CHUB FRANK HONORED FOR THIRD RENEGADE CHAMPIONSHIP AT AWARDS BANQUET!!!

 

Indianapolis,IN 12-6-02

 

For the third straight year Chub Frank of Sugar Grove,PA sat at the head table during the Renegade DirtCar Racing Series annual awards banquet just part of his special night for securing the 2002 Renegade DirtCar Racing Series championship, which he also accomplished in 2000 and 2001. Frank received his point fund money of $25,000 along with the champions trophy and gold ring plus a multitude of series sponsors contingency awards. Frank started all 32 feature events on the Renegade trail chalking up a series leading 5 victories, 14 top 5 finishes and 22 Top 10 finishes earning more than $95,000 in purse money. Frank powered his Corry Rubber/Corry Lazer Technology/Nystrom Auto Sales/Pierotti Motorsports/Rocket Chassis/Draime Racing Engines No. 1* Chub Frank Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo to 2 CARRERA SHOCKS fast times, 9 BRODIX,INC. heat race wins, 1 ISKY RACING CAMS dash win, 4 MASTERSBILT RACE CARS "B" Main victories and led 187 feature laps with only 1 DNF, that coming in the seasons final race after Frank had already sewed up the championship. Frank was also honored with the OUTERWEARS CO.,INC. "Hard Charger of the Year" and the CARRERA SHOCKS "Challenge the Clock" Time Trial Points title.

 

"This is really an honor to win this championship for the third straight year", stated the very happy champion. "This championship wasn't just me. There are a multitude of people that had a part in this. My family, my crew, my sponsors and the fans too. This wasn't an easy deal at all this season. We had difficulties along the way but with a lot of help and support we were able to overcome those difficulties. I also need to thank everyone with the Renegade DirtCar Racing Series, the series sponsors and the series promoters. I've got to agree with what Rick Aukland said earlier tonight. There is no funner series to run with than the Renegade series. It's a professional outfit but you have fun to and the family atmosphere we have among us is awesome. I know there have been rumors floating around about what I'm going to do next year but we can put those rumors to rest. I'm going after four straight championships. So, guys get ready!".

 

Mike Balzano of Parkersburg,WV wound up second in the 2002 championship chase earning $12,000 along with the WRISCO INDUSTRIES "Dash King" award and series sponsors contingency awards. Balzano powered his Eddie's Auto Parts/Ault Swimming Pools/Rocket Chassis/Russell Baker Racing Engines No. E1 Balzano Racing Enterprises Chevrolet Monte Carlo to 4 main event wins in 32 feature starts and notched 15 Top 5 finishes and 21 Top 10 finishes to go along with a series leading 219 laps led while earning over $77,000 in purse money. 

 

"My congratulations to Chub on another championship", said Balzano. "We gave it everything we had but will have to settle for runner-up, again. I do know one thing. Next year it's either championship or third. I'm getting tired of finishing second. Seriously we did have a good season. I've got to thank my sponsors, my crew and everyone with the series".

 

Steve Shaver of Vienna,WV started his acceptance speech, "We got a third. That's a lot better than last year". Shaver failed to notch a feature event win in 32 starts but did grab 7 Top 5 finishes and 15 Top 10 finishes good for nearly $50,000 in purse money and the $9,000 points fund check for his efforts in the Richard Construction/Poske's Performance Parts/United Bank of West Virginia/Malcuit Racing Engines/Rocket Chassis No. 30 B.A. Malcuit Racing Engines Chevrolet Monte Carlo. "There are so many people to thank", said Shaver. "My thanks to all of our sponsors, the crew, my family and most of all to Brad Malcuit. The past two seasons have been wonderful but as most of you know we have decided to go in a different directions. But, our friendship will remain intact". Shaver also received the BRODIX,INC. "Heat Race Top Gun Award" with a series leading 10 heat race wins.

 

The fourth place championship points check of $7,000 went to Rob Blair of Titusville,PA. Blair started 30 of the 32 events picking up 4 Top 5 finishes and 15 Top 10 finishes aboard the Bossard-Crawford Chevrolet-Buick/Rocket Chassis/Draime Racing Engines No. Won11 Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

 

Fifth place championship honors, worth $6,000, went to Rod Conley of Wheelersburg,OH who drove the Conley Trucking/Cornett Building Supply/Rocket Chassis/Draime Racing Engines No. 71R Conley Motorsports Chevrolet Monte Carlo to 4 Top 5 finishes and 10 Top Ten finishes in 30 featue starts.

 

Davey Johnson of Greensburg,PA finished sixth in the championship chase grabbing 1 feature event win, 9 Top 5  and 15 Top 10 finishes in 28 feature starts driving the Reliable Painting/Warrior Race Cars/Leggett Engine Research No. 19J Beitler Enterprises Pontiac Grand Prix.

 

Seventh place championship honors went to Rick Aukland of Zanesville,OH. Only racing in 23 events during 2002, Aukland amassed 4 feature victories, 12 Top 5 and 17 Top 10 finishes and earned over $90,000 in purse money driving the Ostrom's Painting and Sandblasting/GVS Racing/Carrera Shocks/Malcuit Racing Engines/Rocket Chassis No. 12 Aukland Racing Pontiac Grand Prix.

 

Jim Bernheisel of Lebanon,PA earned the eight place championship points check and the 2002 ROCKET CHASSIS "Rookie of the Year" award. Bernheisel qualified for 24 main events picking up 5 Top 10 finishes aboard the Bernheisel Race Components/Russ Gibble Roofing/Lazer Chassis/Rhodes Performance Engines No. 119 B.R.C. Motorsports Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

 

Greg Lucas of Whitesburg,KY started 22 main events driving the Mopar Performance Parts/Stanton Racing Engines/Rocket Chassis No. 32 Baker Racing Dodge Intrepid R/T. Lucas recorded 2 Top 10 finishes to pocket the ninth place championship points check.

 

1984 and 1987 series champion John Mason of Millersburg,OH rounded out the top ten championship points finishers driving the Bert Transmission/Bazell Oil Co.,Inc./Malcuit Racing Engines/Rocket Chassis No. 72 Mason Racin',Inc. Chevrolet Monte Carlo to 1 Top 5 and 2 Top 10 finishes in the 19 main events started.

 

In addition to the points fund checks, trophy's and series sponsor contingency awards all the top ten drivers received gear bags full of wearing apparel courtesy of SLAVIC CUSTOM RACING SHIRTS AND DECALS and beautifully framed picture collage's from series photographer Rick Schwallie Photography.

 

Other special honors handed out were the "Crew Chief of the Year" and "Crew of the Year" awards to Casey Marshall (Crew Chief) and Brian Hayes, Everett "Bubba" Shears, Kenny Cantrill, Jim Martin and Brad Malcuit (Crew) for their work on the #30 driven by Steve Shaver.

 

The MASTERSBILT RACE CARS "B" Main Point Championship award went to Bill Cunningham of Jefferson,OH, who finished second in the "ROCKET CHASSIS Rookie of the Year" points chase, aboard the Lowe's Home Improvement Centers/GRT Race Cars/Draime Racing Engines No. 59 Cunningham Racing Pontiac Grand Prix.

 

The "Chassis Builder of the Year" award went to Mark Richards and Steve Baker of Rocket Chassis who put their cars into victory lane 24 times during the 2002 season.

 

Brad Malcuit of Malcuit Racing Engines and David and John Draime of Draime Racing Engines were both given the "Engine Builder of the Year" award as both company's each powered drivers to 6 wins in the 2002 season.