7/9/2021
Brian Shirley
Flat tire halts Shirley's run at Macon Speedway
Bob Cullen Racing pilot Brian Shirley returned to the driver’s seat of the Thomason Express No. 3s Late Model on Wednesday afternoon at Spoon River Speedway (Banner, Ill.) for the rescheduled DIRTcar Summer Nationals event. After topping the 32-car field in time trials, Shirley outran Brandon Sheppard in his heat to pick up the win. Receiving the third-starting position for the A-Main, Brian battled back to finish fourth after slipping over the turn-two banking early in the race. He finished behind Bobby Pierce, Ryan Unzicker, and Brandon Sheppard with Jason Feger coming in fifth. (Brendon Bauman photo)
The following night at Macon Speedway (Macon, Ill.) for the 41st annual Herald & Review 100, Brian locked into the fourth-starting position for the $10,000-to-win A-Main after a heat race victory promoted him into the redraw. With polesitter Ryan Unzicker leading the first two circuits, Shirley snuck by on the third lap and led until lap 22 when a flat right-rear tire dropped him to the tail. He rebounded in the remaining distance of the 100-lapper to finish eighth.
For the 16th round of the Hell Tour on Friday evening at Farmer City Raceway (Farmer City, Ill.), Shirley came in fastest in his group before placing second in his heat race behind McKay Wenger. With $10,000 on the line in the feature, Brian jumped up one spot in the 40-lapper to register a fourth-place finish. Shannon Babb, McKay Wenger, and Garrett Alberson took the checkers ahead of him while Joe Godsey came in fifth.
Saturday’s Summer Nationals stop at Highland Speedway (Highland, Ill.) fell victim to Mother Nature.
Brian sits in third in the latest Summer Nationals point standings. For complete results, please visit www.DIRTcarSummerNationals.com.
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