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Kellen Burns
ALEXANDRIA, Ill. (July 7) - Better late than never for two-time UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals champion Shannon Babb on the Hell Tour circuit. On Tuesday night at Shepp's Speedway, Babb claimed his third feature win in his past four starts.
Babb's win came in the UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals initial visit to Shepp's Speedway, just outside New Berlin, Ill. Using an outside front row starting position, Babb, of Moweaqua, Ill., jumped out to a quick lead over pole sitter and defending champion Dennis Erb Jr., of Carpentersville, Ill.
Erb used quick time honors and a heat race win earlier in the night to claim the pole position for the 40-lap main event. Erb, who ran second the entire distance, made a last-ditch effort to clear Babb with less than 10 laps to go but wound up settling for the runner-up position.
Randy Korte, of Highland, Ill., charged from his 12th-place starting spot to finish third and retain his narrow lead over Erb in the overall "Hell Tour" championship standings. With the finish, Korte will take a 4-point lead into the remaining four events on the UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals Tour.
Rodney Melvin, of Logan, Ill., claimed the fourth spot while Jason Feger, of Bloomington, Ill., rounded out the top five.
A-Main Finish - 40 Laps
18-Shannon Babb
28-Dennis Erb Jr.
00-Randy Korte
27-Rodney Melvin
25-Jason Feger
B12-Kevin Weaver
B5-Brandon Sheppard
24-Ryan Unzicker
30-Mark Voigt
7B-Mark Burgtorf
99jr-Frank Heckenast Jr.
82-Roger Brickler
16H-Mike Hammerle
7m-Adam Mefford
D8-Dustin Linville
71-Don O'Neal
5s-Steve Sheppard Jr.
35-Derek Chandler
42-Terry Casey
55-Jeep Van Wormer
1w-Donny Walden
HELL TOUR NOTES
Defending UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals champion Dennis Erb Jr. paced group one of the 33 competitors around the small quarter-mile oval with a lap time of 12.015 seconds. Other group quick time honors were recorded by Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., and Terry Casey of New London Wisc.
Heat race one saw Erb use a good start and a very controlled drive through the first two turns to overcome outside polesitter Jeep Van Wormer of Pinconning, Mich., to capture the heat race win. Outside polesitter Rodney Melvin powered his way to the heat race two victory holding off a pressure from a very aggressive Brandon Sheppard.
Shannon Babb, of Moweaqua, Ill., got the jump in heat race number three and pulled away to the win as Jason Feger and Ryan Unzicker of El Paso, Ill., battled for the second spot. Mark Voigt avoided a slide job attempt from Terry Casey in turns one and two in the fourth and final heat race to claim the last heat race victory.
Adam Mefford of nearby Jacksonville, Ill., claimed the B-Main win. Second place finisher Derek Chandler of Pontiac, Ill., along with winner Mefford earned transfer spots into the night's 40-lap main event. Provisionals were used by Jeep Van Wormer, Mike Hammerle of St. Charles, Mo., and Roger Brickler of Springfield, Ill.
2009 UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals Schedule
Date/Track/Location/Purse/Winner/Cars
06/11/09 Brownstown Speedway - Brownstown, IN - $6,000 (Jeep VanWormer - 43)
06/12/09 Kankakee Motor Speedway - Kankakee,IL - $10,000 (Billy Moyer - 51)
06/13/09 Kamp Motor Speedway - Boswell, IN - $10,000 (Eric Smith - 44)
06/14/09 Quad City Raceway - East Moline, IL - $6,000 (Dennis Erb - 31)
06/16/09 Highland Speedway - Highland, IL - $6,000 (RAIN)
06/17/09 Belle-Clair Speedway - Belleville, IL - $6,000 (Dennis Erb - 47)
06/18/09 Charleston Speedway - Charleston, IL - $6,000 (RAIN)
06/19/09 Farmer City Raceway - Farmer City, IL - $10,000 (RAIN)
06/20/09 Clarksville Speedway - Clarksville, TN - $10,000 (Billy Moyer - 44)
06/21/09 Tri-State Speedway - Haubstadt, IN - $6,000 (Jeep Van Wormer - 43)
06/23/09 Charleston Speedway - Charleston, IL $6,000 (Rodney Melvin - 26)
06/24/09 Tri-City Speedway - Pontoon Beach, IL $6,000 (Jason Feger - 34)
06/25/09 Clay Hill Motorsports Park - Atwood, TN - $6,000 (Billy Moyer - 38)
06/26/09 Paducah International Raceway - Paducah, KY - $10,000 (Billy Moyer - 41)
06/27/09 Fairbury Speedway - Fairbury, IL - $10,000 (Billy Moyer - 34)
06/28/09 Lincoln Speedway - Lincoln, IL - $6,000 (Randy Korte - 35)
06/29/09 Farmer City Raceway - Farmer City, IL $6,000 (Dennis Erb - 34)
06/30/09 Peoria Speedway - Peoria, IL - $6,000 (Jason Feger - 39)
07/01/09 Highland Speedway - Highland, IL - $6,000 (Jeep Van Wormer - 39)
07/02/09 Macon Speedway - Macon, IL - $6,000 (Shannon Babb - 34)
07/03/09 Quincy Raceway - Quincy, IL - $10,000 (Shannon Babb - 33)
07/04/09 I-55 Raceway - Pevely, MO - $10,000 (Rain)
07/05/09 Vermillion County Speedway - Danville, IL - $6,000 (Randy Korte - 35)
07/07/09 Shepps Speedway - Alexandria, IL - $6,000 (Shannon Babb - 33)
07/08/09 Spoon River Speedway - Canton,IL $6,000
07/09/09 LaSalle Speedway - LaSalle, IL - $6,000
07/10/09 Waynesfield Motorsports Park - Waynesfield, OH - $10,000
07/11/09 Oakshade Raceway - Wauseon, OH - 10,000
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