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Erb Breaks Through in Round 2 of the Summer Nationals
Jeffrey A.
Bayless
Boswell, IN (June 25) The second round
of DIRT Motorsports' UMP Summer Nationals rolled into the 3/8ths mile red
clay covered speed plant known as Kamp Motor Speedway Saturday night with
44 of the Midwest's finest on hand to compete for the $10,000 top prize.
A late afternoon shower delayed the start of the program, but once under
way the packed house was treated to a top notch program. When the
checkers had flown it was Carpentersville, IL native, Dennis Erb Jr.
driving his Malcuit powered CJ Rayburn Chassis Petroff Towing, BK
Sportswear, Hoosier Racing Tire, and Reaber Transport sponsored race car
to victory lane.
The dash for the pole saw Shannon
Babb take the checkers ahead of Dennis Erb Jr., Terry English, Billy
Moyer, Roger Long, and Billy Drake. Those 6 drivers would make up the
first three rows of the main event. Four heats then would transfer 3 each
to the feature with everyone else going to 1 of two concis which would
transfer 1 each. In the first heat Kevin Weaver powered away to the
victory ahead of Jeep VanWormer, Ryan Dauber, and Duane Chamberlain. The
second heat saw Jimmy Mars take an impressive win over Michael Bradley,
Patrick Sheltra, and Randy Korte. In the third heat Jason Feger would
hold Darren Miller at bay to claim the checkers with Brett Seivert and Rob
Starkey coming home behind them. The fourth and final heat saw local hot
shoe, Dan Walden, claim the victory ahead of Shawn Negengard, Zach Carney,
and Jim Laws. The first conci would see pole sitter Duane Chamberlain
storm away to the victory followed by Frank Heckenast Jr., and Ted
Loomis. In the second conci Jim Laws would hold Randy Korte at bay for 11
laps only to see the wily veteran slip by on the final circuit to claim
the victory. Brian Shirley came home 3rd after starting 11th in this
conci. Ted Loomis and Chuck Haga were added to the field as the track
provisionals with Wes Steidinger getting the Series provisional to
complete the 23 car field.
The fireworks lighting up the sky in
the third turn before the start of the main event served as a precursor to
what the fans had in store for them. Erb would edge out Babb down the
back stretch to lead the first lap with Moyer, English, and Drake in tow.
Erb, riding the rim, powered away to an 8 car length lead and was
approaching the back markers on the 8th circuit when his lead evaporated
with Ted Loomis finding the turn three wall to bring out the races first
caution. On the restart Babb would dive under Erb to challenge for the
lead, but Erb would have none of it as he powered away down the back
stretch as Weaver used the restart to bound from his 8th position to
challenge Drake for 5th. Erb would once again cruise to a comfortable
lead, having a 10 car length lead at the half way point as Babb and Moyer
were falling further behind entangled in slower traffic. This slower
traffic would result in the next caution as Babb, being harassed by Moyer
and seeing Erb's bumper growing smaller in the distance, would grow
impatient and nudge his way through the pack of slower cars sending Haga
spinning in turn 1 on the 21st circuit collecting the machines of Carney
and Bradley in the process. When the action resumed Erb would not return
to his comfortable lead as Babb would remain a thorn in his side the
remainder of the way. Babb would constantly dive under Erb through the
turns but Erb would use the momentum of the high side to power back to the
front down the straights. The battle began to escalate with 10 laps to go
as Moyer was now in contact with the lead duo who were dicing it up in
lapped traffic putting on a supreme show for the fans. Erb would clear
the lapped traffic first and would establish a 2 car length lead but had
it all erased when Long stalled in turn three 5 laps from the finish
setting up a 5 lap dash paying 10 grand to the winner. Moyer would
challenge Babb on the restart allowing Erb some breathing room. But that
room for error quickly dissipated as Babb quickly shook off the challenge
from Moyer and reeled in Erb again. As the leaders took the white flag
the crowd came to their feet as Babb would take one last shot at
overtaking the race long leader. Babb dove under Erb heading into the
first set of turns and the duo would drag race down the back stretch
entering turn three neck and neck. Exiting turn 4, Erb would edge ahead
and cross the stripe one half of a car ahead of Babb to claim his first
career Summer National win. Moyer, English, Weaver, Mars, Drake, Miller,
VanWormer, and Feger would comprise the rest of the top 10 finishers.
Exiting his car in victory raising his hands in the air in celebration a
jubilant Erb proclaimed "I had one of the best following me there. I was
just trying to hold my own. I just tried to stay smooth and hoped
everything worked out." Work out it did, as Erb would leave the facility
$10,000 to the better than when he had entered.
The series now heads south down
Highway 41 for round three of the traveling marathon as Tri-State
Speedway in Haubstadt, IN will host the Sunday night event paying $6000 to
the winner.
Notes
Brian Shirley struggled in
qualifications only earning a 7th starting position in his heat. He would
charge forward in his heat only to loop his mount in turn three on the
final circuit while racing Patrick Sheltra for the third and final
transfer spot. He would then follow suit in his conci advancing from 11th
to third in 4 laps only to stagnate at that position failing to improve
any further and missed the feature.
Dick Potts, who had mechanical
issues at Crown Point in the first round of the series, stepped into the
5C numbered machine normally driven by Barry Carlson to try his hand at
making the second round of the series. He was unsuccessful.
UMP National point leader, Rodney
Melvin, abruptly slowed and headed pit side during the dash. He then
would fail to appear for any of the remainder of the contests and miss the
show.
RESULTS
UMP LATE MODELS
44 Cars
Fast Time: 18 Shannon Babb 13.162
Dash (9 laps 6 Transfer)
1. 18 Shannon Babb (2)
2. 28 Dennis Erb Jr. (1)
3. 96 Terry English (3)
4. 21 Billy Moyer (5) 5. 36 Roger Long (4) 6. 9 Billy Drake (6) 7. B12 Kevin Weaver (7) 8. 7M Michael Bradley (8) 9. 27 Rodney Melvin (9) DNF Heat 1 (10 laps 3 transfer) 1. B12 Kevin Weaver (1) Heat 2 1. 28 Jimmy Mars (2) 5. 1H Chuck Haga (4)
Heat 3 1. 25 Jason Feger (2)
Heat 4 1. 25W Dan Walden (2)
Conci 1 (12 Laps Winner Transfer) 1. 1C Duane Chamberlain
(1) Conci 2 1. 00 Randy Korte (1) Feature (40 laps $10,000 to win) 1. 28 Dennis Erb Jr. (2) Lap Leaders: 1-40 28 Erb Cautions: 3
Unofficial Points After Rd 2
1. Shannon Babb 127 2. Dennis Erb 103 3. Kevin Weaver 101 4. Billy Moyer 80 5. Darren Miller 78 6. Jimmy Mars 77 7. Ryan Dauber 74 8. Terry English 64 9. Wes Steidinger 63 10. Jeep VanWormer 55 11. Billy Drake 52 12. Jason Feger 50 13t. Brian Shirley 45 13t. Randy Korte 45 15. Duane Chamberlain 43 16. Bret Sievert 40 17. Mark Voigt 31 18. Rodney Melvin 28 |
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