7/16/2023
Ryan Unzicker
Ryan Unzicker bags second Hell Tour triumph of 2023 at Butler
With Wednesday’s stop falling to wet weather, Ryan Unzicker returned with the DIRTcar Summer Nationals on Thursday at Butler Speedway (Butler, Mich.) for the 20th round of the Hell Tour at the Michigan oval.
In a field of 35 Late Models, Unzicker came in second-fastest in his group before picking up a heat win over Eric Spangler. Soaring into the lead on lap 26 after the two frontrunners suffered flat tires, Ryan paced the final 15 circuits to claim his second Hell Tour triumph of the season and fifth overall of the 2023 campaign. He bagged a $5,000 payday ahead of Carter Murray, Eric Spangler, Rusty Schlenk, and Devin Shiels.
After Mother Nature stole Friday’s stop at Hartford Speedway (Hartford, Mich.), Ryan secured his spot into Saturday’s $10,000-to-win Birthday Race at Oakshade Raceway (Wauseon, Ohio) with a heat race win. Starting in third, Unzicker suffered rear-end failure while running second that ended his night with 20 laps remaining. He was scored 13th in the final rundown.
For the DIRTcar Summer Nationals finale on Sunday at Wayne County Speedway (Orrville, Ohio), Unzicker capped off the weekend with a stellar run in the feature after battling mechanical gremlins early in the night. Taking a provisional into the show, Ryan rebounded after a lap-12 flat with an impressive charge up to sixth from the 20th-starting position.
Ryan finished second in the Week 5 Hell Tour point standings.
Full results from the events are available at www.DIRTcarSummerNationals.com.
Article Credit: Jim DenHamer photo
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