Lincoln Speedway
Shirley holds off Feger to win tripleheader finale
Brian Shirley's team enjoys victory lane in Lincoln, Ill. (Rocky Ragusa)
LINCOLN, Ill. (Aug. 12) — Outside front-row starter Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., held off a charge by ninth-starting Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., on Sunday for his third career victory on the Sunoco American Late Model Series.
Shirley earned $2,000 for the victory over Feger, who was followed to the checkers by fast qualifier and fellow Bloomington driver Billy Drake. Tim Lance of Brimfield,Ill., came from his 17th starting spot to finish fourth and pole-starting Kevin Weaver of Gibson City, Ill., faded to fifth. | Slideshow
ALMS points leader Brian Ruhlman of Clarklake, Mich., took a provisional starting spot and rallied to finish sixth as the tour wrapped up a tripleheader weekend in Illinois. Rusty Schlenk of Weston, Ohio, won Friday at Kankakee County (Ill.) Speedway and Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., won Saturday at La Salle (Ill.) Speedway.
Notes: Shirley’s Pierce Race Car has a a Pro Power Engine and is sponsored by Jayco Construction, Skateland South, Allstar Performance, Kim’s Auto Body, and JFR Graphics. ... Shirley, the UMP DIRTcar Summernationals champion, has nine victories overall in 2012. ... Ryan Unzicker was an early retiree with apparent battery problems. ... Brian Ruhlman holds a 84-point lead over fellow Michigan driver Ryan VanderVeen in ALMS points. Phil Ausra is another 26 points behind VanderVeen. ... Next up for ALMS competitors is Labor Day weekend events in Ohio at Oakshade Raceway in Wauseon (Sept. 1) and Eldora Speedway in Rossburg (Sept. 2).
Sunoco ALMS @ Lincoln: (1) Brian Shirley, (2) Jason Feger, (3) Billy Drake, (4) Tim Lance, (5) Kevin Weaver, (6) Brian Ruhlman, (7) Bobby Pierce, (8) Scott Schmitt, (9) Ryan VanderVeen, (10) Ryan Little, (11) Matt Taylor, (12) Phil Ausra, (13) Shane Cottle, (14) Jeremy Conaway, (15) Don Gordon, (16) Jason Jaggers, (17) Mike Spatola, (18) Steve Sheppard Jr., (19) Brian Diveley, (20) Steve Lance Jr., (21) Kyle Logue, (22) Ryan Unzicker. Fast qualifier (among 25 cars): Drake. Heat race winners: Shirley, Weaver, Sheppard.
