HIGHLAND, Ill. -- Rodney Melvin has won a few DIRTcar Summer Nationals races in his day, but maybe none more thrilling than his last lap victory at Highland Speedway on Wednesday night that netted him a nice $5,000 payday.

Melvin, of Benton, Ill., meticulously battled his way from a seventh-place starting spot over the 40-lap main event to put himself in a three-way battle for the lead in the last five laps with then leader Randy Korte of Highland, Ill., and 2010 Hell Tour champion Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill. Melvin worked the low side and moving past Feger with two to go and then grabbed the lead from Korte exiting turn two on the final lap. Korte, a former UMP DIRTcar Late Model National Champion finished second with Feger third. Current Hell Tour point leader Shannon Babb crossed the line fourth. Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., who is Babb's closest contender in the point standings, rounded out the top five.

The tour will return to action Thursday night at Fayette County Speedway in Brownstown, Ill., where Jason Feger won the Summer Nationals event in 2011.

DIRTcar Summer Nationals Statistical Report; Highland Speedway; Highland, Ill.; June 20, 2012 A-Main (40-laps): 1. Rodney Melvin ($5,000), 2. Randy Korte, 3. Jason Feger, 4. Shannon Babb, 5. Brian Shirley, 6. Bobby Pierce, 7. Ryan Unzicker, 8. Wendell Wallace, 9. Kevin Weaver, 10. Brandon Sheppard, 11. Mike Spatola, 12. Chad Zobrist, 13. Jon Henry, 14. Tanner English, 15. Dennis Erb Jr., 16. Frank Heckenast Jr., 17. Jason McBride, 18. Kevin Cole, 19. Billy Moyer Jr., 20. Frankie Martin, 21. Mark Burgtorf, 22. Rusty Schlenk.Fast qualifiers (among 42 cars): Unzicker,Pierce, Heckenast, Wallace. Heat race winners: Feger, Shirley, Korte, Babb. B-main winner: Erb. Provisional starters: Moyer, Spatola, Schlenk, Martin. C-main winner: Jason Riggs.

2012 DIRTcar Summer Nationals Schedule

Date

Track

Location

Winner (Cars)

13-Jun

Brownstown Speedway

Brownstown, IN

Billy Moyer Jr. (49)

14-Jun

Kankakee County Speedway

Kankakee, IL

Shannon Babb(45)

15-Jun

Cedar Lake Speedway

Somerset, WI

Billy Moyer Jr. (37)

16-Jun

Cedar Lake Speedway

Somerset, WI

Billy Moyer Jr. (32)

17-Jun

Wilmot Raceway

Wilmot, WI

Ryan Unzicker (31)

19-Jun

Spoon River Speedway

Canton, IL

Jon Henry (38)

20-Jun

Highland Speedway

Highland, IL

Rodney Melvin (42)

21-Jun

Fayette Co. Speedway

Brownstown, IL


22-Jun

Tri City Speedway

Pontoon Beach, IL


23-Jun

Fairbury Speedway

Fairbury, IL


24-Jun

I-96 Speedway

Lake Odessa, MI


26-Jun

Lincoln Park Speedway

Putnamville, IN


27-Jun

Belle Clair Speedway

Belleville, IL


28-Jun

Clay Hill Motorsports Park

Atwood, TN


29-Jun

Paducah Int. Raceway

Paducah, KY


30-Jun

Federated Auto Parts I-55

Pevely, MO


1-Jul

Lincoln Speedway

Lincoln, IL


2-Jul

Peoria Speedway

Peoria, IL


3-Jul

Jacksonville Speedway

Jacksonville, IL


4-Jul

Lasalle Speedway

Lasalle, IL


5-Jul

Macon Speedway

Macon, IL


6-Jul

Quincy Raceways

Quincy, IL


7-Jul

Clarksville Speedway

Clarksville, TN


8-Jul

Tri State Speedway

Haubstadt, IN


10-Jul

Florence Speedway

Union, KY


11-Jul

Brushcreek Motorsports

Pebbles, OH


12-Jul

Terre Haute Action Track

Terre Haute, IN


13-Jul

Attica Raceway Park

Attica, OH


14-Jul

Oakshade Raceway

Wauseon, OH