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Kellen Burns
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (June 20) - Billy Moyer can certainly be called the class of any dirt late model field that he chooses to compete against. Saturday night at Clarksville Speedway, Moyer was just that.
"The car was excellent," remarked Moyer. "It's a newer car that we don't have a lot of nights on but, it's really coming around now that I'm getting familiar with it."
Blistering a lap that was two-tenth's quicker than his closest competitor in qualifying, Moyer went on to win his heat race and then dominate the 40-lap $10,000-to-win main event at the high banked oval.
"I was just watching the track in some of the other classes," said Moyer of developing his strategy. "The bottom had a lot more grip and we were kind of married to it in the heat."
The Batesville, (Ark.) dirt late model hall of fame driver started the main event third but made quick work of Derek Chandler on his way to making a lap three pass of then leader Kevin Weaver.
"I wasn't really set up to run the bottom like I did in the heat," said Moyer."I just felt like once we got a little momentum going the middle was better for me."
Moyer claimed the checkers nearly a half of a straightaway ahead of second place Randy Korte of Highland, (Ill.), but Korte was definitely no slouch as he climbed from a seventh place starting spot to claim the second spot. "I was hoping for a caution but it probably wouldn't have mattered because our right rear was shot," reasoned a please Korte.
"I was running the bottom and I wasn't any good because guys were driving right by me," Korte said of his progress.
"At some point you have to get up there (around the top) and see," Korte said. "I just went up there and tried it and it worked."
Not to be outdone, last year's Summer Nationals runner-up Brian Shirley mounted what would be the most impressive charge of the night as Shirley rallied his Petroff Towing #3s from his 17th starting spot to finish third after transferring from the B-Main.
"The car was working really good," analyzed Shirley. "Our cars have been good we just haven't had any breaks go our way but you'll see us back up front again."
"Tonight the track was great for racing," said Shirley. "Hats off to William Scoggin for putting on a good race."
The 22nd edition of the UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals saw another great car count at Clarksville Speedway as 44 UMP DIRTcar Late Models rolled through the pit gates at the banked quarter-mile track. The strong field was divided into 5 groups for qualifying time trials and heat race action.
Wisconsin driver Terry Casey timed in fast for group one with Derek Chandler tops in group two. Billy Moyer was one of two cars entering the 12 second bracket as he set overall fast time in group three with a blistering lap of 12.743. Group four saw local standout Brandon Chappell set fast time with Kevin Weaver rounding out qualifying with quick time honors in group five.
Heat race action at Clarksville Speedway saw all but one quick timer capture heat race victories as Casey, Chandler, Moyer, and Weaver all got wins. The lone heat race winner not time trialing fastest in his group was Brent Kreke of Lebanon, (Ill.) who stole heat race four away from Tony Albright in the closing laps.
UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals defending champion and current point leader Dennis Erb used a B-Main win to secure a spot in the 40-lap main event. Brian Shirley and Terry English also transferred from the B-Main. Provisional starters on the night were Ryan Unzicker, who was involved in a scary accident in heat 5 that landed Chuck Proctor on top of the El Paso, (Ill.) driver, Charles Zimmerman, and Jason Feger.
A-Main Finish - 40 Laps
21 - Billy Moyer
00 - Randy Korte
3s - Brian Shirley
B12 - Kevin Weaver
42 - Terry Casey
28 - Dennis Erb Jr.
21JR - Billy Moyer Jr.
35 - Derek Chandler
83 - Scott James
33 - Billy James
13 - Brent Kreke
24 - Ryan Unzicker
5s - Steve Sheppard Jr.
81 - Jason Riggs
25 - Jason Feger
1a - Tony Albright
33 - Terry English
22 - Brandon Chappell
93 - Charles Zimmerman
27 - Rodney Melvin
18 - Shannon Babb
2009 UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals Schedule
Date/Track/Location/Purse/Winner/Cars
06/11/09 Brownstown Speedway - Brownstown, IN - $6,000 (Jeep VanWormer - 43)
06/12/09 Kankakee Motor Speedway - Kankakee,IL - $10,000 (Billy Moyer - 51)
06/13/09 Kamp Motor Speedway - Boswell, IN - $10,000 (Eric Smith - 44)
06/14/09 Quad City Raceway - East Moline, IL - $6,000 (Dennis Erb - 31)
06/16/09 Highland Speedway - Highland, IL - $6,000 (RAIN)
06/17/09 Belle-Clair Speedway - Belleville, IL - $6,000 (Dennis Erb - 47)
06/18/09 Charleston Speedway - Charleston, IL - $6,000 (RAIN)
06/19/09 Farmer City Raceway - Farmer City, IL - $10,000 (RAIN)
06/20/09 Clarksville Speedway - Clarksville, TN - $10,000 - (Billy Moyer - 44)
06/21/09 Tri-State Speedway - Haubstadt, IN - $6,000
06/23/09 I-57/I-64 Speedway - Mt. Vernon, IL $6,000
06/24/09 Tri-City Speedway - Pontoon Beach, IL $6,000
06/25/09 Clay Hill Motorsports Park - Atwood, TN - $6,000
06/26/09 Paducah International Raceway - Paducah, KY - $10,000
06/27/09 Fairbury Speedway - Fairbury, IL - $10,000
06/28/09 Lincoln Speedway - Lincoln, IL - $6,000
06/30/09 Peoria Speedway - Peoria, IL - $6,000
07/01/09 Highland Speedway - Highland, IL - $6,000
07/02/09 Macon Speedway - Macon, IL - $6,000
07/03/09 Quincy Raceway - Quincy, IL - $10,000
07/04/09 I-55 Raceway - Pevely, MO - $10,000
07/05/09 Vermillion County Speedway - Danville, IL - $6,000
07/07/09 Shepp Speedway - Alexandria, IL - $6,000
07/08/09 Spoon River Speedway - Canton,IL $6,000
07/09/09 LaSalle Speedway - LaSalle, IL - $6,000
07/10/09 Waynesfield Motorsports Park - Waynesfield, OH - $10,000
07/11/09 Oakshade Raceway - Wauseon, OH - 10,000
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