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Surviving DIRTcar Summer Nationals Tour is Reward for Brandon
Thirlby
PEORIA, IL (July 13, 2010) - The DIRTcar Summer Nationals Hell Tour isn't
for the faint of heart. Starting June 16, the Dirt Late Model tour has wound
its way through the Midwest, not even stopping to catch a breath for 19
consecutive race days.
Very few have what it takes to survive the grueling schedule, much less
compete against some of the best racers in the country day after day. Nearly
300 drivers have tried, but only 10 have taken to the track each of the 24
nights heading into the stretch run that begins tonight at Peoria (IL)
Speedway.
Defending DIRTcar Late Model champion Jason Feger has a slim lead over
four-time defending Hell Tour champion Dennis Erb Jr. Chasing those two for
the overall Hell Tour crown to be decided on Saturday at Oakshade Speedway
in Wauseon, Ohio, are two-time Summer Nationals champion Shannon Babb, plus
15-time Summer Nationals race winner Jeep Van Wormer.
Hoping to be at that level soon is Brandon Thirlby, a native of Traverse
City, Mich. Right now, Thirlby might be better known for racing hydroplane
boats than racing DIRTcar Late Models, but he's looking to change that. He's
an eight-time national champion on water, and now with a week left in the
2010 edition of the Hell Tour, Thirlby has not missed a race on dirt since
June 16. He's battled, made bold moves and learned from some of the best in
the business.
He's 16th in points and knows he has a lot to learn, but there's no quit in
him or his crew, which consists of his brothers. Still, making the
adjustments to be successful is a challenge.
"There's more stuff different than there is the same between racing boats
and racing cars," said Thirlby, who turned 23 a couple of weeks before the
Hell Tour started. "I guess go fast and turn left is the only thing that's
same between the two of them. There are so many different changes you can
make on these race cars."
His passion for DIRTcar racing is evident. He's working on his car, learning
how to tweak the setup each night with the help of his brothers. He's more
than just a driver, which makes his effort on his inaugural Summer Nationals
run even more impressive, even if he has yet to pull off a Top 10 finish.
"There's so much you can learn from the people around you at these events,"
Thirlby said. "There are 20 of the best guys you're racing against every
night, and I'd say 75 percent of them are willing to give you help every
night."
As much as the battle on the track can be intense, the mental aspect of
surviving the grueling Summer Nationals schedule against fierce competitors
can also be taxing.
"The big question from everybody is am I getting disappointed," Thirlby
said. "I came into the Summer Nationals knowing where we were as far as Erb
and Feger and Babb. You just can't put yourself with those guys yet, you
have to learn from them."
Every night is obviously a lesson, but he is clearly determined to succeed.
After taking two days off next week Thirlby will be back on the water for
another two-week run of boat racing. But Thirlby believes this DIRTcar
Summer Nationals tour has been the start of something bigger.
"This has been the start of my full-time car racing career," he said. "From
here on out you'll see me around the United States a lot more."
No doubt with a positive approach and the confidence knowing he survived one
of the toughest tours in auto racing.
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