WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. (July 4) — Updates from Thursday’s 16th round of the DIRTcar Summer Nationals at Riverside International Speedway, an event highlighted by a 30-lap, $5,000-to-win feature for Super Late Models (results unofficial):
Feature
Fighting off challenges from son-in-law Tanner English before avoiding a last-lap gasp by Ethan Dotson, pole-starting Rodney Melvin of Benton, Ill., earned a flag-to-flag victory in Thursday's 30-lap DIRTcar Summer Nationals feature at Riverside International Speedway. Melvin's $5,000 payday marks his eighth career Hell Tour victory and his first since June 20, 2012, at Highland (Ill.) Speedway.
It's Melvin's second $5,000 triumph of the season — May 31 in Ultimate Heart of America action at Bloomington (Ind.) Speedway — with the latter marking his first since 2012 at Highland. Eighth-starting Dotson grabbed the runner-up spot on the final lap, taking the checkers 0.247 of a second back.
Feature lineup
(30 laps)
Row 1: Rodney Melvin, Tanner English
Row 2: Tyler Clem, Dillon McCowan
Row 3: Ashton Winger, Mike Carr
Row 4: Nathan Brown, Ethan Dotson
Row 5: Joe Chalmers, Thomas Hunziker
Row 6: Jadon Frame, Daniel Adam
Row 7: Kyle Beard, Brandon Carpenter
Row 8: Brian Rickman, Morgan Bagley
Row 9: Clay Stuckey, Dean Carpenter
Row 10: Mark Voigt, Christian Hanger
Row 11: J.C. Waller, Carson Brown
Row 12: Charlie Cole
Consolation race results
(10 laps; top two transfer)
B-main: Clay Stuckey, Dean Carpenter, J.C. Waller, Christian Hanger, Carson Brown, Charlie Cole, Mark Voigt, Matthew Tribble, Jake Elam, Cruz Skinner, Matthew Brocato, Ronnie Cooper, Travis Ashley. Scratched: Shane Stephens, Matt Cooper
(8 laps; top three transfer)
C-main: Cruz Skinner, Mark Voigt, Jake Elam, Courtney Bass, Henry Gustavas, Lynn Irwin. Scratched: Chance Mann, Jack Riggs, Devon Andrews, Nick Kurtz, Dillon Knight
Heat race recap
Second-starting Tanner English led all eight laps to win the first heat race by 0.692 of a second over fourth-starting Ashton Winger. Pole-starting Joe Chalmers slipped to third, while fifth-starting Kyle Beard grabbed the fourth and final transfer spot into Thursday’s $5,000-to-win 16th round. The race was slowed twice for incidents involving Devon Andrews and Matt Cooper, who were each unable to finish. … Fourth-starting Tyler Clem led five laps, including the final four, to win heat two by 1.563 seconds over Nathan Brown. Jadon Frame and fifth-starting Brian Rickman completed the top-four finishers, punching their ticket into the 30-lapper. … Rodney Melvin survived multiple restarts to lead the entire distance of heat three, winning by 2.461 seconds over third-starting Mike Carr. Thomas Hunziker placed third, with fifth-starting Brandon Carpenter claiming the final transfer position. The 12-minute prelim was slowed by five incidents, two involving Chance Mann, with the third requiring a five-minute red flag for cleanup. Mann appeared to spin at turn-two exit, collecting Matthew Brocato and Jack Riggs, with Riggs becoming airborne and his right-side landing on top of the nose of Mann’s machine. All drivers were unhurt, with Mann being unable to continue and Riggs slowing on the ensuing restart before pulling off. Travis Ashley had a turn-three solo spin to cause the final stoppage on the next restart attempt. … Second-starting Dillon McCowan narrowly repelled Ethan Dotson to win the fourth and final heat race by 0.229 of a second. Daniel Adam started and finished third, with seventh-starting Morgan Bagley improving to round out the top-four finishers. The race’s lone caution flew on the second lap when Henry Gustavas spun from seventh.
Heat race results
(Eight laps; top four transfer)
First heat: Tanner English, Ashton Winger, Joe Chalmers, Kyle Beard, Dean Carpenter, Matt Cooper, Carson Brown, Cruz Skinner, Courtney Bass, Devon Andrews.
Second heat: Tyler Clem, Nathan Brown, Jadon Frame, Brian Rickman, Clay Stuckey, Christian Hanger, Charlie Cole, Jake Elam, Lynn Irwin, Nick Kurtz.
Third heat: Rodney Melvin, Mike Carr, Thomas Hunziker, Brandon Carpenter, Shane Stephens, Matthew Brocato, Travis Ashley, Chance Mann, Jack Riggs. Scratched: Dillon Knight
Fourth heat: Dillon McCowan, Ethan Dotson, Daniel Adam, Morgan Bagley, J.C. Waller, Ronnie Cooper, Matthew Tribble, Mark Voigt, Henry Gustavas.
Time trials
Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Joe Chalmers (31aus), South Yunderup, W. Australia, 13.536
2. Jake Elam (24E), Senatobia, Miss., 13.545
3. Tanner English (96), Benton, Ky., 13.564
4. Nathan Brown (3n), Marion, Ark., 13.610
5. Carson Brown (28B), New London, N.C., 13.744
6. Jadon Frame (818), Winchester, Tenn., 13.794
7. Ashton Winger (12), Hampton, Ga., 13.797
8. Tyler Clem (58), St. Petersburg, Fla., 13.848
9. Kyle Beard (86), Trumann, Ark., 13.879
10. Brian Rickman (90), Columbus, Miss., 13.925
11. Dean Carpenter (51), Coldwater, Miss., 13.977
12. Clay Stuckey (15), Shreveport, La., 14.038
13. Devon Andrews (usa1a), Wynne, Ark., 14.205
14. Charlie Cole (2), Wynne, Ark., 14.258
15. Matt Cooper (18c), McKenzie, Tenn., 14.300
16. Nick Kurtz (79), Greenville, Mich., 14.379
17. Cruz Skinner (11), Oxford, Ala., 14.472
18. Lynn Irwin (27L), Walls, Miss., 14.532
19. Courtney Bass (72), Bartlett, Tenn., 14.553
20. Christian Hanger (29), Winchester, Tenn., no time
Group B
1. Rodney Melvin (27m), Benton, Ill., 13.898
2. Ethan Dotson (74x), Bakersfield, Calif., 14.019
3. Thomas Hunziker (38), Bend, Ore., 14.036
4. Dillon McCowan (8), Urbana, Mo., 14.064
5. Mike Carr (74), Lake Cormorant, Miss., 14.193
6. Daniel Adam (75), Wade, N.C., 14.206
7. Chance Mann (88), Newport, Ark., 14.234
8. Mark Voigt (30), Marine, Ill., 14.258
9. Brandon Carpenter (51B), Coldwater, Miss., 14.393
10. J.C. Waller (7w), Atoka, Tenn., 14.420
11. Matthew Brocato (78), Muscle Shoals, Ala., 14.535
12. Matthew Tribble (one11), Pocahontas, Ark., 14.552
13. Shane Stephens (7jr), Arlington, Tenn., 14.611
14. Morgan Bagley (14m), Longview, Texas, 14.630
15. Jack Riggs (81J), Nolensville, Tenn., 14.645
16. Henry Gustavas (78G), Jonesboro, Ark., 14.742
17. Travis Ashley (997), Batesville, Ark., 15.189
18. Ronnie Cooper (18c), McKenzie, Tenn., disqualified
19. Dillon Knight (6), Burlison, Tenn., no time
Thursday’s schedule
(All times local)
10 a.m. - Hauler parking begins
4 p.m. - Pits open
5 p.m. - Grandstands open
6 p.m - Drivers’ meeting
6:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- Street stock hot laps
- Late Model hot laps
- Modified hot lap qualifying (3 laps)
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Street stock heats (8 laps)
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Modified heats (8 laps)
- Late Model C-main (8 laps)
- Modified consolation (8 laps)
- Late Model B-main (10 laps)
Intermission/fireworks show
- Street stock feature (15 laps)
- Late Model feature (30 laps)
- Modified feature (25 laps)
