LASALLE, Ill. – July 13, 2011 – Shannon Babb dominated the field Wednesday night at LaSalle Speedway much like he has the rest of the DIRTcar Summer Nationals Hell Tour.
Babb started the race on the pole, but Frank Heckenast Jr., of Frankfort, Ill., jumped to the early lead using the high groove. Babb meticulously rolled around the bottom, moving into the lead on lap 16 as the track’s surface slicked off. Babb went on to build leads as large as a half-straightaway over second place en route to his sixth victory on the 2011 ‘Hell Tour’ worth $5,000. Former DIRTcar Summer Nationals champion Kevin Weaver of Gibson City, Ill., slipped past Heckenast after the midpoint, while Waterville, Ohio native Matt Miller got by on the final circuit to finish third and relegate Heckenast to a fourth place finish. Jack Sullivan of Greenbriar, Ark., finished fifth, his second consecutive top-five.
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Babb, who is seeking his third ‘Hell Tour’ championship, extends his point lead heading into the final three events of the 2011 DIRTcar Summer Nationals to 245 points over Scott James of Lawrenceburg, Ind., and 318 points over Erb.
The DIRTcar Summer Nationals will return to action Thursday, July 14 at Spoon River Speedway in Canton, Ill.
DIRTcar Summer Nationals Hell Tour Statistical Report; LaSalle Speedway; LaSalle, Ill.; July 13, 2011
A-Main (40-Laps): 1. Shannon Babb ($5,000), 2. Kevin Weaver, 3. Matt Miller, 4. Frank Heckenast Jr., 5. Jack Sullivan, 6. Ryan Unzicker, 7. Bret Sievert, 8. Donny Walden, 9. Ryan Dauber, 10. Dennis Erb Jr., 11. Mike Spatola, 12. Mike Provenzano, 13. Dillan White, 14. Rich Bell, 15. Jeep Van Wormer, 16. Scott James, 17. Brandon Sheppard, 18. Nathan Balensiefen, 19. Scott Schmitt, 20. Mike Glynn, 21. Pete Parker, 22. Dan Schlieper, 23. Keith Piano.Fast qualifiers (among 29 cars): Weaver, Unzicker, Walden. Heat race winners: Weaver, Babb, Heckenast. Consolation winner: Bell. Provisional starters: James, Schmitt, Piano, Spatola, Balensiefen.
2011 DIRTcar Summer Nationals “The Hell Tour” Schedule
| Date | Track | Location | Winner (Cars) |
| June 15 | Brownstown Speedway | Brownstown, Ind. | PPD/July 12 |
| June 16 | Kankakee County Speedway | Kankakee, Ill. | Mike Spatola (37) |
| June 17 | Cedar Lake Speedway | Cedar Lake, Wis. | Scott James (29) |
| June 18 | Cedar Lake Speedway | Cedar Lake, Wis. | Canceled Rain |
| June 20 | LaSalle Speedway | LaSalle, Ill. | PPD/July 13 |
| June 21 | Spoon River Speedway | Canton, Ill. | PPD/July 14 |
| June 22 |
Highland Speedway |
Highland, Ill. | Scott James (50) |
| June 23 | Fayette County Speedway | Brownstown, Ill. | Jason Feger (48) |
| June 24 | Tri-City Speedway | Pontoon Beach, Ill. | Dan Schlieper (52) |
| June 25 | Fairbury American Legion Speedway | Fairbury, Ill. | PPD/July 23 |
| June 26 | I-96 Speedway | Lake Odessa, Mich. | Shannon Babb (46) |
| June 28 | Lincoln Park Speedway | Putnamville, Ind. | Shannon Babb (22) |
| June 29 |
Belle Clair Speedway |
Belleville, Ill. | Michael Kloos (32) |
| June 30 | Clay Hill Motorsports Park | Atwood, Tenn. | Mike Spatola (30) |
| July 1 | Paducah International Raceway | Paducah, Ky. | Ray Cook (40) |
| July 2 | I-55 Raceway | Pevely, Mo. | Billy Moyer (41) |
| July 3 | Lincoln Speedway | Lincoln, Ill. | Brandon Sheppard (35) |
| July 4 | 34 Raceway | Burlington, Iowa | Brian Birkhofer (26) |
| July 6 | Peoria Speedway | Peoria, Ill. | Shannon Babb (38) |
| July 7 | Macon Speedway | Macon, Ill. | PPD/July 21 |
| July 8 | Farmer City Raceway | Farmer City, Ill. | Brandon Sheppard (41) |
| July 9 | Clarksville Speedway | Clarksville, Tenn. | Wendell Wallace (44) |
| July 10 | Tri-State Speedway | Haubstadt, Ind. | Shannon Babb (35) |
| July 12 | Brownstown Speedway | Brownstown, Ind. | Shannon Babb (40) |
| July 13 | LaSalle Speedway | LaSalle, Ill. | Shannon Babb(29) |
| July 14 | Spoon River Speedway | Canton, Ill. | |
| July 15 | Attica Raceway Park | Attica, Ohio | |
| July 16 | Oakshade Raceway | Wauseon, Ohio |
The DIRTcar Summer Nationals is brought to fans by many important sponsors and partners including Hoosier Racing Tires, GM Performance Parts, ASI Racewear, Comp Cams, Intercomp Racing, JE Pistons, QuarterMaster, Superflow, Wix Filters, Wrisco Aluminum, the University of Northwestern Ohio, R2C Competition Series Air Filters, VP Racing Fuels, Racing Electronics, ButlerBuilt, MSD Ignition, Chizmark Larson Insurance, Vicci Apparel, Beyea Custom Headers, Fusion Graphics & Sign Company, Dyer’s Rods, and Ohlins Shocks.
