by Jeff Adams
(LaSalle, IL) Shannon Babb of Mowequa, IL fought the rain, and a hard-charging Ed Dixon, to win $6,000 in the makeup of the rained-out UMP Summernationals race at LaSalle Speedway Thursday night.
Because the race was a non-points Summernationals event, only 22 of the original 58 cars returned to the lightning-fast 1/3 mile oval. Drivers absent included pole-sitter Darrell Lanigan and SN points leader Billy Moyer.
Pole-sitter Frank Heckenast jumped out to the lead at the beginning of the race with Babb in tow, but was passed by the “Mowequa Missle” in turn 4 of the first lap. Heckenast was then passed by Jeep Van Wormer for 2nd on lap 2, and then by Terry English and Brett Sievert on lap 3.
A caution on lap 7 for Mike Glynn slowed the action, but when the green flew English and Van Wormer had a classic high-low battle for 2nd for the next 2 laps, with Van Wormer holding off the UMP National Champion as a light rain began to fall on lap 9.
Van Wormer challenged Babb for the lead on lap 12, but spun on lap 19, handing 2nd to English. A caution was thrown for the rain on lap 21, but the race was resumed with a light rain falling. Ed Dixon had moved up to 3rd by lap 21, and then passed English for 2nd on lap 24. Dixon made a move on the high-side of the track for the lead on lap 26. Over the next 8 laps, the duo would slice and dice for the lead, with Babb finally making the winning pass on lap 34. Dixon was then passed by Billy Drake on lap 36, as Drake began to track down Babb.
Rain began to fall again on lap 41, and Babb managed to hold off Drake over the next 9 laps in a light rain for the win. Drake finished 2nd, with English, Bob Pierce, and 12th-starting Darren Miller rounding out the top 5.
(LaSalle, IL) Shannon Babb of Mowequa, IL fought the rain, and a hard-charging Ed Dixon, to win $6,000 in the makeup of the rained-out UMP Summernationals race at LaSalle Speedway Thursday night.
Because the race was a non-points Summernationals event, only 22 of the original 58 cars returned to the lightning-fast 1/3 mile oval. Drivers absent included pole-sitter Darrell Lanigan and SN points leader Billy Moyer.
Pole-sitter Frank Heckenast jumped out to the lead at the beginning of the race with Babb in tow, but was passed by the “Mowequa Missle” in turn 4 of the first lap. Heckenast was then passed by Jeep Van Wormer for 2nd on lap 2, and then by Terry English and Brett Sievert on lap 3.
A caution on lap 7 for Mike Glynn slowed the action, but when the green flew English and Van Wormer had a classic high-low battle for 2nd for the next 2 laps, with Van Wormer holding off the UMP National Champion as a light rain began to fall on lap 9.
Van Wormer challenged Babb for the lead on lap 12, but spun on lap 19, handing 2nd to English. A caution was thrown for the rain on lap 21, but the race was resumed with a light rain falling. Ed Dixon had moved up to 3rd by lap 21, and then passed English for 2nd on lap 24. Dixon made a move on the high-side of the track for the lead on lap 26. Over the next 8 laps, the duo would slice and dice for the lead, with Babb finally making the winning pass on lap 34. Dixon was then passed by Billy Drake on lap 36, as Drake began to track down Babb.
Rain began to fall again on lap 41, and Babb managed to hold off Drake over the next 9 laps in a light rain for the win. Drake finished 2nd, with English, Bob Pierce, and 12th-starting Darren Miller rounding out the top 5.
