August 29

"Chubzilla"

Chalks Up Renegade Series "Win"

At Interstate 79 Speedway !

Photo By Rick Schwallie

August 29, 2003

By Bret Emrick

Three-time defending and current Renegade DirtCar Racing Series point leader Chub Frank of Bear Lake, PA chalked up his seventh sanctioned main event victory of the season Friday night at Interstate 79 Speedway near Shinnston,WV. Starting third aboard the Corry Rubber/Nystrom's Auto Sales/Carrera Shocks No. 1* Chub Frank Racing Rocket Chassis/Draime Racing Engines Chevrolet Monte Carlo, "Chubzilla" powered past Rob Blair exiting turn four to lead lap 26 and then held off Davey Johnson by five car lengths to pocket the $7,000 top prize in the "Kendle Mountain State Thunder 50". Blair rode home third with Mike Balzano fourth and 23rd starting Steve Francis fifth. Rounding out the top ten finishers were 11th starting Tim Hitt in sixth followed by Paul Wilmoth Jr., Jackie Boggs, 22nd starting Rick Aukland and Steve Casebolt.

Blair and Balzano brought the 26 car starting field to the green flag as lightning danced throughout the sky. Blair and Balzano rode side by side the opening lap with Blair just nosing ahead of Balzano to lead lap 1 with Johnson third, Chub fourth and Wilmoth Jr. fifth. Balzano raced past Blair on the outside of turn two pulling out to a two-car margin at the end of the second lap. Johnson shot past Blair while working lap 3 and Wilmoth Jr. grabbed fourth from Chub. Johnson ran the rim quickly catching Balzano and grabbing the lead on lap 4 as Chub went blowing by both Wilmoth Jr. and Blair and into third. The frantic action was slowed the next lap when Steve Shaver looped his car in turn two collecting Matt Urban.

Johnson roared away from the field on the double-file restart using the outside of the quick speedway surface to pull out to a healthy lead. Wilmoth Jr. worked his way past Blair for fourth on lap 7 as Chub, running third, ran side by side with Balzano. The caution would wave the next lap when Mike Benedum jumped the cushion in turn four sliding to a stop. The caution would wave again on the restart when Dave Troutman slid off the track. Two more laps were recorded before the yellow was out again when Bart Hartman hopped the cushion in turn two and spun to a stop.

Photo By Rick Schwallie

Johnson held the lead for the lap 10 double-file restart with Balzano, Wilmoth Jr., Chub and Blair second through fifth while Chuck Harper, Hitt, Steve Wilmoth, Rod Conley and Eddie Carrier Jr. completed the top ten runners. Johnson immediately pulled away from his pursuers running the top groove while Balzano, Wilmoth Jr. and Chub saw Blair go to the bottom of the track blasting into third on lap 12 and then into second on lap 18. The races final caution flew on lap 19 when Troutman limped to a stop in turn one.

Photo By Rick Schwallie

Johnson's advantage he enjoyed on the previous restarts did not go as well on the restart as Blair hugged the bottom while Johnson ran up top. Blair nosed ahead of Johnson to regain the lead on lap 19 and pulled out to sizeable advantage. But the racing behind him was door-to-door and sometimes three-wide action. Chub suddenly began to close ground getting past Balzano for third on lap 20 and then past Johnson for second on lap 24. Chub using all three grooves of the speedway pulled right in on Blair at the halfway point and worked his into the lead as the pair exited turn four. Chub pulled out a sizeable lead as the laps wound down, even while racing in lapped traffic. All eyes were on Francis though, who was now seventh and battling hard with Tim Hitt. Francis and Hitt ran side by side and bumper to bumper from lap 40 to the finish with Francis finally working his way into fifth with two laps to go. Chub's large lead was whittled down a bit over the final five laps when he entered heavy lapped traffic but Chub's lead was large enough as he took the checkered flag.

Photo By Rick Schwallie

For more photo's from I -79 - Click Here

Finish

1. Chub Frank
2. Davey Johnson
3. Rob Blair
4. Mike Balzano
5. Steve Francis
6. Tim Hitt
7. Paul Wilmoth Jr.
8. Jackie Boggs
9. Rick Aukland
10. Steve Casebolt

The next scheduled event for Chub Frank Racing.

Saturday and Sunday, August 30 and 31

Portsmouth Raceway Park in Portsmouth, OH
For

The 2003 Renegade DirtCar Series Point Standings - (after 8-16-03)
1. Chub Frank - 5,170
2. Mike Balzano - 4,650
3. Davey Johnson - 3,990

4. Rob Blair - 3,870
5. Rod Conley - 3,410
6. John Mason - 2,560

Don’t forget to stop by merchandise, there’s been a lot of new merchandise

and Chubs 1/24 & 1/64 scale Diecast Collectable 2003 car.

Chub Frank Racing

Rt.1 Box 146

Lottsville Niobe Rd.

Bear Lake, PA 16402