Highland Speedway
Babb on top at Highland for $10,000, historic win
Shannon Babb's team enjoys victory lane. (Jeff Hall)
HIGHLAND, Ill. (Aug. 25) — A rare August run on the UMP DIRTcar Summernationals tour gave Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., an historic victory.
Sweeping around fellow front-row starter Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., on the 25th of 40 laps, Babb led the rest of the way in Highland Speedway’s richest-ever event to scored his 83rd career tour victory, making him the all-time winningest driver on the 28-year-old tour. The three-time series champion Babb entered the event, a makeup of a July 6 rainout, tied at 82 victories with six-time series champ Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark. | Video | Slideshow
Babb switched grooves through the first half of the race in trying to track down the polesitting Pierce, who stuck mostly with the low line in trying to fend off Babb and Ryan Unzicker of El Paso, Ill. Babb eventually built enough moment to go around and led the final 16 laps.
“That was a heckuva race,” said Babb, who earned $10,000. “Bobby was really strong on the bottom there at the beginning. I think just as time went by and the bottom wore down a little bit — the top was a little rough at the beginning but it got smoothed up — I knew it time it would come around, and finally it did for us.”
Unzicker and Pierce touched during a late battle for second with Unzicker getting the spot and Pierce settling for third after leading 24 laps. Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., and hometown driver Randy Korte rounded out the top five but neither contended up front significantly.
The sixth-starting Unzicker considered skipping the race after a couple of rough weekend outings in Paducah, Ky., and Pevely, Mo., but stuck around and was hot on Babb’s heels in the high groove much of the way. “It really feels like a win right now,” he said.
Pierce knew he’d have his hands full with drivers running the high-side cushion, even though it was a much longer way around the quarter-mile oval.
“The top was getting faster and the bottom was just getting slower,” Pierce said. “(Babb) was doing a pretty good job up there. I knew the cushion was almost against the wall and I’m not very good when the cushion’s that high. Sometimes I can roll it up there, but not tonight. You know, I just tried to stay on the bottom where we’re normally good at it.”
Three incidents hampered the event, including Scott Weber’s flat tire amid contact before the race got rolling. Daryn Klein was running third in the high groove when he got into the backstretch fence on the 12th lap, and Michael Kloos brought out the final caution on lap 35.
Notes: Babb’s Victory Circle Chassis is powered by a Mullins Racing Engine and sponsored by Petroff Towing, Donley Trucking, Kreke’s Powerhouse, Allstar Performance and PRC ... Babb’s only other August victory on the series came at Vermilion County Speedway in Danville, Ill., in 2003. ... Babb won his fourth series race at Highland; he also won in 2004-'05 and '10. ... Because the event was postponed mid-time trials for Late Models, the field was set and no other drivers were allowed to enter; 32 of 40 original entrants returned.
UMP DIRTcar Summernationals @ Highland: (1) Shannon Babb, (2) Ryan Unzicker, (3) Bobby Pierce, (4) Brian Shirley, (5) Randy Korte, (6) Brandon Sheppard, (7) Kevin Weaver, (8) Chad Zobrist, (9) Tim Manville, (10) Dan Jacober, (11) Tanner English, (12) Shannon Kuhn, (13) Mike Hammerle, (14) Michael Kloos, (15) Mike Schulte, (16) Jason Zobrist, (17) Kent Robinson, (18) Jason Riggs, (19) Frankie Martin, (20) Daryn Klein, (21) Chad Sellars, (22) Rick Salter, (23) Scott Weber. Fast qualifier (among 40 cars): Babb, 13.517 seconds. Heat race winners: Klein, Babb, Weaver, Pierce. Consolation winner: Weber. Provisional starters: J. Zobrist, Hammerlee, Salter.
