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…)

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…)

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…)

JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — July 3, 2013 —David Wietholder had been close all season but had come up just shy of a victory on the DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals tour, until Wednesday night when he powered to his first victory of 2013 at Jacksonville Speedway.

Wietholder, of Liberty, Ill., started the feature from the fifth position and locked his car to the inside to move up to third behind leaders Donovan Lodge and Jeff Leka, who were battling side-by-side the first five laps. Tuesday night winner Steven DeLonjay passed Wietholder for third as the leaders continued to sort out the top spot, but DeLonjay encountered troubles when he hit the inside cushion causing his car to spin out in front of the field. (more…)