UMP Summer Nationals
I-96 Speedway
June 24, 2012
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Shannon Babb Prevails In UMP Summer Nationals Hell Tour Only Michigan Appearance At I-96 Speedway

by Matt Prieur
LAKE ODESSA, Michigan (June 24) - One the Biggest Shows of the Season for the UMP Super Late Models in the state of Michigan was on a special Sunday Night, June 24th at I-96 Speedway, located east of Grand Rapids and West of Lansing in Lake Odessa, Michigan as the annual appearance by the UMP Summer National Hell Tour invaded to take on the tracks Miller Lite UMP Super Late Models in the tours’ ONLY appearance in the State of Michigan during its’ marathon 29 races in 32 days jaunt.

The main event of the evening, Race #11 of the UMP Summer Nationals Hell Tour for the Miller Lite UMP Super Late Models rolled out and after an enthusiastic four-wide salute and wave lap, the green flag flew with Three-Time and Defending Summer Nationals Hell Tour Champion Shannon Babb and Jason McBride leading the stout 22-car field to the green.

Babb would escape McBride’s grasp leading into turns one and two to grab the early advantage while the rest of the field jockeyed for position behind him. Current Summer Nationals Hell Tour Points Leader Brian Shirley, fresh off his win the night before at Fairbury American Legion Speedway in Fairbury, Illinois, worked his way up to second and tried to chase down Babb.

Lapped Traffic played a key role throughout the duration of the 40-Lap main around the 3/8s (0.375) mile high-banked dirt oval as Babb would be able to keep lapped traffic between him and Shirley throughout the race. In the end, Babb’s #18 Petroff Trucking / Moyer Victory Circle Chassis entry would lead all 40 laps as the Moweaqua, Illinois driver would go on to defend his win in the Great Lakes State from a year ago and bring home Win #2 on the 2012 Hell Tour.

Shirley would finish second to maintain his Hell Tour points lead while Jason Feger, Three-Time Series Champion Dennis Erb Jr., and McBride were the top five. Ryan Unzicker was sixth while 19-year-old Brandon Sheppard, Curtis Roberts, Jon Henry, and Brian Ruhlman were the top 10. Babb shattered the Track Record by early a second in Summer Nationals Hell Tour Qualifying as he turned a 15.279. The old record was a 16.255. Shirley, Henry, Babb, and McBride won the Qualifier Heats as Jerry Lierly won the B-Main.

A-Main
1 1 18 Shannon Babb $5,000
2 4 3S Brian Shirley
3 8 25 Jason Feger
4 7 28E Dennis Erb, Jr
5 2 77M Jason McBride
6 6 24 Ryan Unzicker
7 12 1 Brandon Sheppard
8 5 9R Curtis Roberts
9 3 15H Jon Henry
10 16 49 Brian Ruhlman
11 14 6M Dona Marcoullier
12 11 87 Robert Neiser
13 21 0X Zack Olger
14 15 89 Mike Spatola
15 17 7L Jerry Lierly
16 22 27 Nick Bartels
17 19 99JR Frank Heckenast Jr
18 9 13 Scott Baker
19 18 91T Adam Thrush
20 20 14M Brandon Thirlby
21 10 111 Curt Spalding
22 13 32P Bobby Pierce

B-Main
1 7L Jerry Lierly
2 91T Adam Thrush
3 94 Bill Bray
4 15A Phil Ausra
5 27 Nick Bartels
6 71E Pat Elhert
7 52X Brad Harden
8 23V Ryan Vanderveen
9 12H Dave Hartman
10 0X Zack Olger
11 27S Eric Spangler
12 1N Casey Noonan
13 5 Brook Brasington
14 32H Dan Hubbell
15 30J Kathy Jarvis
16 45 Brad Buskirk
17 99JR Frank Heckenast Jr
18 14M Brandon Thirlby

C-Main
1 32H Dan Hubbell
2 45 Brad Buskirk
3 5 Brook Brasington
4 30J Kathy Jarvis
5 27S Eric Spangler
6 99JR Frank Heckenast Jr
7 21S Tom Sprague Jr
8 78 Dean Wilkerson

Heat #1
1 3S Brian Shirley
2 9R Curtis Roberts
3 13 Scott Baker
4 32P Bobby Pierce
5 7L Jerry Lierly
6 52X Brad Harden
7 1N Casey Noonan
8 32H Dan Hubbell
9 30J Kathy Jarvis

Heat #2
1 15H Jon Henry
2 24 Ryan Unzicker
3 111 Curt Spalding
4 6M Dona Marcoullier
5 91T Adam Thrush
6 71E Pat Elhert
7 12H Dave Hartman
8 45 Brad Buskirk
9 78 Dean Wilkerson

Heat #3
1 18 Shannon Babb
2 28E Dennis Erb, Jr
3 87 Robert Neiser
4 89 Mike Spatola
5 27 Nick Bartels
6 94 Bill Bray
7 14M Brandon Thirlby
8 21S Tom Sprague Jr
9 27S Eric Spangler

Heat #4
1 77M Jason McBride
2 25 Jason Feger
3 1 Brandon Sheppard
4 49 Brian Ruhlman
5 15A Phil Ausra
6 23V Ryan Vanderveen
7 0X Zack Olger
8 5 Brook Brasington
9 99JR Frank Heckenast Jr