ULTIMATE OPPORTUNIST: Erb Scores Night 1 of St. Louis Firecracker Faceoff

A second chance isn’t something that slips away from Dennis Erb Jr.

However, the veteran Late Model driver needed that second chance Friday at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 after a caution negated his pass for the lead.

Erb found another opportunity to strike 18 laps later, as race leader Billy Moyer Jr. caught the tail of the field. That’s when Erb dove to the bottom, splitting Kye Blight’s car as Moyer tried to pass him on the outside. Erb took the advantage, thundering past both of them with momentum to take the lead with 12 laps to go.

This time, a caution wouldn’t get in Erb’s way as he bested the top drivers with the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series and DIRTcar Summer Nationals to earn the $10,000 prize on night one of the St. Louis Firecracker Faceoff.

Erb stressed the importance of hitting his marks as a key to finding Victory Lane.

“We really would’ve liked to have gotten [the lead] earlier, but you know we were able to just wait and got it at the right time and was able to make a move on [Moyer],” Erb said. “Our car was working really good around that bottom, and we just had to hit our marks real good.

“Once I got out front, I was able to move up and move around. It was a little slippery tonight, but we were able to go out and get it.”

Erb’s win is his 12th World of Outlaws victory and 24th DIRTcar Summer Nationals triumph.

The four-time Hell Tour champion stated his time running Summer Nationals events the past two weeks gave him the chance to get better, despite his consistency in the first half of the season.

“We spent the last week or so going out and running [DIRTcar Summer Nationals] races,” Erb said. “We tried a few different things to see if we can make ourselves better. So, we picked up on a few things, and hopefully, it’ll help us out the rest of the year.”

Erb’s win extends his World of Outlaws CASE Late Models points lead—122 points over Max Blair, who finished 12th.

Billy Moyer Jr. settled for second after leading the race’s first 28 laps.

The Batesville, AR driver stated he had a good car but started to tighten up once he reached traffic.

“If the whole time we are in clean air, I don’t know if [Erb] would’ve got us,” Moyer said. “His car was just way better than ours maneuverability-wise.

“I couldn’t run that bottom like he did, and hell, I felt like I had a parachute back there. So, I just moved back up and tried to use the whole track. All in all, the car is good, just not as good as his around the bottom.”

Frank Heckenast Jr. crossed the line third, his first podium with the World of Outlaws and DIRTcar Summer Nationals in 2022.

Despite coming home third, the Frankfort, IL driver said his finish felt like a win.

“I screwed up in the Heat,” Heckenast said. “I didn’t screw up in the Heat; I just mean [Shannon Babb], and I had such a good race, and I have so much respect for him. I could’ve tried to slide him, and then I would’ve had the last pill for the fourth heat and started second.

“This feels like a win. We just had so much stuff going wrong lately. When you get that close, it really just tears at you that you had a shot to win.”

Jason Feger finished fourth, his fifth DIRTcar Summer Nationals top five this season, and first with the World of Outlaws—after starting 12th.

“Once we got rolling, the car was pretty good, and it came to life,” Feger said. “It felt really good on the restarts, and we were rolling by guys. We couldn’t get by Frankie at the end, and you know we were probably a little too nice to him.

“But I’m really happy; 12th to fourth against this bunch of guys. The car is fast and in one piece, and maybe we have something for them [Saturday].”

Four-time Hell Tour champion Brian Shirley rounded out the top five.

DIRTcar Summer Nationals points leader Bobby Pierce finished eighth, extending his lead over Ryan Unzicker.

Dennis Erb Jr.’s ability to take advantage of a second chance allowed him to get the edge on the competition Friday at I-55. If having that edge pays off on Saturday, it could be another $20,000 in his bank account.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models and DIRTcar Summer Nationals return to I-55 on Saturday, June 25 for the second night of the St. Louis Firecracker Faceoff.

TICKETS: https://bit.ly/3xVzo9u

If you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action live on DIRTVision – either online on with the DIRTVision App.

CASE Construction Feature (40 Laps): 1. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[3]; 2. 21-Billy Moyer Jr[1]; 3. 99JR-Frank Heckenast Jr[6]; 4. 25F-Jason Feger[12]; 5. 3S-Brian Shirley[7]; 6. 18-Shannon Babb[2]; 7. 19R-Ryan Gustin[14]; 8. 32-Bobby Pierce[5]; 9. 14G-Joe Godsey[9]; 10. 25-Shane Clanton[16]; 11. 11-Gordy Gundaker[24]; 12. 111V-Max Blair[8]; 13. 97-Cade Dillard[10]; 14. B1-Brent Larson[17]; 15. 81E-Tanner English[21]; 16. 1-Josh Richards[23]; 17. 24-Ryan Unzicker[22]; 18. 16G-Rusty Griffaw[26]; 19. 99B-Boom Briggs[29]; 20. 77-Preston Luckman[19]; 21. F1-Payton Freeman[25]; 22. 31K-Kye Blight[15]; 23. 11H-Jeff Herzog[20]; 24. 10J-Jordan Bauer[13]; 25. 2S-Stormy Scott[18]; 26. 10-Daryn Klein[4]; 27. 36-Logan Martin[11]; 28. 23-Paul Roider[28]; 29. 30-Mark Voigt[27] FOX Factory Hard Charger: Gordy Gundaker [+13].

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St. Louis Firecracker Faceoff
June 24, 2022 to June 25, 2022
Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55
1540 Herky-Horine
Pevely, MO 

Event Description
Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 has been a staple on the World of Outlaws schedule for many years. But in 2022, the World of Outlaws Late Models will make their first appearance at the track since 2018, meeting up with the Hell Tour for the first time in several years.

The Series will make its stop at the Missouri venue on June 24-25, with $10,000-to-win on Friday and $20,000 on the line to finish the weekend.

Joining them will be the Xtreme Outlaw Sprint Cars battling for $5,000 on Friday and $6,000 on Saturday.

Series Racing
World of Outlaws Late Model Series, DIRTcar Summer Nationals

Sprint Car Track Record
9.995 seconds by Kyle Larson on 5/22/20

Late Model Track Record
12.081 seconds by Billy Moyer on 6/23/07

To Win Amount
$10,000.00

Feature Laps Length
40

Event Schedule
2PM Pit Gates open
5PM Grandstand Gates open
6:30PM Hot Laps/Qualifying
7:30PM Opening Ceremonies
*All times Central

Options And Prices
2-Day Adult Reserved: $55
2-Day Child (12 & Under) Reserved: $30
2-Day GA: $50
Single Day Adult Reserved: $30
Single Day Child (12 and Under) Reserved: $15
Single Day Adult GA: $25
Single Day Child (12 and under) GA: FREE


Parking Cost
$0.00

Camping Availability
non-electric, onsite

Camping Cost
No Charge

To Win Amount
$10,000.00

Type of Grandstand
Bleachers

Stadium Seating
Stadium chairs allowed

Handicapped Seating
End of all bleachers

Handicapped Parking
In front of main Gate

Pit Age Limit
No Age limit - All minor's require proper waiver

Pit Gate Location
Pit gate is location near the drag strip entrance

Personal Coolers
No personal coolers allowed

Credit Card Use
Pit Gate, Ticket Window

Alcohol Sales
Alcohol is available for sale at the track

Smoking Policy
No smoking in grandstands

Family Section
None

Parking Cost
$0.00

Camping Availability
non-electric, onsite

Camping Cost
No Charge

Closest Airport
Festus

Other Airport
St. Louis

Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55
1540 Herky-Horine
Pevely, MO 

Track Phone
(636) 479-3219

Ticket Phone
(844) 347-8849

Track Email
[email protected]

Track Size & Type
0.333; High-banked

Sprint Car Track Record
9.995 seconds by Kyle Larson on 5/22/20

Competitor Downloads
 https://www.dirtcarmembers.com/downloads.php

Competitor Info
(Hoosier 20) LF, RF, LR
(Hoosier 30 or 40) RR Option
*You MUST Qualify, Heat Race, and LCS on the same tires.
You can change (1) tire for the Feature.