MOBERLY, Mo. — The latest season start in the history of the Lucas Oil MLRA proved to be worth the wait for Shannon Babb on Friday night at Randolph County Raceway.
Babb collected the $3,000 top prize in Cedar Creek Beef Jerky Victory Lane after besting a strong field of 37 late models, represented by drivers from 11 states.
Babb secured a strong starting spot by grabbing the quick time in Group “A” Time Trials and also capturing the win in his heat race, putting him on the DirtonDirt.com Pole Position for the 30-lap main event.
Chad Simpson garnered the overall fast time with a lap of 17.178 seconds to capture the “Slick Mist” Fast Time Award.
At the drop of the green flag, Babb quickly took command over outside front row starter Tony Jackson Jr. Babb jumped out to a comfortable advantage as the race went green for the first nine circuits before the first caution stopped the event for the slowing car of Aaron Marrant.
On the restart, Jackson Jr. out drove Babb through turns one and two and was able to slip by and overtake the race lead as the pair excited turn four on lap 10.
Jackson Jr. quickly pulled away from Babb and appeared to be headed for back-to-back MLRA wins after he scored the win in last year’s season finale at the Lucas Oil Speedway. However, for the second time on the night the caution would again wave on lap eighteen when Tim Manville came to a stop at the exit of turn two.
Babb used a top side move to the outside of Jackson Jr. to slip by for the race lead off the exit of turn two and regain the top spot. As the leaders crossed the strip with Babb at the point, the caution again waved this time for a three-car incident involving Daryn Klein, and Roberts Motorsports teammates Jeremiah Hurst and Garrett Alberson.
On the final restart of the night with 11 laps to go, Babb jumped back to the lead over Jackson Jr. and two-time series champion Chad Simpson. Babb would go on to score his fourth career Lucas Oil MLRA feature win while Ryan Gustin moved past Simpson late in the race to grab runner-up honors.
Simpson came home in third, followed by Jackson Jr. and defending series champion Will Vaught.
The finish:
Feature (40 Laps): 1.Shannon Babb 2.Ryan Gustin  3.Chad Simpson 4.Tony Jackson Jr. 5.Will Vaught 6.Payton Looney  7.Chris Simpson 8.Dennis Erb Jr. 9.Billy Moyer Sr.  10.Mitch McGrath 11.Tony Toste 12.Jeremy Conaway 13.Jeremiah Hurst  14.Daryn Klein 15.Garrett Alberson  16.Tim Manville 17.Gordy Gundaker 18.Jason Papich  19.Trevor Gundaker  20.Joseph Gorby 21.Jordan Yaggy 22.Aaron Marrant 23.Bobby Pierce 24.Jeremy Grady