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Moyer Turns Back Babb Again To Capture Illini 100 At Farmer
City Raceway
FARMER
CITY, IL - April 10, 2010 - Billy Moyer still has Shannon Babb's number in
the Illini 100 at Farmer City Raceway.
For the second time in three years the veteran star denied his former
protégé's bid for an emotional hometrack victory, taming the tricky
fairgrounds quarter-mile oval on Saturday night to capture the third annual
World of Outlaws Late Model Series event before a standing-room-only crowd.
Moyer, 52, of Batesville, Ark., remained undefeated in the Illini 100 with a
$20,175 triumph that closely mirrored his thrilling win over Babb in the
inaugural race in 2008. While his victory margin wasn't quite as narrow as
two years ago, Moyer grabbed the lead on lap 72 when Babb slipped over the
turn-one berm while negotiating lapped traffic and then had to repel several
frantic late-race challenges from the hard-charging Moweaqua, Ill., driver.
"That was a lot of fun," said Moyer, who became the seventh different winner
in as many WoO LMS A-Mains this season. "I like the kind of racetracks that
you gotta chase like I did tonight. It was slick, and I think I ran every
inch of it out there, every groove there was. That makes it fun for a
driver, rather than just running in that one little spot."
Babb, 36, was a deeply disappointed runner-up after leading on three
separate occasions during the highly-competitive event. Tim McCreadie of
Watertown, N.Y., who started 17th, joined the lead battle with Moyer and
Babb late in the distance but settled for third place, while Brian Birkhofer
of Muscatine, Iowa, slipped to fourth at the finish after leading briefly
before a mid-race caution flag and sixth-starter Don O'Neal of Martinsville,
Ind., placed fifth.
"That's pretty ironic I guess, to run one-two like that again (with Babb),"
said Moyer, who did not enter last year's Illini 100. "He's a good kid. We
sat here (Moyer and Babb were parked side-by-side in the pit area) and shot
the s--- all weekend. I like him from back in the day when he ran for us
(Babb drove cars owned by Moyer's father) and we're still good friends."
Moyer, who started seventh, had his Victory Circle by Moyer car up to third
place when the race's first caution flag flew on lap 46 for the engine
problems suffered by Rick Eckert of York, Pa. Then Birkhofer, who had become
the first driver to supplant Babb as the leader when he slipped in front on
lap 44, got off slowly on the restart, allowing Babb and Moyer to move into
the top-two spots as lap 47 was scored.
Babb built nearly a straightaway edge over Moyer by lap 52, but less than a
dozen circuits later the two drivers were in a battle for the lead. Moyer
surged ahead to assume command on lap 64, but Babb split Moyer and a lapped
car in turn three to regain the lead on lap 68.
The lead changed hands for the fifth and final time in the event on lap 72
after Babb ran out of racing room as he attempted to go around a lapped car
and slid over the turn-one berm in his Sheltra Construction Rocket, handing
the top spot back to a shocked Moyer.
"He'd done that twice before and he saved it," Moyer said of Babb's
momentum-killing misstep. "Shannon drove the wheels off that thing every lap
– you got to give the kid credit for that – but he just missed it that time.
He was just trying so darn hard I guess.
"When I seen him slip there, I wanted to get in there and close the door
before he could get back down. But when I went by he still had two wheels
out there (over the berm), so I was in the clear."
Not for long, however. By lap 80 Moyer was being challenged by McCreadie,
whose charge from deep in the field in the Sweeteners Plus Rocket car
reached second place when Babb slipped out of the groove, and Babb was
regrouping for another assault.
But even a final caution flag on lap 93 – for WoO LMS rookie Austin Hubbard
of Seaford, Del., who stopped along the backstretch – couldn't stop Moyer
from recording his WoO LMS alltime-best 36th career win. He took advantage
of the paint-trading race for second between Babb and McCreadie to open up
some breathing room before reaching the checkered flag ahead of Babb with
about four car lengths to spare.
"I just told myself, 'Don't make a mistake,'" Moyer said of the final
restart. "You just can't bobble. I feel like I made two of them in those
last seven laps, but it turned out good for us I guess.
"We've raced against each other a lot and I know how (Babb) drives, so I
just had to drive defensively," added Moyer, who registered his 14th WoO LMS
win since 2004 and first since April 15, 2008, at Lernerville Speedway in
Sarver, Pa. "That's just part of being around as long as I have. On that
last lap I was ready for anything because I knew he was eager and he'd be
right there, so I kinda drove three and four a little differently to make
sure nothing happened."
Babb couldn't hide his dejection after falling short in his homestate's
biggest and richest dirt Late Model event. He was terse with his post-race
assessment of his defeat, complaining about his problems dealing with lapped
traffic.
"We had a really good car on that restart (on lap 46)," said Babb, who
started from the outside pole. "We got by Billy and Birkhofer, and got the
lead."
But Babb's grip on the race was ripped away when he couldn't safely overtake
a slower machine entering turn one on lap 72. He described his struggles
trying to rally: "I lost four positions (before regaining speed) and had to
try and come back, while those guys (lapped cars) are out there running that
quarter-midget line from top-to-bottom. All in one lap they run the whole
racetrack...I don't know, it's frustrating."
McCreadie, meanwhile, twice appeared that he might be in position to win,
but circumstances dive-bombed his hopes.
"We ran (Moyer) down (with 20 laps remaining) and I thought we might just
roll right by him," said McCreadie, who turns 36 on April 21. "But then all
of a sudden I kind of stalled out, and that was it.
"Then, when that yellow fell with about 10 to go, I thought, This is about
the only chance I got. I knew we were gonna be good for about six laps, but
I just never really got a chance to do anything."
That's because Babb darted to the inside of McCreadie on the lap-93 restart,
stopping McCreadie's move on Moyer before it even started. McCreadie was
able to nose underneath Moyer a couple times rounding turn two during the
next two laps, but he ultimately spent too much time battling – and trading
paint – with Babb to mount a last-ditch bid for the win.
"The only thing I can think is that Shannon laid back about five or six car
lengths (coming to the restart) to get the type of a run he did down the
homestretch," McCreadie said of the final restart. "I never saw him until we
went into one. I looked over and he was there, and that pretty much killed
the run I had on Moyer.
"I wish we could've had more fun racing for the lead rather than letting
Billy get away from us like he did," added McCreadie, who took over the WoO
LMS points lead. "Us racing together like that for the last five laps
probably cost both of us a shot at the win."
Defending DIRTcar UMP Late Model national champion Jason Feger of
Bloomington, Ill., finished sixth, falling short of a coveted victory in his
hometrack's marquee event. Polesitter Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis.,
gradually slipped backward during the 100 and placed seventh. Shane Clanton
of Locust Grove, Ga., who used an 'emergency' WoO LMS provisional to start
from the 25th spot, finished eighth despite running the final 60 laps with a
broken 'dummy' shock on his car's left-rear corner; Dennis Erb Jr. of
Carpentersvlle, Ill., was a steady ninth; and Josh Richards of Shinnston,
W.Va., completed the top 10 after starting fourth.
McCreadie and Tim Fuller captured Saturday night's pair of 20-lap B-Mains.
Ironically, both WoO LMS regulars hail from Watertown, N.Y., and starred in
the Northeast's DIRTcar big-block ranks before moving on to the full-fender
division.
Tim Lance of Brimfield, Ill., captured the 25-lap Non-Qualifiers' Race. He
pocketed $1,000 as a consolation prize for missing the Illini 100.
A huge two-week stretch for the WoO LMS continues on April 16-17 with the
inaugural running of the Commonwealth 100 at Bill Sawyer's Virginia Motor
Speedway in Jamaica, Va. The two-day spectacular offers a $25,000 top prize
from a total weekend payout of nearly $125,000.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit
www.worldofoutlaws.com.
Results of WoO Late Model Series 'Illini 100' (Finishing
Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):
1. (7) Billy Moyer/100 $20,175
2. (2) Shannon Babb/100 $10,000
3. (17) Tim McCreadie/100 $6,650
4. (3) Brian Birkhofer/100 $5,000
5. (6) Don O'Neal/100 $4,500
6. (8) Jason Feger/100 $3,000
7. (1) Brady Smith/100 $3,300
8. (25) Shane Clanton/100 $3,100
9. (10) Dennis Erb Jr./100 $2,300
10. (4) Josh Richards/100 $2,700
11. (16) Brad Neat/100 $1,900
12. (22) Jimmy Mars/100 $1,800
13. (14) Kevin Weaver/100 $1,700
14. (18) Tim Fuller/100 $2,150
15. (13) Jeep VanWormer/100 $1,600
16. (5) Dan Schlieper/100 $1,580
17. (23) Darrell Lanigan/100 $2,160
18. (19) Brian Shirley/99 $1,540
19. (15) Steve Francis/99 $2,120
20. (12) Chub Frank/99 $2,000
21. (20) Brandon Sheppard/98 $1,500
22. (24) Austin Hubbard/98 $2,250
23. (11) Clint Smith/97 $2,000
24. (9) Derek Chandler/69 $1,500
25. (21) Rick Eckert/45 $2,025
* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award
bonuses
Yellow Flags: 2 (Laps 46, 93)
Lap Leaders: Babb (1-43); Birkhofer (44-46); Babb (47-63); Moyer (64-67);
Babb (68-71); Moyer (72-100)
Provisional Starters: Lanigan, Hubbard, Clanton
Rookie of the Race: Austin Hubbard ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Don O'Neal ($500)
Chizmark-Larson Insurance Hard Charger Award: Clanton ($100)
B-Main No. 1 (20 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Tim McCreadie, 2. Brian Shirley,
3. Rick Eckert, 4. Darrell Lanigan, 5. Tim Lance, 6. Eric Smith, 7. Denny
Eckrich, 8. Scott Schmitt, 9. Steve Lance Jr., 10. Joe Harlan, 11. Steve
Sheppard Jr., 12. Mike Glasscock, 13. Matt Lux, 14. Jimmy Dehm (DNS) Tyler
Reddick
B-Main No. 2 (20 laps – Top 3 Transfer): 1. Tim Fuller, 2. Brandon Sheppard,
3. Jimmy Mars, 4. Shane Clanton, 5. Ryan Unzicker, 6. Brent Robinson, 7.
Austin Hubbard, 8. Donny Walden, 9. Kerry Hansen, 10. Charles Hess, 11. Bret
Sievert, 12. Russell King, 13. Jill George, 14. Chris Simpson
Non-Qualifiers Race Finish (25 laps): 1. Tim Lance ($1,000); 2. Ryan
Unzicker ($700); 3. Steve Lance Jr. ($500); 4. Joe Harlan ($400); 5. Eric
Smith ($325); 6. Scott Schmitt ($275); 7. Brent Robinson ($250); 8. Jimmy
Dehm ($225); 9. Kerry Hansen ($200); 10. Jill George ($175); 11. Bret
Sievert ($150); 12. Mike Glasscock ($150); 13. Charles Hess ($150); 14.
Denny Eckrich ($150); 15. Steve Sheppard Jr. ($150); 16. Matt Lux ($150);
17. Tyler Reddick ($150); 18. Donny Walden ($150); Chris Simpson - DNS
Did Not Return On Saturday Night: Terry Casey, Steve Casebolt, Jordan
Bland, Russ Adams, Jeremy Nichols
World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners:
Arizona Sports Shirts ($50 product certificate): Tim Lance/Brent Robinson
Armor All (one case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main
w/decal): Billy Moyer
Eibach Springs (one free spring): Tim Lance/Brent Robinson
MSD Ignition ($75 cash award): Billy Moyer
MSD Ignition ($25 cash award): Rick Eckert
Ohlins Pole Award ($50 cash award to fastest qualifier w/decal): Brady Smith
Pink Carburetors ($100 product certificate): Tim Fuller
Pink Carburetors ($50 product certificate): Billy Moyer
Quartermaster ($100 product certificate): Billy Moyer
Quartermaster ($50 product certificate): Don O'Neal
Quartermaster ($25 product certificate): Dan Schlieper
STP ($50 cash award): Tim McCreadie
VP Racing Fuels ‘Nice Jugs Award’ (54-gallon drum of fuel to fastest
qualifier who does not make the A-Main if decal is displayed): Steve Lance
Jr.
Wrisco Aluminum (three sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner w/decal): Billy
Moyer
2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of April 10 – 7
A-Mains completed (rank/driver/wins/top-5s/top-10s/earnings/points/deficit
to leader):
1. Tim McCreadie 998 (-0)
2. Josh Richards 988 (-10)
3. Darrell Lanigan 950 (-48)
4. Brady Smith 934 (-64)
5. Tim Fuller 910 (-88)
6. Austin Hubbard 908 (-90)
7. Rick Eckert 900 (-98)
8. Steve Francis 890 (-108)
9. Chub Frank 864 (-134)
10. Clint Smith 850 (-148)
11. Shane Clanton 832 (-166)
12. Russell King 758 (-240)
13. Brent Robinson 716 (-282)
14. Billy Moyer 696 (-302)
15. Tony Knowles 638 (-360)
16. Brian Birkhofer 582 (-416)
17. Jill George 548 (-450)
18. Tyler Ivey 438 (-560)
19. Shannon Babb 402 (-596)
20. Dennis Erb Jr. 398 (-600)
FOLLOW THE ACTION ON TWITTER: Fans can now keep up-to-date with the World of
Outlaws Late Model Series online and through text messages on cell phones
via Twitter, the internet’s fast-growing social-networking and micro-blogging
website. Updates are provided to Twitter ‘followers’ of the WoO LMS
throughout each race night, and fans also receive breaking news and
interesting notes from the tour.
To sign-up as a WoO LMS ‘follower’ on Twitter to receive updates anywhere at
anytime, visit
http://twitter.com/WoOLateModels.
LISTEN ONLINE: If fans can’t get to a track to see the World of Outlaws Late
Model Series, they can experience the excitement of the nation’s premier
tour live on DIRTvision.com through the DIRT Radio Network.
To listen to the free audio broadcasts, log on to
www.dirtvision.com and click on the DIRT Radio Network logo.
Listeners will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to listen to the DIRT
Radio Network. For technical support or questions, e-mail
customerservice@dirtvision.com.
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