April 29
Fairbury Speedway,
Fairbury, IL
Sanction: MARS Championship Series - $5,000
Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated April 30, 2:31 am)
Babb holds off Sheppard for $5,000 at Fairbury
- Shannon Babb
- Brandon Sheppard
- Brian Shirley
- Drake Troutman
- Ryan Unzicker
- Jason Feger
- Frank Heckenast Jr.
- Bob Gardner
- Taylor Scheffler
- Mike Harrison
- Logan Nickerson
- Kyle Hammer
- Mike Spatola
- Jason Wagner
- Jake Little
- McKay Wenger
- Tommy Sheppard Jr.
- Billy Hough
- Mark Voigt
- Tyler Erb
- Chase Osterhoff
- Kevin Weaver
Shannon Babb poses with his winnings in Fairbury victory lane.
What won the race: Fifth-starting Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., took the lead on lap 19 and never looked back, pacing the final 22 circuits at Fairbury Speedway and winning Saturday's $5,000 MARS Late Model Championship Series feature. Babb notched his ninth career MARS Series victory and secured his second win of the season.
Quotable: “FALS put on a hell of a race tonight, you know this track was just spot-on,” Babb said. “You know they did that extra effort to put on a good show for the fans right there, by reworking it, pressured by the rain and everything else. I’m just tickled to death to be able to race with a bunch of good guys, we’re all buddies and we race hard and, son of a gun, they didn’t give it to me there.”
Key notes: Sixth-starting Brandon Sheppard marched through the field in the closing laps and reeled-in Babb while he was mired in heavy lapped traffic, finishing 0.227 of a second back; Sheppard earned his second runner-up finish in as many nights. ... Brian Shirley led laps eight through 18 before giving way to Babb and Sheppard, finishing third. ... Drake Troutman advanced six positions and finished fourth. ... Ryan Unzicker led the first seven laps and finished fifth. ... Jason Feger gained nine spots and finished sixth. ... Polesitter McKay Wenger failed to lead a lap and finished 16th, the first car one lap down. ... A night after winning the MARS season opener at Brownstown Bullring, Tyler Erb appeared to lose an engine while running sixth on lap 19. ... Saturday's feature, the 14th-ever series stop at FALS, was slowed by two cautions and lasted 22 minutes, with 15 competitors completing all 40 laps. ... The MARS Late Model Championship Series concludes its season-opening weekend tripleheader with Sunday's $5,000-to-win finale at Red Hill Raceway in Sumner, Ill. … Watch live on FloRacing.
On the move: Taylor Scheffler of Waukesha, Wis., started 22nd and finished ninth.
Winner's sponsors: Babb’s Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Vic Hill Racing Engine and sponsored by Petroff Towing, Donley Trucking, Dyna-Gro Seed, Getty Landscaping, Douglas Dodge/Ram, CJI Piping & Fabrication, Hunting for Hope, Penske Racing Shocks, VP Race Fuels and Kuebler Ultra Oil.
Points chase: After Fairbury Saturday: T1. Shannon Babb (140); T1. Brandon Sheppard (140); 3. Brian Shirley (125); 4. Jason Feger (111); 5. Tyler Erb (106).
Current weather: Overcast, 55°F
Car count: 32
Fast qualifier: McKay Wenger
Time: 12.862 seconds
Polesitter: McKay Wenger
Heat race winners: McKay Wenger, Ryan Unzicker, Brian Shirley, Bob Gardner
Consolation race winners: Jake Little, Tommy Sheppard Jr.
Provisional starters: Kevin Weaver, Taylor Scheffler
Next series race: April 30, Red Hill Raceway (Sumner, IL) $5,000
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.