Post by LMR on 07/10/14 at 10:19pm
DIRTcar Summer Nationals
Macon Speedway
July 10, 2014
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Babb Captures Third Victory of 2014 DIRTcar Summer Nationals Season at Hometown Macon Speedway
by Jordan Morris
MACON, IL (July 10) -— Shannon Babb, from nearby Moweaqua, Ill., traded the lead back-and-forth with championship rival Ryan Unzicker for most of the race before Babb finally claimed the top spot just past halfway en route to capturing his third win of the season and fifth Herald & Review 100 at his hometown Macon Speedway.
Bobby Pierce, who started from the pole-position, jumped out to an early lead and controlled the first four circuits. Babb, who started just behind Pierce in the third position, easily made his way around second-place starter Brian Shirley, as he stayed close to the leader’s back bumper.
Babb captured the lead from Pierce on lap five and was not seriously challenged for almost the next 30 laps. Babb held the lead until lap 34 when lapped traffic helped a hard-charging Ryan Unzicker, who started in the seventh position, squeeze past Babb and claim the top spot.
Unzicker held the lead for the next 22 laps but could not hold off Babb, who found the high-line just past halfway in the event and charged back to the front to retake the lead. Babb pulled away from Unzicker and easily led the final 45 laps of the 100-lap feature event, claiming the $5,000 checkered flag at Macon Speedway. Unzicker settled for his sixth runner-up finish of the season without capturing a victory yet.
“We’ve growed up here and raced here a lot, so it means a lot to win this thing,” said three-time series champion Shannon Babb, who received a loud ovation upon winning in front of his hometown crowd. “You know, it’s tough running 100 laps here and staying out of trouble.”
In another back-and-forth battle, Babb returned his name to atop the series all-time wins list as he tied Billy Moyer at 86 DIRTcar Summer Nationals career victories, just one night after Moyer won at Terre Haute Action Track and took the outright lead.
A-Main
1 3 18 Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL 5,000
2 7 24 Ryan Unzicker El Paso, IL 2,500
3 2 81 Brian Shirley Chatham, IL 1,700
4 16 28E Dennis Erb, Jr Carpentersville, IL 1,400
5 11 24T Matt Taylor Springfield, IL 1,200
6 10 12B Kevin Weaver Gibson City, IL 1,000
7 5 42 Mckay Wenger Fairbury, IL 800
8 19 25L Steve Lance Jr Cuba, IL 700
9 18 4T Guy Taylor Springfield, IL 600
10 14 38L Ryan Little Springfield , IL 550
11 12 91 Kyle Logue Cisco, IL 500
12 6 7T Steve Thorsten Milford, IL 500
13 9 30V Mark Voigt Marine, IL 500
14 13 27K Greg Kimmons Pleasant Plains, IL 500
15 15 1M Jim Moon New Florence, MO 500
16 20 28B John Beck Springfield , IL 500
17 8 B5 Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, IL 500
18 4 1CJ Gary Christian Broken Bow, OK 500
19 21 36 Andrew Barnes Assumption, IL 500
20 1 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL 500
21 17 33H Billy Hough Thomasboro, IL 500
22 22 21B Rich Bell Sheffield, IL 500
B-Main
1 33H Billy Hough
2 4T Guy Taylor
3 22 Chris Dick
4 21B Rich Bell
5 36 Andrew Barnes
6 34 Chuck Mitchell
7 45 Kyle Hammer
8 9 Jeff Riddell
9 77K Steve Kester
10 42* Bob Mayer
11 82B Roger Brickler
12 28B John Beck
13 25L Steve Lance Jr
Heat #1
1 32 Bobby Pierce
2 42 McKay Wenger
3 30V Mark Voigt
4 27K Greg Kimmons
5 33H Billy Hough
6 28B John Beck
7 9 Jeff Riddell
8 42* Bob Mayer
Heat #2
1 1CJ Gary Christian
2 7T Steve Thorsten
3 12B Kevin Weaver
4 38L Ryan Little
5 22 Chris Dick
6 4T Guy Taylor
7 45 Kyle Hammer
Heat #3
1 18 Shannon Babb
2 24 Ryan Unzicker
3 24T Matt Taylor
4 1M Jim Moon
5 82B Roger Brickler
6 21B Rich Bell
7 77K Steve Kester
Heat #4
1 81 Brian Shirley
2 B5 Brandon Sheppard
3 91 Kyle Logue
4 28E Dennis Erb, Jr
5 34 Chuck Mitchell
6 25L Steve Lance Jr
7 36 Andrew Barnes
Event photos courtesy of Jim Denhamer