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Kevin Kovac
LAWRENCEBURG, Ind. (June 27) - Dennis Erb Jr. is back on top and eyeing a second straight UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals title.
The tour's defending champion was flawless on Friday night at the redesigned Lawrenceburg Speedway, leading from flag-to-flag to capture the 40-lap A-Main.
Erb, 36, of Carpentersville, Ill., pocketed $10,000 for his second Summer Nationals victory of 2008 and the ninth of his career. He joined Darren Miller of Milledgeville, Ill., as the only repeat winners through 12 events on the highly competitive tour.
The triumph propelled Erb into the Summer Nationals points lead over Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., who fell from the catbird's seat after experiencing a tough night. Shirley blew a right-rear tire in his heat race and used a provisional to start the A-Main, which he finished in the seventh spot after surviving a lap-21 restart tangle.
Erb, who started second in his Rayburn No. 28, captured the first Super Late Model event held on the reconfigured Lawrenceburg track. Formerly a quarter-mile oval, the showplace facility was rebuilt during the off-season to a high-banked, three-eighths-mile layout complete with a concrete outside wall.
Erb wasn't seriously challenged after the departure of Darren Miller, who made several bids for the lead before retiring on lap 21. The driver known as the 'One Man Band' crossed the finish line several car lengths ahead of Highland, Ill.'s Randy Korte, who reached second place from the eighth starting spot on lap 30 and finished in the runner-up slot.
Steve Sheppard Jr. of New Berlin, Ill., finished third, followed by Wayne Chinn of Bradford, Ohio, and Steve Casebolt of Richmond, Ind.
Miller was the fastest qualifier among 36 entrants in the group time-trial session, turning a lap of 13.65 seconds.
Heat winners were Wes Steidinger of Fairbury, Ill., Erb, Sheppard and Miller. The C-Main was captured by Shawn Negangard of Osgood, Ind., and the B-Main was claimed by Josh Williams of Cleves, Ohio.
The tour is scheduled to continue on Saturday night (June 28) at StormPay.com Speedway in Clarksville, Tenn., but UMP DIRTcar director Sam Driggers said the potential for storms will lead series and track officials to evaluate the weather situation on Saturday morning.
For more information on the UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals, visit www.dirtcar.com.
UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals Feature Finish (40 laps):
1. Dennis Erb Jr.
2. Randy Korte
3. Steve Sheppard Jr.
4. Wayne Chinn
5. Steve Casebolt
6. Jeep Van Wormer
7. Brian Shirley
8. Scott James
9. Brad Neat
10. Wes Steidinger
11. Ryan Dauber
12. Will Vaught
13. Jordan Bland
14. Jesse Lay
15. Jason McBride
16. Tim Lance
17. Darren Miller
18. Matt Miller
19. Josh Williams
20. Justin Rattliff
21. Duke Whiseant
C-Main Finish: Shawn Negangard, Rick Corbin, David Spille, Derek Fisher, Ryan Unzicker, Jeff Alsip (DNS) Brian Shirley, Troy Cruse, Bob Lanter, Brian Gray, Jerry Rice, Sean Thomas
B-Main Finish: Josh Williams, Scott James, Tim Lance, Matt Miller, Ryan Dauber, Justin Rattliff, Jordan Bland, Jesse Lay, Robby Hensley, Shawn Negangard, Don O'Neal, Greg Johnson, David Spille, Derek Fisher, Rick Corbin, Bill Sheets
2008 UMP DIRTcar Racing Summer Nationals Schedule (Date/Day/Track/Location/To Win/Winner - Car Count):
June 12 - Thurs. - Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway/Calvert City, KY - $7,500 (Brad Neat - 40)
June 13 - Fri. - Brownstown (IN) Speedway - $10,000 (Rain - postponed to July 11)
June 14 - Sat. - Kamp Motor Speedway/Boswell, IN - $10,000 (Wes Steidinger - 36)
June 15 - Sun. - Tri-State Speedway/Haubstadt, IN - $6,000 (Dennis Erb Jr. - 39)
June 16 - Mon - OFF
June 17 - Tues. - Highland Speedway/Highland, IL - $6,000 (Terry English - 47)
June 18 - Wed. - Belle Clair Speedway/Belleville, IL - $6,000 (Will Vaught - 41)
June 19 - Thurs. - I-57/I-64 Raceway/Mt. Vernon, IL - $6,000 (Darren Miller - 37)
June 20 - Fri. - Farmer City Raceway/Farmer City, IL - $10,000 (Darren Miller - 50)
June 21 - Sat. - I-55 Raceway/Pevely, MO - $10,000 (CANCELED - flooding)
June 22 - Sun. - Vermilion Co. Speedway/Danville, IL - $6,000 (Jeep VanWormer - 43)
June 23 - Mon. - OFF
June 24 - Tue. - Sedalia State Fair Speedway/Sedalia, MO - $6,000 (Brian Shirley - 27)
June 25 - Wed. - Lake Ozark Speedway/Eldon, MO - $6,000 (Billy Moyer - 31)
June 26 - Thurs. - Paducah Int'l Raceway/Paducah, KY - $6,000 (Kevin Claycomb - 35)
June 27 - Fri. - Lawrenceburg Speedway/Lawrenceburg, IN - $10,000 (Dennis Erb Jr. - 36)
June 28 - Sat. - Clarksville Speedway/Clarksville, TN - $10,000
June 29 - Sun. - Lincoln Speedway/Lincoln, IL - $6,000
June 30 - Mon. - OFF
July 1 - Tue. - Peoria Speedway/Peoria, IL - $6,000
July 2 - Wed. - Morgan Co. Speedway/Jacksonville, IL - $6,000
July 3 - Thurs. - Macon Speedway/Macon, IL - $6,000
July 4 - Fri. - Tri-City Speedway/Pontoon Beach, IL - $10,000
July 5 - Sat. - Fairbury American Legion Speedway/Fairbury, IL -$10,000
July 6 - Sun. - Quad City Raceway/East Moline, IL - $6,000
July 7 - Mon. - OFF
July 8 - Tue. - Quincy (IL) Speedway - $6,000
July 9 - Wed. - Spoon River Speedway/Canton, IL - $6,000
July 10 - Thurs. - La Salle Speedway/La Salle, IL - $6,000
July 11 - Fri. - Brownstown (IN) Speedway - $10,000 (Rescheduled date)
July 12 - Sat. - Oakshade Raceway/Wauseon, OH - $10,000
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