QUINCY, Ill. — Three-time Summer Nationals champion Shannon Babb out-dueled defending Summer Nationals champion Brian Shirley on Tuesday night at Quincy Raceways to capture his second win of the 2013 DIRTcar Summer Nationals “Hell Tour”.

Babb, of Moweaqua, Ill., used the top grove to pick up spots early as he rallied from his fourth starting position to second in seven laps. Shirley, the early race leader, built a half-straightaway lead, but within three laps Babb was knocking on his door. The two series champions battled door-to-door lap after lap before finally on lap 15, Babb moved in front. Shirley maneuvered his way back to the lead on lap 21, but contact with a lapped car while trying to hold off Babb ended Shirley’s chances of winning. Babb recaptured the lead and pulled away from the field, securing the $5,000 checkered flag. (more…)

Photo Courtesy: Jeff Hall Photography

LINCOLN, Ill. — June 30, 2013 — Bobby Pierce is only 16 years old but he accomplished a feat on Sundaynight at Lincoln Speedway that many in Dirt Late Model racing only dream about — winning a DIRTcar Summer Nationals event.

Pierce, of Oakwood, Ill., captured the $10,000 victory in dominating fashion at quarter-mile Lincoln Speedway on the 12th night of the six-week DIRTcar Summer Nationals Hell Tour, becoming the youngest winner in the 26-year history of the grueling summer series.

Pierce lined up on the outside of points leader Brandon Sheppard on the front row for the 60-lap feature, but it was three-time series champion Shannon Babb who charged from sixth to lead the 22-car field in the early going. Pierce caught and passed Babb on lap 9 then held off 2004 series champion Don O’Neal to the checkered flag.

“We’ve been trying so hard to do this, getting top-fives and coming close,” said Pierce, whose father, Bob, is a two-time DIRTcar Summer Nationals champion (1992, 1995). “It’s so hard to win these things. You’ve got the best of the best. I’m so glad to finally get one. It’s amazing.” (more…)

West Virginia Star Becomes First Driver To Sweep Pennsylvania Track’s Three-Race World of Outlaws Late Model Series Weekend

SARVER, PA – June 29, 2013 – Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., put the finishing touch on a perfect weekend with a victory in Saturday night’s seventh annual Firecracker 100 Presented by GottaRace.com at Lernerville Speedway.

By adding a $30,650 triumph in the marquee World of Outlaws Late Model Series event to his 30-lap preliminary A-Main wins on Thursday night and Saturday afternoon, the 25-year-old superstar became the first driver to sweep the Firecracker 100 weekend since it was expanded to three full nights of racing in 2012.

“It means a lot to me to win a race of this much prestige – as well as (the fact that) this is the place I ran my first Outlaw race (in 2004),” said Richards, who added a Firecracker 100 victory to his previous WoO LMS century-grind scores at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis. (2011 USA Nationals) and Mohawk International Raceway in Akwesasne, N.Y. (2010 Battle At Eastern Door). “This track means a lot to me and to get a crown-jewel (event win) here is huge. There are a lot of great cars here and just to be able to win one of the (weekend) races means a lot – and to win all three is unreal.” (more…)

World of Outlaws Late Model Series Points Leader Rolls To Victory In Saturday Afternoon’s Postponed 30-Lapper

SARVER, PA – June 29, 2013 – Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., completed an unprecedented sweep of the Firecracker 100 Presented by GottaRace.com preliminary events with a victory inSaturday afternoon’s postponed 30-lap World of Outlaws Late Model Series A-Main at Lernerville Speedway.

The two-time WoO LMS champion started from the pole position and led the entire distance to become the first driver to win both Firecracker 100 preliminary features since the weekend was expanded to three full nights of racing in 2010. He earned $6,150 for his fifth triumph of the season on the national tour with his father Mark’s Valvoline-sponsored Rocket Chassis house car.

Shane Clanton of Zebulon, Ga., shared the front row with Richards for the start and chased the WoO LMS points leader from flag-to-flag. He closed within a couple car lengths of Richards in the final laps but settled for a second-place finish, 0.397 of a second behind the victor. (more…)