Sheppard Rockets to Clayhill Motorsports Park Summer Nationals Victory

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Contact: Kellen Burns DIRTcar Racing PR (573) 366-7665 | kburns@dirtcar.com

Sheppard Rockets to Clayhill Motorsports Park Summer Nationals Victory

Atwood, Tenn. - June 28, 2012 -Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., worked his way to the lead on lap 16 and never looked back to win his first DIRTcar Summer Nationals event of 2012 Thursday night at Clayhill Motorsports Park. Sheppard picked up $5,000 for the win.

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Sheppard stretched his lead over the final 15 circuits pulling away from second place finisher Klint Byars of Carrollton, Miss. Veteran Wendell Wallace of Batesville Ark., drove from eighth to third over the course of the 40-lap main event. Polesitter Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., finished fourth and defending Summer Nationals Champion Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., rounded out the top five.

Current Summer National point leader Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., faded to finish sixth after leading the race.

(Click here for news and information on the DIRTcar Summer Nationals.)

The tour returns to action Friday night at Paducah International Raceway in Paducah, Ky., with the tour's highest paying winner's purse of $12,000 on the line. Ray Cook of Brasstown, N.C., claimed the Summer Nationals win in 2011.

DIRTcar Summer Nationals Statistical Report; Clayhill Motorsports Park; Atwood, Tenn.; June 28, 2012 A-Main (40-laps): 1. Brandon Sheppard ($5,000), 2. Klint Byars, 3. Wendell Wallace, 4. Jason Feger, 5. Shannon Babb, 6. Brian Shirley, 7. Rodney Melvin, 8. Jason McBride, 9. Dennis Erb Jr., 10. Tanner English, 11. Randy Sellars, 12. Terry English, 13. Frank Heckenast Jr., 14. Jon Henry, 15. Bobby Pierce, 16. Mike Spatola, 17. Nick Bartels, 18. Billy Moyer Jr., 19. Dale Nelson, 20. Billy Moyer, 21. Caleb Ashby, 22. Ryan Unzicker. Fast qualifiers (among 28 cars): Unzicker, Byars, Sheppard. Heat race winners: Feger, Shirley, Erb. Consolation race winner: Terry English. Provisional starters: Henry, Spatola, Moyer Jr., Bartels.