CANTON, IL – July 11, 2007 – A breathtaking mid-race pass vaulted Shannon Babb into the lead and kept alive his UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals win streak Wednesday night at Spoon River Speedway.
Babb, 33, of Moweaqua , Ill. , was chasing pacesetter Jeep VanWormer of Pinconning, Mich. , and Summernationals points leader Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville , Ill. , just after the halfway point of the 40-lap A-Main when he pulled off one of the best moves of the 2007 tour.
When VanWormer was momentarily slowed by a lapped car on the inside of the track and Erb lost his momentum on the high side, Babb surged through a gap in the middle to assume command.
The remainder of the distance belonged to Babb, who earned $6,000 for his fourth consecutive Summernationals victory. It was his 55th career win on the grueling series, and it tied him with Erb as the winningest driver of this year’s tour.
VanWormer slipped by Erb on the final lap to finish second. Erb, who led the race’s first 14 laps, settled for third place, followed by Randy Korte of Highland , Ill. , and Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind.
Erb’s third-place finish helped him pad his Summernationals points lead, which now sits at 36 points over O’Neal.
Sixty cars entered the event.
Heat winners were Tim Lance of Mapleton , Ill. , Erb, VanWormer, Babb, O’Neal and Kevin Cole of Buckner , Ill. , and the B-Mains were captured by A.J. Diemel of Navarino , Wis. , Jason Feger of Springfield , Ill. , and Brady Smith of Solon Springs , Wis.
UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals A-Main Finish (40 laps):
1. Shannon Babb
2. Jeep VanWormer
3. Dennis Erb Jr.
4. Randy Korte
5. Don O’Neal
6. Wes Steidinger
7. Tim Lance
8. Kevin Cole
9. Greg Johnson
10. Mike Marlar
11. A.J. Diemel
12. Scott Dedwylder
13. Mike Mullvain
14. Jason Feger
15. Eddie Kirchoff
16. Jason McBride
17. Brady Smith
18. Steve Sheppard Jr.
19. Matt Taylor
20. Ed Dixon
21. Ryan Dauber
22. Scott May
23. Robbie Bauman
24. Kevin Weaver
DNQ: Scott May Jr., Don Hammer, Steve Nolan, Nathan Pribble, Lance Alcorn, Russ Adams, Dawn Mennel, Randy Booth, Joshua Kopp, Steve Lance, Jewell Lendale, Mike Mataragas, Tim Manville, Bill Kettering, Brad Denny, Gerry Reeder, Greg Longfellow, Shawn Toczek, Jeremy Conaway, Russ Schonoover, Brian Allen, Bob Freeburg, Chuck Mitchell, Scott Bull, Ryan Little, Rick O’Brien, Donny Walden, Charlie Hess, Dan O’Connor, Brandon Sheppard, Joe Harlan, Jay Sparks, Bryan Collins, Jim Felker, Brian Crebs, B.I. Nelson
UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals Points Standings (after 22 events):
1. Dennis Erb Jr. 1,486
2. Don O’Neal 1,450
3. Mike Marlar 1,382
4. Wes Steidinger 1,380
5. Jeep VanWormer 1,322
6. Steve Sheppard Jr. 1,280
7. Eddie Kirchoff 998
8. Kevin Weaver 950
9. Jason Feger 918
10. Randy Korte 900
11. Rodney Melvin 866
12. A.J. Diemel 830
13. Billy Moyer 770
14. Terry Casey 686
15. Shannon Babb 669
16. Ryan Dauber 379
17. Greg Johnson 378
18. Jordan Bland 342
19. Brady Smith 318
20. Rusty Schlenk 313
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 (Shannon Babb)
7/11 – Wed. – Spoon River Speedway/Canton, IL (Shannon Babb)
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
