CANTON, Ill. – July 14, 2011 – Shannon Babb obviously didn’t think three consecutive DIRTcar Summer Nationals Hell Tour wins was enough, capturing Thursday night’s event at Spoon River Speedway.
Babb started the race on the pole, but Steve Lance Jr., of Peoria, Ill., jumped to the early lead using the preferred low groove of the Illinois oval. Babb stalked Lance over the course of the events first five laps before moving under Lance, who slid out of the racing line on lap six to take command. Babb rolled on to victory leading the rest of the way to claim the $5,000 top prize, his fourth consecutive and seventh overall victory of the 2011 ‘Hell Tour’. Pinconning, Mich., driver Jeep Van Wormer climbed from his fourth place starting spot courtesy of a second heat race win, to finish second behind Babb. Brandon Sheppard, a tour winner at Lincoln and Farmer City, finished third ahead of Lance who settled for fourth. Jack Sullivan of Greenbriar, Ark., finished fifth, his third consecutive fifth-place finish.
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Babb, who is seeking his third ‘Hell Tour’ championship, extends his point lead heading into the final three events of the 2011 DIRTcar Summer Nationals to 285 points over Scott James of Lawrenceburg, Ind., and 352 points over Erb.
The DIRTcar Summer Nationals return to action Friday, July 15 at Attica (Ohio) Raceway Park.
DIRTcar Summer Nationals Hell Tour Statistical Report; Spoon River Speedway; Canton, Ill.; July 14, 2011
A-Main (40-Laps): 1. Shannon Babb ($5,000), 2. Jeep Van Wormer, (3) Brandon Sheppard, (4) Steve Lance Jr., (5) Jack Sullivan, (6) Donny Walden, (7) Jim Moon, (8) Matt Miller, (9) Ryan Unzicker, (10) Dennis Erb Jr., (11) Rickey Frankel, (12) Kevin Weaver, (13) Mark Voigt, (14) Scott James, (15) Mike Spatola, (16) Dillan White, (17) Bobby Pierce, (18) Scott Schmitt, (19) Evan Fink, (20) Tim Lance, (21) Joe Harlan, (22) Eric Smith. Fast qualifiers (among 38 cars): Frankel, Van Wormer, Sheppard, Moon. Heat race winners: S. Lance, Van Wormer, Sheppard, Babb. C-Main winner: Doug Drown. B-Main winner: Harlan. Provisional starters: White, E. Smith, Fink, Spatola.
2011 DIRTcar Summer Nationals “The Hell Tour” Schedule
| Date | Track | Location | Winner (Cars) |
| June 15 | Brownstown Speedway | Brownstown, Ind. | PPD/July 12 |
| June 16 | Kankakee County Speedway | Kankakee, Ill. | Mike Spatola (37) |
| June 17 | Cedar Lake Speedway | Cedar Lake, Wis. | Scott James (29) |
| June 18 | Cedar Lake Speedway | Cedar Lake, Wis. | Canceled Rain |
| June 20 | LaSalle Speedway | LaSalle, Ill. | PPD/July 13 |
| June 21 | Spoon River Speedway | Canton, Ill. | PPD/July 14 |
| June 22 | Highland Speedway | Highland, Ill. | Scott James (50) |
| June 23 | Fayette County Speedway | Brownstown, Ill. | Jason Feger (48) |
| June 24 | Tri-City Speedway | Pontoon Beach, Ill. | Dan Schlieper (52) |
| June 25 | Fairbury American Legion Speedway | Fairbury, Ill. | PPD/July 23 |
| June 26 | I-96 Speedway | Lake Odessa, Mich. | Shannon Babb (46) |
| June 28 | Lincoln Park Speedway | Putnamville, Ind. | Shannon Babb (22) |
| June 29 | Belle Clair Speedway | Belleville, Ill. | Ryan Unzicker (32) |
| June 30 | Clay Hill Motorsports Park | Atwood, Tenn. | Mike Spatola (30) |
| July 1 | Paducah International Raceway | Paducah, Ky. | Ray Cook (40) |
| July 2 | I-55 Raceway | Pevely, Mo. | Billy Moyer (41) |
| July 3 | Lincoln Speedway | Lincoln, Ill. | Brandon Sheppard (35) |
| July 4 | 34 Raceway | Burlington, Iowa | Brian Birkhofer (26) |
| July 6 | Peoria Speedway | Peoria, Ill. | Shannon Babb (38) |
| July 7 | Macon Speedway | Macon, Ill. | PPD/July 21 |
| July 8 | Farmer City Raceway | Farmer City, Ill. | Brandon Sheppard (41) |
| July 9 | Clarksville Speedway | Clarksville, Tenn. | Wendell Wallace (44) |
| July 10 | Tri-State Speedway | Haubstadt, Ind. | Shannon Babb (35) |
| July 12 | Brownstown Speedway | Brownstown, Ind. | Shannon Babb (40) |
| July 13 | LaSalle Speedway | LaSalle, Ill. | Shannon Babb (29) |
| July 14 | Spoon River Speedway | Canton, Ill. | Shannon Babb(38) |
| July 15 | Attica Raceway Park | Attica, Ohio | |
| July 16 | Oakshade Raceway | Wauseon, Ohio |
The DIRTcar Summer Nationals is brought to fans by many important sponsors and partners including Hoosier Racing Tires, GM Performance Parts, ASI Racewear, Comp Cams, Intercomp Racing, JE Pistons, QuarterMaster, Superflow, Wix Filters, Wrisco Aluminum, the University of Northwestern Ohio, R2C Competition Series Air Filters, VP Racing Fuels, Racing Electronics, ButlerBuilt, MSD Ignition, Chizmark Larson Insurance, Vicci Apparel, Beyea Custom Headers, Fusion Graphics & Sign Company, Dyer’s Rods, and Ohlins Shocks.