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

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…)

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…)

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

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…)

JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — July 3, 2013 — Shannon Babb scored his second victory in as many nights when he rolled to victory Wednesday night in the 17 ^th round of the 2013 DIRTcar Summer Nationals “Hell Tour” at Jacksonville Speedway.

With the six-week-long “Hell Tour” officially hitting its halfway point, Babb might be just hitting his stride. Babb started from the outside of row two, behind McKay Wenger and former DIRTcar national champion Rusty Schlenk, who was leading the majority of the 40-lap feature when his car failed him with nine laps to go. That gave Babb his golden opportunity to lead the remaining few laps and capture the $5,000 checkered flag. Points-leader Brandon Sheppard finished second.

“I finally feel like I got my act together,” said Babb, a three-time Summer Nationals champion from Moweaqua, Ill. “We’ve got a program that’s really working. The car’s really good. I’m really happy with it.” (more…)