The 40th anniversary season for the DIRTcar Summer Nationals kicks off in under one month’s time, saluting four decades of history, tradition, and the most intense dirt track racing grind in the country.
A fully loaded schedule of 33 Late Model races in 34 days presents one of the most grueling schedules in Hell Tour history. Starting June 9 at Brownstown Speedway, the tour will also venture to two brand-new tracks — Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway and Camden Speedway — plus three tracks not seen on the docket in over 30 years — West Liberty Raceway, Farmington Empire Speedway, and Windy Hollow Speedway — before wrapping up at Wayne County Speedway on July 12.
A $150,000 points fund will be paid out weekly — $10,000 to each week’s points champion, followed by checks for the rest of the top 10. The top 10 drivers in overall Summer Nationals points after the final event of Week 5 will receive bonus checks, including $10,000 for the 2026 champion.
The DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals is also set to embark on its 16th consecutive season of competition with a slate of 27 races in the same 34-day span as the Late Models, culminating with Race No. 28 and 29 in the 36th annual Prairie Dirt Classic at Fairbury Speedway, July 24–25. This two-day event, running in support of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision, pays $5,000 to Saturday night’s main event winner and will feature the crowning of the 2026 champion, also worth a $5,000 check.
Last year, Jason Feger ruled the Late Model circuit with five Feature wins, 13 top-fives and 21 top-10s in 26 starts, outrunning 2024 champion Tyler Erb by only 71 points in the final standings to claim his second career Summer Nationals championship and first since 2010. A slew of new faces made up the full-time roster last summer as well, stacking the roster to 11 drivers which included Feger and Erb, Dillon McCowan, Mark Whitener, Trey Mills, Tyler Millwood, Christian Hanger, Brendon and Brody Smith, Clay Stuckey and Thomas Hunziker.
The Modified championship was won by Tyler Nicely, who captured the crown for the second time in three years. In only 14 starts, the Kentucky native scored eight Feature wins, 12 top-fives and 12 top-10s to finish 67 points ahead of runner-up Trevor Neville.
For 2026, DIRTcar is honoring Summer Nationals history every week leading up to the kickoff at Brownstown with special featured articles and an all-new, six-part docu-series exclusive to DIRTVision subscribers. Hell on Dirt: The DIRTcar Summer Nationals premiered on May 5 and launches a new episode every Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET, featuring Hell Tour legends Billy Moyer, Shannon Babb, Bobby Pierce and Brandon Sheppard, plus the full-time drivers of the 2025 season.
DIRTVision will be streaming every race of the 2026 DIRTcar Summer Nationals and Summit Modified Nationals live to your devices — subscribe today for $39 per month or $299 for a full year.
COMBINED TOUR SCHEDULES
Week #1
Tuesday, June 9 | Brownstown Bullring | Brownstown, IL
Wednesday, June 10 | Kankakee County Speedway | Kankakee, IL
Thursday, June 11 | Peoria Speedway | Peoria, IL
Friday, June 12 | Tri-City Speedway | Granite City, IL
Saturday, June 13 | Fairbury Speedway | Fairbury, IL
Sunday, June 14 | Sycamore Speedway | Maple Park, IL (Late Models only)
Week #2
Monday, June 15 | Wilmot Raceway | Wilmot, WI (Late Models only)
Tuesday, June 16 | West Liberty Raceway | West Liberty, IA (Late Models only)
Wednesday, June 17 | Davenport Speedway | Davenport, IA (Late Models only)
Thursday, June 18 | Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway | Dubuque, IA (Late Models only)
Friday, June 19 | Farmer City Raceway | Farmer City, IL
Saturday, June 20 | I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park | Pevely, MO
Sunday, June 21 | Lincoln Speedway | Lincoln, IL
Week #3
Monday, June 22 | Poplar Bluff Motorsports Park | Poplar Bluff, MO
Tuesday, June 23 | Benton Speedway | Benton, MO
Wednesday, June 24 | Quincy Raceways | Quincy, IL
Thursday, June 25 | Springfield Raceway | Springfield, MO (Late Models only)
Friday, June 26 | Paducah International Raceway | Paducah, KY
Saturday, June 27 | Tri-State Speedway | Haubstadt, IN
Sunday, June 28 | Windy Hollow Speedway | Owensboro, KY
Week #4
Monday, June 29 | Camden Speedway | Camden, TN
Tuesday, June 30 | Old No. 1 Speedway | Harrisburg, AR
Wednesday, July 1 | Farmington Empire Speedway | Farmington, MO
Thursday, July 2 | LaSalle Speedway | LaSalle, IL
Friday, July 3 | Red Hill Raceway | Sumner, IL
Saturday, July 4 | Highland Speedway | Highland, IL
Sunday, July 5 | Macon Speedway | Macon, IL
Week #5
Monday, July 6 | OFF
Tuesday, July 7 | Montpelier Speedway | Montpelier, IN
Wednesday, July 8 | I-96 Speedway | Lake Odessa, MI
Thursday, July 9 | Butler Motor Speedway | Quincy, MI
Friday, July 10 | Crystal Motor Speedway | Crystal, MI
Saturday, July 11 | Oakshade Raceway | Wauseon, OH
Sunday, July 12 | Wayne County Speedway | Orrville, OH (Late Model Championship Finale)
36th Annual Prairie Dirt Classic (Modified Championship Finale)
Friday-Saturday, July 24-25 | Fairbury Speedway | Fairbury, IL
This article was republished with the permission of the DIRTcar Summer Nationals. Original article can be found here: https://dirtcarsummernationals.com/news/summer-madness-hell-tours-40th-anniversary-season-begins-june-9/
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