Shannon Babb issues a statement after failing Illini 100 tire test
On April 11, the World of Outlaws raced at Farmer City Raceway. The dirt late model event payed $25,000-to-win.
After qualifying in the finale, World Racing Group officials collected tire samples. The samples were sent to an independent lab for analysis.
The test results revealed that the sample for Shannon Babb did not conform to the benchmark. Another test was run with the same results.
Babb has been fined $11,771.33 (prize money). He’s also been placed on 12-month probation.
Farmer City Race Results: April 11, 2026 (World of Outlaws)
Shannon Babb comments
On Tuesday, Shannon Babb Racing released the following statement:
“The World of Outlaws ruling on the tire samples taken from Saturday night’s Illini 100 at Farmer City Raceway is unfortunate to say the least,” the team opened.
“The tire was a National Late Model 2 that we purchased from the tire truck at Farmer City Raceway at 3:00pm on Saturday April 11th. We cleaned our tire with a degreaser and wiped it off to remove the factory mold release coating from the tire.”
“If we would have washed it off and not wiped it off, it would’ve been ok. This resulted in the tire not meeting the benchmark. We were honest with the World of Outlaws on the degreaser used to clean the tire and the test results that came back confirmed the components of that degreaser.”
The team added, “We have always raced with integrity and take pride in now we present our racing team and represent our sponsors. We accept the penalty, respect the rules and hope that the sanctioning bodies continue to follow their policies and rules for all dirt late model competitors.”
The team concluded, “Shannon Babb Racing will have no further comment on this matter and we are looking forward to continuing our 2026 racing season”
Section 11-C – Tires
C. Tires
a. The National Late Model Tire (NLMT) Rule:
i. Only Hoosier (92) NLMT2, (92) NLMT3, (92) NLMT4 will be selected for the right rear.
ii. Only Hoosier (90) NLMT2, (90) NLMT3 will be selected the fronts and left rear.
b. The maximum size for any tire in competition is eleven inches (11”) x twenty-nine inches (29”) x fifteen inches (15”), unless otherwise specified and made known to all competitors.
c. The maximum outside circumference of the tire will be ninety-three inches (93”), unless otherwise specified and made known to all competitors.
d. The maximum width of the tires measured from the outside edge(s) of the sidewalls across the face of the tire will be sixteen and three-quarters of an inch (16-3/4”). There will be a tire hoop used for inspection and the tire must pass through the tire hoop freely, without any manipulation or outside contact.
e. The tire rule for any event may be amended from time to time and will be made known to all competitors.
f. Chemical alterations, vulcanizing, tire softening, defacing, and/or altering the face of the tire lettering and/or tire stamping will not be permitted. Chemicals or tire softening is not permitted at any time.
g. Washing tires, or spraying substances of any type will not be permitted within three (3) hours of the scheduled hot lap time on any given race day. Dipping tires into large containers (ie swimming pools) and chilling or heating tires (ie freezers, ice baths, torches, or other means of direct heat) will not be permitted at any point. Any of the above acts will result in the individual involved, their associated driver, and car owner being suspended indefinitely from participating in any WRG or Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Sanctioned events. Any vehicle, including but not limited to race haulers and support trailers, are subject to search at the discretion of Series Director/Technical Director at any point during a sanctioned event. Tires will also not be permitted to be transported in and/or out of the confines of the pit area.
