Dirt on Dirt - Babb outduels English for Hell Tour win No. 104

June 13

Fairbury Speedway,

Fairbury, IL

Sanction: DIRTcar Summer Nationals - $10,000

Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated June 14, 12:26 am)

Babb outduels English for Hell Tour win No. 104

Shannon Babb
Tanner English
Chris Simpson
Ryan Unzicker
Jason Feger
Daniel Adam
McKay Wenger
Frank Heckenast Jr.
Clay Stuckey
Michael Leach
Jordan Bauer
Bob Gardner
Rich Bell
Matthew Larson
Sean Mattingly
Alex Wilson
Tyler Millwood
Mitch McGrath
Donny Walden
Brian Shirley
Mike Harrison
Kevin Weaver
Mike Spatola
Brayton Wallace

presented by

Photo slideshow

Brendon Bauman/brendonbaumanphotos.com

Shannon Babb takes the checkers for his 104th career Summer Nationals win.

What won the race: Blasting around early leader Tanner English at the completion of the fourth lap, third-starting Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., overcame several cautions and restarts to pace the remainder of Saturday's 50-lap DIRTcar Summer Nationals stop at Fairbury Speedway. Babb beat English by 0.359 of a second for the $10,000 payday, his second Summer Nationals victory of the season and 104th of his career, further extending his lead on the tour's all-time list.

Quotable: “I knew Tanner (English) was probably taking it easy half the race and the bottom’s really good here, so I knew he was gonna be tough and he was probably saving until 10 (laps) to go,” Babb said before later adding, “I can’t say enough about this race car, this thing is fast. My buddy has got me setup pretty damn good right now, I appreciate that.”

Key notes: Babb notched his sixth career Summer Nationals victory at Fairbury (2003, '10, '15, '17, '21, '26), his first since June 19, 2021, combining for more than $50,000. ... It's his third feature of the season, adding to his June 9 win in the season opener at Brownstown (Ill.) Bullring and May 24 at Spoon River Speedway in Banner, Ill., on the MARS Late Model tour. ... Tanner English led the opening three laps from the pole before giving way to Babb and remained within striking distance, but never truly challenged. ... Brian Shirley challenged English for second near the race's halfway mark until hopping the turn-two cushion a couple times, first for the race's fourth caution on lap 31 then again for the sixth stoppage on lap 36; Shirley retired and was credited with 20th. ... Chris Simpson surged in the late going, taking third on a lap-33 restart and completed the podium finishers. ... Ryan Unzicker utilized a DIRTcar provisional after a heat-race spin and rallied to finish fourth. ... Jason Feger challenged for third just after halfway then slipped to ninth after getting stuck in the turn-two cushion on lap 33, before rebounding to finish fifth with a last-lap pass by 21st-starting Daniel Adam. ... Seven cautions slowed the action, the first two for Mike Spatola, who lost a right-rear wheel on the 11th lap, then slowed while overheating on lap 20. ... Sixth-running Mike Harrison became lodged in the heavy Fairbury cushion on lap 27 and retired before Shirley and Feger's similar incidents. ... Tyler Millwood pitted from eighth with a flat tire under the lap-31 caution and soldiered to a 17th-place finish. ... Bob Gardner slowed from 12th for the final stoppage on lap 43 before rallying back to finish there. ... The 50-lapper lasted 40 minutes with 18 starters completing the distance.

On the move: Ryan Unzicker of El Paso, Ill., started 22nd and finished fourth.

Winner's sponsors: Babb’s Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Vic Hill Racing Engine and sponsored by Petroff Towing, Dynagro Seed, Nutrien Ag Solutions, CJI Piping & Fabrication, Donley Trucking, Getty Landscaping, Douglas Dodge Ram, Kuebler Ultra Oil, VP Racing Fuels and Penske Racing Shocks.

Points chase: Before Fairbury: 1. Tanner English (141); 2. Jason Feger (131); 3. Bob Gardner (114); 4. Shannon Babb (110); 5. Frank Heckenast Jr. (101).

Current weather: Broken Clouds, 75°F

Car count: 41

Fast qualifier: Shannon Babb

Time: 12.561 seconds

Polesitter: Tanner English

Heat race winners: McKay Wenger, Brian Shirley, Shannon Babb, Tanner English

Consolation race winners: Kevin Weaver, Jordan Bauer

Provisional starters: Daniel Adam, Ryan Unzicker, Alex Wilson, Rich Bell

Next series race: June 14, Sycamore Speedway (Maple Park, IL) $5,000

Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.

From staff reports

FAIRBURY, Ill. — Updates from Saturday’s third round of the 40th annual DIRTcar Summer Nationals at Fairbury Speedway, an event highlighted by a 50-lap, $10,000-to-win feature for DIRTcar Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Blasting around early leader Tanner English at the completion of the fourth lap, third-starting Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., overcame several cautions and restarts to pace the remainder of Saturday's 50-lap DIRTcar Summer Nationals stop at Fairbury Speedway. Babb beat English by 0.359 of a second for the $10,000 payday, his second Summer Nationals victory of the season and 104th of his career, further extending his lead on the tour's all-time list.

Feature lineup

(50 laps)

Row 1: Tanner English, McKay Wenger
Row 2: Shannon Babb, Brian Shirley
Row 3: Tyler Millwood, Jason Feger
Row 4: Bob Gardner, Donny Walden
Row 5: Chris Simpson, Frank Heckenast Jr.
Row 6: Mike Spatola, Clay Stuckey
Row 7: Mitch McGrath, Matthew Larson
Row 8: Michael Leach, Mike Harrison
Row 9: Kevin Weaver, Jordan Bauer
Row 10: Sean Mattingly, Brayton Wallace
Row 11: Daniel Adam, Ryan Unzicker
Row 12: Alex Wilson, Rich Bell

Consolation race results

(10 laps; top two transfer)

First consolation: Kevin Weaver, Sean Mattingly, Kyle Hammer, Billy Moyer, Jake Rainey, Mark Voigt, Billy Hough, Daniel Adam, Mike Winn, Chad Finley, Ryan Unzicker. Scratched: Braiden Keller, Doug Tye.

Second consolation: Jordan Bauer, Brayton Wallace, Brody Smith, Rich Bell, Michael Ledford, Mike Mataragas, Jeffrey Ledford, Jake Little, Tyler Leach, Alex Wilson, Roben Huffman. Scratched: Billy Knippenberg.

Heat race results

(Eight laps; top four transfer)

First heat: McKay Wenger, Tyler Millwood, Chris Simpson, Mitch McGrath, Sean Mattingly, Billy Moyer, Kyle Hammer, Kevin Weaver, Billy Hough, Ryan Unzicker, Mike Winn.

Second heat: Brian Shirley, Bob Gardner, Mike Spatola, Michael Leach, Chad Finley, Jake Rainey, Mark Voigt, Daniel Adam. Scratched: Braiden Keller, Doug Tye.

Third heat: Shannon Babb, Jason Feger, Frank Heckenast Jr., Matthew Larson, Jordan Bauer, Jake Little, Mike Mataragas, Jeffrey Ledford, Rich Bell, Alex Wilson.

Fourth heat: Tanner English, Donny Walden, Clay Stuckey, Mike Harrison, Michael Ledford, Roben Huffman, Brody Smith, Brayton Wallace, Billy Knippenberg, Tyler Leach.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. McKay Wenger (42w), Fairbury, Ill., 12.643
2. Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 12.658
3. Chris Simpson (32s), Oxford, Iowa, 12.659
4. Bob Gardner (4G), East Peoria, Ill., 12.683
5. Tyler Millwood (31m), Kingston, Ga., 12.714
6. Mike Spatola (89), Manhattan, Ill., 12.727
7. Billy Moyer (21), Batesville, Ark., 12.749
8. Daniel Adam (75A), Peru, Ill., 12.857
9. Kyle Hammer (45), Clinton, Ill., 12.865
10. Michael Leach (09), Sun River, Mont., 12.877
11. Ryan Unzicker (24), El Paso, Ill., 12.902
12. Chad Finley (42), St. Johns, Mich., 12.904
13. Mitch McGrath (74), Waukesha, Wis., 12.929
14. Braiden Keller (k67), West Lebanon, Ind., 12.950
15. Kevin Weaver (B12), Gibson City, Ill., 13.008
16. Mark Voigt (30), Marine, Ill., 13.069
17. Sean Mattingly (22m), Cortland, Ill., 13.105
18. Jake Rainey (87), Powder Springs, Ga., 13.158
19. Billy Hough (334), Thomasboro, Ill., 13.333
20. Doug Tye (4D), Troy, Ill., 13.454
21. Mike Winn (729), Bourbonnais, Ill., 13.472
Group B
1. Shannon Babb (18), Moweaqua, Ill., 12.561
2. Tanner English (96), Benton, Ky., 12.627
3. Jeffrey Ledford (8L), Pontiac, Ill., 12.693
4. Donny Walden (1w), Towanda, Ill., 12.703
5. Jason Feger (25), Bloomington, Ill., 12.726
6. Michael Ledford (37L), Pontiac, Ill., 12.782
7. Frank Heckenast Jr. (99jr), Frankfort, Ill., 12.821
8. Mike Harrison (33), Highland, Ill., 12.822
9. Matthew Larson (8), Lake Elmo, Minn., 12.827
10. Clay Stuckey (15), Shreveport, La., 12.833
11. Mike Mataragas (1m), DeKalb, Ill., 12.875
12. Brody Smith (17sr), Dade City, Fla., 12.957
13. Jordan Bauer (10J), St. Jacob, Ill., 12.989
14. Brayton Wallace (T2), Peoria, Ill., 12.998
15. Rich Bell (21B), Sheffield, Ill., 13.015
16. Tyler Leach (05), Sun River, Mont., 13.041
17. Jake Little (38J), Springfield, Ill., 13.050
18. Billy Knippenberg (bk3), Plainfield, Ill., 13.063
19. Alex Wilson (z61), Chenoa, Ill., 13.077
20. Roben Huffman (33H), Midland City, Ill., 13.703

Saturday’s schedule

(All times local)
Noon - Gates open
2 p.m. - Grandstands open
2:30 p.m. - Tech and registration open
4 p.m. - Tech and registration close
4:30 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
5 p.m. - On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- Modified group qualifying
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- Stock car group qualifying
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Modified heats (8 laps)
- Stock car heats (8 laps)
Intermission/track prep
- Late Model consolations (10 laps)
- Modified consolations (8 laps)
Feature events
- Late Models (50 laps)
- Modifieds (30 laps)
- Stock cars (15 laps)