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Kellen Burns
PEORIA, Ill. (June 30) - Everyone in the packed grandstands at Peoria (Ill.), Speedway knew where Jason Feger was headed when the green flag flew Tuesday Night for the 40-lap "Hell Tour" main event.
That didn't stop the 31-year-old Bloomington, Ill., driver from executing his game plan precisely as he drove around the extreme outside of the banked quarter-mile oval to his second UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals Victory.
"I'm actually more comfortable up there," said Feger of the line he ran. "I get nervous when I have to slow down and run the bottom around the tires."
Feger, the owner of multiple wins in the UMP Sportsman division at Peoria, captured his first ever Late Model victory at the track, which is a mere 35 miles from his hometown.
"It feels really good to win here," he said. "We have a big fan base here and it's always been a great track that packs the stands."
2008 Peoria Speedway Summer Nationals winner Jeep Van Wormer settled for a runner-up finish.
"I wanted to run the middle initially," remarked Van Wormer. "That's where I won it last year, but there was just too much dust."
Van Wormer of Pinconning, Mich., searched high and low to find a way around Feger late but a bobble on the cushion in the waning laps sealed his fate.
"Jason had a great car," conceded Van Wormer. "I can't say enough about those guys, they're a great group of guys."
Early leader Kevin Weaver of Gibson City, Ill., came to the checkered flag third after battling with Feger for the lead for the first half of the 40-lap main event.
"Peoria is usually known to run the bottom but it was a little bit different this year," said Weaver of the line he held throughout the event. "We made a little mistake on an adjustment so we'll just try and not forget that next time."
Orland Park, Ill., driver Frank Heckenast and current UMP DIRTcar Summer National point leader Randy Korte of Highland, Ill., rounded out the top five.
A-Main Finish - 40 Laps
25-Jason Feger
55-Jeep Van Wormer
B12-Kevin Weaver
99jr-Frank Heckenast Jr.
00-Randy Korte
27-Rodney Melvin
28-Dennis Erb Jr.
24-Ryan Unzicker
T2-Todd Bennett
1w-Donny Walden
1c-Duane Chamberlain
B5-Brandon Sheppard
48-Tim Lance
40-Charlie Hess
89-Daren Friedman
42-Terry Casey
5s-Steve Sheppard Jr.
91-Rusty Schlenk
18-Shannon Babb
J1-Wes Steidinger
75-Brian Harris
HELL TOUR NOTES
Shannon Babb blasted around the new Peoria surface setting a new track record among 39 other UMP DIRTcar Late Model competitors at Peoria (Ill.) Speedway. Babb's lap was 12.119 seconds beat the previous record by .29 seconds. Other quick time honors went to Wes Steidinger, Terry Cassey, and Jeep Van Wormer.
Heat race action saw Rodney Melvin from Logan, (Ill.) hound Babb early on eventually sliding in front of the newly crowned track record holder out of turn four to take a heat race one victory. Kevin Weaver led every lap in route to a heat two win and subsequently drew the pole for the 40-lap main event.
Eventual winner Feger showed signs of what was to come in heat race three as he used the top-side of the banked oval to motor around Terry Casey and Randy Korte to claim heat race three while Jeep Van Wormer got a great jump in heat race four and never looked back in route to the win.
The night's C-Main saw Kyle Logue, a heat race winner the night prior, take the win while Ryan Unzicker won the night's B-Main with Brandon Sheppard finishing in the final transfer spot, a close second. Provisionals were used by Duane Chamberlain, Rusty Schlenk, and local Charlie Hess.
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 (Jeep Van Wormer - 43)
06/23/09 Charleston Speedway - Charleston, IL $6,000 (Rodney Melvin - 26)
06/24/09 Tri-City Speedway - Pontoon Beach, IL $6,000 (Jason Feger - 34)
06/25/09 Clay Hill Motorsports Park - Atwood, TN - $6,000 (Billy Moyer - 38)
06/26/09 Paducah International Raceway - Paducah, KY - $10,000 (Billy Moyer - 41)
06/27/09 Fairbury Speedway - Fairbury, IL - $10,000 (Billy Moyer - 34)
06/28/09 Lincoln Speedway - Lincoln, IL - $6,000 (Randy Korte - 35)
06/29/09 Farmer City Raceway - Farmer City, IL $6,000 (Dennis Erb - 34)
06/30/09 Peoria Speedway - Peoria, IL - $6,000 (Jason Feger - 39)
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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