Babb Earns First Illini 100 Victory In Front of Hometown Crowd
Land of Lincoln driver pockets $20,000, becomes eighth different World of Outlaws Late Model Series winner this season
By Chris Tilley
FARMER CITY, Ill. – April 26, 2014 – Shannon Babb became the first Illinois driver to capture the Illini 100 on Saturday night at Farmer City Raceway.
The Moweaqua, Ill., driver started seventh, took the lead on lap 46 from Bobby Pierce and never looked back en route to a $20,000 payday in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series-sanctioned Sixth Annual Illini 100 at Farmer City Raceway. Babb became the eighth different winner in eight races on this year’s World of Outlaws Late Model Series tour across America.
“Man I’m pumped, 20 grand right here at Farmer City, shoot!” exclaimed a very excited Babb in Victory Lane in front of a packed hometown crowd. “This race means a lot, there’s no better crowd in the Midwest than right here, every year they keep supporting it, we’ve got a lot of good race fans and race teams around here, it’s great. Love to win it right here at home.”
Polesitter Morgan Bagley and Rick Eckert brought the field of 24 to life for the Illini 100 with Eckert taking the point and leading the opening circuit with Pierce, Tim McCreadie and Bagley in tow. On the third lap Pierce took the lead from Eckert coming off the fourth turn and tried to hold off the field.
By the eighth lap, points leader and two-time champion Darrell Lanigan made his presence known as he rallied from his eighth starting spot to challenge for third and eventually take the position from McCreadie. By the next lap, Lanigan rolled his Club 29 Race Car to the second.
Pierce continued leading, but Lanigan kept the pressure on, closing the gap on Pierce by the 16th lap. Lanigan put his nose to the outside of Pierce on several occasions but Pierce’s momentum on the bottom of the quarter-mile bullring keep him out front.
Lapped traffic came into play by the 21st circuit as both Pierce and Lanigan had their hands full behind several lapped cars. For the next eight laps the duo worked through lapped cars with Pierce still holding his momentum.
Pierce continued to lead until the 45th lap when the caution flew for debris. On the restart, Babb knocked off second place and by the 46th lap he moved up the track and took the lead from Pierce.
“When those guys went to the bottom, my mouth was watering, I just got up there and got ‘er done,” Babb said.
As the race went on after the lap-50 yellow flag, Babb could flex his muscle with the lead on the field, but after a final yellow on lap-88, the field bunched up again for the final time but Babb still held off a determined Lanigan for his first WoO LMS victory of the season.
Only four caution flags slowed the event which took just over 36 minutes to run. The first yellow flag came on the sixth lap as Steve Sheppard Jr. and Jeep VanWormer both spun in turn one. The next yellow would be on lap 45 for debris in turn four. The third yellow would come out on the 50th lap as Chase Junghans slowed in turn three with a flat tire. The fourth and final yellow would wave on the 88th lap as Clint Smith brought his car to rest in turn four with a right-rear flat tire. Both Junghans and Smith entered the work area and bolted on new rubber for the rest of the main event.
Babb drove his Petroff Towing, Donley Trucking and Krekes Powerhouse sponsored Rocket Chassis to the payday. Completing the top-five were eighth-starting Lanigan of Union, Ky., fourth-starting Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., sixth-starting McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., and Eckert, of York, Pa., who drove to his first top-five filling in for three-time series champ Josh Richards in the #1 Rocket Chassis car.
Lanigan just couldn’t get over the hump he needed to get the win.
“We did have a good car all night, that’s my fault, I should have took the outside on the first restart and picked the inside,” stated Lanigan after his podium finish.
Lanigan turned the fastest overall lap of Ohlins Shocks Time Trials on Friday night, circling the blistering-fast oval in 13.369 seconds during Group ‘A’ of the split qualifying session.
Heat winners on Friday were Lanigan, Shannon Babb, Kevin Weaver and Bobby Pierce. Ryan Unzicker and Darren Friedman captured the Last Chance Showdowns on Saturday.
The WoO LMS will be back in action to kick off an ultra-busy Month of May on Friday May 2, at Fayetteville Motor Speedway in Fayetteville, N.C., and Saturday, May 3, at Lavonia Speedway in Lavonia, Ga. Each event pays $10,000-to-win.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com .
Fans can also follow the WoO LMS on Twitter at Twitter.com/WoOLateModels and Facebook at Facebook.com/WorldofOutlaws .
Results of World of Outlaws Late Model Series at Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):
1. (7) Shannon Babb/100 $20,050
2. (8) Darrell Lanigan/100 $10,650
3. (4) Bobby Pierce/100 $6,500
4. (6) Tim McCreadie/100 $5,700
5. (2) Rick Eckert/100 $4,650
6. (14) Jason Feger/100 $3,050
7. (3) Kevin Weaver/100 $2,750
8. (13) Chub Frank/100 $3,100
9. (5) Frank Heckenast Jr./100 $3,100
10. (12) Brandon Sheppard/100 $2,650
11. (10) Scott Schmitt/100 $1,950
12. (17) Ryan Unzicker/100 $1,800
13. (9) Shane Clanton/100 $2,250
14. (23) Eric Wells/100 $2,200
15. (22) Brady Smith/100 $1,650
16. (1) Morgan Bagley/100 $2,130
17. (16) Rick “Boom” Briggs/100 $2,110
18. (24) Chase Junghans/100 $2,090
19. (21) Clint Smith/99 $2,070
20. (15) Joe Harlan/78 $1,500
21. (20) Steve Shappard Jr./66 $1,500
22. (11) Brian Diverley/62 $1,500
23. (19) Jeep VanWormer/44 $1,500
24. (18) Darren Friedman/43 $1,525
* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses
Time of Race: 36 Mins., 37 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 0.419 Secs.
Yellow Flags: Four (laps 6, 45, 50, 88)
Red Flags: None
Lap Leaders: Eckert (1-2); Pierce (3-45); Babb (46-100)
Provisional Starters: Eric Wells and Chase Junghans
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Bobby Pierce ($500)
Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):
Group ‘A’
1. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, Ky. 13.369
2. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, N.Y. 13.498
3. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, Pa. 13.560
4. 18B-Shannon Babb-Moweaqua, Ill. 13.588
5. 14m-Morgan Bagley/Tyler, Texas 13.592
6. 25F-Jason Feger/Bloomington, Ill. 13.690
7. 25-Shane Clanton/Zebulon, Ga. 13.718
8. 10-Scott Schmitt/Tonica, Ill. 13.724
9. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, Ga. 13.780
10. 89-Daren Friedman/Forrest, Ill. 13.789
11. 116-Torin Mettille/Cullom, Ill. 13.792
12. 5s-Steve Sheppard Jr./New Berlin, Ill. 13.826
13. 18c-Chase Junghans/Manhattan, Ks. 13.941
14. 77m-Jay Morris/Watseka, Ill. 14.045
15. 32J-Jason Jaggers/Wyant, Ill. 14.143
16. 7T-Steve Thorsten/Milford, Ill. 14.148
17. 18-Eric Wells/Hazard, Ky. 14.156
18. 93-Jay Johnson/W. Burlington, Iowa 14.328
Group ‘B’
1. B12-Kevin Weaver/Gibson City, Ill. 13.646
2. 1-Rick Eckert/York, Pa. 13.691
3. 99jr-Frank Heckenast Jr./Orland Park, Ill. 13.766
4. 35-Derek Chandler/Pontiac, Ill. 13.780
5. 11d-Brian Diverley/Springfield, Ill. 13.822
6. B5-Brandon Sheppard/New Berlin, Ill. 13.865
7. 24-Ryan Unzicker/El Paso, Ill. 13.866
8. 83-Scott Bull/Fairbury, Ill. 13.898
9. Z-Joe Harlan/El Paso, Ill. 13.904
10. 1w-Donny Walden/Towanda, Ill. 13.922
11. 45-Kyle Hammer/Clinton, Ill. 13.939
12. 99B-Rick ‘Boom Briggs/Bear Lake, Pa. 13.977
13. 55-Jeep VanWormer/Pinconning, Mich. 13.992
14. 2-Brady Smith/Solon Springs, Wis. 14.151
15. 74-Russ Adams/Princeville, Ill. 14.475
DNQ. 9D-Daniel Flessner/Roberts, Ill. No Time
DNQ. 32-Bobby Pierce/Oakwood, Ill. No Time
DNQ. 42-McKay Wenger/Fairbury, Ill. No Time
Heat No. 1 (15 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Darrell Lanigan, Morgan Bagley, Shane Clanton, Chub Frank, Chase Junghans, Clint Smith, Torin Mettille, Jason Jaggers, Eric Wells.
Heat No. 2 (15 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Shannon Babb, Tim McCreadie, Scott Schmitt, Jason Feger, Darren Friedman, Steve Sheppard Jr., Jay Morris, Jay Johnson, Steve Thorston.
Heat No. 3 (15 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Kevin Weaver, Frank Heckenast Jr., Brian Diverley, Joe Harlan, Jeep VanWormer, Ryan Unzicker, Kyle Hammer, Russ Adams, Daniel Flessner (DNS).
Heat No. 4 (15 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Bobby Pierce, Rick Eckert, Brandon Sheppard, Rick “Boom” Briggs, Derek Chandler, Scott Bull, Donny Walden, Brady Smith.
Last Chance Showdown No. 1 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Ryan Unzicker, Jeep VanWormer, Clint Smith, Chase Junghans, Eric Wells, Kyle Hammer, Torin Mettille, Jay Johnson, Daniel Flessner.
Last Chance Showdown No. 2 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Darren Friedman, Steve Sheppard Jr., Brady Smith, Jay Morris, Scott Bull, Donny Walden, Derek Chandler, Steve Thorston.
World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners (awards presented to noted finisher/qualifier or next highest displaying decal):
Ohlins Shocks ($50 cash to fast qualifier): Shannon Babb
Comp Cams ($50 certificate to A-Main winner): Tim McCreadie
MSD Ignition ($50 cash to A-Main winner): Tim McCreadie
Quartermaster ($100 certificate to A-Main winner): Tim McCreadie
Wrisco (three sheets of aluminum/certificate to A-Main winner): Shannon Babb
STP ($50 cash to 2nd-place finisher in A-Main): Darrell Lanigan
Penske Racing Shocks ($50 to 3rd-place finisher in A-Main): Scott Schmitt
Roush-Yates ($50 cash to 4th-place finisher in A-Main): Tim McCreadie
JE Pistons ($50 cash to 5th-place finisher in A-Main): Rick Eckert
Lincoln Welders ($50 cash to 6th-place finisher in A-Main): Jason Feger
American Racing Wheels ($50 cash to 7th-place finisher in A-Main): Chub Frank
VP Racing Fuels ($50 cash to 8th-place finisher in A-Main): Chub Frank
Edelbrock ($50 cash to 9th-place finisher in A-Main): Frank Heckenast Jr.
Comp Cams ($50 cash to 10th-place finisher in A-Main): Brandon Sheppard
Cometic ($50 cash to 12th-place finisher in A-Main): Shane Clanton
JRI Shocks ($50 cash to 13th-place finisher in A-Main): Rick “Boom” Briggs
Superflow Dynos ($50 cash to 14th-place finisher in A-Main): Brady Smith
Quartermaster ($25 certificate to 15th-place finisher in A-Main): Brady Smith
JE Pistons (one set of rings certificate to 16th-place finisher in A-Main): Morgan Bagley
Roush-Yates ($50 certificate to 18th-place finisher in A-Main): Joe Harlan
Quartermaster ($50 certificate to 19th-place finisher in A-Main): Clint Smith
Arizona Sports Shirts ($100 certificate to 20th-place finisher in A-Main): Joe Harlan
JE Pistons (one set of rings certificate to 21st-place finisher in A-Main): Steve Sheppard Jr.
Roush-Yates ($50 certificate to 22nd-place finisher in A-Main): Brian Diverley
MSD Ignition ($25 cash to 24th-place finisher in A-Main): Darren Friedman
Armor All (one case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO driver): Shannon Babb
Reliable Painting Award (one free tire): Rick Eckert
World of Outlaws Late Model Series 2014 Event Winners:
Brady Smith-Bubba Raceway Park February 14th
Brandon Sheppard-Bubba Raceway Park February 15th
Darrell Lanigan-Bubba Raceway Park February 16th
Casey Roberts-Volusia Speedway Park February 20th
Kyle Bronson-Volusia Speedway Park February 22nd
Billy Moyer Sr.-I30 Speedway March 29th
Mike Marlar-Tazewell Speedway April 12th
Shannon Babb-Farmer City Raceway April 26th
Upcoming World of Outlaws Late Model Series Events:
May 2-Fayetteville Motor Speedway-Fayetteville, NC-$10,000 to win
May 3-Lavonia Speedway-Lavonia, GA-$10,000 to win
May 16-201 Speedway-Sitka, KY-$10,000 to win
May 17-Smoky Mountain Speedway-Maryville, TN-$10,000 to win
May 18-Duck River Raceway Park-Wheel, TN-$10,000 to win
The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: American Racing Custom Wheel (Official Custom Wheel), Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), Lincoln Welders (Official Welder), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), 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, Edelbrock, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, MSD, Ohlins Shocks, Penske Shocks, QuarterMaster, Roush Yates Performance Parts, Superflow Dynos and Wrisco Aluminum; along with manufacturer sponsors Capital Race Cars, Integra Shocks, Jake’s Carts, Racing Electronics, Rocket Chassis and TNT Rescue.