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The Shannon Babb Express is picking up steam as the 2007 UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals winds down.
Moweaqua , Ill. ’s Babb rolled to his second consecutive tour triumph on Monday night, leading from flag-to-flag in the 30-lap A-Main at C.J. Raceway.
Babb, 33, is not defending his 2005-06 Summernationals titles this season, but he’s still looking to make his mark on the grueling tour. After winning for the first time in seven series starts on Sunday night at Quad City Raceway in East Moline , Ill. , he came right back with another vintage performance at the four-tenths-mile C.J. Raceway.
Taking advantage of a pole position starting spot, Babb steered his one-week-old Billy Moyer Sr.-owned Rayburn into the lead at the initial green flag and never looked back. He outran Don O’Neal of Martinsville , Ind. , in the closing laps to secure the $6,000 top prize.
The victory was the 53rd of Babb’s career on the UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals trail, and it gave him at least two tour wins for the sixth consecutive year.
O’Neal had to settle for runner-up money, but the finish drew him within two points of Summernationals points leader Dennis Erb Jr., who placed eighth. O’Neal won the 2004 Summernationals title, while Erb is bidding for his first career tour crown.
Six-time Summernationals champ Billy Moyer of Batesville , Ark. , finished third, followed by Brady Smith of Solon Springs , Wis. , and Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine , Iowa , who lost several spots when he slid high late in the distance.
Thirty dirt Late Models participated in the first-ever UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals event at C.J. Raceway. Rain caused a delay in the program but officials were able to beat the weather.
Heat winners were Babb, Chris Smyser of Lancaster , Mo. , and O’Neal, and Erb captured the B-Main.
UMP DIRTcar Racing Summernationals A-Main Finish (30 laps):
1. Shannon Babb
2. Don O’Neal
3. Billy Moyer
4. Brady Smith
5. Brian Birkhofer
6. Brian Harris
7. Wes Steidinger
8. Dennis Erb Jr.
9. Chad Simpson
10. Chris Smyser
11. Eddie Kirchoff
12. Mike Marlar
13. Steve Sheppard Jr.
14. Jeep VanWormer
15. Jay Johnson
16. A.J. Diemel
17. Kevin Weaver
18. Jason Utter
19. Kevin Kile
20. Billy Moyer Jr.
21. Jason Feger
DNQ: Kurt Kile, Jason McBride, Jerry Lauber, Fred Remley, Tom Darbyshire, Jay Chenowith, Tommy Elston, Johnny Johnson, Scott Dedwylder |
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