I-55 Raceway
Pevely, MO.
by: Terry Young

Shannon Babb, of Mowequa, Illinois once again visited victory lane to take home the $10,000.00 winners share at Ken Schrader and Ray Marler's I-55 Raceway in Pevely, MO. in the 13th outing of the 2006 UMP Summer Nationals.

While many of the naysayers have said how different the outcome would be if only Don O'Neal and Brian Birkhofer etc. were following the Summer National grind, they were proven wrong tonight as both of those drivers and others were among the 41 cars entered for tonights action.

Babb now sits comfortably atop the UMP Summer Nationals point standings with 8 victories in the first 13 events of this years tour, and his 4th consecutive win. The Midwestrn Illinois standout has also topped $65,000.00 in the bakers dozen of events thus far.

It appeared that perhaps Birkhofer was going to put a stop to Babb and his string of wins in the last 3 stops on the tour as Birky drove to the lead on lap 28 from his 6th starting position. Babb who had lead all of the previous laps running in the bottom groove, moved to the top on lap 27 to try to block Birkhofer, but to no avail. Moving back to the bottom groove Babb drove back to the lead on lap 38 and led the final 3 circuits to take the win ahead of Birkhofer, Wendell Wallace, Jimmy Mars, Billy Faust, Patrick Sheltra, Brian Collins, Terry English, Jeep Van Wormer and Tim Ratajcyzk.

Babb was driving his Bill Moyer, Sr. owned C.J. Rayburn built #18 powered by a RaceTek powerplant with sponsorship from CAR CITY, Watters Autoland, Hoosier by Smash, J&J Steel, Weld Wheels, Platinum Motors, Petroff Towing Outlawd Motorsports, Dyers Top Rods, OutPace Products, ALLSTAR Automotive and Team Petersen under the preperation of Jay Hunt, Andrew Barnes and Mike Mudd.

Randy Korte began the evening by setting the fast time with a lap of 12.872.

After additional track prep prior to the heats, the heat races were action packed with multiple grooves and 3 wide racing thourhgout. The heats were won by Shannon Babb from the fifth starting position over Faust and Ratajcyzk, Darren Miller over Birkhofer and Steve Hillard, Randy Korte over O'Neal and Mars and Wallace over English and Erb.

The consi races added Billy Drake over Collins and Ed Dixon and Van WOrmer over Sheltra and Jack Sullivan.

The dash was won by Babb over Korte and Miller. Wallace was busy repairing a ring and pinion and was unable to compete in the dash and was relegated to the fourth starting berth in the A-Main.

UMP Late Models – 41 Entries
Qualifying
Name Driver Time
Group 1
26 Billy Faust 13.01
95 Jeff Johns 13.289
112 Tom Ratajczyk 13.372
67 Mark Oller 13.383
18 Shannon Babb 13.396
9 Billy Drake 13.496
5S Steve Sheppard 13.58
12 Jordan Bland 13.684
99FR Frank Heckenast 13.696
21JR Billy Moyer Jr. 13.774
20 Mark Gansmann 13.778

Group 2
32M Darren Miller 13.183
34 Steve Hilliard 13.196
2S Brian Shirley 13.261
15 Brian Birkhofer 13.333
3L Matt Taylor 13.589
60 Ed Dixon 13.718
11Z Brian Collins 13.889
B12 Kevin Weaver 13.918
81 Craig Smith 14.095
14U Bruce Unterbrink 14.177

Group 3
OO Randy Korte 12.872
28M Jimmy Mars 13.055
55 Jeep Van Wormer 13.083
71 Don O'Neal 13.117
30 Mark Voigt 13.281
33 Tim Manville 13.306
18X Jack Sullivan 13.336
27 Rodney Melvin 13.357
32M Danny Maguire 13.718
78 Paul Belken 14.166

Group 4
96 Terry English 13.325
88 Wendall Wallace 13.435
28E Dennis Erb 13.458
45 Denny Woodworth 13.467
51 Steve Shive 13.855
47 Danny Haynes 13.911
23 Patrick Sheltra 14.061
13 Dewayne Keifer 14.118
5T Troy Hudson 14.3
69 Mark Hunter 15.126

Dash
1. 18 Shannon Babb
2. 00 Randy Korte
3. 32M Darren Miller
4. 88 Wendall Wallace DNS

Heat 1 Top 3 Advance to Feature
1. 18 Shannon Babb
2. 26 Billy Faust
3. 112 Tim Ratajczyk
4. 5S Steve Sheppard
5. 9 Billy Drake
6. 67 Mark Oller
7. 95 Jeff Johns
8. 99 Frank Heckenast
9. 12 Jordan Bland
10. 20 Mark Gansmann
11. 21JR Billy Moyer Jr.

Heat 2
1. 32M Darren Miller
2. 15 Brian Birkhofer
3. 34 Steve Hilliard
4. 60 Ed Dixon
5. 3L Matt Taylor
6. 11Z Brian Collins
7. 2S Brian Shirley
8. B12 Kevin Weaver
9. 14U Bruce Unterbrink
10. 81 Craig Smith

Heat 3
1. 00 Randy Korte
2. 71 Don O’Neal
3. 28 Jimmy Mars
4. 55 Jeep Van Wormer
5. 18X Jack Sullivan
6. 30 Mark Voigt
7. 33 Tim Manville
8. 27 Rodney Melvin
9. 32M Danny Maguire
10. 78 Paul Belken

Heat 4
1. 88 Wendall Wallace
2. 96 Terry English
3. 28 Dennis Erb
4. 23 Patrick Sheltra
5. 45 Denny Woodworth
6. 47 Danny Haynes
7. 51 Steve Shive
8. 5T Troy Hudson
9. 69 Mark Hunter
10. 13 Dewayne Keifer

Semi 1 Top 3 advance
1. 9 Billy Drake
2. 11z Brian Collins
3. 60 Ed Dixon
4. 3L Matt Taylor
5. 67 Mark Oller
6. 95 Jeff Johns
7. 12 Jordan Bland
8. 21JR Billy Moyer Jr.
9. 99JR Frank Heckenast
10. 20 Mark Gansmann
11. 14U Bruce Unterbrink
12. 81 Craig Smith
13. 2S Brian Shirley
14. 5S Steve Sheppard
15. B12 Kevin Weaver

Semi 2
1. 55 Jeep Van Wormer
2. 23 Patrick Sheltra
3. 18X Jack Sullivan
4. 45 Denny Woodworth
5. 47 Danny Haynes
6. 30 Mark Voigt
7. 33 Tim Manville
8. 13 Dewayne Keifer
9. 51 Steve Shive
10. 5T Troy Hudson
11. 32M Danny Maguire
12. 78 Paul Belken
13. 27 Rodney Melvin
14. 69 Mark Hunter DNS

Feature
1. 18 Shannon Babb (1)
2. 15 Brian Birkhofer (6)
3. 88 Wendall Wallace (4)
4. 28 Jimmy Mars (11)
5. 26 Billy Faust (5)
6. 23 Patrick Sheltra (16)
7. 11Z Brian Collins (15)
8. 96 Terry English (8)
9. 55 Jeep Van Wormer (14)
10. 112 Tim Ratajczyk (9)
11. 2S Brian Shirley (22)(P)
12. 9D Billy Drake (13)
13. 3L Matt Taylor (23)(P)
14. 95 Jeff Johns (20)(P)
15. 28 Dennis Erb (12)
16. 00 Randy Korte (2)
17. 60 Ed Dixon (17)
18. 71 Don O'Neal (7)
19. 34 Steve Hillard (10)
20. 45DW Denny Woodworth (25)(P)
21. 18X Jack Sullivan (18)
22. 32D Darren Miller (3)
23. 5S Steve Sheppard (24)(P)
24. B12 Kevin Weaver (19)(P)
25. 27 Rodney Melvin (21)(P)
26. 47 Danny Haynes (26)(P)

UMP Modified point leader Bobby Bittle led flag-to-flag to claim the win in that division. Bittle started on the pole after winning his qualifying heat and the dash. Mike Harrison made a strong charge through the field as he came from the eighth starting position to take second place. Eric Mabery's strong season continued as he picked up the third spot. Scott Weber made a late race charge as he picked up several spots in the final few laps to finish fourth. Jim Morrison made his first visit of the 2006 racing season to I-55 Raceway and completed the night with a top five finish.

Mike Nicholson claimed his second win of the year at I-55 Raceway in the UMP Sportsman division. This race featured two and three wide racing at the top spot for many of the early laps and Nicholson had to hold off Jimmy Cummins in the closing laps for the win. Ronnie Bader followed Cummins across the line to earn the third position with Jason Keller picking up fourth and Kent Nations completed the top five.

UMP Modifieds – 31 Entries
Heat 1
1. 22 Jim Morrison
2. 45M Eric Mabery
3. 444 Matt Simpson
4. 12 Tom Ratajczyk
5. 4J Scott Weber
6. 9W Doug Wood
7. 16 Jon Paul Reando

Heat 2
1. 21 Dennis Richards
2. 31 Ricky Horton
3. 51 Tim Hill
4. 3D Lou Driemeier
5. 7 Mark Miner
6. 7Z Matt Zimmerly
7. 20Z Dan Zander
8. 89B Jim Brown

Heat 3
1. 25 Brett Korves
2. 41G Matt Goulden
3. 18 Bobby Daudermann
4. 88 Joe Purcelli
5. 3R Leon Rakers
6. 95 Aaron Ricketts
7. 72 Brian Lynn DNS
8. C6 Ray Wagner DNS

Heat 4
1. 89 Bobby Bittle
2. 59 Rich Whaley
3. 24 Mike Harrison
4. 77 Rick Stevenson
5. 14 Rick Conoyer
6. 21 Adam Parmeley
7. 31 Mitch Parmeley

Dash
1. 89 Bobby Bittle
2. 59 Rich Whaley
3. 22 Jim Morrison
4. 45 Eric Mabery
5. 31 Ricky Horton
6. 25 Brett Korves
7. 18 Bobby Daudermann
8. 21 Dennis Richards
9. 51 Tim Hill

Semi Top 6 Advance
1. 9W Doug Wood
2. 3R Leon Rakers
3. 95 Aaron Ricketts
4. 14 Rich Conoyer
5. 16 Jon Paul Reando
6. 21P Adam Parmeley
7. 20Z Dan Zander
8. 7Z Matt Zimmerly
9. 89B Jim Brown
10. 31P Ray Wagner
DNS. 17 Brad Thurston
DNS. 72 Jeremy Roth
DNS. 31P Mitch Parmeley

Feature
1. 89 Bobby Bittle
2. 24 Mike Harrison
3. 45M Eric Mabery
4. 4J Scott Weber
5. 22 Jim Morrison
6. 21 Dennis Richards
7. 12 Tom Ratajczyk
8. 51 Tim Hill
9. 18 Bobby Daudermann
10. 9W Doug Wood
11. 444 Matt Simpson
12. 88 Joe Purcilli
13. 95 Aaron Ricketts
14. 7 Mark Miner
15. 14 Rick Conoyer
16. 25 Brett Korves
17. 3R Leon Rakers
18. 41G Matt Goulden
19. 77 Rich Stevenson
20. 31 Ricky Horton
21. 21P Ray Wagner
22. 16 Jon Paul Reando
23. 59 Rich Whaley
24. 3D Lou Driemeier

UMP/AARA Sportsman – 27 Entries
Heat 1
1. 19 Jimmy Cummins
2. 9 Shane Walters
3. 67 Ronnie Bader
4. 99 Chuck Adams
5. 64 Jim Smith
6. 24 Paul Bauman
7. 147 Kyle Stolzer
8. 36 Bob Schmidt
9. 4 Mark Schnurbusch

Heat 2
1. M41 Steve Maisel
2. 32 Jerry Fleming
3. 30 Mike Nicholson
4. 50 Kent Nations
5. 811 Wade Sutter
6. 96 Tim Hollerbach
7. 28 Tom Smallwood
8. 93 Conrad Miner
9. 66 Sam Lopretta

Heat 3
1. 62 Troy Medley
2. 55 Jason Keller
3. 31 Mark Shubirg
4. 94 Dan Friedrich
5. 29 Jeff LaBaube
6. 97 John Goodson
7. 28 Tyson Gegg
8. 53 Loren Schaffer

Dash
1. M41 Steve Maisel
2. 55 Jason Keller
3. 19 Jimmy Cummins
4. 62 Troy Medley
5. 30 Mike Nicholson
6. 99 Chuck Adams
7. 67 Ronnie Bader
8. 9 Shane Walters
9. 32 Jerry Fleming

Feature
1. 30 Mike Nicholson
2. 19 Jimmy Cummins
3. 67 Ronnie Bader
4. 55 Jason Keller
5. 50 Kent Nations
6. 24 Paul Bauman
7. 12 Troy Naeger
8. 99 Chuck Adams
9. 31 Brian Shuberg
10. 29 Jeff LaBaube
11. 62 Troy Medley
12. 147 Kyle Stolzer
13. 128 Tyson Gegg
14. 96 Tim Hollerbach
15. 32 Jerry Fleming
16. 97 John Goodson
17. 28 Tom Smallwood
18. 66 Sam Lopretta
19. 9 Shane Walters
20. 811 Wade Sutter
21. 64 Jim Smith
22. M41 Steve Maisel
23. 94 Dan Friederich
DNS. 4 Mark Schnurbusch
DNS. 93 Conrad Miner
DNS. 53 Lawrence Schaefer
DNS. 36 Bob Schmidt