NASCAR Whelen All-American Series: Bradley Babb
Beech Ridge Motor Speedway Race Preview
THE STORY
WINDHAM, Maine – Third-generation champion Bradley Babb of Windham, Maine, returns to the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough, Maine, on Saturday, May 25, for the season-opening Pro Series 40. Babb won the 2012 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series track championship at Beech Ridge last season after winning this race, and he plans on trying to become the track’s first third-generation multi-time champion – after both his grandfather, Robert Babb Sr., and father, Bobby Babb, each won multiple championships during their careers at the .333-mile oval. The No. 4 Babb Wood Contractors/McGoldrick Bros. Blasting Chevrolet will be joined in the field by the No. 14 Chevrolet for Bobby Babb in 2013.
THE FACTS
WHO: Bradley Babb, Windham, Maine
TEAM: No. 14 Babb Wood Contractors/McGoldrick Bros. Blasting Chevrolet
CREW CHIEF: Bobby Babb, Windham, Maine
BEST CAREER BEECH RIDGE MOTOR SPEEDWAY FINISH: 1st (May 2012)
LAST RACE AT BEECH RIDGE MOTOR SPEEDWAY: 8th (September 2012)
WHAT: NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Pro Series 40
WHERE: Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, Scarborough, Maine (.333-mile oval)
WHEN: Saturday, May 25 – 3:15 p.m., practice; 6:30 p.m., qualifying; 7:30 p.m., race
Beech Ridge Motor Speedway
NEXT RACE: June 1, NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Pro Series 40, Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, Scarborough, Maine (.333-mile oval)
DID YOU KNOW?
Bradley Babb became the first third-generation champion in Beech Ridge Motor Speedway’s top division when he won the 2012 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Pro Series championship at the track. His father Bobby Babb and grandfather Robert Babb are both multi-time Beech Ridge champions in the top division.
Bradley Babb was honored at the NASCAR Hall of Fame convention center in Charlotte, N.C., in December as both a state and track champion in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.
Bradley Babb won his first career PASS North Series pole in the 2013 series opener at Oxford Plains Speedway on April 21.
Bradley Babb was the 2010 ACT Late Model Tour Rookie of the Year.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
BRADLEY BABB, Driver of the No. 4 Babb Wood Contractors/McGoldrick Bros. Blasting Chevrolet, On the biggest thing he learned in his championship run last season: “You basically just have to run around and save your stuff for a while. I had to learn patience last year, because of being stuck in traffic all the time.
“But at the same time, once you get a hole, you have to be ready to go. It’s mainly just about having the car in one piece and being around at the end. It doesn’t matter if it’s a weekly race or a Tour race.”
On whether he feels Beech Ridge experience plays a role: “I think there’s definitely a little bit of a home track advantage. Experience at Beech Ridge is always a good thing because the track changes so much.
“When it comes to the track itself and knowing what it’s going to do, the guys that have run there a lot probably have the advantage.”
On being back in his championship-winning car for a test at Beech Ridge last week: “It felt really good to be back in that car. It felt like ‘home.’
“The car’s good. We only made a few adjustments, and it was fast right off. We should be ready for the weekend.”
UP NEXT
Bradley Babb continues defense of his 2012 track championship at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway on with the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series on Saturday, June 1… Babb won the season-opening NASCAR Whelen All-American Series feature at Beech Ridge en route to the track title last year.