Neuman, and Bunton. The remainder of the top ten had Russel Borland, Scott Neitzel, D’Alessio, Jordan Goldesberry, and Dave Uttech finish in that order.