FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Brian Shirley Once Again Sweeps MARS Weekend with Fayette County Speedway Win

By Michael Despain

BROWNSTOWN, ILLINOIS – June 2, 2018 – The MARS Super Late Model Racing Series would make its second and final visit of the 2018 season to Fayette County Speedway in Brownstown, IL and just like the first visit, Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill. would take the lead in the early stages of the contest and would never be seriously challenged throughout the event to claim his second win of the weekend and another $3,000 payday.

The win for Shirley would be his fourth of the season with the MARS tour, his second at Fayette County Speedway with the series, and his 12th career series victory and would come behind the wheel of the familiar Bob Cullen owned Thomason Express, Kid’s Castle Learning Center, Jayco Construction, Cheap Cars, Vallejo Inc., KBC Graphics sponsored #3s Rocket Chassis, Andy Durham Race Engines powered entry.

Tanner English and Brian Shirley would duel side-by-side for the first two laps of the contest, with English nipping Shirley at the line each lap for the lead, however, Shirley would gain the advantage and take the first position on lap three. Meanwhile, Shannon Babb would be third and receive pressure from fourth place running Jason Feger, while Dennis Erb, Jr. gave chase to this pair from fifth. The first caution of the event waved on lap six when Mason Oberkramer would slow on the racing surface and erase Shirley’s early advantage. The restart would see Shirley maintain the lead, while Babb pressured English would second and would take the position on lap seven. With Shirley again stretching his lead, Tim Manville would challenge Erb, Jr. for the fifth position and take the spot on lap nine. The pair would continue to contest the fifth position, while Shirley starting the process of lapping slower traffic on lap twelve, with Erb, Jr. reclaiming the fifth position on the same circuit. The final caution of the race flew on lap eighteen when Joe Godsey would slow with mechanical issues and be done for the event. 

The final restart of the race would see Shirley again get a great start, with Babb maintaining the second position, while Feger would work past English to claim the third position on lap nineteen. Erb, Jr. would be the next driver to challenge English for position and would take the fourth spot away from English on lap twenty-two, and would sneak past Feger for the third position one lap later. With Shirley motoring away from the field at this point, Erb, Jr. would continue his charge around the bottom of the track and score the second position from Babb on lap twenty-seven. A three-wide battle for fifth would break out at this point and eleventh-place starting Michael Kloos would make his way into the top five and would snatch the fourth position away from Feger on lap thirty-one, as Shirley would again have to contend with lapped traffic at this point in the event. Kloos would continue his late race charge and take the third position from Babb on lap thirty-four, while thirteenth-place starting Tony Jackson, Jr. would make his way into the top five around Feger on lap thirty-six and would work past Babb for the fourth position two trips later. However, Shirley would work traffic masterfully over the final few circuits and score his second victory of the weekend, with Erb, Jr. claiming his second consecutive second place finish of the weekend, with Kloos settling for third. Jackson, Jr. would come fourth, with Babb rounding out the top five. The remainder of the top ten finishers would be Feger, Gordy Gundaker, seventeenth-place starter Caleb Ashby, English, and eighteenth-place starter Dean Carpenter. 

The MARS Super Late Model Racing Series next event will be Saturday July 7 at Brownstown Speedway in Brownstown, Ind. for the Fourth Annual Born Free 40, paying $5,000 to win.  

Further information on the MARS Super Late Model Racing Series can be obtained by calling Promoter/Race Director Chris Tilley at (606) 219-1723 or by visiting the official series website located at www.marsracingseries.com.

Official Summary of Results

Feature Results for MARS Super Late Model Racing Series at Fayette County Speedway in Brownstown, IL on June 2, 2018
1. Brian Shirley-Chatham, Ill.
2. Dennis Erb, Jr.-Carpentersville, Ill.
3. Michael Kloos-Trenton, Ill.
4. Tony Jackson, Jr.-Lebanon, Mo.
5. Shannon Babb-Moweaqua, Ill.
6. Jason Feger-Bloomington, Ill.
7. Gordy Gundaker-St. Charles, Mo.
8. Caleb Ashby-Cunningham, Tenn.
9. Tanner English-Benton, Ky.
10. Dean Carpenter-Coldwater, Miss.
11. Tim Manville-St. Jacob, Ill.
12. Brian Dively-Springfield, Ill.
13. Rusty Griffaw-Festus, Mo.
14. Kolby Vandenbergh-Ashland, Ill.
15. Paul Stubber-Bunbury, Australia
16. Joe Godsey-Bentonville, Ark.
17. Mason Oberkramer-Brosely, Mo.
18. Brent McKinnon-Carlyle, Ill.
19. Jeff Roth-Bentonville, Ark.

Time of Race: N/A 
Margin of Victory: N/A
Yellow Flags: 2 (Lap 6, 18)
Red Flags: None
Lap Leaders: Tanner English 1-2, Brian Shirley 3-40
Entries: 19
Wiles Driveshafts Overall Top Qualifier: Tanner English 12.636 seconds
Provisional Starters: None

Heat One Finish (10 laps/all transfer)- Tanner English, Dennis Erb, Jr., Tim Manville, Gordy Gundaker, Tony Jackson, Jr., Jeff Roth, Mason Oberkramer

Heat Two Finish (10 laps/all transfer)- Brian Shirley, Jason Feger, Paul Stubber, Michael Kloos, Joe Godsey, Caleb Ashby

Heat Three Finish (10 laps/all transfer)- Shannon Babb, Kolby Vandenbergh, Brent McKinnon, Rusty Griffaw, Brian Dively, Dean Carpenter

Current MARS Super Late Model Racing Series Points (after 6/2/18)
1. Tanner English-1,197
2. Tim Manville-1,171
3. Dean Carpenter-1,147
4. Caleb Ashby-1,145
5. Dennis Erb Jr.-962
6. Brian Shirley-869
7. Gordy Gundaker-799
8. David Seibers-783
9. Brent McKinnon-650