Waynesfield, OH — Waynesfield, OH — July 10, 2009 — Shannon Babb is the hottest driver on the UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals Hell Tour over the past couple of weeks, adding his fourth win in the past six starts Friday night at Waynesfield Motorsports Park.

With only Saturday's finale at Oakshade Speedway in Wauseon, Ohio, remaining on the 2009 Hell Tour, Babb's slow start in the series will prevent him from capturing his third Summer Nationals crown. That race within the race on Saturday night will be between current points leader Randy Korte and two-time and defending champion Dennis Erb Jr. The 2006 UMP DIRTcar Late Model national champion, Korte is seeking his first title in the month-long Hell Tour series that started June 11 with 27 races in 31 days.

But Friday night belonged to Babb. He started sixth and blasted to the $7,500 checkered flag through a strong field of cars that included former World of Outlaws Late Model Series champion Tim McCreadie as well as UMP DIRTcar Roundup champion Brian Shirley. After a long night of trouble with his hauler Thursday at La Salle Speedway, Korte, of Highland, Ill., used a provisional on Friday and finished ninth to keep his championship dreams alive as he extended his lead over Erb, a native of Carpentersville, Ill., who started and finished 13th.

“I wanted to let the top burn off because it was really dominant and I knew there wasn't any sense in running my stuff too hard early because we were going to hit traffic,” said Babb, of Moweaqua, Ill. “Once we hit traffic I was able to get under Brian (Shirley) off of two.”

Babb's momentum hasn't changed his approach to the night in and night out grind of the Summer Nationals tour.

“Anyone that gets going knows the changes to make and I've got a lot of good help,” Babb said. “We'll just keep plugging away.”

Jason Feger, of Bloomington, Ill., did his best in the closing laps to nab what would have been his third victory but fell just inches short.

“I knew I was way too tight early,” said Feger, who has been a championship contender throughout the tour. “We got better as the race went on, especially coming off of four, but Shannon was really good too.”

Feger, who earned his two career “Hell Tour” wins in the 2009 edition was happy about his performance as well as the venue itself.

“I'm happy with second,” Feger said. “This is a really nice place and everyone I talked to seemed to really like it here.”

Duane Chamberlain, of Richmond, Ind., rejoined the tour with a strong third-place finish.

“We've just had some bad luck lately,” he said. “Nineteen days away from home can wear on you so it felt good to come out and get a top 3 finish.”
Chamberlain drove a similar line to Feger in charging from eight to round out the podium.

“I slowed down at the end tonight because I burnt my right front tire up and developed a push,” Chamberlain said. “But overall we had a good night.”

Outside polesitter Brian Shirley, of Chatham, Ill., settled for a fourth-place finish while Rick Aukland, of Zanesville, Ohio, moved up from ninth to round out the top five.

Heat 1:
1. Jason Feger
2. Doug Drown
3. Ryan Unzicker
4. Rodney Melvin
5. Dennis Erb Jr.
6. Tim McCreadie
7. Matt Miller
8. Randy Korte
9. Brian Ruhlman
10. Rick DeLong

Heat 2:
1. Scott James
2. Wayne Chinn
3. Duane Chamberlain
4. Frank Heckenast Jr.
5. Donny Walden
6. Kevin Weaver
7. Brandon Thirlby
8. Craig Vosbergen
9. Troy Catterene
10. Scott Orr

Heat 3:
1. Brian Shirley
2. Shannon Babb
3. Rick Aukland
4. Rusty Schlenk
5. Jerry Bowersock
6. Jon Henry
7. Ronnie Perrine Jr.
8. Dan Wallace
9. Bryant Dickinson

B Main:
1. Kevin Weaver
2. Tim McCreadie
3. Matt Miller
4. Randy Korte
5. Jon Henry
6. Brian Ruhlman
7. Rick DeLong
8. Brandon Thirlby
9. Troy Catterene
10. Dan Wallace
11. Scott Orr
12. Bryant Dickinson
13. Craig Vosbergen

Feature:
1. Shannon Babb
2. Jason Feger
3. Duane Chamberlain
4. Brian Shirley
5. Rick Aukland
6. Doug Drown
7. Tim McCreadie
8. Ryan Unzicker
9. Randy Korte
10. Matt Miller
11. Frank Heckenast Jr.
12. Wayne Chinn
13. Dennis Erb Jr.
14. Rodney Melvin
15. Kevin Weaver
16. Brian Ruhlman
17. Donny Walden
18. Rick DeLong
19. Rusty Schlenk
20. Scott James
21. Jerry Bowersock

HELL TOUR NOTES
Doug Drown, of Wooster, Ohio, paced a very strong showing of UMP DIRTcar Late Models in group time trials on the night. Drown's lap of 12.20 seconds around his homestate track led group one while Scott James of Lawrenceburg, Ind., was quickest in group two and eventual winner Shannon Babb timed in fastest for group three.

Heat race one saw some of the biggest names in UMP DIRTcar Late Model competition duke it out on the third-mile oval. Jason Feger earned the win in the hotly contested race ahead of Doug Drown. Scott James raced to an early lead in claiming a heat race two win while Brian Shirley held off pressure from Shannon Babb in heat race three to claim the win.

The night's consolation race went to former World of Outlaws Late Models Series champion Tim McCreadie, of Watertown, N.Y., as the driver affectionately known as “T-Mac” to his fans raced to beat out Kevin Weaver of Gibson City, Ill., and Matt Miller, of Waterville, Ohio, at the line.
Series points leader Randy Korte was forced to use a provisional after he fell one spot out of a transfer position in the consolation race while Brian Ruhlman, of Clarklake, Mich., received the UMP National point provisional and Rick DeLong earned a track provisional for being the fastest qualifier not already locked into the A-Main.

For more information on the UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals Tour fans can visit http://www.thehelltour.com

Fans can now receive news, updates and other behind-the-scenes information about the UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals by following the tour's official feed on Twitter, the internet's fast-growing social-networking and micro-blogging website.

Fans can view the latest text posts and subscribe as “followers” of the Summer Nationals at http://twitter.com/SummerNationals .

2009 UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals Schedule
Date/Track/Location/Purse/Winner/Cars
06/11/09 Brownstown Speedway - Brownstown, IN - $6,000 (Jeep VanWormer - 43)
06/12/09 Kankakee Motor Speedway – Kankakee,IL - $10,000 (Billy Moyer - 51)
06/13/09 Kamp Motor Speedway – Boswell, IN - $10,000 (Eric Smith - 44)
06/14/09 Quad City Raceway – East Moline, IL - $6,000 (Dennis Erb - 31)
06/16/09 Highland Speedway - Highland, IL - $6,000 (RAIN)
06/17/09 Belle-Clair Speedway - Belleville, IL - $6,000 (Dennis Erb - 47)
06/18/09 Charleston Speedway - Charleston, IL - $6,000 (RAIN)
06/19/09 Farmer City Raceway - Farmer City, IL - $10,000 (RAIN)
06/20/09 Clarksville Speedway – Clarksville, TN - $10,000 (Billy Moyer - 44)
06/21/09 Tri-State Speedway – Haubstadt, IN - $6,000 (Jeep Van Wormer - 43)
06/23/09 Charleston Speedway – Charleston, IL $6,000 (Rodney Melvin - 26)
06/24/09 Tri-City Speedway – Pontoon Beach, IL $6,000 (Jason Feger - 34)
06/25/09 Clay Hill Motorsports Park – Atwood, TN - $6,000 (Billy Moyer - 38)
06/26/09 Paducah International Raceway – Paducah, KY - $10,000 (Billy Moyer - 41)
06/27/09 Fairbury Speedway – Fairbury, IL - $10,000 (Billy Moyer - 34)
06/28/09 Lincoln Speedway – Lincoln, IL - $6,000 (Randy Korte - 35)
06/29/09 Farmer City Raceway – Farmer City,IL $6,000 (Dennis Erb Jr. - 34)
06/30/09 Peoria Speedway – Peoria, IL - $6,000 (Jason Feger - 39)
07/01/09 Highland Speedway – Highland, IL - $6,000 (Jeep Van Wormer - 39)
07/02/09 Macon Speedway – Macon, IL - $6,000 (Shannon Babb - 34)
07/03/09 Quincy Raceway – Quincy, IL - $10,000 (Shannon Babb - 33)
07/04/09 I-55 Raceway – Pevely, MO - $10,000 (RAIN)
07/05/09 Vermillion County Speedway – Danville, IL - $6,000 (Randy Korte -35)
07/07/09 Shepp Speedway – Alexandria, IL - $6,000 (Shannon Babb - 33)
07/08/09 Spoon River Speedway – Canton,IL $6,000 (RAIN)
07/09/09 La Salle Speedway – La Salle, IL - $6,000 (Randy Korte - 42)
07/10/09 Waynesfield Motorsports Park – Waynesfield, OH - $7,500 (Shannon Babb - 29)
07/11/09 Oakshade Raceway – Wauseon, OH – 10,000

The UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals is brought to race fans by many important sponsors and partners, including: VP Racing Fuels, CJ Rayburn Race Cars, Hoosier Racing Tire, Quarter Master, Just Plugs, Special Olympics, Wrisco Aluminum, Eibach Springs, and Integra Racing Shocks.