Babb, Rudy split Langley wins
Published 8:55 pm Tuesday, June 19, 2012
![IMG_3831 FS Rsz Pub Rudy 6-16-2.](https://www.suffolknewsherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2012/06/IMG_3831-FS-Rsz-Pub-Rudy-6-16-2..jpg)
Mike Rudy and his wife Cristey celebrate with crew members in Victory Lane after leading from the outside pole to the checkered flag to notch his third win at Langley this season in the second Twin 30-Lap Modifieds division race in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series events at Langley Speedway on Saturday.
Robbie Babb and Mike Rudy divided the checkered flags in the Super Cuts Twin 30s for the KeesVacations.com Modifieds, the headlining events of Saturday evening’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series program at Langley Speedway.
In the opener, Babb started on the pole, at 85.870 mph, and led all the way for his first victory of the season.
![IMG_8788 R Babb.Rsz Pub 6-16-12. !st T30](https://www.suffolknewsherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2012/06/IMG_8788-R-Babb.Rsz-Pub-6-16-12.-st-T30.jpg)
Robbie Babb poses with his No. 44 car in Victory Lane after starting on the pole and leading from green flag to the checkers for his first win of the season for the Modifieds division in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series events at Langley Speedway on Saturday.
Babb pulled away by nearly half a straightaway in the early going. That lead was erased, however, by a flurry of three caution flags at lap 11.
Rudy emerged in the runner-up spot, but couldn’t keep up with Babb when the race resumed.
Over the final 10 circuits, Rudy began to chip away at the leader’s margin. At the white flag, the lead two were nose-to-tail.
Exiting the final corner, Rudy bobbled just a bit, allowing Babb to sew up a two-length win.
Shawn Balluzzo and Anthony Kincaid rebounded from a tangle on lap 11 to take third and fourth, respectively, while Cameron Patrick completed the top five.
In the nightcap, outside pole-sitter Rudy powered into the lead on the start and paced the field to the checkers. The win was Rudy’s third at Langley this season and his third of the weekend, as he won two of three races at Richmond’s Southside Speedway on Friday night. It also boosted him into the division points lead.
Babb was the runner-up in the second race, finishing nearly half a straightaway back. Kincaid was third, followed by Casey Wyatt and Matt Slye.
Balluzzo, the points leader coming into the night, fell victim to a flat right-front tire in the opening laps of the second event and ended up eighth, a lap down.