Dirt on Dirt - Winger tops Oakshade, captures Birthday Race

July 15

Oakshade Raceway,

Wauseon, OH

Sanction: DIRTcar Summer Nationals (Birthday Race) - $10,000

Information provided by: Kyle McFadden and series reports (last updated July 16, 10:19 pm)

Winger tops Oakshade, captures Birthday Race

Birthday Race

Ashton Winger
Colin Shipley
Brian Ruhlman
Ryan Markham
Dusty Moore
Kye Blight
Eric Spangler
Casey Noonan
Jamie Grochowski
Rusty Schlenk
Devin Shiels
Rob Anderzack
Ryan Unzicker
Terry Rushlow
Brandon Thirlby
Drew Smith
Ryan Missler
Brad Wade
Steve Kester
Bob Gardner
Rusty Smith
B.J. Gregory
Carter Murday
Jeff Robertson

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Ashton Winger celebrates a $10,000 DIRTcar Summer Nationals win at Oakshade.

What won the race: Fifth-starting Ashton Winger of Hampton, Ga., took the lead with an outside move out of turn four and led the final 36 laps to win Saturday's $10,000 25th annual Birthday Race at Oakshade Raceway. Winning his second career Birthday Race event, Winger notched his sixth DIRTcar Summer Nationals victory of the season, matching his career best set in 2021.

Quotable: “I think Rusty (Schlenk) actually had a pretty good line down there in (turn) three, he kinda showed it to me and he actually got paired up with Ryan (Unzicker) going into (turn) one,” Winger said. “We had a caution and I know it was close and then when Rusty gave me the top down there, I felt like I could keep my speed up down here enough. It worked out, obviously it was a race of attrition, just goes to show this thing is well-built.”

Key notes: Notching his 12th career Summer Nationals victory, Winger has all but clinched the 2023 series championship and will simply need to show up for Sunday's $5,000-to-win finale at Wayne County Speedway. ... Colin Shipley moved into the runner-up position on a lap-36 restart and finished 2.833 seconds back. ... Brian Ruhlman also took advantage of the lap-36 restart, moving into third and rounded-out the podium. ... Tenth-starting Ryan Markham overcame trouble on lap 32 when he required a tow to the work area, recovering to finish fourth. ... Fourteenth-starting Dusty Moore rebounded from a flat on lap 35, finishing fifth. ... Kye Blight drew the race's sixth caution when he spun on lap 32; Blight was able to continue and finished sixth after track officials needed several minutes to get his car out of the heavy infield mud. ... Casey Noonan and Jamie Grochowski each advanced eight positions, finishing eighth and ninth. ... Second-running Rusty Schlenk pulled off under the race's final caution on lap 35 and went directly to his trailer, crediting him with 10th. ... Ryan Unzicker led laps 2-14 before slowing to draw the race's fifth caution on lap 30, relegating him to finish 13th. ... Pole-starting Bob Gardner led the first lap before being overtaken by Unzicker, then pulled off on lap seven after his car trailed heavy smoke. ... Saturday's feature was slowed by nine separate incidents and lasted 45 minutes, with six drivers completing all 50 laps; nine competitors were running at the finish.

On the move: Brian Ruhlman of Clark Lake, Mich., started 13th and finished third.

Winner's sponsors: Winger’s Jeff Mathews Motorsports Rocket Chassis is powered by an Andy Durham Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Johnny Doan Plumbing, RV Select Inc., Keyser Manufacturing, Integra Shocks, Angry Elephant Tattoo and Piercing, FK Rod Ends, Super K Express, Hoosier Tire, Simpson Race Products, Collins Signs, DirtCarLift.com, VP Race Fuels, Boswell Oil and WrapTeck.

Points chase: After Oakshade (overall): 1. Ashton Winger (1,342); 2. Jason Feger (1,202); 3. Bob Gardner (1,050); 4. Kye Blight (992); 5. Thomas Hunziker (674). After Oakshade (Week 5): T1. Ryan Unzicker (123); T1. Ashton Winger (123); T1. Eric Spangler (123); T4. Rusty Schlenk (112); T4. Brian Ruhlman (112); 6. Dusty Moore (111).

Current weather: Broken Clouds, 73°F

Car count: 49

Fast qualifier: Rusty Schlenk

Time: 14.056 seconds

Polesitter: Bob Gardner

Heat race winners: Rusty Schlenk, Colin Shipley, Ashton Winger, Bob Gardner, Ryan Unzicker, Kye Blight

Consolation race winners: Tim Sabo, B.J. Gregory, Steve Kester

Provisional starters: Jeff Robertson, B.J. Gregory, Carter Murday, Drew Smith

Next series race: July 16, Wayne County Speedway (Orrville, OH) $5,000

Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.

From staff reports

WAUSEON, Ohio (July 15) — Updates from the 22nd round of the DIRTcar Summer Nationals at Oakshade Raceway, an event highlighted by a $10,000-to-win feature for Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Fifth-starting Ashton Winger of Hampton, Ga., took the lead with an outside move out of turn four and led the final 36 laps to win Saturday's $10,000 Birthday Race at Oakshade Raceway. Winning his second career Birthday Race event, Winger notched his sixth DIRTcar Summer Nationals victory of the season, matching his career best set in 2021. Notching his 12th career Summer Nationals victory, Winger has all but clinched the 2023 series championship and will simply need to show up for Sunday's $5,000-to-win finale at Wayne County Speedway. Colin Shipley moved into the runner-up position on a lap-36 restart and finished 2.833 seconds back.

Feature lineup

(50 laps)
Row 1: Bob Gardner, Colin Shipley
Row 2: Ryan Unzicker, Rusty Schlenk
Row 3: Ashton Winger, Kye Blight
Row 4: Devin Shiels, Ryan Missler
Row 5: Brandon Thirlby, Ryan Markham
Row 6: Eric Spangler, Rob Anderzack
Row 7: Brian Ruhlman, Dusty Moore
Row 8: Terry Rushlow, Casey Noonan
Row 9: Jamie Grochowski, Rusty Smith
Row 10: Steve Kester, Brad Wade
Row 11: Jeff Robertson, B.J. Gregory
Row 12: Carter Murday, Drew Smith

Consolation race results

B-main (10 laps; top two transfer): Steve Kester, Brad Wade, Joe Smith, Jake Rendel, Ken Hahn, Steve Miller, Shaun Sharp, Jerry Bowersock, Joel Morton, Chester Fitch, Drew Smith, Jeff Warnick, B.J. Gregory, Tim Sabo, Garrett McClain, Carter Murday.

First C-main (top two transfer to B-main): Tim Sabo, Garrett McClain, Nicholas Fenner, Jeff Robertson, David Ellis, Dale Cole Jr., Gary Cole, Scott Robertson, Eddie Goins. Scratched: Bob Mayer

Second C-main (top two transfer to B-main): B.J. Gregory, Steve Miller, John Miller, Brayden Shiels, Scott Boyd Jr., Brenen Mellon. Scratched: Ryder Price, Thomas Hunziker, Drake Troutman

Heat race notes

Rusty Schlenk led all eight laps to win the first heat race by 1.832 seconds over Devin Shiels. Colin Shipley led green-to-checkered and won heat two in dominating fashion. Ashton Winger ran away to win heat three. Bob Mayer tangled with Jeff Robertson at the start of the third heat, sending Mayer tumbling down the frontstretch and drawing the red flag; While both drivers were unhurt, neither were able to continue and are likely done competing for the night. Bob Gardner led all eight laps to win heat four by 2.080 seconds over Ryan Missler. Ryan Unzicker repelled Ryan Markham in the early laps of heat five, cruising to win by 3.716 seconds. Kye Blight led the entire distance of the sixth and final heat race, winning by 4.374 seconds over Rob Anderzack.

Heat race results

(Eight laps, top three transfer)

First heat: Rusty Schlenk, Devin Shiels, Brian Ruhlman, Jerry Bowersock, Joe Smith, Nicholas Fenner, Scott Robertson, David Ellis, Dale Cole Jr.

Second heat: Colin Shipley, Brandon Thirlby, Terry Rushlow, Brad Wade, Carter Murday, Garrett McClain, Gary Cole. DNS: Eddie Goins.

Third heat: Ashton Winger, Eric Spangler, Jamie Grochowski, Joel Morton, Shaun Sharp, Tim Sabo, Jeff Robertson, Bob Mayer.

Fourth heat: Bob Gardner, Ryan Missler, Dusty Moore, Steve Kester, Drew Smith, B.J. Gregory, Brayden Shiels, Ryder Price.

Fifth heat: Ryan Unzicker, Ryan Markham, Casey Noonan, Jake Rendel, Jeff Warnick, Steve Miller, Scott Boyd Jr. DNS: Thomas Hunziker.

Sixth heat: Kye Blight, Rob Anderzack, Rusty Smith, Chester Fitch, Ken Hahn, John Miller, Brenen Mellon. DNS: Drake Troutman.

Time trials

Driver (car no.), hometown, time
Group A
Rusty Schlenk (91), McClure, Ohio, 14.056
Colin Shipley (44), Weston, Ohio, 14.101
Ashton Winger (12), Hampton, Ga., 14.411
Devin Shiels (51S), Britton, Mich., 14.473
Terry Rushlow (63), Holland, Ohio, 14.484
Jamie Grochowski (45), Toledo, Ohio, 14.732
Jerry Bowersock (95j), Wapakoneta, Ohio, 14.732
Brandon Thirlby (69), Buckley, Mich., 14.993
Eric Spangler (27), Lake City, Mich., 15.042
Brian Ruhlman (49), Clarklake, Mich., 15.095
Garrett McClain (15), Fayette, Ohio, 15.216
Joel Morton (36), Hudson, Mich., 15.257
Joe Smith (71J), Sylvania, Ohio, 15.268
Carter Murday (19M), Adrian, Mich., 15.734
Tim Sabo (74Y), Toledo, Ohio, 15.939
Nicholas Fenner (22F), Morenci, Mich., 16.226
Brad Wade (23w), Dundee, Mich., 16.239
Jeff Robertson (P3), Defiance, Ohio, 16.317
Dale Cole Jr. (8JR), Weston, Ohio, 16.646
Gary Cole (X), McClune, Ohio, 17.191
Shaun Sharp (82SS), Delta, Ohio, 17.313
David Ellis (17), Defiance, Ohio, 17.648
Eddie Goins (23G), Bryan, Ohio, 18.022
Bob Mayer (42*), Holland, Ohio, 18.169
Scott Robertson (67), Defiance, Ohio, 20.029
Group B
Dusty Moore (75), Swanton, Ohio, 14.353
Ryan Unzicker (24), El Paso, Ill., 14.382
Kye Blight (31aus), Bunbury, W. Australia, 14.466
Bob Gardner (4G), East Peoria, Ill., 14.539
Ryan Markham (5M), Ashland, Ohio, 14.558
Rusty Smith (71), Sylvania, Ohio, 14.717
Ryan Missler (50), Bellevue, Ohio, 14.775
Casey Noonan (1N), Sylvania, Ohio, 14.793
Rob Anderzack (8), Swanton, Ohio, 14.879
Drew Smith (71DS), Sylvania, Ohio, 15.001
Jeff Warnick (74), Republic, Ohio, 15.170
Ken Hahn (27H), Gibsonburg, Ohio, 15.209
Steve Kester (57), Holland, Ohio, 15.320
Jake Rendel (06), Adrian, Mich., 15.340
Chester Fitch (101), Tiffin, Ohio, 15.345
B.J. Gregory (56), Swanton, Ohio, 15.556
Steve Miller (95M), Toledo, Ohio, 15.600
John Miller (53), Defiance, Ohio, 15.763
Brayden Shiels (51B), Britton, Mich., 15.885
Scott Boyd Jr. (32), North Baltimore, Ohio, 16.181
Brenen Mellon (5), Morenci, Mich., 16.330
Ryder Price (25), Morenci, Mich., 17.126
Drake Troutman (7T), Hyndman, Pa., no time
Thomas Hunziker (38), Bend, Ore., no time

Saturday’s schedule

(All times local)
10 a.m. - Gates open
6 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6:30 p.m. - On-track activity begins
- Late Model hot laps
- Modified hot laps/qualifying (3 laps)
- Late Model qualifying (2 laps)
- Bomber hot laps
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heat races (8 laps)
- Modified heat races (8 laps)
- Late Model c-main (8 laps)
- Bomber heat races (8 laps)
- Modified consolation (8 laps)
- Late Model consolation (10 laps)
Intermission/track prep
Feature races
- Late Models (40 laps)
- Modifieds (25 laps)
- Bombers (20 laps)