{"id":19144,"date":"2013-07-29T19:59:08","date_gmt":"2013-07-29T19:59:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/?p=19144"},"modified":"2013-07-29T19:59:08","modified_gmt":"2013-07-29T19:59:08","slug":"babb-tops-mcdowell-pierce-in-memorable-prairie-dirt-classic-battle-to-finish-at-fairbury-american-legion-speedway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/front-page-news\/babb-tops-mcdowell-pierce-in-memorable-prairie-dirt-classic-battle-to-finish-at-fairbury-american-legion-speedway\/","title":{"rendered":"Babb Tops McDowell & Pierce In Memorable Prairie Dirt Classic Battle To Finish At Fairbury American Legion Speedway"},"content":{"rendered":"

Illinois Star Thrills Packed House, Keeps $20,000 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Prize From Leaving State<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"072713_FairburyVL\"FAIRBURY, IL \u2013 July 27, 2013 \u2013 Shannon Babb battled and battled and battled…and finally came out on top of a Prairie Dirt Classic A-Main for the ages on Saturday night at Fairbury American Legion Speedway.<\/p>\n

The 39-year-old star from Moweaqua, Ill., thrilled his home-state crowd, outdueling Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., and Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., down the stretch to win a 100-lap race that was arguably the most dramatic of the 2013 World of Outlaws Late Model Series campaign.<\/p>\n

For a driver who since 2008 has tried so hard \u2013 but continually fallen just short \u2013 to score a signature WoO LMS triumph in the Illini 100 at nearby Farmer City Raceway, mastering another bullring in his backyard to the tune of a $20,050 first-place check holds extra significance.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis ranks right up there with the Illini 100 to me,\u201d said Babb, who previously won the Prairie Dirt Classic in 2002 and 2006. \u201cTwenty-grand (to win a dirt Late Model race) right here in Illinois is unheard of, and I\u2019m just tickled to death (to win it).<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving this many people here, a 100-lapper at Fairbury, $20,000 to win and all the Outlaw guys here \u2013 it was cool. It\u2019s something that\u2019s hard to get.\u201d<\/p>\n

After watching the 16-year-old Pierce use the inside groove to march forward from the 17th starting spot and take the lead on lap 29, Babb stuck to his preferred outside line around the high-banked, quarter-mile oval and reached second place on lap 48. Babb then relentlessly chased Pierce for the remainder of the distance, nosing ahead to lead briefly on lap 80 and laps 89-90 before gaining full command on lap 93 and holding off both Pierce and McDowell, 47, over the final circuits.<\/p>\n

Babb, Pierce and McDowell ran three-wide at times during the last five laps, igniting the packed house that turned out for the biggest event in Fairbury\u2019s storied history. The trio came off turn two close together on the final lap, but Pierce and McDowell vied for the same real estate in turn three and lost momentum, allowing Babb to vault away to the checkered flag in his Victory Circle car.<\/p>\n

McDowell settled for second place in his Team Dillon MasterSbilt machine, 0.730 of a second behind Babb. Pierce registered a career-best WoO LMS finish of third in a car built by his father Bob.<\/p>\n

Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., quietly rallied from a lap-39 pit stop for a left-rear tire change to finish fourth in the Sweeteners Plus Warrior, reaching the position with just four circuits left in the 100. He used a WoO LMS points provisional to start 24th<\/sup>\u00a0and actually went a lap down early in the race but was reinstated to the lead lap by the tour\u2019s \u2018Outlaw Pardon\u2019 rule when a caution flag flew on lap 39.<\/p>\n

Shane Clanton of Zebulon, Ga., placed fifth in the Kennedy Motorsports Capital Race Car after climbing as high as third from the 11th<\/sup>\u00a0starting spot. He regained second place in the WoO LMS points standings from Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., who was never a factor while finishing two laps down in 19th<\/sup>\u00a0place.<\/p>\n

Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., remained atop the WoO LMS points standings with a sixth-place finish after starting 20th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Babb, who started sixth, worked hard for his 11th<\/sup>\u00a0career WoO LMS victory but first since Sept. 18, 2010, at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in Pevely, Mo.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt felt like we was in a hornet\u2019s nest the whole race,\u201d said Babb, who ran inside the top five virtually from start to finish. \u201cNobody got away from everybody. Little Bobby got out there on us a little bit (midway through the PDC) \u2013 he was soft on tires and was real slow on the bottom \u2013 but the top here is always just as equal as the bottom and we got rolling up there.\u201d<\/p>\n

After swapping the lead with Pierce five times from lap 81 to 93, Babb found some extra speed to keep both Pierce and McDowell behind him during the race\u2019s final frenetic laps.<\/p>\n

\u201cI tried not to step it up as hard as I could till five (laps) to go,\u201d said Babb. \u201cYou get your tires hot (running hard) and then you start shoving the nose, so I was rolling along there about 90 percent. Then when that flagman gave me five to go I stepped it up a little bit and started using the center of the berm to shove me off and get a little bit of a run off the corner.\u201d<\/p>\n

The PDC remained in doubt until the final lap when Babb made a strategic move that ultimately proved decisive. He altered his entry into turn three, preventing the low-running Pierce and middle-occupying McDowell from mounting challenges.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you\u2019re going down to the last lap you\u2019re gonna get a slide-job if you drive in to three too high, park and leave room for \u2018em,\u201d said Babb. \u201cSomebody\u2019s gonna do it if you open the door. I would do it to somebody \u2013 it\u2019s $20,000, you know.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I drove into turn three, went low, drifted out and caught the cushion off (turn four). You just have to protect yourself on the last lap and that\u2019s what I did.\u201d<\/p>\n

McDowell, who started second and led laps 1-28 but nearly fell out of the top 10 midway through the race, had his forward progress slowed ever-so-slightly by Babb\u2019s lane change. Pierce attempted to fill the gap underneath McDowell in a last-ditch bid to become the youngest A-Main winner in WoO LMS history, but contact between the two ended their hopes of unseating Babb.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe last lap Shannon was protecting the bottom like I would\u2019ve, so I checked up and Little Bobby got in there,\u201d said McDowell, who made his first-ever appearance at Fairbury and was looking for his first WoO LMS win since Sept. 23, 2005, at Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway. \u201cWe all got to beating and banging a little bit for the win. I was just trying to get to the flag.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just feel pretty fortunate to come home second. I really got lost on the racetrack when (a lap-43 scrape with Babb in turn three) happened and it took me awhile to get back in a rhythm and find that middle (lane).\u201d<\/p>\n

Pierce, meanwhile, was a dejected teenager after flirting with the biggest victory of his budding career. The soon-to-be high-school junior stayed glued to the extreme inside of the track to reach the front of the pack and battled toe-to-toe with Babb and McDowell, but he couldn\u2019t quite finish the job.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think my left-rear (tire) was going away there at the end and theirs were coming in,\u201d said Pierce, who lost second place to McDowell on lap 97. \u201cShannon was getting going really good on the top, and once I saw him there I knew it was gonna be a really good race because he doesn\u2019t like to give up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pierce admitted in Victory Lane that he was \u201cjust pretty mad right now\u201d over two factors that he felt contributed to his heartbreaking loss. According to Pierce, the repositioning of marker tires on the inside of the turns by track crews during caution periods left him unable to run the precise low line he used in his charge to the front and the last-lap get-together with McDowell effectively finished off his chances at victory.<\/p>\n

Finishing in positions 7-10 was Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., who sat third when the race\u2019s final caution flag flew on lap 83 for debris; Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., who earned a $500 bonus for capturing the DirtonDirt.com \u2018Bullring Bonus\u2019 for being the DIRTcar UMP regular with the best combined finishes in the Illini 100 and PDC; polesitter Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark.; and Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa.<\/p>\n

Four caution flags slowed the event, none for serious incidents. Bub McCool of Vicksburg, Miss., slowed with a blown right-rear tire on lap five; Tyler Reddick of DuQuoin, Ill., fell off the pace on lap 39; and Ricky Weiss of Winnipeg, Manitoba, spun in turn one on lap 64.<\/p>\n

Sheppard and Richards began\u00a0Saturday\u00a0night\u2019s racing program by scoring victories in the 20-lap B-Mains.<\/p>\n

WoO LMS regular Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., failed to qualify for the PDC \u2013 he finished seventh in a B-Main and was not eligible to use a tour emergency provisional \u2013 but he salvaged his visit to Fairbury by winning the 30-lap Prairie Dirt Shootout Non-Qualifiers\u2019 Race that capped the evening\u2019s action. His triumph over Kent Robinson of Bloomington, Ind., was worth $2,000 \u2013 more than last-place paid in the 100.<\/p>\n

The WoO LMS will remain in the Midwest for the next week for events at two tracks in Wisconsin and one in Iowa. The tour moves on to Shawano (Wis.) Speedway on\u00a0Tues., July 30, before contesting the 26th<\/sup>\u00a0annual USA Nationals on\u00a0Aug. 1-3\u00a0at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis., and a mid-week show on\u00a0Mon., Aug. 5, at Independence (Iowa) Motor Speedway.<\/p>\n

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit\u00a0www.worldofoutlaws.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Results of WoO Late Model Series \u201824th<\/sup>\u00a0Annual Prairie Dirt Classic\u2019 at Fairbury American Legion Speedway (Finishing Position\/Start\/Driver\/Laps Completed\/Money Won):<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

1. (6) Shannon Babb\/100 $20,050<\/p>\n

2. (2) Dale McDowell\/100 $10,050<\/p>\n

3. (17) Bobby Pierce\/100 $6,500<\/p>\n

4. (24) Tim McCreadie\/100 $5,650<\/p>\n

5. (11) Shane Clanton\/100 $4,550<\/p>\n

6. (20) Josh Richards\/100 $3,700<\/p>\n

7. (7) Brian Shirley\/100 $2,750<\/p>\n

8. (19) Brandon Sheppard\/100 $3,000<\/p>\n

9. (1) Billy Moyer\/100 $2,500<\/p>\n

10. (15) Chub Frank\/100 $2,800<\/p>\n

11. (5) Mike Spatola\/100 $1,900<\/p>\n

12. (25) Scott Bull\/100 $1,800<\/p>\n

13. (8) Tyler Reddick\/100 $1,750<\/p>\n

14. (13) Kyle Logue\/100 $1,700<\/p>\n

15. (10) McKay Wenger\/100 $1,600<\/p>\n

16. (3) Derek Chandler\/100 $1,580<\/p>\n

17. (27) Eric Wells\/98 $910<\/p>\n

18. (23) Rick Eckert\/98 $2,190<\/p>\n

19. (21) Darrell Lanigan\/98 $2,170<\/p>\n

20. (12) Eric Smith\/98 $1,500<\/p>\n

21. (4) Kevin Weaver\/76 $1,500<\/p>\n

22. (26) Joe Harlan\/69 $1,500<\/p>\n

23. (18) Randy Korte\/62 $1,500<\/p>\n

24. (9) Ricky Weiss\/62 $1,525<\/p>\n

25. (22) Tim Fuller\/55 $2,050<\/p>\n

26. (14) Billy Drake\/38 $1,500<\/p>\n

27. (28) Bub McCool\/28 $660<\/p>\n

28. (16) Aaron Ricketts\/25 $1,500<\/p>\n

*\u00a0Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Time of Race: 43 Mins., 49.357 Secs.<\/p>\n

Margin of Victory: 0.730 Secs.<\/p>\n

Yellow Flags: 4 (laps 5, 39, 64, 83)<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders: McDowell (1-28); Pierce (29-80); Babb (81); Pierce (82-88); Babb (89-90); Pierce (91-92); Babb (93-100)<\/p>\n

Provisional Starters: Eckert, McCreadie (WoO points); Bull, J. Harlan (track); Wells, McCool (WoO emergency)<\/p>\n

Rookie of the Race: Wells ($250)<\/p>\n

WoO LMS \u2018Bonus Bucks\u2019 Winner: Pierce ($500)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

B-Main No. 1 (20 laps \u2013 Top 2 Transfer):\u00a0<\/strong>1. Brandon Sheppard, 2. Darrell Lanigan, 3. Torin Mettille, 4. Daren Friedman, 5. Eric Wells, 6. Morgan Bagley, 7. Clint Smith, 8. Mike Mullvain, 9. Ryan Unzicker, 10. Tim McCreadie, 11. Joe Harlan, 12. Jay Morris, 13. Steve Thorston, 14. Snooke Dehm, 15. Bub McCool, 16. John Mason, 17. Eric Vaughan<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

B-Main No. 2 (20 laps \u2013 Top 2 Transfer):\u00a0<\/strong>1. Josh Richards, 2. Tim Fuller, 3. Rick Eckert, 4. Frankie Heckenast, 5. Steve Sheppard Jr., 6. Jimmy Mars, 7. Dillon Wood, 8. Kent Robinson, 9. Donny Walden, 10. Daniel Flessner, 11. Brian Dunn, 12. Tom Thoennes, 13. Rich Harlan, 14. Scott Bull, 15. Mike McGuire, 16. Scott Schmitt<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prairie Dirt Shootout Non-Qualifiers\u2019 Race Finish (30 laps):\u00a0<\/strong>1. Clint Smith ($2,000);\u00a0<\/strong>2. Kent Robinson ($1,200); 3. Daren Friedman ($900); 4. Dillon Wood ($800); 5. Ryan Unzicker ($700); 6. Frankie Heckenast ($600); 7. Scott Schmitt ($575); 8. Mike Mullvain ($550); 9. Torin Mettille ($525); 10. Steve Thorston ($500); 11. Tom Thoennes ($475); 12. Donny Walden ($450); 13. Jay Morris ($425); 14. Daniel Flessner ($400); 15. Rich Harlan ($375); 16. Snookie Dehm ($350); 17. Steve Sheppard Jr. ($325); 18. Eric Vaughan ($300); 19. Brian Dunn ($300); 20. Mike McGuire ($300)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners (awards presented to noted finisher\/qualifier or next highest displaying decal:<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ohlins Shocks ($50 cash to fast qualifier): Billy Moyer<\/p>\n

Eibach Springs (one free spring to each B-Main winner): Torin Mettille\/Josh Richards<\/p>\n

VP Race Fuels \u2018Nice Jugs\u2019 Award: (One VP 5-gallon container to fastest qualifier who misses A-Main): Torin Mettille<\/p>\n

Wrisco Aluminum (3 sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner only): Shannon Babb<\/p>\n

Armor All (One case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main): Shannon Babb<\/p>\n

Comp Cams ($50 certificate to A-Main winner): Shannon Babb<\/p>\n

QuarterMaster ($100 certificate to A-Main winner, $50 certificate to 5th<\/sup>-place finish): Shannon Babb\/McKay Wenger<\/p>\n

MSD Ignition ($50 cash to A-Main winner): Shannon Babb<\/p>\n

STP ($50 cash to 2nd<\/sup>-place finisher in A-Main): Dale McDowell<\/p>\n

XS Power ($50 cash to 3rd<\/sup>-place finisher in A-Main): Chub Frank<\/p>\n

Roush Yates ($50 cash to 4th<\/sup>-place finisher in A-Main): Josh Richards<\/p>\n

JE Pistons ($50 cash to 5th<\/sup>-place finisher in A-Main): Josh Richards<\/p>\n

Dominator ($50 cash to 6th<\/sup>-place finisher in A-Main): Chub Frank<\/p>\n

American Race Wheels ($50 cash to 7th<\/sup>-place finisher in A-Main): Billy Moyer<\/p>\n

VP Race Fuels ($50 cash to 8th<\/sup>-place finisher in A-Main): Chub Frank<\/p>\n

Edelbrock Manifolds ($50 cash to 9th<\/sup>-finisher in A-Main): Billy Moyer<\/p>\n

Comp Cams ($50 cash to 10th<\/sup>-place finisher in A-Main): Chub Frank<\/p>\n

XS Power ($60 product certificate to 11th<\/sup>-place finisher in A-Main): Ryan Unzicker<\/p>\n

Cometic Gasket ($50 cash to 12th<\/sup>-place finisher in A-Main): Tyler Reddick<\/p>\n

JRI Shocks ($50 cash to 13th<\/sup>-place finisher in A-Main): Bub McCool<\/p>\n

Super Flow Dynos ($50 cash to 14th<\/sup>-place finisher in A-Main): Kyle Logue<\/p>\n

JE Pistons (one complete set of JE Pro Seal rings to 16th<\/sup>-place finisher in A-Main, redeemable w\/next purchase of set): Eric Wells<\/p>\n

Klotz Lubricants ($50 cash to 17th<\/sup>-place finisher in A-Main): Eric Wells<\/p>\n

Roush Yates ($50 gift card to 18th<\/sup>-place finisher in A-Main): Rick Eckert<\/p>\n

QuarterMaster ($50 certificate to 19th<\/sup>-place finisher in A-Main): Eric Smith<\/p>\n

Arizona Sport Shirts ($100 certificate to 20th<\/sup>-place finisher in A-Main): Ricky Weiss<\/p>\n

JE Pistons (one complete set of JE Pro Seal rings to 21st<\/sup>-place finisher in A-Main, redeemable w\/next purchase of set): Randy Korte<\/p>\n

Roush Yates ($50 gift card to 22nd<\/sup>-place finisher in A-Main): Randy Korte<\/p>\n

MSD Ignition ($25 cash to 24th<\/sup>-place finisher in A-Main): Ricky Weiss<\/p>\n

XS Power \u2018Power Move of the Race\u2019 ($60 product certificate): Shannon Babb<\/p>\n

Roush Yates ($25 gift card to driver who leads most laps in the A-Main): Bobby Pierce<\/p>\n

Reliable Painting Award (one free tire): Eric Wells<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2013 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of\u00a0July 27 \u2013 30\u00a0A-Mains completed (rank\/driver\/points\/deficit to leader):<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

1. Josh Richards 4226<\/p>\n

2. Shane Clanton 4186 (-40)<\/p>\n

3. Darrell Lanigan 4162 (-64)<\/p>\n

4. Rick Eckert 4080 (-146)<\/p>\n

5. Tim McCreadie 3926 (-300)<\/p>\n

6. Eric Wells 3866 (-360)<\/p>\n

7. Tim Fuller 3856 (-370)<\/p>\n

8. Chub Frank 3796 (-430)<\/p>\n

9. Morgan Bagley 3768 (-458)<\/p>\n

10. Bub McCool 3766 (-460)<\/p>\n

11. Clint Smith 3610 (-616)<\/p>\n

12. Scott James 1958 (-2268)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: American Racing Custom Wheels (Official Custom Wheel), Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), KMC (Official Custom Truck Wheel), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), Vicci (Official Uniform), VP Racing Fuel (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and McCarthy’s One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning (Raye Vest Memorial Pill Draw Award); in addition to contingency sponsors: Butlerbuilt, Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Dominator Race Products, Edelbrock, Eibach Springs, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, QuarterMaster, Roush Yates Performance Parts, Superflow Dynos, Wrisco Aluminum and XS Power Racing Batteries; along with manufacturer sponsors Capital Race Cars, Integra Shocks, GRT Chassis, Jake\u2019s Carts, Racing Electronics, Rocket Chassis, TNT Rescue, and Warrior Chassis.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Illinois Star Thrills Packed House, Keeps $20,000 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Prize From Leaving State FAIRBURY, IL \u2013 July 27, 2013 \u2013 Shannon […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"publish_to_discourse":"","publish_post_category":"","wpdc_auto_publish_overridden":"","wpdc_topic_tags":"","wpdc_pin_topic":"","wpdc_pin_until":"","discourse_post_id":"","discourse_permalink":"","wpdc_publishing_response":"","wpdc_publishing_error":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[22,3,71],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19144","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-featured","category-front-page-news","category-late-models"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19144","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19144"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19144\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19148,"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19144\/revisions\/19148"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19144"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19144"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19144"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}