7/4/2025
LaSalle Speedway
Millwood Muscles to First Career DIRTcar Summer Nationals Win at LaSalle Speedway
Racing far from his Georgia roots and in unfamiliar territory for much of the 2025 DIRTcar Summer Nationals Late Model tour, rookie Tyler Millwood proved he belongs with the best. The Kingston, GA native charged through the field Thursday night to claim his first career Hell Tour Feature win during the series' long-awaited return to LaSalle Speedway — a comeback 4 years in the making for the track.
Millwood started 10th and used every inch of LaSalle's high cushion and late-race traffic to his advantage, gaining 10 spots en route to a dramatic win in the 40-lap Freedom 40.
“This is badass,” Millwood said in Victory Lane. “It might look easy sometimes, but it’s not. This is really hard and it took every ounce of my knowledge to say, ‘Can I move out and try to get by (Feger) there.’ Hopefully we can get us a couple more (wins).”
Feger Leads Early, But Traffic Decides the Finish
Current Summer Nationals points leader Jason Feger, known as the “High Side Hustler,” looked poised to score his third tour win of the year after snatching the lead from polesitter Dillon McCowan early on. Feger’s No. 25 Longhorn Chassis found grip along the top side, but it wasn’t long before title rival Tyler Erb challenged from third.
The duo traded sliders in the opening laps, with Erb momentarily taking the lead in traffic. But Feger answered back, cutting underneath to reclaim the spot. The two waged a fierce battle until Erb's bid for victory ended prematurely at the halfway point due to a mechanical failure, bringing out the caution on Lap 20.
Millwood’s Methodical Climb
By the time the race resumed, Millwood had quietly worked his way onto the podium. Using the outside line to carve through traffic, he capitalized on others’ missteps and gradually reeled in Feger over the final 15 laps.
The decisive moment came with four laps remaining. As Feger was held up by lapped traffic in the top groove, Millwood ducked to the middle lane, trapped Feger behind a slower car, and nosed ahead in Turns 3 and 4. Once out front, he didn’t look back, opening up a 1.4-second advantage by the checkered flag.
The win makes Millwood the 115th different winner in DIRTcar Summer Nationals history and marks the first victory at LaSalle Speedway since the tour last visited in 2021.
Freedom 40 Feature Results (40 Laps)
31M-Tyler Millwood [10]
25F-Jason Feger [2]
18-Shannon Babb [6]
75-Dillon McCowan [1]
5S-Kyle Hammer [14]
29-Christian Hanger [19]
27M-Rodney Melvin [12]
5-Mark Whitener [18]
28B-Carson Brown [9]
33-Mike Harrison [11]
... (Full results follow in official series release)
Photo Credit: Vahana Sports Media
Article Credit: Kevin Zambory
Submitted By: Kevin Zambory