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February 8, 2007
Shannon Babb the Best in Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Action at East Bay
Raceway
TAMPA, FL (February 8, 2007)-Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, IL passed Terry
Casey on lap 32 and went on to take the 40 lap Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
event on Thursday Night at East Bay Raceway Park. Babb’s first career win at
East Bay Raceway earned him $7,000 for his efforts as he became the fourth
different winner in four nights of the 2007 East Bay Winternationals. Babb behind
the wheel of the Bill Moyer/Car City/J&J Steel/Watters Auto Land/Performance
Rod and Custom/Allstar Performance/Imperial Motors/Hoosier Tires/Dargie Race
Engines/C.J. Rayburn Monte Carlo crew chiefed by Jay Hunt beat Casey to the
line for the victory. Casey of New London, WI had a strong run in finishing
second in the Arnie Ranta Motorsports/Pro Power/C.J. Rayburn Monte Carlo.
Third place went to Dan Schlieper of Sullivan, WI is his Miller Brothers Coal/Pro
Power/C.J. Rayburn Monte Carlo with 13th starting Steve Francis of Ashland, KY
coming home in fourth and Terry English of Benton, KY was fifth in the Petroff
Towing/C.J. Rayburn Monte Carlo. A total of 90 were on hand for the event.
Brady Smith would race to the lead on the opening lap from his pole starting spot
with Dennis Erb, Jr. and Schlieper in hot pursuit. Casey, who started third, was
around Schlieper for the third spot by the second lap with Babb, who started sixth
now up to fourth. Casey would make a run for the lead passing Erb to take
second and then made the move on Smith to take over the point on lap four.
Casey then started to pull away from the field as Babb went around Smith on lap
seven to take second. Traffic was quickly playing a role in the race with Casey
and Babb reaching the back of the field by the ninth circuit. Casey and Babb
would open up a good sized advantage over the third place running Smith with
Babb pulling even with Casey on lap 12 at the start-finish line. Schlieper then
entered the top three taking that spot away from Smith.
A caution flag on lap 18 for Brian Birkhofer slowed the fast paced event. At the
halfway mark it was Casey still showing the way with Babb right on him followed
by Schlieper, Smith and Tim McCreadie who was up from his 14th starting
position. Smith would lose four spots as cars went by him on lap 22. The third
caution of the race would then come out for Tim Dohm, Wednesday’s night’s
winner who lost a tire in turn three.
On the restart, Casey and Babb would duke it out again for the top spot going
wheel to wheel to the excitement of the large crowd on hand. The fourth and final
caution of race came out for Smith whose car stalled on the backstretch as he
was out of the race. With 13 laps to go it would set up a classic battle for the win
between Casey and Babb as the green came back out to restart the race.
Schlieper would make things interesting closely up on the outside of Babb and
challenging him for second. But Babb would have none of it as he pulled back in
front of Schlieper in the race for second. With ten laps to Casey was really
starting to feel the heat from Babb as Babb would make the move coming off of
turn number four on lap 32 to take over the lead from Casey.
Babb would then open a two to three car length lead over Casey which would
carry him all the way to checkers for his first ever win at East Bay Raceway Park.
Casey finished second followed by Schlieper, Steve Francis, who came up from
the 13th starting position was a solid fourth and Terry English would make a late
race charge to finish fifth.
In victory lane for the first time ever at East Bay, Babb was excited to me there.
“We finally got a win here we’ve been close so many times at this track.” “I just
followed Casey there for a while, he was running good, but we were able to get
the inside of him there and pass him, it was good race I’m sure for the fans, but it
almost wore me out.” Babb also won despite suffering a broken arm several
weeks ago which is just now healed up.
Completing the top ten were Tim McCreadie, Billy Drake, Don O’Neal, Billy Moyer
and Darrell Lanigan.
In preliminary action Earl Pearson, Jr. was the LifeLong Locks Fast Time Award
Winner with a lap of 14.831 seconds around the 1/3 mile track. The Hawk Brake
and Quarter Master sponsored heat race winners were Terry Casey, Shannon
Babb, Billy Moyer, Jimmy Mars, Brady Smith, Dennis Erb, Jr., Dan Schlieper and
Terry English. The Mason Racin’ Rebel Shock Dyno and Penske Shocks
sponsored B-mains were taken by Tim Dohm, Don O’Neal, Scott Bloomquist and
Eddie Carrier, Jr. with the Performance Rod and Custom Strawberry Dash win
grabbed by Doug Horton, who earned a starting spot in the A-main for his victory.
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series quickly returns to action at East Bay
Raceway on Friday night, February 9th with a complete show of LifeLong Locks
Time Trials, Hawk Brake and Quarter Master sponsored Heat races, Mason
Racin’ Rebel Shock Dyno and Penske Shocks sponsored B-Mains Performance
Rod and Custom Strawberry Dash and the $10,000 to win A-Main.
Catch all of the action of the 31st Annual East Bay Winternationals live on the
internet all week long at www.racetalklive.com.
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