ROSSBURG, Ohio (May 26) — Jeff Babcock of Wayne, Ohio, broke through Sunday at Eldora Speedway, notching his first-ever Late Model victory at the legendary half-mile oval and his first-ever Sunoco American Late Model Series triumph. Babcock earned $2,000 for his Johnny Appleseed Classic triumph. | Slideshow

The 25-lapper was slowed by only one caution, but for Jacob Hawkins of Fairmont, W.Va., that was one caution too many. After chasing down and reeling in Babcock, the early leader, Hawkins had just completed a well-executed pass for the lead when Rusty Schlenk of Weston, Ohio, dropped off the pass and looped it in turn three.

With scoring reverting to the previously completed lap, Babcock was put back out front. A double-file restart lineup gave Hawkins a second chance, but with Babcock taking the preferred high line on the restart, he was able to get the jump on the reappearing green flag. He took with him Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., as Hawkins slipped back to third.

That set up a wild three-car battle for the victory bragging rights, as no less than six cars engaged in a similar chase behind them.

Babcock maintained a smooth line through lapped traffic as the checkered flag approached and it couldn’t come any sooner, as Hawkins finally cleared Davenport with two laps remaining and had his sights on taking back the premier position. But time ran out, giving the 33-year-old Babcock a victory while Hawkins scored his best-ever Eldora finish in second.

Davenport finished third while Jeep Van Wormer of Pinconning, Mich., and Kent Robinson of Bloomington, Ind., rounded out the top five. Polesitter Brian Ruhlman of Clarklake, Mich., faded to ninth at the finish in the 22-car field.

Notes: Babcock’s Best Performance Motorsports team, with co-car owners Eric Brock along with Shane and Jennifer Halcomb, is sponsored by Bulk Material Lift, Best Performance, Craig Miller Trucking and Hoosier Racing Tire. ... The event was sponsored by Miller Lite. ... The four-division event drew 129 race cars. ... Ron Blair won the NRA Sprint Invaders feature, Brian Ruhlman won the modified feature and Paul Pardo won the stock car feature. ... Babcock won Eldora’s stock car title in 2007 and he’s won modified races at the Tony Stewart-owned oval. ... All but two starters were running at the finish. ... Fifth-place finisher Kent Robinson was piloting a new Rocket Chassis out of Darrell Lanigan’s Club 29 shop; he won the previous night at Florence Speedway in Union, Ky. ... Drivers failing to make the feature lineup: Fast qualifier Duane Chamberlain (missed by one transfer spot in the first consolation), Chris Keller, Matt Irey, Rob Starkey, Don Gordon, Rich Neiser, Andy Galgoci, Justin Coulter, Rich Bell, Gregg Haskell, James Rice, Larry Greer and Frank Heckenast Jr. ... Other weekend ALMS winners: Rusty Schlenk of Weston, Ohio, at Mount Pleasant (Mich.) Speedway on Friday and Matt Miller of Waterville, Ohio, at Oakshade Raceway in Wauseon, Ohio, on Saturday. ... ALMS competitors wrap up the weekend Monday at Macon (Ill.) Speedway. ... Eldora’s just two weeks away from the richest Dirt Late Model event of the season, the $100,000-to-win Dream XIV. The June 6-8 weekend includes an expanded program with racing all three nights.