Paducah International Raceway
Faltering Korte, Feger, open PIR door for Shirley
From track reports
Shirley (3s) moves past Bill Frye (66). (kohlsracingphotos.com)
PADUCAH, Ky. (Aug. 22) — Taking the point after two leaders faltered, Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., led the final stages of the World 50 at Paducah International Raceway for an O'Reilly MARS DIRTcar Series victory worth $5,000. Front-row starters Randy Korte (engine) and Jason Feger (flat tire) both fell from contention while Shirley duplicated his 2006 victory in Paducah's most prestigious event. | Slideshow
Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., was second followed by former MARS champions Terry Phillips of Springfield, Mo., and Bill Frye of Greenbrier, Ark. Kevin Claycomb of Vincennes, Ind., a $6,000 winner at Paducah in June's UMP DIRTcar Summernationals action, rounded out the top five after starting 13th. Feger rallied in the final laps to finish sixth.
Feger got the jump on the polesitting Korte at the outset with Korte falling to third behind Jeff Walston after an early restart. Feger built a comfortable lead over Korte while Shirley, who started seventh, worked his way into the top five. Korte began tracking down Feger as the race heading for the midpoint, and Korte took command on lap 25 as Feger made contact with the slower car of Kyle Beard.
Feger stayed right in Korte's tire tracks until smoke began appearing behind Korte's car on lap 35. Four laps later, Korte was out of the race and Feger was back in command as Shirley swept into second on the restart. Feger didn't last long up front, though, as a flat tire forced him pitside and handed the lead to Shirley, who went on to capture his fourth career MARS victory.
Notes: Former track champion Terry English of Benton, Ky., started fourth and ran up front early before mechanical problems forced him pitside. ... John Tindal and Lee Thomason tangled to draw an early caution. ... An early flat tire hampered Rodney Melvin, whose brother Bobby made a rare return to the track to finish 11th. ... The Aug. 21 tuneup event, when NASCAR standout Tony Stewart was scheduled to compete, was rained out. ... MARS competitors head to I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo., for a $5,000-to-win event on Saturday night, Aug. 23.
O'Reilly MARS @ Paducah: (1) Brian Shirley, (2) Dennis Erb Jr., (3) Terry Phillips, (4) Bill Frye, (5) Kevin Claycomb, (6) Jason Feger, (7) Jeremy Payne, (8) Jeff Walston, (9) Tim Brown, (10) Randy Sellars, (11) Bobby Melvin, (12) Brandon McCormick, (13) Chris Shelton, (14) Lee Thomason, (15) John Tindal, (16) Dylan Thompson, (17) Randy Korte, (18) Kevin Cole, (19) Kyle Beard, (20) Billy Moyer, (21) Chris Jones, (22) Rodney Melvin, (23) Terry English, (24) Steve Rushin. Heat race winners (among 35 cars): Korte, Cole, Feger, Shirley. Consolation winners: Moyer, Thompson.
