Summernationals' Newcomer Brian Shirley Gives Veteran Performance
CHATHAM, IL (July 24, 2005) The U.M.P. Summernationals has earned the reputation as the most intense, grueling challenge of a professional dirt late model team because of its demanding month long schedule of nightly competition that tests the limits of personal resolve, teamwork and equipment. This yearıs eighteenth running of the U.M.P. Summernationalsı tour was scheduled for twenty-nine different venues in eight states during a thirty day timeframe and pitted traveling veterans such as Wisconsinıs Jimmy Mars and Michiganıs Jeep Van Wormer against Illinoisansı Shannon Babb, Darren Miller, Dennis Erb, Jr., and Rodney Melvin as well as a host of other talented local, regional and national throttle-stompers. Another name that will not be absent from next yearıs roster is one of the most promising young talents - Brian Shirley. The Chatham, IL, native, while only in his fourth year of dirt late model competition after departing the AMA motorcycle racing ranks, already boasts an impressive résumé dirt late model track championship honors at Macon Speedway, U.M.P. Late Model National Rookie of the Year, Northern Allstars Late Model Seriesı Rookie of the Year and the Northern Allstars Late Model Seriesı Championship. His biggest career payday came last year at Peoria Speedway when he nabbed his first U.M.P. Summernationals win. Shirley, while well known in Illinois, is fast becoming a new household name amongst dirt racing fans across the Midwest. In spite of his impressive stats and strong start to the 2005 season, which included four feature wins prior to the start of Summernationals, Shirley was not on the radar of many competitors and spectators during his first attempt at the full Summernationalsı schedule and has since caught the dirt late model community by surprise with an impressive debut. Aligning with fellow Petroff Towing and CJ Rayburn teams such as Shannon Babb and Floridaıs Patrick Sheltra, Shirleyıs #3s team caravanned across the Midwest and gained momentum as the tour progressed. While Babb dominated the tour with a record-setting 15 feature wins, Shirley rallied from a rocky start to gradually advance into the Top-5 in Summernationalsı championship point standings. The #3s team really began to shine after the halfway mark as teamwork and an understanding of their equipment synthesized. Shirley and his team also had an impressive streak of seven consecutive Top-5 finishes during the Hartford, MI, to Freeport, IL jaunt. The CJ Rayburn Race Cars/Petroff Towing/JAYCO Construction novice team netted fast qualifier honors at I-96 Speedway on the eve of the finale and capstoned their month long journey with Shirleyıs biggest late model career win to date The U.M.P. Summernationals Finale at Ohioıs Oakshade Raceway. The seriesı 60-lap finale (commonly known as ³The Birthday Race²) proved to be the race of Brianıs career as he commanded lapped traffic and mastered the track like a true veteran. Amazed by the experience, Shirleyıs joy was evident, ³Iım so thankful for this opportunity and for everyone who helped me Petroff Towing, CJ Rayburn Race Cars, JAYCO Construction, all of my sponsors, my crew, family, Shannon Babb, Patrick Sheltra, everyone on the tour and all of the fans whoıve been so supportive. Man, this is awesome! We had a few problems early on where we couldnıt catch a break but something just clicked and we have really been strong since the halfway point. I have the most generous supporters anyone could ask for every one of my sponsors and product people stepped up and went above and beyond to help us. Iım really lucky.² ³I canıt thank my crew enough Mikey Myers, Bill Gibbons, Jerry Patterson, Gary Walters and Dan Rothe they are the ones that kept this thing together,² continued an awestruck Shirley. ³And Dave Hoff that dude is amazing! Without him, I know where weıd be and itıs not in victory lane. I couldnıt have picked a better way to end this tour than with a win especially here at Oakshade since I get to share the night with Shannon (Babb) as heıs crowned champion now that is big. And we finished fourth in the points! I hope that we proved to people that we are serious about this and this is just the beginning. I know it leaves me wanting to come back next year for more and hopefully everyone now wants to see whatıs still ahead for Brian Shirley.² Brian Shirley is definitely one to watch for and people are already tuning in to see whatıs in store for the twenty-four year old Illinoisan. For more information on Brian and the #3s team, log on to the new http://www.brianshirley.com. Tour Notes The #3s visited victory lane 1 time in 26 events, won 8 heat races and earned an impressive 10 Top-5 finishes (38%) and 18 Top-10s (69%) by using two CJ Rayburn Race Cars powered by Pro Power Racing Engines and Capitol Machine Shop Brian pulled double-driving duty and wheeled the transporter for most of the 5,553 miles except when his uncle, Rob Shirley, was able to assist for five events Brianıs visit to Victory Lane at Oakshade marks the fourth consecutive Petroff Towing/CJ Rayburn driver to do so: 2001/2002 Billy Moyer, 2003 Don OıNeal, 2004 Shannon Babb, 2005 Brian Shirley The team assumed 4th place in the championship points from absentee U.M.P. National Late Model Champion Rodney Melvin prior to the main event at Oakshade. Shannon Babb had an impressive command atop the standings while Jimmy Mars nudged fellow Petroff Towing/CJ Rayburn driver Dennis Erb for 2nd place. The 2005 U.M.P. Summernationals Top-6 in championship points are: 1. Shannon Babb 2. Jimmy Mars 3. Dennis Erb, Jr. 4. Brian Shirley 5. Rodney Melvin 6. Jeep Van Wormer Brian would like to extend special thanks to Bill Gibbons, Dave Hoff, Mikey Myers, Jerry Patterson, Gary Walters, Dan Rothe, Bill Schlieper, Rob Shirley, Ed Petroff, CJ Rayburn, Smash and the teams of Shannon Babb and Patrick Sheltra for their continued support and assistance. We would also like to express deep gratitude to all of our generous sponsors for helping us reach this career milestone. Brian Shirleyıs #3s dirt late modelıs sponsors include CJ Rayburn Race Cars The Only Chassis Proven To Be Stronger Than Dirt!; Petroff Towing; B Auto Parts; JAYCO Construction; Capitol Storage; Capitol Machine Shop; Skateland South; Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway; Charlie Parkerıs Diner; Budda Enterprises; Hoosier by Smash; AXR2; Michelle Petroff Promotions; Canham Graphics; Dinker; ³The Concrete Crusher²; Ridings Plumbing; Rob & Carol Shirley; DoubleJ; Wick Racing Products; Pro Power Racing Engines; Allstar Performance; Peterson Fluid Systems; Performance Rod & Custom; Scott Performance Wire; Weld Wheel; Bert Transmission; Koni; Hypercoils; Dyers Top Rods; MSD Ignition and Sweet Manufacturing.