By Gary Daughtrey


Special to the News-Herald

Jimmy Humblet grabbed the lead for good on Lap 42 and sailed to his first win of the season in the 50-lap race in the modifieds class, the featured event of Saturday’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series program at Langley Speedway.

Humblet started on the pole, at 86.166 mph, and took the lead on the opening circuit. The first 15 laps were interrupted by three caution flags, capped off by a five-car pileup at the flagstand. That incident prompted a lengthy red-flag delay.

Back under green, Humblet, Robbie Babb and Shawn Balluzzo bolted from the pack. Balluzzo pressured Babb for the runner-up spot until Lap 26, when he bobbled in Turns 1 and 2 and fell half a straightaway back.

On Lap 28, Babb went after Humblet, ducking underneath the leader in Turn 1. He pulled even down the backstretch and surged ahead through Turns 3 and 4.
By Lap 36, Babb had opened a four-length margin over Humblet. Exiting Turn 4 to complete Lap 40, however, a puff of white smoke burped from Babb’s machine, and he began to slow.

Humblet quickly ran down Babb and regained the lead on Lap 42. Balluzzo picked up the second position on the next circuit.

At the finish, Humblet was the winner by three lengths over Balluzzo. Mike Rudy bypassed Babb on the white-flag circuit for third, while Babb nursed his car to a fourth-place result. Mark Slye was fifth.