POPLAR BLUFF, MO – June 26, 2007 – The King of the UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals is back in the series spotlight.
Dirt Late Model legend Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., who has won the Summernationals title a record six times, won on the grueling tour for the first time in nearly three years, capturing Tuesday night’s 40-lap A-Main at Poplar Bluff Speedway.
Moyer, 49, started from the outside pole in his Banner Valley Hauling No. 21 and outgunned Rodney Melvin of Benton, Ill., for the lead. He was flawless for the entire distance, beating Melvin to the finish line by several car lengths.
It was Moyer’s record 61st career UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals triumph, but first since June 28, 2004, at Lawrenceburg (Ind.) Speedway. Moyer, who is entering selected Summernationals event this season, has not run the tour as a regular since winning his last points championship in 2003.
Melvin’s second-place finish matched his ’07 Summernationals best, achieved in the opener, on June 15 at Kankakee (Ill.) Motor Speedway.
Points leader Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., finished third, followed by Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., who made repeated attempts to overtake Marlar, and Jeep VanWormer of Pinconning, Mich., last year’s Summernationals points runner-up who enjoyed his best finish of the 2007 series.
Thirty-two dirt Late Models participated in the event.
Heat winners were VanWormer, Moyer, Melvin and Marlar, and the B-Mains were captured by Terry Phillips of Springfield, Ill., and Randy Korte of Highland, Ill.
UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals A-Main Finish (40 laps):
1. Billy Moyer 2. Rodney Melvin 3. Mike Marlar 4. Dennis Erb Jr -- Erb was all over Marlar trying to pass at several points. 5. Jeep VanWormer 6. Wes Steidinger 7. Randy Korte 8. Steve Rushin 9. Ed Kirchoff 10. Kevin Cole 11. Jeff Taylor 12. Don O’Neal 13. Todd Hall 14. Steve Sheppard Jr. 15. Terry Phillips 16. Billy Moyer Jr. 17 Billy James 18. Jack Sullivan 19. Rusty Griffaw 20. Jason Feger 21. Bryan Collins 22. Terry Casey
UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals Point Standings (unofficial – after 11 events):
1. Mike Marlar 800 2. Dennis Erb Jr. 770 3. Don O’Neal 756 4. Wes Steidinger 722 5. Rodney Melvin 708 6. Steve Sheppard Jr. 666 7. Jeep VanWormer 620 8. Terry Casey 618 9. Randy Korte 538 10. Kevin Weaver 525 11. Eddie Kirchoff 512 12. Jason Feger 474 13. Billy Moyer 360 14. A.J. Diemel 326 15. Rusty Schlenk 303 16. Jordan Bland 222 16. Greg Johnson 222 18. Ryan Dauber 214 19. Chad Zobrist 206 20. Matt Taylor 202
2007 UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals Schedule
6/15 – Fri. – Kankakee Motor Speedway/Kankakee, IL (Dennis Erb Jr.) 6/16 – Sat. – Kamp Motor Speedway/Boswell, IN (Dennis Erb Jr.) 6/17 – Sun. – Tri-State Speedway/Haubstadt, IN (Randy Korte) 6/18 – Mon. – Jefferson County Raceway/Mt. Vernon, IL (Randy Korte) 6/19 – Tues. – Lebanon I-44 Speedway/Lebanon, MO (Mike Marlar) 6/20 – Wed. – Highland Speedway/Highland, IL (Dennis Erb Jr.) 6/21 – Thurs. – Morgan County Speedway/Jacksonville, IL (Kevin Weaver) 6/22 – Fri. – Farmer City Raceway/Farmer City, IL (Rain – Rescheduled to July 13) 6/23 – Sat. – I-55 Raceway/Pevely, MO (Mike Marlar) 6/24 – Sun. – Lincoln Speedway/Lincoln, IL (Don O’Neal) 6/25 – Mon. – Peoria Speedway/Peoria, IL (Dennis Erb Jr.) 6/26 – Tues. – Poplar Bluff Speedway/Poplar Bluff, MO (Billy Moyer) 6/27 – Wed. – Lake Ozark Speedway/Eldon, MO 6/28 – Thurs. – Paducah International Raceway/Paducah, KY 6/29 – Fri. – Western Kentucky Speedway/Nebo, KY 6/30 – Sat. – Clarksville Speedway/Clarksville, TN 7/1 – Sun. – Vermilion County Speedway/Danville, IL 7/2 – Mon. – Midway Speedway/Crooksville, OH 7/3 – Tues. – Lawrenceburg Speedway/Lawrenceburg, IN 7/4 – Wed. – Day Off 7/5 – Thurs. – Macon Speedway/Macon, IL 7/6 – Fri. – Tri-City Speedway/Pontoon Beach , IL 7/7 – Sat. – Fairbury American Legion Speedway/Fairbury, IL 7/8 – Sun. – Quad City Speedway/East Moline , IL 7/9 – Mon. – C.J. Raceway/Columbus Junction, IA 7/10 – Tues. – Quincy Raceway/Quincy, IL 7/11 – Wed. – Spoon River Speedway/Canton, IL 7/12 – Thurs. – LaSalle Speedway/LaSalle, IL 7/13 – Fri. – Farmer City Raceway/Farmer City, IL 7/14 – Sat. – Oakshade Raceway/Wauseon, OH
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