Scott | Karnac Racing News

Babb Captures Fourth Win of 2013 DIRTcar Summer Nationals “Hell Tour” at Tri-State Speedway

070713_LM_Haubstadt HAUBSTADT, Ind. — July 7, 2013 — Shannon Babb scored his fourth win of the 2013 “Hell Tour” season in dominating fashion Sunday night, as he lead all 40-laps from his second starting position to capture the checkered flag at Tri-State Speedway.

Babb, of Moweaqua, Ill., started from the outside of row one with teenager Bobby Pierce grabbing the pole. Babb took advantage of his starting position and pulled out to an early lead as he rode the outside line. Babb led every lap, but Pierce challenged him as the race wore on. Pierce pulled to Babb’s inside multiple times but couldn’t complete a pass. Babb held him off over the final two laps and pulled away to secure the $5,000 checkered flag. With the victory Sunday night, Shannon Babb is now only two wins shy of Billy Moyer’s record of 82 Summer National career wins.

“The track was excellent,” said Babb, a three-time Summer Nationals champion. “I just think I got the right draw — front row outside was hard to beat tonight. It worked out perfect for me. We’re just happy we’ve won the race. It’s been getting tough. These guys — little Bobby was right there — and these guys are making me step up my program a little bit.” (more…)

By Scott|2013-07-08T18:08:48-04:00July 8th, 2013|Featured, Front Page News, Super DirtCar Series|Comments Off

Harrison Scores Second DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals Victory at Tri-State Speedway

070713_MN_Haubstadt HAUBSTADT, Ind. — July 7, 2013 — Mike Harrison scored his second win of the 2013 Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals season Sunday night at Tri-State Speedway after successfully completing a daring slide-job with only a handful of laps remaining to capture the checkered flag.

With nearly 60 modifieds in attendance, Harrison proved to be the man-to-beat as he became only the second repeat winner on the tour this season, joining Devin Gilpin who accomplished the feat in the first two events of the season.

Harrison, of Labanow, Ill., started third, where he would be stuck for the majority of the race as Larry Anderson and Tyler Nicely battled side-by-side for the lead. Harrison eventually made his way to second after Nicely hopped the inside cushion causing his car to spin out. After the ensuing restart, Harrison would move his line around to do whatever he could to pass the leader Anderson, but still couldn’t move to the front. Finally, with only a handful of laps remaining, Harrison got a nose on Anderson coming out of turn four and performed a daring slide-job in turn one, just barely clearing the front of Anderson’s machine. Harrison then held off a charge from Levi Kissinger in the final two laps and capture the $1,000 checkered flag. (more…)

By Scott|2013-07-08T18:06:39-04:00July 8th, 2013|Featured, Front Page News, Super DirtCar Series|Comments Off

Lanigan Continues Mastery Of Deer Creek Speedway With Convincing Victory In NAPA Auto Parts Gopher 50

Defending World of Outlaws Late Model Series Champion Wins For Fourth Time In 11 Career Starts At Minnesota Track

070613_DeerCreekVL SPRING VALLEY, MN – July 6, 2013 – Deer Creek Speedway has become Darrell Lanigan’s personal playground.

The defending World of Outlaws Late Model Series champion continued his decade-long mastery of the three-eighths-mile oval on Saturday night, rolling to a convincing victory in the 34^th annual NAPA Auto Parts Gopher 50 Charity Late Model Race.

Lanigan, 43, of Union, Ky., earned $11,650 for his fourth triumph in 11 career WoO LMS starts at Deer Creek. He has finished outside the top three just twice since he began visiting the Queensland family’s track in 2005.

“This place is awesome,” said Lanigan, whose previous wins at Deer Creek came in the NAPA Gopher 50 in 2005 and 2009 and the opening night of the 2006 Heartland Nationals. “They work (the surface) right before the feature and it’s always great racing here. It’s a good place where you can get up on the wheel and race all over the racetrack.

“We definitely feel comfortable here, and our car seems to always work good here. I just like to come to Deer Creek.” (more…)

By Scott|2013-07-08T18:02:39-04:00July 8th, 2013|Featured, Front Page News, Late Models|Comments Off

Pittman Wrangles Boot Hill Showdown Victory in Dodge City

Points Leader Earns Sixth World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Win in ’13

070613_DodgeCity_VL DODGE CITY, Kan. – July 6, 2013 – With 20 laps in the books in the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series Boot Hill Showdown finale at Dodge City Raceway Park on Saturday, it seemed like Donny Schatz was a lock for his ninth feature win of the season. On the next lap, as fate would have it, a flat right rear, the same fate that gave him the feature win on Friday, would strike Schatz and hand the lead, and ultimately the win, to Daryn Pittman.

Schatz pulled into the pits under a caution on lap 21 brought out by James McFadden, who shredded a left rear tire. Cody Darrah moved into the second spot and Paul McMahan moved into third.

On the restart Pittman pulled out to a small lead while McMahan jockeyed past Darrah. McMahan fell in behind Pittman and that is where the finished. Darrah held onto third, where he started the race. Jason sides picked up three spots to finish fourth and earn an average finish at the Boot Hill Showdown of third. Tim Kaeding rounded out the top five on Saturday night

Pittman’s win ties him for the second most this season just behind Donny Schatz, and extends his point lead over runner-up McMahan. (more…)

By Scott|2013-07-08T18:00:11-04:00July 8th, 2013|Featured, Front Page News, Sprint Cars|Comments Off

Mullins Wins DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals Thriller at Fayette County Speedway

070513_MN_Fayette_W BROWNSTOWN, Ill. – July 5, 2013 – Brent Mullins led for about 50 feet on Friday night in the DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals main event at Fayette County Speedway, but it was the most important stretch of track as he out-sprinted race-long leader Rusty Griffaw and former DIRTcar national champion Mike Harrison to the checkered flag in a three-wide photo finish.

Mullins, of Litchfield, Ill., started the feature in the sixth position. Griffaw rode the cushion to an early lead and dominated for the second straight night. As the laps ticked down, though, Mullins and Harrison reeled in Griffaw, who ran up on lapped traffic. As the three exited turn four for the final time, Mullins kept his car glued to the bottom, Harrison went to the outside and they split Griffaw. In what could be the most exciting finish all season, Mullins barely nosed Harrison and Griffaw at the line to claim the $1,000 checkered flag.

“We just brought this car back. It’s been sitting for about a year and a half,” said Mullins, who continues the streak of 16 different winners so far in the six week season. “We dropped a motor in it, first time on the track in almost two years. You got to love it, just got to love it.” (more…)

By Scott|2013-07-07T05:23:33-04:00July 7th, 2013|Featured, Front Page News, Super DirtCar Series|Comments Off

Unzicker Scores Second DIRTcar Summer Nationals ‘Hell Tour’ Victory at Fayette County Speedway

Unznecker BROWNSTOWN, Ill. – July 5, 2013 – Ryan Unzicker charged to the lead at the drop of the green flag Fridaynight at Fayette County Speedway, then held off red-hot Shannon Babb on a restart with nine laps to go en route to scoring his second win of the 2013 DIRTcar Summer Nationals “Hell Tour” season.

Unzicker, of El Paso, Ill., started the 40-lap feature from the outside of the front row, next to pole-sitter and winner of the previous night, Bobby Pierce. Unzicker worked his car on the outside groove from the start to give himself to an early lead. Unzicker was running away before a late-race caution brought the field, and most notably Babb, back to his bumper. Babb made Unzicker earn his money, but Unzicker stuck to his line and turned back the challenge to earn his second win and cash the $5,000 paycheck at Fayette County Speedway.

“Everybody knows we like the bottom, but we set up for the top tonight,” said Unzicker, who also claimed the victory at Fairbury American Legion Speedway earlier in the six-week tour. “It seemed like the top was the favorable spot all night long. We just kept the car where it needed to be and hit the right marks. We definitely hit the setup, that thing was rolling tonight.” (more…)

By Scott|2013-07-07T05:12:48-04:00July 7th, 2013|Featured, Front Page News, Late Models|Comments Off

McCreadie Gives His Boy A Long-Distance Present With Victory In Friday’s ‘Wild West Tour’ Opener At Amsoil Speedway

New Yorker Scores Fourth World of Outlaws Late Model Series Win Of Season On Son’s Third Birthday

McCready SUPERIOR, WI – July 5, 2013 – Tim McCreadie was one very happy race car driver – and father – after holding off Rick Eckert to capture Friday night’s 50-lap World of Outlaws Late Model Series ‘Wild West Tour’ opener at Amsoil Speedway.

Not only did the 39-year-old star from Watertown, N.Y., score his fourth WoO LMS triumph of 2013, it came on his son Gavin’s third birthday. The toddler was home in the Empire State with his mother, Karen, but McCreadie made sure he dedicated his 24^th career win on the national circuit to the curly-haired boy.

“This one’s for you, Gavin,” McCreadie said after the checkered flag. “It’s cool to win on his birthday. I wish they could be here with me, but when I get home we’ll have (Gavin’s birthday) party next weekend.”

McCreadie, who started from the pole position but was outgunned for the lead at the initial green flag by his front-row mate Tim Fuller, kept up the pressure on his fellow New Yorker until gaining command on lap 15. T-Mac never looked back en route to a memorable victory that brought him $10,650 to buy presents for his kid. (more…)

By Scott|2013-07-07T05:07:23-04:00July 7th, 2013|Featured, Front Page News, Late Models|Comments Off

Schatz Wins World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Thriller in Dodge City

Champ Makes Winning Pass in Final Corner of Boot Hill Showdown Opener

070513_Dodge_Schatz_VL DODGE CITY, Kan. – July 5, 2013 – Jason Sides was aiming for his first victory of the season on Friday night at Dodge City Raceway Park, but Donny Schatz caught him coming off of the final corner and the two raced side-by-side to the checkered flag with Schatz surging ahead just enough to earn his eighth World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series win this season.

Changing conditions throughout the opening night of the Boot Hill Showdown, with stiff winds kicking up during the A-main, added challenges to drivers and crews when choosing tire compounds, and then how to manage them. Chad Kemenah ran out to a quick lead over the first five laps before Sides moved to the top spot and took control.

Sides led until a restart with 27 laps complete gave Schatz one final chance in his STP/Armor All J&J, and he took advantage. With Sides’ right rear tire wearing down, Schatz was able to hold his line on the bottom and when Sides drifted up the track just enough in turn four, he forced the drag race to the finish where Schatz earned the victory as Sides, Kraig Kinser, Kemenah and Daryn Pittman rounded out the top five.

“I gave it everything I had and it worked, it was just enough to get the win,” said five-time series champion Schatz, of Fargo, N.D. “You hope somebody gets tight enough they get out of the grove and that’s what happened with Jason out of four on the last lap. You never know what to expect, but you’ve got to be there in order to get the win. You’ve got to be smart and save your tire through the first half of the race. We just saved and saved and saved and were patient and obviously it paid off for us. Tonight we got the win,tomorrow might be a different story.” (more…)

By Scott|2013-07-07T05:03:06-04:00July 7th, 2013|Featured, Front Page News, Sprint Cars|Comments Off

Kay goes Back-to-Back with Deery Win at Davenport

Justin-Kay1 DAVENPORT, Iowa (July 5) – A rare Friday night show during the regular weekly point season for IMCA Late Models resulted in a not-so-rare occurrence: Another repeat winner in the Deery Brothers Summer Series.

Justin Kay topped another 50-lap feature that ran green to checkered at Davenport Speedway. He’d raced to his tour career first win in Tuesday’s caution-free event Independence, then backed that performance up with another $3,000 victory at his home track.

Brian Harris, winner of four consecutive Deery events going into the Indee show, took runner-up honors behind Kay for a second straight night.

Andy Eckrich, hard charger Stephan Kammerer and Todd Malmstrom rounded out the top five.

Eckrich started on the pole and led the first two circuits before Kay, who had started third, zoomed by on the quarter-mile. The battle was clearly for second as Kay pulled away in lapped traffic.

Eckrich, the 12^th starting Kammerer and seventh starting Harris swapped second before Eckrich settled in just before midway. Harris finally caught up and swiped the spot back on the last lap. (more…)