DIRTcar Summer Nationals
Vermilion County Speedway
July 14, 2013
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Babb Ties All-Time Win Record with Sixth Summer Nationals Victory at Vermilion County Speedway



DANVILLE, Ill. (July 14) - Shannon Babb scored his sixth victory of the 2013 DIRTcar Summer Nationals “Hell Tour” on Sunday night in a thriller at Vermilion County Speedway to tie Billy Moyer’s record of 82 all-time wins.

Babb, of Moweaqua, Ill., might be a long shot to capture his fourth Summer Nationals title as the series is in its final week, but that won’t keep him from fighting for victories. Babb captured the pole-position over Frank Heckenast Jr., who pulled out to the early lead. The outside groove was the fast groove early on as the outside starting Heckenast shot around Babb, pulling fourth-place-starting Mike Spatola with him.

Babb was finally able to move his car to the faster groove and gain back ground on the leaders as red-hot Bobby Pierce joined the four-way battle for the lead. Babb muscled his way around second-place running Spatola on lap 11, setting his sights on leader Heckenast as the leaders approached lapped traffic. On lap 19 two cars racing side-by-side trying to stay on the lead lap slowed down the leaders enough to bunch the top four in the outside lane. Babb captured the lead on lap 22 and led for six laps before Spatola and Pierce went by. Babb recaptured the lead for good on lap 31.

Babb and Pierce then distanced themselves from Spatola and Heckenast. Pierce gave Babb a run for his money, challenging him on the inside line, but came up just short as Babb claimed the $5,000 checkered flag and the 82nd victory of his DIRTcar Summer Nationals career.

“That’s what keeps me going,” said Babb, who officially sits 89 markers behind Brandon Sheppard in the championship standings. “When I have a racetrack like that right there, I stand up in my seat and like to work my race car and go at it again. That was a blast. ... I think the fans enjoyed that right there.”



Mike Spatola, Brandon Sheppard and Frank Heckenast Jr. rounded out the top five.

A-Main
1 1 18 Shannon Babb
2 5 32P Bobby Pierce
3 4 89 Mike Spatola
4 3 B5 Brandon Sheppard
5 2 99JR Frank Heckenast Jr
6 7 3S Brian Shirley
7 6 7R Kent Robinson
8 9 12B Kevin Weaver
9 8 32J Jason Jaggers
10 10 96X Tanner English
11 19 20 Dustin Griffin
12 15 10S Scott Schmitt
13 13 11D Brian Divley
14 11 83 Scott Bull
15 18 77M Jason McBride
16 16 48 Tim Lance
17 20 7T Steve Thorsten
18 14 21 Todd Frank
19 17 95 Aaron Ricketts
20 21 23M Kyle Madison
21 22 42 Mckay Wenger
22 12 81K Randy Korte

B-Main
1 48 Tim Lance
2 95 Aaron Ricketts
3 77M Jason McBride
4 23M Kyle Madison
5 2 Allen Murray
6 42 Mckay Wenger
7 7T Steve Thorsten
8 20 Dustin Griffin
9 39 John Gummere
10 38C John Gardner Jr
11 97B Marvin Burton
12 4G Bob Gardner
13 33H Billy Hough
14 58X Gary Christian

Heat #1
1 18 Shannon Babb
2 89 Mike Spatola
3 3S Brian Shirley
4 96X Tanner English
5 11D Brian Divley
6 97B Marvin Burton
7 39 John Gummere
8 77M Jason McBride
9 42 Mckay Wenger
10 2 Allen Murray

Heat #2
1 99JR Frank Heckenast Jr
2 32P Bobby Pierce
3 32J Jason Jaggers
4 83 Scott Bull
5 21 Todd Frank
6 95 Aaron Ricketts
7 20 Dustin Griffin
8 7T Steve Thorsten
9 23M Kyle Madison
10 58X Gary Christian

Heat #3
1 B5 Brandon Sheppard
2 7R Kent Robinson
3 12B Kevin Weaver
4 81K Randy Korte
5 10S Scott Schmitt
6 48 Tim Lance
7 38C John Gardner Jr
8 33H Billy Hough
9 4G Bob Gardner

Event Photos courtesy of Jim Denhamer