Dirt on Dirt - Feger tops Iowans, nabs fourth PDC semifeature

July 26

Fairbury Speedway,

Fairbury, IL

Sanction: World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series (Prairie Dirt Showdown semifeatures) - $5,000

Information provided by: Kevin Kovac, series and track reports (last updated July 27, 4:57 pm)

Feger tops Iowans, nabs fourth PDC semifeature

presented by

Photo slideshow Feature highlights Video recap Related story Race history

Josh James/joshjamesartwork.com

Brandon Sheppard (B5) muscles past Brian Shirley (3s) en route to winning the second semifeature.

Key notes: Ryan Gustin, Brandon Sheppard, Mike Marlar and Jason Feger won Fairbury Speedway's 25-lap semifeatures and $5,000 apiece. ... Sixteen drivers, the top four in each semifeature, locked into Saturday's $50,000-to-win Prairie Dirt Classic. ... The World of Outlaws Case Late Models sanction the 34th annual Prairie Dirt Classic. … Multiple 20-lap consolations and the 25-lap non-qualifiers' race will precede Saturday’s 100-lap feature. ... The non-qualifiers' winner can choose between $3,500 prize or a spot on the tail of the 100-lapper. ... For the third year, a $500 FALS Draw raffle bonus will be paid to the leader of each circuit in Saturday’s feature, courtesy of Bank of Pontiac and the Illinois State Rifle Association. ... Live music, driver autograph sessions, vendor displays and interactive experiences are among the off-track entertainment. … Watch live on DIRTVision.

Points chase: Before Fairbury: 1. Brandon Sheppard (3,780); 2. Nick Hoffman (3,728); 3. Bobby Pierce (3,646); 4. Cade Dillard (3,594); 5. Kyle Bronson (3,564); 6. Ryan Gustin (3,548); 7. Tyler Bruening (3,510): 8. Dennis Erb Jr. (3,500); 9. Brian Shirley (3,462); 10. Dustin Sorensen (3,392).

Current weather: Clear Mist, 55°F

Car count: 78

Fast qualifier: Tanner English

Time: 13.319 seconds

Next series race: July 27, Fairbury Speedway (Fairbury, IL) $50,000

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

From staff reports

FAIRBURY, Ill. — Updates from Friday’s Prairie Dirt Showdown featuring four 25-lap, $5,000-to-win semifeatures for the World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series at Fairbury Speedway (results unofficial):

Fourth semifeature

Fourth-starting Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., went around Chris Simpson after backstretch contact and led the rest of the final 25-lap semifeature. Simpson and fellow Iowan Tyler Bruening finished second and third while 10th-starting Dustin Sorenson took the final transfer spot from polesitter Dennis Erb Jr. Ricky Thornton Jr., Wednesday's Castrol FloRacing Night in America winner, started 13th and rallied to finish sixth just ahead of Shannon Babb. A single caution slowed the action with Chris Ferguson spinning on the initial start.

Finish: Jason Feger, Chris Simpson, Tyler Bruening, Dustin Sorensen, Dennis Erb Jr., Ricky Thornton Jr., Shannon Babb, Gordy Gundaker, Jonathan Davenport, Spencer Hughes, Carson Ferguson, Kaede Loudy, Brent Larson, Jake Little, Chris Ferguson, Justin Duty, Tommy Sheppard Jr., Lyle Zanker, Daniel Adam.

Third semifeature

Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., led all 25 laps to capture the third semifeature, taking the checkers 2.865 seconds ahead of fellow front-row starter Daulton Wilson. Surprising Austin Smith improved from 10th to finish third, earning his first Prairie Dirt Classic feature start, while fellow fifth-row starter Chase Junghans got the final transfer spot in fourth. Five cautions slowed the 25-lapper, including one on the 10th lap when Frank Heckenast Jr., went around after contact from Brenden Smith with Ashton Winger and Dale Markham getting a piece of it. Winger also spun in turn-one on the fifth lap just before Thomas Hunziker and Alex Wilson tangled on a restart (Wilson also slowed for a lap-20 caution). Dustin Walker, Dale Markham and Matt Cosner (who retired with significant damage) among others were caught up in a turn-two crash on the opening lap.

Finish: Mike Marlar, Daulton Wilson, Austin Smith, Chase Junghans, Trevor Gundaker, Ashton Winger, Tristan Chamberlain, Dillon McCowan, Thomas Hunziker, Max McLaughlin, Brenden Smith, Kyle Hammer, Brayton Wallace, Brian Rickman, Dale Markham, Matt Tifft, Alex Wilson, Frank Heckenast Jr., Dustin Walker, Matt Cosner

Second semifeature

Rallying late on the high side, sixth-starting Brandon Sheppard led the last two of 25 laps to capture the caution-plagued second semifeature. Brian Shirley, who led the first 23 laps, finished 0.382 of a second behind to transfer to Saturday's main event with polesitter Tim McCreadie and 12th-starting Max Blair, who nipped former PDC winner Devin Moran for the final transfer spot. Six cautions slowed the action, the last on the 16th lap for Josh Rice's turn-four spin. Steven Roberts in turn four on the 12th lap (Bobby Pierce pulled pitside during the caution with a broken driveshaft). Myles Moos spun on the 11th lap and Shane Clanton spun on the backstretch with nosepiece damage on the sixth lap. Billy Hough and Timmy Dick tangled twice for a pair of early cautions.

Finish: Brandon Sheppard, Brian Shirley, Tim McCreadie, Max Blair, Devin Moran, Tyler Erb, Allen Weisser, Garrett Alberson, Derrick Stewart, Colby Sheppard, Cody Overton, Josh Rice, Steven Roberts, Timmy Dick, Bobby Pierce, Mike Harrison, Myles Moos, Shane Clanton, Billy Hough.

First semifeature

Ryan Gustin of Marshalltown, Iowa, overtook pole-starting Tanner English on the seventh lap and controlled the rest of the 25-lapper, topping runner-up Nick Hoffman by 0.786 of a second. Hometowner McKay Wenger, who started 11th and held the second spot on laps 15-23, and Kyle Bronson got the final two transfer spots to Saturday's main event while English faded to sixth behind Ryan Unzicker. Three cautions slowed the 25-lapper, including sixth-running Hudson O'Neal got squeezed into the frontstretch wall after four laps and retired. Dual spins of Mike Provenzano and Jeffrey Ledford brought out a lap-three yellow while on the second lap Bob Gardner got sideways to trigger a chain reaction pileup involving, Ethan Dotson, Kye Blight, Cade Dillard and Donny Walden.

Finish: Ryan Gustin, Nick Hoffman, McKay Wenger, Kyle Bronson, Ryan Unzicker, Tanner English, Garrett Smith, Bob Gardner, Ethan Dotson, Tyler Millwood, Trey Mills, Mike Spatola, Mike Provenzano, Dwight Falcton, Ross Camponovo, Hudson O'Neal, Donny Walden, Jeffrey Ledford, Kye Blight, Cade Dillard.

Semifeature lineups

(25 laps; top four to Prairie Dirt Classic)

First semifeature
Row 1: Tanner English, Tyler Millwood
Row 2: Ryan Gustin, Garrett Smith
Row 3: Nick Hoffman, Hudson O'Neal
Row 4: Ryan Unzicker, Kyle Bronson
Row 5: Mike Spatola, Bob Gardner
Row 6: McKay Wenger, Jeffrey Ledford
Row 7: Ethan Dotson, Donny Walden
Row 8: Kye Blight, Trey Mills
Row 9: Cade Dillard, Ross Camponovo
Row 10: Manny Falcon, Mike Provenzano
Second semifeature
Row 1: Tim McCreadie, Brian Shirley
Row 2: Josh Rice, Devin Moran
Row 3: Mike Harrison, Brandon Sheppard
Row 4: Myles Moos, Garrett Alberson
Row 5: Bobby Pierce, Allen Weisser
Row 6: Cody Overton, Max Blair
Row 7: Colby Sheppard, Tyler Erb
Row 8: Shane Clanton, Steven Roberts
Row 9: Timmy Dick, Derrick Stewart
Row 10: Billy Hough
Third semifeature
Row 1: Daulton Wilson, Mike Marlar
Row 2: Tristan Chamberlain, Trevor Gundaker
Row 3: Brian Rickman, Frank Heckenast Jr.
Row 4: Brenden Smith, Ashton Winger
Row 5: Chase Junghans, Austin Smith
Row 6: Max McLaughlin, Matt Cosner
Row 7: Dale Markham, Dillon McCowan
Row 8: Matt Tifft, Brayton Wallace
Row 9: Dustin Walker, Alex Wilson
Row 10: Kyle Hammer, Thomas Hunziker
Fourth semifeature
Row 1: Dennis Erb Jr., Chris Simpson
Row 2: Tyler Bruening, Jason Feger
Row 3: Shannon Babb, Tommy Sheppard Jr.
Row 4: Gordy Gundaker, Spencer Hughes
Row 5: Kaede Loudy, Dustin Sorensen
Row 6: Chris Ferguson, Carson Ferguson
Row 7: Ricky Thornton Jr., Daniel Adam
Row 8: Jonathan Davenport, Brent Larson
Row 9: Jake Little, Lyle Zanker
Row 10: Justin Duty

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Tanner English (96), Benton, Ky., 13.319
2. Tim McCreadie (1), Watertown, N.Y., 13.343
3. Tyler Millwood (31), Kingston, Ga., 13.387
4. Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 13.441
5. Ryan Gustin (19R), Marshalltown, Iowa, 13.444
6. Josh Rice (11R), Verona, Ky., 13.477
7. Garrett Smith (10), Eatonton, Ga., 13.484
8. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 13.485
9. Nick Hoffman (9), Mooresville, N.C., 13.511
10. Mike Harrison (24H), Highland, Ill., 13.540
11. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 13.540
12. Brandon Sheppard (B5), New Berlin, Ill., 13.543
13. Ryan Unzicker (24), El Paso, Ill., 13.548
14. Myles Moos (84), Lincoln, Ill., 13.571
15. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 13.586
16. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 13.597
17. Mike Spatola (89), Manhattan, Ill., 13.616
18. Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 13.622
19. Bob Gardner (26m), East Peoria, Ill., 13.631
20. Allen Weisser (25w), Peoria, Ill., 13.703
21. McKay Wenger (99w), Fairbury, Ill., 13.716
22. Cody Overton (97jr), Evans, Ga., 13.740
23. Jeffrey Ledford (8L), Pontiac, Ill., 13.774
24. Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., 13.783
25. Ethan Dotson (74x), Bakersfield, Calif., 13.813
26. Colby Sheppard (27), Williamsville, Ill., 13.837
27. Donny Walden (1w), Towanda, Ill., 13.849
28. Tyler Erb (1T), New Waverly, Texas, 13.857
29. Kye Blight (33), Katanning, W. Australia, 13.873
30. Shane Clanton (25), Zebulon, Ga., 13.888
31. Trey Mills (14jr), St. Augustine, Fla., 14.004
32. Steven Roberts (111R), Sylvester, Ga., 14.020
33. Cade Dillard (97), Robeline, La., 14.022
34. Timmy Dick (122), Monticello, Ill., 14.028
35. Ross Camponovo (18R), Merigold, Miss., 14.071
36. Derrick Stewart (43), Ainsworth, Iowa, 14.191
37. Manny Falcon (222), Pine Grove, La., 14.200
38. Billy Hough (33H), Thomasboro, Ill., 14.231
39. Mike Provenzano (m27), Marseilles, Ill., 14.245
Group B
1. Daulton Wilson (18D), Fayetteville, N.C., 13.349
2. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 13.359
3. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 13.499
4. Chris Simpson (32s), Oxford, Ill., 13.515
5. Tristan Chamberlain (20tc), Richmond, Ind., 13.521
6. Tyler Bruening (16), Decorah, Iowa, 13.542
7. Trevor Gundaker (11T), St. Charles, Mo., 13.678
8. Jason Feger (25F), Bloomington, Ill., 13.689
9. Brian Rickman (90), Columbus, Miss., 13.692
10. Shannon Babb (18), Moweaqua, Ill., 13.701
11. Frank Heckenast Jr. (99jr), Frankfort, Ill., 13.772
12. Tommy Sheppard Jr. (T6), New Berlin, Ill., 13.790
13. Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla., 13.801
14. Gordy Gundaker (11), St. Charles, Mo., 13.833
15. Ashton Winger (12), Hampton, Ga., 13.836
16. Spencer Hughes (19m), Meridian, Miss., 13.854
17. Chase Junghans (18c), Manhattan, Kan., 13.892
18. Kaede Loudy (126), Rogersville, Tenn., 13.904
19. Austin Smith (11s), Rome, Ga., 13.904
20. Dustin Sorensen (19), Rochester, Minn., 13.905
21. Max McLaughlin (22*), Mooresville, N.C., 13.907
22. Chris Ferguson (22), Mount Holly, N.C., 13.907
23. Matt Cosner (66c), Ridgeley, W.Va., 13.915
24. Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 13.945
25. Dale Markham (3), Maple Park, Ill., 13.960
26. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 13.972
27. Dillon McCowan (8m), Urbana, Mo., 13.981
28. Daniel Adam (75), Wade, N.C., 14.011
29. Matt Tifft (57), Cleveland, Ohio, 14.017
30. Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 14.020
31. Brayton Wallace (T2), Peoria, Ill., 14.028
32. Brent Larson (B1), Lake Elmo, Minn., 14.057
33. Dustin Walker (14w), Polk, Mo., 14.121
34. Jake Little (38J), Springfield, Ill., 14.143
35. Alex Wilson (z61), Chenoa, Ill., 14.152
36. Lyle Zanker (9z), Rockford, Ill., 14.199
37. Kyle Hammer (45), Clinton, Ill., 14.206
38. Justin Duty (15), Molalla, Ore., 14.225
39. Thomas Hunziker (38), Bend, Ore., 14.592

Friday’s schedule

(All times local)
7-11 a.m. - VFW Post PDC breakfast (VFW Building 205 E. Locust Street)
Noon - Cornhole bags tournament (north beer stand)
5 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting (WoO command center)
5:30 p.m. - On-track activity begins
- Late Model hot laps
- Modified hot lap qualifying (3 laps)
- Late Model group A qualifying (2 laps, 2 cars per session)
- Late Model group B qualifying (2 laps, 2 cars per session)
Opening ceremonies
- Modified preliminary feature (20 laps)
- Modified preliminary feature (20 laps)
- Late Model preliminary feature (25 laps)
- Late Model preliminary feature (25 laps)
Track prep (if needed)
- Modified preliminary feature (20 laps)
- Modified preliminary feature (20 laps)
Track prep (if needed)
- Late Model preliminary feature (25 laps)
- Late Model preliminary feature (25 laps)