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Kellen Burns
BROWNSTOWN, Ind. (June 11) - To say Jeep VanWormer was happy with his win during the opening night of the 22nd UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals on Thursday night is an understatement.
The popular Michigan native kicked off The Hell Tour at quarter-mile Brownstown Speedway by holding off several of Dirt Late Model racing's toughest racers to pick up the checkered flag.
"It just feels good to go out there and get a win back under our belt after starting out really well at the beginning of the year," said Van Wormer, who topped a 44-car field. "I can't say enough about my crew chief, Joe, and how the crew did tonight. We're just totally pumped."
Van Wormer withstood spirited charges from a stout field of UMP DIRTcar Late Model competitors throughout the 40-lap contest. However, runner-up Brian Birkhofer, who has been strong all season, was light at the scales in the post-race inspection, dropping him off the podium. That moved defending Hell Tour champion Dennis Erb Jr. to second with 2008 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Champion Darrell Lanigan rounding out the Top 3.
"Birkhofer has been untouchable lately, so to go and beat him really jumpstarts our confidence," an enthusiastic Van Wormer said before Birkhofer was disqualified. "It feels pretty good."
A familiar face to UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals competition positioned himself well for a title defense. Two-time and defending Summer Nationals champion Erb climbed from a ninth-place starting spot to third within the first four laps of competition, eventually being credited with the runner-up position.
"If there would have been a little more traction down there -- on the low side of the track -- I think we would have been good but, a lot of people were running the bottom and burned it up," Erb said.
Erb knows as well that UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals championships are not earned in one night. "We're pretty prepared," Erb said. "We've been trying things out earlier in the year so hopefully things will go smooth for us and we'll be there at the end."
Forty-four UMP DIRTcar Late Models invaded the Jackson County Fair Grounds to kick off the 22nd UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals Tour.
Group qualifying saw home state driver Chad Stapleton, former UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals Champion Kevin Weaver, Muscatine, Iowa, driver Brian Birkhofer, and Illinois standout Rodney Melvin earn quick time honors for their respective groups.
Heat Races were captured by Billy Moyer, eventual winner Jeep VanWormer, Brian Birkhofer and Rodney Melvin.
A-Main Finish - (40 Laps)
Position/Number/Name
1. 55-Jeep Van Wormer - $6,000
2. 28e-Dennis Erb Jr.
3. 29-Darrell Lanigan
4. B12-Kevin Weaver
5. 00-Randy Korte
6. 21-Billy Moyer
7. 18-Shannon Babb
8. 27-Rodney Melvin
9. 16c-Justin Ratliff
10. 89-Steve Barnett
11. 25-Jason Feger
12. 73-Greg Johnson
13. 3s-Brian Shirley
14. 1w-Donnie Walden
15. 5s-Steve Sheppard Jr.
16. 1c-Duane Chamberlain
17. 81c-Kevin Cold
18. 83-Scott James
19. 42-Terry Casey
20. 74-Russ Adams
15B-Brian Birkhofer -- DQ'd/light
2009 UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals Schedule
Date / Track/ Winner
Brownstown Speedway (Jeep VanWormer)
06/12/09 Kankakee Motor Speedway
06/13/09 Kamp Motor Speedway
06/14/09 Quad City Raceway
06/16/09 Highland Speedway
06/17/09 Belle-Clair Speedway
06/18/09 Charleston Speedway
06/19/09 Farmer City Raceway
06/20/09 Clarksville Speedway
06/21/09 Tri-State Speedway
06/23/09 I-57/I-64 Speedway
06/23/09 Mt. Vernon Raceway
06/24/09 Tri-City Speedway
06/25/09 Clay Hill Motorsports Park
06/26/09 Paducah International Raceway
06/27/09 Fairbury Speedway
06/28/09 Lincoln Speedway
06/30/09 Peoria Speedway
07/01/09 Morgan County Speedway
07/02/09 Macon Speedway
07/03/09 Quincy Raceway
07/04/09 I-55 Raceway
07/05/09 Vermillion County Speedway
07/07/09 Shepp Speedway
07/08/09 Spoon River Speedway
07/09/09 LaSalle Speedway
07/10/09 Waynesfield Motorsports Park
07/11/09 Oakshade Raceway
For more information on the UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals Tour fans can visit www.thehelltour.com
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