COLUMBUS JUNCTION, IA – July 9, 2007 – The Shannon Babb Express is picking up steam as the 2007 UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals winds down.
Moweaqua , Ill. ’s Babb rolled to his second consecutive tour triumph on Monday night, leading from flag-to-flag in the 30-lap A-Main at C.J. Raceway.
Babb, 33, is not defending his 2005-06 Summernationals titles this season, but he’s still looking to make his mark on the grueling tour. After winning for the first time in seven series starts on Sunday night at Quad City Raceway in East Moline , Ill. , he came right back with another vintage performance at the four-tenths-mile C.J. Raceway.
Taking advantage of a pole position starting spot, Babb steered his one-week-old Billy Moyer Sr.-owned Rayburn into the lead at the initial green flag and never looked back. He outran Don O’Neal of Martinsville , Ind. , in the closing laps to secure the $6,000 top prize.
The victory was the 53rd of Babb’s career on the UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals trail, and it gave him at least two tour wins for the sixth consecutive year.
O’Neal had to settle for runner-up money, but the finish drew him within two points of Summernationals points leader Dennis Erb Jr., who placed eighth. O’Neal won the 2004 Summernationals title, while Erb is bidding for his first career tour crown.
Six-time Summernationals champ Billy Moyer of Batesville , Ark. , finished third, followed by Brady Smith of Solon Springs , Wis. , and Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine , Iowa , who lost several spots when he slid high late in the distance.
Thirty dirt Late Models participated in the first-ever UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals event at C.J. Raceway. Rain caused a delay in the program but officials were able to beat the weather.
Heat winners were Babb, Chris Smyser of Lancaster , Mo. , and O’Neal, and Erb captured the B-Main.
UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals A-Main Finish (30 laps):
1. Shannon Babb
2. Don O’Neal
3. Billy Moyer
4. Brady Smith
5. Brian Birkhofer
6. Brian Harris
7. Wes Steidinger
8. Dennis Erb Jr.
9. Chad Simpson
10. Chris Smyser
11. Eddie Kirchoff
12. Mike Marlar
13. Steve Sheppard Jr.
14. Jeep VanWormer
15. Jay Johnson
16. A.J. Diemel
17. Kevin Weaver
18. Jason Utter
19. Kevin Kile
20. Billy Moyer Jr.
21. Jason Feger
DNQ: Kurt Kile, Jason McBride, Jerry Lauber, Fred Remley, Tom Darbyshire, Jay Chenowith, Tommy Elston, Johnny Johnson, Scott Dedwylder
UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals Points Standings (after 20 events):
1. Dennis Erb Jr. 1,342
2. Don O’Neal 1,340
3. Mike Marlar 1,280
4. Wes Steidinger 1,250
5. Jeep VanWormer 1,192
6. Steve Sheppard Jr. 1,178
7. Eddie Kirchoff 884
8. Rodney Melvin 866
9. Kevin Weaver 862
10. Randy Korte 826
11. Jason Feger 816
12. Billy Moyer 770
13. A.J. Diemel 714
14. Terry Casey 686
15. Shannon Babb 519
16. Jordan Bland 342
17. Ryan Dauber 339
18. Greg Johnson 314
19. Rusty Schlenk 313
20. Jeff Taylor 275
2007 UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals Schedule
6/15 – Fri. – Kankakee Motor Speedway/Kankakee, IL (Dennis Erb Jr.)
6/16 – Sat. – Kamp Motor Speedway/Boswell, IN (Dennis Erb Jr.)
6/17 – Sun. – Tri-State Speedway/Haubstadt, IN (Randy Korte)
6/18 – Mon. – Jefferson County Raceway/ Mt. Vernon , IL (Randy Korte)
6/19 – Tues. – Lebanon I-44 Speedway/Lebanon, MO (Mike Marlar)
6/20 – Wed. – Highland Speedway/Highland, IL (Dennis Erb Jr.)
6/21 – Thurs. – Morgan County Speedway / Jacksonville , IL (Kevin Weaver)
6/22 – Fri. – Farmer City Raceway/Farmer City, IL (Rain – Rescheduled to July 13)
6/23 – Sat. – I-55 Raceway/Pevely, MO (Mike Marlar)
6/24 – Sun. – Lincoln Speedway/Lincoln, IL (Don O’Neal)
6/25 – Mon. – Peoria Speedway/Peoria, IL (Dennis Erb Jr.)
6/26 – Tues. – Poplar Bluff Speedway/Poplar Bluff, MO (Billy Moyer)
6/27 – Wed. – Lake Ozark Speedway / Eldon , MO (Rain)
6/28 – Thurs. – Paducah International Raceway/Paducah, KY (Billy Moyer)
6/29 – Fri. – Western Kentucky Speedway/Nebo, KY (Rain)
6/30 – Sat. – Clarksville Speedway/Clarksville, TN (Jeep VanWormer)
7/1 – Sun. – Vermilion County Speedway / Danville , IL (Don O’Neal)
7/2 – Mon. – Midway Speedway/Crooksville, OH (Earl Pearson Jr.)
7/3 – Tues. – Lawrenceburg Speedway/Lawrenceburg, IN (Jeep VanWormer)
7/4 – Wed. – Day Off
7/5 – Thurs. – Macon Speedway/Macon, IL (Rain – Rescheduled to July 21)
7/6 – Fri. – Tri-City Speedway / Pontoon Beach , IL (Don O’Neal)
7/7 – Sat. – Fairbury ( Ill. ) American Legion Speedway (Mike Marlar)
7/8 – Sun. – Quad City Speedway/East Moline , IL (Shannon Babb)
7/9 – Mon. – C.J. Raceway/Columbus Junction, IA (Shannon Babb)
7/10 – Tues. – Quincy Raceway/Quincy, IL
7/11 – Wed. – Spoon River Speedway/Canton, IL
7/12 – Thurs. – LaSalle Speedway/LaSalle, IL
7/13 – Fri. – Farmer City Raceway/Farmer City, IL
7/14 – Sat. – Oakshade Raceway/Wauseon, OH
7/21 – Sat. – Macon Speedway/Macon, IL
