HARTFORD, OH – July 28, 2007 – It might have taken Chub Frank a while, but he found the fast line just in time on Saturday night at Sharon Speedway.
Completing a stirring late-race charge, Frank overtook Jeremy Miller for the lead on lap 45 en route to winning the World of Outlaws Late Model Series ‘Buckeye 50.’
Frank, 45, of Bear Lake, Pa., was running a seemingly non-threatening fourth with less than 10 laps remaining, but he found a second wind to glide past WoO LMS points leader Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., Donnie Moran of Dresden, Ohio, and Gettysburg, Pa.’s Miller in a four-lap span and score his tour-best fifth victory of the season.
“I wasn’t holding back, because you couldn’t relax out there,” said Frank, who earned $10,225 for his 12th career win on the WoO LMS. “I was just trying to find a lane that was fast and size up where those guys (ahead) were having problems.”
Frank’s triumph on a night that had its start delayed over two hours by rain brought him the points championship of the three-race National Interstate Speedweek, which also visited Lawrenceburg (Ind.) Speedway and Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. Frank, who pocketed a bonus of $1,125 for the mini-series title, finished seventh in the first two events.
Of course, a late-race tangle with NASCAR star Tony Stewart knocked Frank out of the lead on Friday night at Eldora Speedway. He couldn’t help thinking of that near-miss after gaining redemption at Sharon.
“This doesn’t make me forget what happened last night,” said Frank. “It’ll make the drive home better, but I’m still not happy about last night. We could’ve won two in-a-row, and even I’d have finished second last night, it would’ve made the point deal a lot tighter.”
Driving the same Lester Buildings Rocket car that had its rear clip bent in the Eldora encounter with Stewart, Frank, who sits third in the WoO LMS points standings, pulled away after taking the lead. He crossed the finish line 1.420 seconds ahead of the 44-year-old Moran, who steered his MasterSbilt mount by Miller for second place coming off turn four to take the white flag.
Miller, who led laps 2-44, settled for third place in Charles Buckler’s Rocket. It was the best WoO LMS finish of the 36-year-old’s career.
Completing the top five was Francis, who started from the pole position and led the race’s opening lap in his Valvoline Rocket, and Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., in the gottarace.com Rocket.
Frank needed virtually the entire distance to unlock the secret to negotiating the difficult three-eighths-mile, which was left soft and choppy in spots by the rain that arrived just before time trials were scheduled to start.
“What I learned was that when you tried to race really hard was when you got in trouble,” said Frank, who started fourth. “I got up to second right at the start, but when I started racing them hard I got passed early on and fell back to fourth.
“Then I got a rhythm where I could run a good line. What we were doing was arching out the back straightaway and catching the edge of the (inside) uke tire to miss that rut getting in. I just kept moving the uke tires in with the bumper.
“I figured I knock the bumper off it, but it was worth it.”
Frank needed a dose of good fortune, however, to get in position for the win after passing Morann for second on lap 44. It came in the form of the race’s sixth and final caution flag, on lap 44 for a spin in turn four by Rick Eckert of York, Pa.
At that point, Miller held more than a half-straightaway edge on Frank and was rolling toward his first-ever WoO LMS victory.
“I would’ve never run (Miller) down without the caution,” said Frank. “He had the race won.”
Frank still wasn’t certain of his prospects for passing Miller, but he had a plan for the restart.
“He was running the outside, and he was making it work,” Frank said of Miller. “But I watched Moran get underneath him in those ruts, so I started using those ruts because anytime you have a hole in the racetrack, it’s traction. It’s just a matter of whether you can get through them or not.
“Well, if I hooked the rut (entering turn three) with the left front, it would give me traction and I could stay in it. I was able to get beside (Miller) gong down the back straightaway and crossed him to the infield to get the lead.”
Miller was no match for Frank over the final six laps. His car simply wasn’t the same as it had been for the entire race.
“I really didn’t want to see the caution,” said Miller, who started from the outside pole. “Before that I was in a good routine, the tires were hot, and the car was working. But I was getting worse, and when that caution came out I guess the tires cooled down some and I was done.
“I just got loose. You needed to be good and tight getting into three so you could drive straight through the ruts instead of hitting them sideways and bouncing. Well, the last five laps I couldn’t do that no more. I was hitting ‘em sidways and bouncing all around.
“I had a 44-lap race car,” he mourned.
Though Miller suffered a tough defeat in WoO LMS action for the second time in eight days – he led the July 20 event at Virginia Motor Speedway before mechanical trouble knocked him out – he maintained a positive attitude.
“It’s a little disappointing, but in the same sense we got beat by some professionals who are pretty darn good,” he said. “We just do it on the weekends for fun, and these guys do it for a living. There’s a reason they’re the World of Outlaws.”
Moran, meanwhile, fell short of victory, but he enjoyed a profitable night. On top of his $5,000 runner-up pay, he earned $500 in WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ for being the highest-finishing driver who wasn’t ranked among the top 12 in series points and hasn’t won a WoO feature since 2004; $500 from National Interstate Insurance for being the top-finishing Ohio-based driver in the A-Main; and another $1,000 for being the highest-placing Ohio-based racer in the final National Interstate Speedweek points standings.
Finishing in positions 6-10 was Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., who ended National Interstate Speedweek trailing Francis by 36 points in the WoO LMS standings; Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., who qualified through the B-Main after a flat tire in his heat caused him to spin and get t-boned hard in the driver’s-side door by Robbie Blair of Titusville, Pa.; Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y.; Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga., who pulled out a backup car for the night after experiencing engine woes during hot laps; and Doug Horton of Bruceton Mills, W.Va.
Thirty-eight cars entered the event.
Robbie Scott of Shinnston, W.Va., earned $100 for his first career National Interstate Insurance Fast Time Award with the WoO LMS. He recorded a lap of 15.539 seconds in the qualifying session, which began at 9:18 p.m. after the track was run in.
Heat winners were Moran, Fuller, Lanigan and Jeremy Miller, and the B-Mains were captured by Clanton and Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill.
The stars of the WoO LMS will now have a three-week break to gear up for the final rush to the season-ending ‘Outlaws World Finals’ on Nov. 1-3 at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C.
WoO LMS action resumes with the $20,000-to-win ‘Scorcher 100’ on Aug. 21-23 at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tenn.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.
Results of WoO Late Model Series (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won): 1. (4) Chub Frank/50 $10,225
2. (8) Donnie Moran/50 $6,125
3. (2) Jeremy Miller/50 $3,000
4. (1) Steve Francis/50 $2,500
5. (3) Darrell Lanigan/50 $2,000
6. (11) Clint Smith/50 $1,700
7. (20) Josh Richards/50 $1,400
8. (7) Tim Fuller/50 $1,550
9. (17) Shane Clanton/50 $1,200
10. (6) Doug Horton/50 $1,100
11. (10) David Scott/50 $1,050
12. (22) Rick Eckert/50 $1,050
13. (14) Mike Balzano/50 $950
14. (13) Robbie Scott/50 $1,000
15. (24) Dan Stone/50 $850
16. (19) Matt Urban/50 $800
17. (25) Jim Rasey/48 $1,070
18. (15) Todd Andrews/44 $750
19. (5) Rick Briggs/30 $730
20. (18) Brian Shirley/27 $700
21. (12) Chris Hackett/23 $700
22. (9) Alex Ferree/20 $700
23. (16) George Lee/8 $900
24. (21) Dutch Davies/4 $700
25. (23) Roy Mitchell/0 $700
Time of Race: 39 Mins., 48.621 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 1.420 Secs.
Yellow Flags: 6 (Laps 9, 21, 24, 27, 31, 44)
Lap Leaders: Francis (1); J. Miller (2-44); Frank (45-50)
Provisional Starters: Mitchell, Stone (WoO); Rasey (track)
Rookie of the Race: Fuller ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Moran ($500)
National Interstate Insurance Fast Time Award: R. Scott ($100)
National Interstate Insurance Hard Luck Award: Eckert ($50)
National Interstate Insurance Ohio Driver/Team ‘Bonus Bucks’: Moran ($500), Rasey ($300), Lee ($200)
Integra Shocks Crew Chief of the Race ($100): Brad Baum (Chub Frank)
Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap): 1. 18-Robbie Scott/Shinnston, WV 15.539
2. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 15.682
3. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 15.724
4. 43A-Jason Covert/York Haven, PA 15.748
5. 99-Donnie Moran/Dresden, OH 15.753
6. 3-David Scott/Garland, PA 15.770
7. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 15.772
8. 21GL-George Lee/Loudonville, OH 15.772
9. 46-Doug Horton/Bruceton Mills, WV 15.807
10. E1-Mike Balzano/Parkersburg, WV 15.816
11. won11-Robbie Blair/Titusville, PA 15.832
12. 24M-Jeremy Miller/Gettysburg, PA 15.836
13. 4-Alex Ferree/Saxonburg, PA 15.937
14. 99B-Rick Briggs/Bear Lake, PA 15.942
15. 42-Todd Andrews/Eldred, PA 15.942
16. 33-Chris Hackett/Erie, PA 15.985
17. 40-Dutch Davies/Warren, PA 16.005
18. 25-Shane Clanton/Locust Grove, GA 16.020
19. 15-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 16.043
20. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 16.058
21. 1U-Matt Urban/North East, PA 16.080
22. 21ML-Matt Lux/Franklin, PA 16.149
23. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 16.172
24. 3s-Brian Shirley/Chatham, IL 16.179
25. 2JX-Davey Johnson/Latrobe, PA 16.231
26. 17-Keith Barbara/South Park, PA 16.269
27. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 16.271
28. 22-Chad Ruhlman/Bemus Point, NY 16.323
29. 2J-Mike Johnson/Imperial, PA 16.468
30. 7-Jason Dupont/Cyclone, PA 16.519
31. 07R-Brent Rhebergen/Clymer, NY 16.537
32. 28b-Dick Barton/Ashville, NY 16.619
33. 90-Wally Fox/Cooperstown, PA 16.639
34. 21-Tony Musolino/Scott Twp., PA 16.765
35. 32R-Jim Rasey/Southington, OH 16.885
36. 21d-Dan Stone/Thompson, PA 17.174
37. 1d-Alan Dellinger/OH 17.983
38. 93-Roy Mitchell/Rensselear, IN 18.343
Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Moran, Horton, Ferree, R. Scott, Urban, Davies, D. Johnson, Fox, M. Johnson, Dellinger
Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Fuller, Briggs, D. Scott, Balzano, Barbara, Lux, Dupont, Musolino, Clanton (DNS) Mitchell
Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Lanigan, Francis, Smith, Andrews, Eckert, Richards, Rhebergen, Rasey, Blair
Heat No. 4 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): J. Miller, Frank, Hackett, Lee, Ruhlman, Shirley, Covert, Stone, Barton
B-Main No. 1 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Clanton, Urban, Davies, Barbara, Dupont, Fox, M. Johnson, Musolino, Lux, Dellinger, Michell (DNS) D. Johnson
B-Main No. 2 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Shirley, Richards, Eckert, Covert, Ruhlman, Rhebergen, Stone, Rasey (DNS) Blair, Barton
Final National Interstate Speedweek Point Standings (Points Fund Payout In Parenthesis): 1. Chub Frank 422 ($1,125)
2. Steve Francis 398 ($750)
3. Darrell Lanigan 396 ($600)
4. Clint Smith 394 ($450)
5. Tim Fuller 394 ($375)
6. Rick Eckert 376 ($300)
7. Josh Richards 376 ($262.50)
8. Brian Shirley 374 ($243.75)
9. Mike Balzano 366 ($206.25)
10. Shane Clanton 364 ($187.50)
11. Donnie Moran 270 ($1,000)
12. Shannon Babb 258
13. Robbie Blair 256
14. Jeep VanWormer 254
15. Roy Mitchell 250
2007 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of July 28 - 32 features completed (rank/driver/wins/top-5s/top-10s/earnings/points/deficit to leader): 1. Steve Francis 1-17-28-$75,950-4,394 (-0)
2. Clint Smith 3-14-25-$94,300-4,358 (-36)
3. Chub Frank 5-14-25-$95,580-4,350 (-44)
4. Josh Richards 3-9-20-$77,582-4,278 (-116)
5. Shane Clanton 2-11-22-$72,597-4,272 (-122)
6. Rick Eckert 0-9-18-$61,310-4,248 (-146)
7. Darrell Lanigan 2-7-21-$66,890-4,067 (-327)
8. Tim Fuller 1-7-11-$57,355-3,573 (-821)
9. Brian Shirley 1-3-9-$43,734-3,219 (-1175)
10. Shannon Babb 4-11-14-$75,035-3,190 (-1204)
11. Eddie Carrier Jr. 0-2-5-$23,720-2,571 (-1823)
12. Billy Moyer 1-9-11-$41,175-2,237 (-2157)
13. Chris Madden 1-7-11-$68,990-2,229 (-2165)
14. Brian Birkhofer 0-1-5-$17,810-1,624 (-2770)
15. John Blankenship 0-0-0-$10,570-1,588 (-2806)
16. Roy Mitchell 0-0-0-$6,480-1,511 (-2883)
17. Jimmy Mars 0-4-6-$22,830-1,322 (-3072)
18. Dennis Erb Jr. 2-4-6-$31,700-1,295 (-3099)
19. Billy Decker 0-0-1-$7,390-1,267 (-3127)
20. Dan Stone 0-0-1-$5,180-1054 (-3340)
LISTEN ONLINE: If fans can’t get to a track to see the series, they can experience the excitement of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series live on DIRTvision.com through the DIRT Radio Network.
To listen to the free audio broadcasts, log on to www.dirtvision.com and click on the DIRT Radio Network logo.
Listeners will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to listen to the DIRT Radio Network. For technical support or questions, e-mail
[email protected].
The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by several sponsors and partners, including National Interstate Insurance Company and contingency sponsors Wrisco Industries, Crane Cams, Ohlins Shocks, Quarter-Master, Hawk Brake, MSD Ignitions, Eibach Springs and Integra Shocks.
