Prepared by: Michelle Petroff for Shannon Babb Racing
MOWEAQUA, Ill. (July 17, 2011) – The 2011 UMP Summernationals proved one thing – never count someone with the will to win out of the game. Just as all winning streaks must come to an end, so must losing ones. The difference is losers live in the past and winners work towards the future and that simple fact made Shannon Babb a winner even before he kicked off his 2011 season.
Babb faced a difficult 2010 season after making the leap into owning his own team, some bad luck and misfortune. After years of always coming out on top, it was territory that the 37 year-old driver from Moweaqua, IL, was uncomfortable in and made every effort to move out of. During the off-season, the No. 18 team worked methodically to scrutinize all of their equipment and made the leap over to Moyer Victory Circle chassis and spent many of hours fine-tuning and perfecting the completion of their new cars. It was a risk to change cars but one must be willing to take risks in order to continually striving to be better.
“We knew that some changes were going to happen during the off-season but didn’t know what exactly they would be,” noted Babb. “Billy (Moyer) and I have a lot of years of racing together and know how each other likes a car to handle. He was confident that I would like the feel of his Victory Circle cars and I had nothing to lose when the opportunity came together. Worst case, it wouldn’t be a fit; best case, I would have confidence in the car and we’d be back in victory lane.”
Shannon Babb’s utter domination of the grueling month-long Summernationals tour en route to his third series championship was a “best case” scenario. Nine wins (41% of all starts), 18 Top-5s (82%) and 20 Top-10s (91%) in only 22 event starts is nothing shy of impressive. The turn around that Babb needed is even a bit staggering for the new driver and team owner.
“Thanks to the help of my crew and support of my sponsors, I felt good going into the season and we had some really strong runs and a win before Summernationals started to help my confidence. The goal each night is to go out and win the race,” Babb added. “It’s not about points, not what someone else is doing, just that specific race. If you are good enough, then you string a couple of the wins together and hope for no bad luck so you may have a chance for the championship. That’s all we did – what we know to do to prepare the best car possible, keep learning and put us in a position win. The competition on the tour is so difficult and we go to so many different surfaces that you can never let your guard down and look too far ahead.”
Babb’s careful approach and quiet confidence works because he was in the hunt early with three wins and consistent Top-5 finishes. He ended the tour with a repeat of his record-setting series performance in 2006 with six consecutive wins and clenched the title chase heading into the final week of the nine-state tour. In just short of one month, the guy who some prematurely declared has already had his best days proved that he’s just as good as he once was. Building a team from scratch, maintaining a positive attitude during difficult times and overcoming obstacles only slowed Shannon Babb temporarily and he is clearly back if there ever were doubts that he was gone.
Shannon Babb Racing would like to thank the sponsors that helped the No. 18 team earn their 3rd UMP Summernationals Championship and 9 tour victories: Petroff Towing, Donley Trucking, Kreke’s Powerhouse, B Auto Parts, Clements Automotive, Pro Power Racing Engines, Moyer Victory Circle Race Cars, Performance Rod & Custom, VP Racing Fuels, Hoosier Racing Tire, Allstar Performance, Chase Signs & Graphics, Ringer’s Gloves, Port City Racing, Bell Helmets, ApexPerformance.net, Ohlins Shocks, Bert Transmission, Weld Wheels, Out Pace Racing Products, Wiles Driveshafts, Peterson Fluid Systems, Sweet Manufacturing, Wehr’s Machine, Hypercoils, Schaeffer’s Oil, Cizmar Racing, Wrisco Industries, Mason Racin’, Shoenfeld Headers, Performance Bodies, Outerwears, Mudd’s Repair, Harley’s HideOut, Stealth Carbs, and The Joie of Seating.
2011 UMP SUMMERNATIONAL RECAP
Events: 22
Wins: 9 (41%)
Top-5s: 18 (82%)
Top-10s: 20 (91%)
Heat Wins: 12 (55%)
States: 9 (IL, IN, WI, MI, TN, KY, MO, IA, OH)
For more information on Shannon Babb Racing and upcoming events, visit http://www.shannonbabb.net