Frank collects Renegade DirtCar Championship laurels

  CONTACT: BRET EMRICK 

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Nov. 30, 2001) - Chub Frank of Sugar Grove, PA collected his second consecutive Renegade DirtCar Racing Series championship laurels Friday at the annual awards banquet held at the Embassy Suites in Indianapolis, IN. Frank, aboard the Corry Laser Technology/Corry Rubber/Biscotti's Restaurant and Winery/Rocket Chassis/Draime Racing Engines No. 1* Frank Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo, collected $25,000, the champions ring and trophy and championship jackets from HOOSIER TIRE, ROCKET CHASSIS and SCOTT PERFORMANCE WIRE for his efforts during the 2001 season.

Frank led the series with six victories and also garnered three runner-up, five third place, two fourth place and three fifth place finishes in 30 feature events. Frank also captured the most ISKY RACING CAMS dash wins with four and led the most feature laps with 265 pocketing over $115,000 in purse money. Frank also copped the WRISCO INDUSTRIES/HOOSIER TIRE-OHIO VALLEY "Dash King" Award and was awarded an additional $1,500 from BORLA PERFORMANCE INDUSTRIES.

"It really means a lot to win this championship for the second straight time", said Frank. "It was by far my best season yet and it wouldn't be possible with out the support of all of our sponsors, my crew chief Todd Gourley, my friends and family, especially Mary, and the series sponsors. Thanks also to the promoters who invite us to their tracks and to the fans for supporting our sport". Frank continued, "And, I need to thank Don and Rick Gross, Bret Emrick, Walter Burson and all the folks with the Renegade DirtCar Racing Series. They work hard and do their best for us and the sport. People don't know how much work goes into running a sanctioning organization. The series works perfect for me. Good purses and decent travel which allows all of us to be home through the week with our families".

For the second straight season, Mike Balzano of Parkersburg, WV drove the Eddie's Auto Parts/Ault Swimming Pools/Rocket Chassis/Russell Baker Racing Engines No. E1 Balzano Racing Enterprises Chevrolet Monte Carlo to a runner-up finish in the championship chase. Balzano pocketed one victory on the year and scored five second place, three third place, and four fourth place and fifth place finishes in 31 feature events good for his $12,000 payday. Balzano also earned a $1,000 bonus for copping the ROCKET CHASSIS "Pass Master" Award and an additional $1,000 from BORLA PERFORMANCE INDUSTRIES. Balzano also earned the DESIGN 500 RACEWEAR "Perseverance Award" for his incredible record of only missing one event in the 518 sanctioned events held since the series inception in 1984.

The third place points check of $9,000 went to Jackie Boggs of Grayson, KY who piloted the McDonalds of Maysville, KY/Miller Bros. Coal/Cecil's Salvage/Swartz Chassis/T & H Racing Engines No. 4B Cascio Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo to two wins in his first year with the sanctioning series. The second generation driver also copped one second place and fourth place and two fifth place finishes in addition to eight other top 10 finishes in 31 feature starts.

Fourth place honors and the $7,000 check went to R.J. Conley of Wheelersburg, OH who drove the Conley Trucking/Cornett Building Supply/Rocket Chassis/Draime Racing Engines No. 71C Delmas Conley Racing Pontiac Grand Prix. Conley scored one victory, three third place and fourth place and one fifth place finish to go along with seven other top 10 finishes in 29 feature starts. Conley also earned the CARRERA SHOCKS "Challenge the Clock" Time Trial Award while his crew chief David Jewell and crew members Tom Brewer and Mark Ward earned the "Crew Chief of the Year" and "Crew of the Year" honors.

Steve Shaver of Parkersburg, WV pocketed the $6,000 fifth place points check as he piloted the Simonton's Windows/Poske's Performance Parts/United Banks of West Virginia/Rocket Chassis/Malcuit Racing Engines No. 30 B.A. Malcuit Racing, Inc. Chevrolet Monte Carlo to two victories, two second place and third place and four fifth place finishes in 28 feature starts. Shaver also led the way in BRODIX, INC. heat race wins with 13, giving him the BRODIX, INC. "Top Gun" Award good for an additional $500.

Sixth place honors, worth $5,000, went to Matt Miller of Waterville, OH who also garnered the ROCKET CHASSIS "Rookie of the Year" title. Miller, driving the Lo-Temp Brazing/McCullough Industries/Banshee Graphics/Rocket Chassis/Russell Baker Racing Engines No. 7 DSI Motorsports Pontiac Grand Prix earned one second place and fourth place and two fifth place finishes and eight other top 10 finishes in 27 feature starts.

Rod Conley of Wheelersburg, OH drove the Conley Trucking/Cornett Building Supply/Rocket Chassis/Draime Racing Engines No. 71R Delmas Conley Chevrolet Monte Carlo to seven top 10 finishes in 29 feature starts good for seventh place in points.

Rick Aukland of Zanesville, OH split his 21 feature starts between the Ostrom Sandblasting and Painting/Rocket Chassis/Malcuit Racing Engines No. 12 Aukland Racing Pontiac Grand Prix and the Rocket Chassis/Medical Center Brace/Draime Racing Engines No. 1 Mark Richards Racing Enterprises, Inc. Chevrolet Monte Carlo earning one victory, two second place and fourth place and one fifth place finish for his eighth place points finish.

Donnie Moran of Dresden, OH finished ninth in points as he drove the McCullough Industries/C.J. Rayburn/Fisher Motorsports Engines and Pro Power Engines No. 99 Donnie Moran Racing Pontiac Grand Prix to two wins, one second place and one fifth place finish in 17 feature starts.

Davey Johnson of Greensburg, PA earned tenth place points money for his efforts in the Rocket Chassis/Medical Center Brace/Draime Racing Engines No. 1J Mark Richards Racing Enterprises, Inc. Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Johnson scored one victory; two second place, three third place and one fifth place finish in 14 feature starts.

Other award winners were Jason Montgomery of Jackson, OH who captured the MASTERSBILT RACE CARS "B" Main points. The "Chassis Builder of the Year" award went to Mark Richards and Steve Baker of Rocket Chassis for their sixteen victories while David and John Draime of Draime Racing Engines earned the "Engine Builder of the Year" award with nine wins.

2001 Renegade DirtCar Racing Series Top 10 Driver Totals
(31 Feature Events Held In 2001)

1. #1* Chub Frank Sugar Grove, PA Final Points: 7,380 Events Entered: 30; Feature Starts: 30; Wins: 6; 2nd: 3; 3rd: 5; 4th: 2; 5th: 3; 6th-10th: 7; Fast Time: 3; Dash Wins: 4; Heat Wins: 11; "B" Wins: 0; Laps Led: 265; DNF'S: 3; Purse Money Won: $115,075

2. #E1 Mike Balzano Parkersburg, WV Final Points: 7,080 Events Entered: 31; Feature Starts: 31; Wins: 1; 2nd: 5; 3rd: 3; 4th: 4; 5th; 4; 6th-10th: 5; Fast Time: 0; Dash Wins: 1; Heat Wins: 6; "B" Wins: 2; Laps Led: 206; DNF'S: 1: Purse Money Won: $63,940

3. #4B Jackie Boggs Grayson, KY Final Points: 5,890 Events Entered: 31; Feature Starts: 31; Wins: 2; 2nd: 1; 3rd: 0; 4th: 1; 5th: 2; 6th-10th: 8; Fast Time: 3; Dash Wins: 2; Heat Wins: 7; "B" Wins: 0; Laps Led: 147; DNF'S: 7; Purse Money Won: $49,795

4. #71C R.J. Conley Wheelersburg, OH Final Points: 5,800 Events Entered: 31; Feature Starts: 29; Wins: 1; 2nd: 0; 3rd: 3; 4th: 3; 5th: 1; 6th-10th: 7; Fast Time: 3; Dash Wins: 1; Heat Wins: 5; "B" Wins: 0; Laps Led: 28; DNF'S: 5; Purse Money Won: $43,550

5. #30 Steve Shaver Parkersburg, WV Final Points: 5,740 Events Entered: 29 Feature Starts: 28; Wins: 2; 2nd: 2; 3rd: 2; 4th: 0; 5th: 4; 6th-10th: 7; Fast Time: 1; Dash Wins: 1; Heat Wins: 13; "B" Wins: 1; Laps Led: 161; DNF'S: 9; Purse Money Won: $52,505

6. # 7 Matt Miller Waterville, OH Final Points: 5,110 Events Entered: 30; Feature Starts: 27; Wins: 0; 2nd: 1; 3rd: 0; 4th: 1; 5th: 2; 6th-10th: 8; Fast Time: 1; Dash Wins: 0; Heat Wins: 3; "B" Wins: 2; Laps Led: 83; DNF'S: 4; Purse Money Won: $30,145

7. #71R Rod Conley Wheelersburg, OH Final Points: 4,950 Events Entered: 31; Feature Starts: 29; Wins: 0; 2nd: 0; 3rd: 0; 4th: 1; 5th: 1; 6th-10th: 5; Fast Time: 1; Dash Wins: 0; Heat Wins: 1; "B" Wins: 4; Laps Led: 29; DNF'S: 3; Purse Money Won: $26,140

8. #12 Rick Aukland Zanesville, OH Final Points: 3,800 Events Entered: 23; Feature Starts: 21; Wins: 1; 2nd: 2; 3rd: 0; 4th: 2; 5th: 1; 6th-10th: 2; Fast Time: 2; Dash Wins: 1; Heat Wins: 4; "B" Wins: 1; Laps Led: 54; DNF'S: 10; Purse Money Won: $35,080

9. #99 Donnie Moran Dresden, OH Final Points: 3,290 Events Entered: 20; Feature Starts: 17; Wins: 2; 2nd: 1; 3rd: 0; 4th: 0; 5th: 1; 6th-10th: 2: Fast Time: 0; Dash Wins: 2; Heat Wins: 5; "B" Wins: 2; Laps Led: 71; DNF'S: 3; Purse Money Won: $30,980

10. #1J Davey Johnson Greensburg, PA Final Points: 3,150 Events Entered: 16; Feature Starts: 14; Wins: 1; 2nd: 2; 3rd: 3; 4th: 1; 5th: 0; 6th-10th: 1; Fast Time: 2; Dash Wins: 2; Heat Wins: 3; "B" Wins: 2; Laps Led: 21; DNF'S: 4; Purse Money Won: $27,800

2001 Renegade DirtCar Racing Series Special Awards

ROCKET CHASSIS "Pass Master" Award:
#E1 Mike Balzano - Parkersburg, WV: advanced 154 positions
CARRERA SHOCKS "Challenge The Clock" Time Trial Points Winner:
#71C R.J. Conley - Wheelersburg, OH: 2,850 points

HOOSIER TIRE-OHIO VALLEY/WRISCO INDUSTRIES "Dash King" Points Winner:
#1* Chub Frank - Sugar Grove,PA: 69 points

BRODIX,INC. Heat Race "Top Gun" Award:
#30 Steve Shaver - Parkersburg,WV 13 heat race wins

MASTERSBILT RACE CARS "B" Main Points Champion:
#21 Jason Montgomery - Jackson,OH 740 points

"CREW CHIEF AND CREW OF THE YEAR":
Crew Chief: David Jewell - Delmas Conley Racing (#71C)
Crew : Tom Brewer - Delmas Conley Racing (#71C)
Mark Ward - Delmas Conley Racing (#71C)

DESIGN 500 RACEWEAR "Perseverance Award":
#E1 Mike Balzano - Parkersburg,WV (518 sanctioned events since 1984, only missed 1)

"CHASSIS BUILDER OF THE YEAR":
Rocket Chassis - Shinnston,WV: 16 Wins in 2001

"ENGINE BUILDER OF THE YEAR":
Draime Racing Engines - Massillon,OH: 9 Wins in 2001

ROCKET CHASSIS "Rookie Of The Year"::
# 7 Matt Miller - Waterville,OH