ST. LOUIS – Tyler Carpenter and Shannon Babb each collected $5,000 for winning dirt late model preliminary features during the Gateway Dirt Nationals on Friday inside The Dome at America’s Center.
Ryan Unzicker and Billy Moyer led the field to the green flag during the first preliminary feature, with Unzicker taking the lead in the opening corners. The first caution of the race waved on the third circuit as several cars tangled in turn two.
When racing resumed Unzicker held the lead, but the battle was for second behind him as Carpenter sliced his way by Mike Spatola to take second. Spatola returned the favor on Carpenter on lap 10, only for Carpenter to take the position back with five laps left.
Carpenter quickly chased down Unzicker and the two engaged in a battle for the lead, with Carpenter roughing Unzicker up on the inside to take the spot with three laps left. The battle continued for the final few laps, with Unzicker unable to return the favor as Carpenter claimed the victory.
Unzicker was forced to settle for second, followed by Spatola, Tanner English and Scott James.
In the second late model preliminary feature, Patrik Daniel and Babb brought the field to the green flag. Daniel led the field into turn one with Babb in pursuit, only for the caution flag to wave on lap two for an incident in turn four.
The caution flag waved again two more times by lap four, but racing finally resumed and Babb was all over Daniel for the race lead. On lap eight Babb got his opening as Daniel bounced through turn three, allowing Babb to dive low and take the lead coming out of turn four.
Once out front Babb drove away from the field, easily winning the second 20-lap feature over Rusty Schlenk. Daniel, Jonathan Davenport and Gordy Gundaker completed the top-five.
The top-three finishers in each feature earned guaranteed starting positions in Saturday’s $30,000-to-win finale.
The finishes:
First Feature: Tyler Carpenter, Ryan Unzicker, Mike Spatola, Tanner English, Scott James, Billy Moyer, Brandon Sheppard, Chad Zobrist, Jeremiah Hurst, Bobby Pierce, Bob Gardner, Mike Fryer, Jason Welshan, Matt Shipley, Robbie Stuart, David Seibers, Vance Wilson, Myles Moos, Rusty Griffaw, Jason Feger.
Second Feature: Shannon Babb, Rusty Schlenk, Patrik Daniel, Jonathan Davenport, Gordy Gundaker, Jason Wagner, Kevin Smith, Blair Northdurft, Joey Coulter, Jadon Frame, Erick Hickerson, Mike Glasscock, Allen Weisser, Greg Kimmons, Mike Schulte, Kip Hughes, Ricky Thornton Jr., Matt Henderson, Duane Chamberlain, Scott Ward.