(July 5, 2024) Paducah, KY – When it seemed all hope was lost for Tanner English, the Kentucky native dug deep and refused to be denied in front of his home-state crowd on Friday night at Paducah International Raceway. This tenacity paid off, leading to his first career DIRTcar Summer Nationals Feature win in Kentucky.
Tanner English, hailing from Benton, KY, and a former World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year, showcased remarkable resilience. He led the opening 12 laps of the main event before a flat tire forced him to relinquish the lead. However, as fate would have it, leaders Jason Feger and Tyler Clem also suffered flat tires in the race’s closing laps. This allowed English, who had fought his way back from the tail of the field, to seize victory.
“Luck kept rolling our way,” English remarked. “I hate it for Feger. He had a flat there, but I think I probably would’ve won it if I hadn’t had a flat also.”
An Emotional Victory in Front of Home Fans
In Victory Lane, English expressed his elation and gratitude, particularly cherishing the win in front of his home crowd. “It’s been a long time coming to win a big race here,” he said. “I’ve won some World 50s and some $10,000-to-win races, but winning a Summer Nationals race is something special. It may not be the biggest win or the toughest competition, but it means a lot to me.”
Starting on the outside pole, English took the lead on Lap 1, quickly pulling ahead of polesitter Jeff Herzog. He maintained his lead until Lap 12 when a flat right-rear tire forced him to the back of the field. Undeterred, English knew he had to fix it, despite the setback.
“I knew it was fixing to blow,” English explained. “I knew it was almost gone, so I didn’t have any other choice.”
A Race Full of Twists and Turns
After English’s misfortune, Jason Feger inherited the lead and seemed untouchable, building a substantial gap with 10 laps to go. However, English had not given up, charging hard to climb back into contention. When Feger also fell victim to a flat tire with only two laps remaining, Tyler Clem took over the lead. But Clem’s mishap on the cushion handed the lead back to English, who then raced to a triumphant finish.
Reflecting on the chaotic race, English said, “I knew something was bound to happen. I just didn’t expect it to happen like that.”
Ultimately, English crossed the finish line two seconds ahead of runner-up Joe Chalmers, securing not just a $10,000 prize but a significant emotional victory. “It’s big just to do it in front of my hometown crowd,” he said. “I live 15 miles down the road, so it’s awesome because we get to sleep in our own bed tonight.”
Looking Ahead
English’s victory also catapulted him to the Week 4 points lead as the DIRTcar Summer Nationals tour continues. Fans can catch the next race at Clarksville Speedway in Clarksville, TN, with tickets available at the gate or via live stream on DIRTVision.
Stay tuned for more thrilling race action and updates as the 39th DIRTcar Summer Nationals rolls on.
Feature Results
- Tanner English [2]
- Joe Chalmers [13]
- Clayton Stuckey [20]
- Jason Feger [6]
- Dillon McCowan [9]
- Daniel Adam [8]
- Mark Voigt [15]
- Paul Stubber [14]
- Tyler Clem [16]
- Rodney Melvin [3]
- Jeff Herzog [1]
- Carson Brown [10]
- Christian Hanger [7]
- Dylan Thompson [4]
- Thomas Hunziker [11]
- Ronnie Cooper [17]
- David Breazeale [12]
- Charlie Cole [22]
- Ethan Dotson [5]
- Tony Cruse [21]
- Wyatt Cox [18]
- Ashton Winger [19]
- Jeremy Anderson [23]
