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CONCORD, N.C. (April 10, 2008) - Dirt late model veteran Shannon
Babb, known to race fans across the country as the "Moweaqua Missile,"
will
take aim at the $50,000 first-place prize during the Circle K Colossal
100
April 18-19 at The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway.
Babb, 34, of Moweaqua, Ill., earned his unique nickname as the
result of being the fastest thing in his small hometown. He finished
10th in
the World of Outlaws Late Model Series standings last year and hopes to
continue a strong early season run when the nomadic tour returns to The
Dirt
Track for the third annual Circle K Colossal 100.
"We've run in the Colossal 100 twice and it's been really good to
us," said Babb, who finished fifth in last year's 100-lap feature and
took
home sixth-place money during the inaugural event in 2006. "Of course,
it
was great to win the Jani-King Southern Showdown at The Dirt Track in
October and we ran well in the World Finals too."
However, a lot has changed since Babb earned a guaranteed Colossal
starting spot by winning here in October. During the off-season, he
parted
with his longtime team owner and is now driving the No. 18
Chevrolet/Traeger
Grills late model owned by NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Clint
Bowyer.
The team, guided by crew chief Tommy Grecco, is based in the Richard
Childress Racing complex in Welcome, N.C., just down the street from
where
Bowyer's Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series cars are prepared.
By joining forces with Bowyer, Babb hopes to capitalize on the young
NASCAR star's resources and passion for dirt-track racing. Despite a
tough
decision to part with former car owner Billy Moyer Sr. after seven
years,
Babb believes he made the right decision.
"I had a great team when I was with the Moyers," Babb said. "But I
figured this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with Clint. He is
young,
has some great ideas and a lot of enthusiasm, and it is really exciting
for
us."
Babb says racing at The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway is always
exciting and he thinks race fans agree.
"It's definitely a neat race track," he said. "It's a great
atmosphere for one and the racing surface itself is just wide open. It
takes
a lot of power to get around the place and that makes it a lot of fun."
Heading into the Circle K Colossal 100, Babb has one eye on the
$50,000 first-place prize and the other on the event's signature
trophies-a
ceremonial version of a Medieval knight's helmet and a 50-inch Macleod
Medieval sword.
"It's really neat when you can go to these races and you have a
cool promoter that goes the extra mile to entertain the fans and racers
alike," Babb said of Roger Slack, Lowe's Motor Speedway's vice
president of
events. "Giving the guys a little more incentive to win makes these
races
more fun for everybody, it really does."
The Friday-night portion of the Circle K Colossal 100 features group
time trials and heat races. The top-two finishers in each heat will
secure a
spot in the 100-lap finale and a draw will determine the starting
lineup.
Saturday night's program begins with a driver autograph session and
the on-track action includes at least four additional qualifying races
prior
to the main event. The race is part of the World of Outlaws Late Model
Series, but The Dirt Track's traditional format, including the
extremely
popular Delaware-style restarts, will be utilized.
If purchased in advance, reserved tickets for both Friday and
Saturday nights are just $39 for adults and $10 for children ages 12
and
under. Two-day pit passes are $60 in advance. Tickets and pit passes
for
the April 18-19 Circle K Colossal 100 can be purchased online at
www.lowesmotorspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-455-FANS.
The Fleetwood RV Camping Resort is located adjacent to The Dirt
Track and full-service camping spots can be reserved by calling (704)
455-4445.
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