Babb to be Inducted into National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame!
(October 19, 2025) Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill. and Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla., plus Gary Crawford of Independence, Iowa, the late Jimmy Edwards Jr. of Hope Mills, N.C., and Crossville, Tenn., racer-turned-analyst Randy Weaver were revealed Saturday as 2026 National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame inductees along with three contributors at Eldora Speedway during the 45th annual Tire Dirt Track World Championship presented by ARP.

A throttle-stomping star whose skills were a perfect fit for the home-state bullrings of the Summer Nationals, the still active 51-year-old Babb has piled up 102 series victories, one more than his mentor and former teammate Billy Moyer. An upstart with hints of brilliance came in the mid-1990s, Babb caught fire and came into his own with major victories at Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway and Brownstown (Ind.) Speedway, then hit his prime, securing Summer Nationals titles in 2005-06 with 28 victories over two seasons.

Driving for Bill Moyer Sr. and Ed Petroff much of his career, he became a national star with 25 national touring victories, captured DTWCs at two tracks and won two Dixie Shootouts and two Topless 100s. Overall he won four Summer Nationals crowns (also 2011 and ’14) and the 2004 title on the National Auto Racing Association that evolved into the Lucas Oil circuit.

The Class of 2026, elected by a 75-member committee and set to join more than 200 drivers and contributors enshrined since 2001, will be inducted next August during the Sunoco Race Fuels North-South 100 weekend at Florence Speedway in Union, Ky.

SBR Closes Out MARS Tour; Finishes Third in Final Point Standings
(October 5, 2025) The MARS Late Model Championship Series concluded their version of the 2025 racing season on October 3-4 at Fairbury Speedway in downtown Fairbury, Illinois. On Friday in the $5,000 to win 'FALS Frenzy' lid lifter, Shannon Babb ran second in his heat race before climbing four spots during the 40-lap feature to finish third and on the podium behind only winner Ryan Unzicker and runner-up Chris Simpson. With a $12,000 payday up for grabs in Saturday's finale, Shannon placed fourth in his heat race and tenth in the 50-lapper. After the points were tallied, the Moweaqua, Illinois native was third in the final version of the MARS point standings! Full results from both MARS battles can be accessed by logging onto www.marsracingseries.com. (Josh James Artwork)

Shannon Babb Leads Early; Finishes Fourth in Brownstown 100
(September 20, 2025) The lone event of the weekend for the Shannon Babb Racing (SBR) team took place on Friday night, September 19 at the Brownstown Bullring in Brownstown, Illinois. The MARS Late Model Championship Series presided over the 'Brownstown 100,' which paid out a $10,000 first place prize. Shannon Babb earned Fast Time honors during qualifying and later secured a popular heat race triumph. After leading laps 3-5 and laps 7-8 from the pole position, Shannon wound up a strong fourth in the 50-lapper behind only victor Tanner English, Jason Feger, and Dennis Erb, Jr.! Full results can be located online by clicking on www.marsracingseries.com. (Josh James Artwork)

Tripleheader Weekend Highlighted by Fourth Place Davenport Run!
(September 15, 2025) Following the 'World 100,' the #18 team returned to the MARS Late Model Championship Series scene on September 12-14 in the states of Iowa and Illinois. At Davenport Speedway in Davenport, Iowa, Shannon Babb finished fourth on Friday night behind only $5,000 winner Jason Feger, Ryan Unzicker, and Garrett Alberson before retiring early on Saturday evening and placing twentieth in the final rundown of the $10,000 to win headliner.

The triple shot then concluded on Sunday with a stop at Quincy Raceway in Quincy, Illinois. Shannon grabbed the fourth transfer spot through his heat race prior to climbing to finish sixth in the 30-lap feature behind only victor Tony Jackson, Jr., Jason Feger, Ryan Unzicker, Jeff Herzog, and Michael Leach. Complete results from all three weekend races can be viewed online by pointing your web browser to www.marsracingseries.com. (Mike Ruefer Photo)

Shannon Babb Enters 55th Annual World 100 at Eldora Speedway
(September 7, 2025) The 55th edition of the 'World 100' took center stage at the famed Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio from September 4-6. Things kicked off in the Buckeye State with a pair of $12,000 to win, split-field preliminary programs. On Thursday night, Shannon Babb ran sixth in his Shootout race prior to placing nineteenth in the final rundown of the 25-lap main event.

Unfortunately, that was the only feature that Shannon transferred into, as he finished ninth in his Shootout race on Friday evening prior to running seventh in his stacked heat race on Saturday and choosing not to start the B-Main. The Moweaqua, Illinois standout was forced to watch the 100-lap crown jewel headliner that was ultimately won by Ricky Thornton, Jr., who collected $72,000 for his efforts. Full results from the "Big E" can be viewed online by clicking on www.eldoraspeedway.com. (Ryan Roberts Photography)

Busy Labor Day Weekend Headlined by Spoon River Podium Effort!
(September 1, 2025) The MARS Late Model Championship Series took the Shannon Babb Racing (SBR) team to a trio of different ovals in the Land of Lincoln from August 29-31. On Friday night at Farmer City (IL) Raceway, Shannon Babb placed third in his heat race and sixth in the 40-lap main event behind only $5,000 victor Ryan Unzicker, Ashton Winger, Jason Feger, Mike Spatola, and Tony Jackson, Jr.

With a $10,000 paycheck up for grabs on Saturday evening at Fairbury (IL) Speedway, Shannon ran third once again in his heat race before knocking down another sixth place performance in the 50-lapper. In the weekend finale on Sunday at Spoon River (IL) Speedway, Shannon won his heat race, led laps 7-29 of the 40-lap feature, and ultimately finished on the podium in third behind only $5,000 winner Jason Feger and runner-up Ryan Unzicker! Complete results from each of these three MARS battles can be found online at www.marsracingseries.com. (Josh James Artwork)