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BABB SCORES KNOCK OUT IN 360 OTC WORLD OF OUTLAWS LATE MODEL SANCTIONED RUMBLE ON THE RIVER 3 AT VIRGINIA MOTOR SPEEDWAY
Jamaica, VA – In an epic battle of speed, determination and strength Shannon Babb of Mowequa, IL held off a determined Shane Clanton in the waning laps of the 50 lap feature to score a knock out to get his second career 360 OTC World of Late Model Series victory in the Rumble on the River 3 presented by Thurston Spring Service, Inc at Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway.
Few people thought Saturday night’s Rumble on the River 3 presented by Thurston Spring Service, Inc could beat the approaching storm. But the predicted rain held off until shortly after the A-Main’s checkered flag, allowing Babb to pocket $10,000 for winning an event that was taped for broadcast by the SPEED cable network on Sun., May 20, at 2 p.m. EST.
“We gotta thank these guys for running the show,” Babb said of VMS’s Bill and Clarke Sawyer, who pressed on with the program despite knowing attendance would be hurt by the weather.
“This right here tonight was for us. They had a race to put on, and they put it on. After we lost last night’s show (to postponement at New Jersey’s New Egypt Speedway), it was great for us that they did it.”
“The track was awesome; it had a top groove, a middle groove and a bottom groove you could run anywhere you wanted to tonight. The staff here at VMS did an awesome job,” added Babb.
Babb, a 32-year-old star who is best know for winning the last two UMP DIRTcar Summernationals titles, charged forward from the sixth starting spot to grab the lead from Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga., on lap 22. He never looked back the remainder of the distance in his Car City/J&J Steel Rayburn No. 18, building an edge of as much as a half-straightaway before settling for a modest victory margin (0.979 of a second) over Clanton’s RSD Enterprises Rocket No. 25.
Shane Clanton started the evening off by shattering the year old track record with a blistering lap of 17.097 seconds. The old record was set one year to the day by Tim McCreadie at 17.497 seconds.
Steve Francis and Clanton led the 24 car field to green with Clanton rocketing to the lead from the outside. The races first caution would come out early as point leader Clint Smith, Ronnie DeHaven Jr., Darryl Hills and Eddie Carrier Jr. got together in turn 3. That sent the field back to a complete restart with the result the same Clanton leading the first lap.
On the restart Clanton led Tim McCreadie and Shannon Babb into turn 1 with each driver picking a different line through the corner. Another quick yellow for a spin by Walker Arthur tightened the field back together and on the restart Babb dove under McCreadie for second. Over the next 7 laps McCreadie battled back on the outside of Babb as the two drivers swapped the spot back and forth until Babb secured the spot and set out to catch Clanton.
On lap 13 Babb took a peak under Clanton for the lead but was denied the position. On lap 14 the fourth of five cautions would come out tightening the field back up behind Clanton. On the restart McCreadie used the high side to take back second from Babb, it was short lived as Babb regained the spot with a turn 4 pass on lap 17.
By lap 21 Clanton’s lead had disappeared as Babb was back on the hunt for the top spot. On lap 22 babb got enough bite down on the inside groove and pulled off the pass for the lead.
On lap 37 the best battle on the track was between Tim McCreadie and Steve Francis as they battled side by side for third. With ten laps to go Clanton began to reel in Babb and with five laps to go had cut it to five car lengths. But Babb would work lapped traffic to perfection to hold on for the victory.
Rounding out the top ten were Shane Clanton, Tim McCreadie, Steve Francis, Jimmy Mars, Josh Richards, Darrell Lanigan, Brian Birkhofer, Chris Madden and Chub Frank.
In the Budweiser Modifies division 25-lap feature Eric Erwin of Beaver Dam, VA and Brandon Galloway of Gloucester, VA led the field to green. Galloway used the outside starting position to his advantage as he wrestled the lead away with a strong move out of turn 2. Erwin tried several times to take the lead but Galloway held up to the challenge.
On lap 7 Erwin jumped the cushion in turn 2 giving up several spots in the process. A caution on lap 8 tightened the field with Galloway leading Gary Conner, Bret Hamilton, Brian Maxey, Mark Schools and the rest of the field back to green. Galloway began to pull away a bit at Conner worked to hold off Hamilton for second. Conner’s motor would expire on lap 18 bringing out the caution once again.
On the restart Hamilton went to work on the rookie with Galloway holding off all of Hamilton’s advances over the next three laps. Hamilton would come up lame with a flat right tire sending him to the pits to the attention of his crew on lap 20.
On the races final restart Galloway got a great jump on Mark Schools, rocketing to a four-car length advantage. Schools would close the gap but ran out of laps as Galloway picked up his career first victory.
“It feels great to get my first win in only my second race in the modified, the track was awesome,” commented the young Galloway in Victory Lane.
Rounding out the top five were Mark Schools, Brian Maxey, Page Harrison and Craig Ramich. Galloway also picked up the Thurston Spring Service Dirt Series Rookie of the Race Award with his victory.
The Victory Lap Late Model and Truckin Thunder Sportsman events fell to rain. Rains came 11 laps into the Late Model feature.
Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway returns to action this coming Friday April 20th and will host four divisions of FAST FAMILY FUN. This will be the first time that the speedway will present its first of seven Fantastic Fridays. This week’s event will be presented by WIGO 104.5 FM and will feature the Truckin Thunder Sportsman, New Generation Racing Sprint Cars, VMS Chargers and the VMS All Americans divisions.
Competitor gates for Friday, April 20th will open at 4pm with spectator gates opening at 5pm. On track activities will begin at 6:45pm with hot laps. Divisions scheduled to race on Friday April 20th: Truckin Thunder Sportsman (30 Laps); New Generation Racing Sprint Cars (25 Laps); VMS Chargers (25 Laps) and the VMS All Americans (15 Laps). Late Model, Sportsman and Sprint Car divisions will run Hot Lap Time Trials and Features only. All Americans will run Hot Lap Time Trials, Heats and Feature. Adult tickets are just $10, Senior and Military $8, Students 13 –17 yrs old $7, Children 7 – 12 yrs old $4 and Children 6 and under free. The Speedway offers a Family Pack for two adults and two children 12 and under for only $20. Also check our website for discount coupons.
Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway, a ½ mile dirt oval track is located on U.S. Route 17, eight miles north of Saluda, VA and 25 miles south of Tappahannock, VA in Jamaica, VA. The speedway is just a short drive from Richmond, Fredericksburg, Southern Maryland and the Hampton Roads area.
To learn more about Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway and its 2007schedule of events, fans may call the Speedway office at (804) 758-1VMS or visit the track’s web site at www.vamotorspeedway.com.
MEDIA CONTACT: DAVE SEAY (804) 758-1867 OR (804) 357-7223
RACE RESULTS FOR RUMBLE ON THE RIVER 3 presented by THURSTON SPRING SERVICE APRIL 14, 2007:
360 OTC WORLD OF OUTLAWS LATE MODEL SERIES 50 LAP FEATURE (34 CARS):
A-Main 01 -- 1. Shannon Babb, Mowequa, Ill.; 2. Shane Clanton, Locus Grove, Pa.; 3. Tim McCreadie, Watertwn, N.Y.; 4. Steve Francis, Ashland, Ky.; 5. Jimmy Mars, Memnominee, Wis; 6. Josh Richards, Shinnston, W. Va.; 7. Darrell Lanigan, Union, Ky.; 8. Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine, Iowa; 9. Chris Madden, Gaffney, S.C.; 10. Chub Frank, Bear Lake, Pa.; 11. Rick Eckert, York, Pa.; 12. Darryl Hills, Great Mills, Md.; 13. Tim Fuller, Watertwon, N.Y.; 14. Austin Hubbard, Seaford, Del.; 15. Walker Arthur, Forest; 16. Clint Smith, Senoia, Ga.; 17. Jason Covert, York Haven, Pa.; 18. Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.; 19. Jeremy Miller, Gettysburg, Pa.; 20. Eddie Carrier Jr., Salt Rock, W. Va.; 21. Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.; 22. Gary Stuhler, Greencastle, Pa.; 23. Ronnie Dehaven Jr., Winchester; 24. Ricky Elliott, Seaford, Del..
HEAT 1: 1. Shane Clanton, Locus Grove, Pa.; 2. Tim McCreadie, Watertwn, N.Y.; 3. Chris Madden, Gaffney, S.C.; 4. Josh Richards, Shinnston, W. Va.; 5. Ronnie Dehaven Jr., Winchester; 6. Jason Covert, York Haven, Pa.; 7. Gary Stuhler,
Greencastle, Pa.; 8. Roland Mann, Chaptico, Md.; 9. Lewis Hudson II, Waynesboro; 10. Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.; 11. Tim Fuller, Watertwon, N.Y.; 12. Vic Coffey, Leceister, N.Y.. (Top 6 Transfer)
HEAT 2: 1. Steve Francis, Ashland, Ky.; 2. Shannon Babb, Mowequa, Ill.; 3. Chub Frank, Bear Lake, Pa.; 4. Clint Smith, Senoia, Ga.; 5. Ricky Elliott, Seaford, Del.; 6. Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine, Iowa; 7. Rick Eckert, York, Pa.; 8. Billy Decker, Unadilla, N.Y.; 9. Austin Hubbard, Seaford, Del.; 10. Jeff Pilkerton, Loveville, Md.; 11. Mark Pettyjohn, Milton, Del.. (Top 6 Transfer)
HEAT 3: 1. Jimmy Mars, Memnominee, Wis; 2. Darrell Lanigan, Union, Ky.; 3. Eddie Carrier Jr., Salt Rock, W. Va.; 4. Walker Arthur, Forest; 5. Darryl Hills, Great Mills, Md.; 6. Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.; 7. Jeremy Miller, Gettysburg, Pa.; 8. Bo Feathers, Winchester; 9. Jared Teegarden, Chesterfield; 10. Jamie Lathroum, Mechanicsville, Md.; 11. Sean Cosgrove, Catharpin. (Top 6 Transfer)
B MAIN: 1. Rick Eckert, York, Pa.; 2. Jeremy Miller, Gettysburg, Pa.; 3. Gary Stuhler, Greencastle, Pa.; 4. Austin Hubbard, Seaford, Del.; 5. Billy Decker, Unadilla, N.Y.; 6. Roland Mann, Chaptico, Md.; 7. Jared Teegarden, Chesterfield; 8. Jeff Pilkerton, Loveville, Md.; 9. Bo Feathers, Winchester; DNS: Lewis Hudson II, Waynesboro; Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.; Jamie Lathroum, Mechanicsville, Md.; Mark Pettyjohn, Milton, Del.; Sean Cosgrove, Catharpin; Vic Coffey, Leceister, N.Y.; Tim Fuller, Watertwon, N.Y. (Top 4 Transfer)
FAST TIME: Shane Clanton – 17.097 Sec, 105.282mph. (New Track Record – Old Record 17.457 sec)
VICTORY LAP LATE MODEL 35 LAP FEATURE (27 CARS):
NO RESULTS RAIN
FAST TIME: Austin Hubbard – 19.339 sec, 93.076mph.
TRUCKIN THUNDER SPORTSMAN 30 LAP FEATURE (23 CARS):
NO RESULTS RAIN
FAST TIME: Tim Shelton – 21.825 sec, 82.474mph.
BUDWEISER MODIFIED 25 LAP FEATURE (29 CARS):
1. Brandon Galloway, Gloucester; 2. Mark Schools, Midlothian; 3. Brian Maxey, King George; 4. Page Harrison, Jetersville; 5. Craig Ramich, Fairfax; 6. James Snead, Colonial Beach; 7. Bret Hamilton, Powhatan; 8. Brian Dobie, Partlow; 9. Josh Harris, Gloucester; 10. Dan Arnold, Petersburg; 11. Lance Grady, Maidens; 12. Francis Jarrelle III, Powhatan; 13. Kelly Samuels, Richmond; 14. Gene Kierson, Powhatan; 15. Tim Shelton, Frederricksburg; 16. Eric Erwin, Beaver Dam; 17. Richard Marks, Bryans Road, Md.; 18. Chris Moore, Walkerton; 19. Thomas Rose, Onemo; 20. Wayne Taylor, Tappahannock; 21. Gary Conner, Powhatan; 22. Renee Weeks, Powhatan; 23. Noel Austin, Petersburg; 24. Joey Polevoy, Powhatan; 25. Brent Bordeaux, Fredericksburg; 26. Brandon Cohick, Gloucester; 27. Tommy Shiflet, Richmond; 28. Bill Atkins, Chesterfield; DNS: Jacob Helwig, Dunnsville.
FAST TIME: Brent Bordeaux – 21.908 sec, 82.162mph.
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