Pierce Claims Third DIRTcar Summer Nationals “Hell Tour” Victory at Kankakee County Speedway
Pierce Claims Third DIRTcar Summer Nationals “Hell Tour” Victory at Kankakee County Speedway
KANKAKEE, Ill. — July 12, 2013 — Bobby Pierce, much like his previous two wins, kept his car glued to the bottom of the track all night as he stormed from his row six starting position to claim his third win of the 2013 DIRTcar Summer Nationals “Hell Tour” on Friday night at Kankakee County Speedway.
Pierce, of Oakwood, Ill., started 11th, five rows behind the pole-sitter Matt Miller, of Whitehouse, Ohio. Miller, who has not won a “Hell Tour” event since 2008, was clearly in charge the first half of the feature. Pierce, locked to the bottom, needed 24 laps to reel in Miller before passing him for the lead with a little over half of the race to go. Pierce went on to lead the rest of the way and capture the $10,000 checkered flag in the 20th race of the 2013 “Hell Tour” schedule at Kankakee County Speedway.
“I didn’t think I was gonna be able to do it from 11th,” said Pierce, a 16-year-old who continues his strong points year as he currently sits fourth in the standings with a week to go. “But I was watching the track and seen that the bottom was really coming in a lot. I knew that I was good down here last year when I got second so I just had to keep doing the same thing over and over again and hitting my marks.”
(Click here for news and information on the DIRTcar Summer Nationals.)
Brian Shirley, Ryan Unzicker and Brandon Sheppard rounded out the top five. Shannon Babb, who entered the night as the hottest driver on the tour with five victories and closing the gap to points leader Sheppard for the championship, was running second early on but a mechanical issue with his car forced him out of the race after 13 laps.
Heat race winners included Shannon Babb, Matt Miller and Torin Mettille.
The DIRTcar Summer Nationals Hell Tour continues on Saturday night at 34 Raceway in Burlington, Iowa.
DIRTcar Summer Nationals Statistical Report; Kankakee (Ill.) County Speedway; July 12, 2013
A-Main (50-laps): 1. Bobby Pierce ($10,000), 2. Matt Miller, 3. Brian Shirley, 4. Ryan Unzicker, 5. Brandon Sheppard, 6. Torin Mettille, 7. Frank Heckenast Jr, 8. Mike Spatola, 9. Dustin Griffin, 10. Allen Murray, 11. Tim Lance, 12. Jay Morris, 13. Jason McBride, 14. Todd Frank, 15. Steve Thorsten, 16. Glen Thompson, 17. Kevin Weaver, 18. Aaron Ricketts, 19. Shannon Babb, 20. Herb Reich, 21. Tanner English, 22. Steve Kester, 23. Steve Dimmick, 24. Kent Robinson.
