DELMAR, DE – May 31, 2007

Chub Scores Second Straight World of Outlaws Late Model Series Victory

At Delaware International Speedway

Photo By Kevin Kovac

May 31, 2007

By Kevin Kovac - World of Outlaws Late Model Series P.R. Director

DELMAR, DE – Chub Frank called himself the “luckiest man in the world” after winning Thursday night’s ‘First State 50’ at Delaware International Speedway.

But the Bear Lake, Pa., standout wasn’t about to apologize for using a healthy dose of good fortune to win his second consecutive World of Outlaws Late Model Series event.

“Yeah, I was lucky,” said Frank, who scored his first WoO LMS triumph of the season on May 18 at I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, Mich. “But if you’re lucky, you take it, no questions asked. I’ve been on the other side of that deal.”

Frank, 45, took the lead twice as the result of other drivers’ misfortune – first when Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., tangled with a lapped car while holding a significant edge on lap 20, and later when Watertown, N.Y., star Tim McCreadie’s motor expired on lap 47.

McCreadie had passed Frank for the top spot on lap 40 and appeared headed to his first WoO LMS victory of the season, but his engine began smoking during a lap-43 caution period and then exploded with a decided thud four circuits later. He stopped his Sweeteners Plus car in turn one and was pushed back to the pit area.

Frank kept his Lester Buildings/Corry Rubber Rocket car in firm command of the race during the ensuing three-lap dash to the checkered flag, beating Rick Eckert of York, Pa., to the finish line by 1.179 seconds.

Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., finished a close third, followed by 12th-starter Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., and Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., who moved back into the WoO LMS points lead after making a late charge into the top five.

In a wild A-Main that was slowed by nine caution flags, Frank started second and was always near the front of the pack. But he never felt like he was destined to win his ninth career WoO LMS event.

“We didn’t have a car good enough to win,” said Frank, who from the initial green flag thought he hadn’t selected a Hoosier tire compound hard enough for the track conditions. “We had a car good enough to run in the top three, but there were guys who were definitely better than us.

“Everything just fell into place and we won.”

Frank first benefited from the problems of Richards, the 19-year-old sensation who bolted from the pole position to lead laps 1-20 in convincing fashion. Shortly after entering lapped traffic, on lap 20, Richards came together with 15-year-old Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., between turns three and four, causing him to spin to a stop with a cut right-rear tire.

“It was one of those deals where I got underneath (Hubbard), and then he went to turn down because he said he blew the motor up,” said Richards, who went on to finish ninth after making a quick pit stop to service his Mark Richards Racing Rocket. “I saw him starting to come down, but there was nothing I could really do about it. I was already committed.”

Richards was disappointed with his fate, but admitted he was far from certain that he would have stayed in front to the finish.

“From the start, I was starting to lose rear brakes,” he said. “Right before I got up to that lapped car, they were just about gone. The car was still very good, but even if we didn’t get taken out, I don’t know how we would’ve been later.”

McCreadie, who started fourth, took up the chase of Frank, passing Eckert for second on lap 24 and then bidding for the lead using the outside lane.

“I knew McCreadie was probably there,” said Frank. “There was a cushion, so I knew he’d be up there racing on it.”

McCreadie pulled a cross-over move on Frank to grab the lead on lap 40, but he couldn’t complete the distance. The smoke that began billowing from his No. 39 under caution on lap 43 ultimately proved fatal.

“Something happened in the motor to pressurize the system,” said a sullen McCreadie, whose car threw oil before succumbing. “It was popping even when we were running Chub down.

“I felt bad for him, but not that bad,” smiled Frank, who earned $10,000. “That’s five-grand (difference between first and second). I need that money.”

Frank just had to survive a final restart to secure the first back-to-back wins of his WoO LMS career – and that wasn’t easy.

“A late restarts is always a worry,” said Frank. “All you gotta do is bobble and you’re done, because I know (the pursuers) are gonna drive there hearts out for those last few laps. They’re not gonna do anything stupid because they don’t want to lose second, but they’re gonna try hard.”

Of course, Eckert couldn’t really summon sufficient speed in his Raye Vest Racing Rocket to challenge Frank. He was battling a potentially dangerous problem.

“I don’t think I was good enough to run with Chub anyway. I wasn’t maneuverable enough to run that cushion.”

Francis, who recorded his seventh top-five finish of the season, also was hampered by a mechanical issue in his Valvoline Rocket as the race wound down.

Thirty-five cars entered the program, which brought the WoO LMS back to Charlie Cathell’s half-mile oval for the first time since 2005. The track’s biggest crowd of the year turned out on a clear, summer-like day.

McCreadie’s lap of 19.144 seconds earned him the $100 National Interstate Insurance Fast Time Award. He also picked up an extra $50 for being the first recipient of National Interstate’s Hard Luck Award.

Heat winners were McCreadie, Francis, Carrier and Elliott, and the B-Mains were captured by Jeremy Miller of Gettysburg, Pa., and John Blankenship of Williamson, W.Va.

NASCAR Nextel Cup veteran Kenny Schrader entered the event behind the wheel of the Jack Bland-owned No. 41 normally driven by Hagerstown, Md’s Nathan Durboraw, but he failed to qualify.

The WoO LMS returns to action on Saturday night (June 2) with the running of the 26th annual ‘Conococheague 50’ at Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway.

Photo By Kevin Kovac

1. (2) Chub Frank/50 $10,000
2. (3) Rick Eckert/50 $5,000
3. (7) Steve Francis/50 $3,000
4. (12) Chris Madden/50 $2,500
5. (9) Clint Smith/50 $2,000
6. (8) Darrell Lanigan/50 $1,700
7. (12) Shane Clanton/50 $1,400
8. (5) Ricky Elliott/50 $1,800
9. (1) Josh Richards/50 $1,200
10. (6) Eddie Carrier Jr./50 $1,100
11. (16) John Blankenship/50 $1,050
12. (21) Mark Pettyjohn/49 $1,000
13. (23) Darryl Hills/49 $950
14. (4) Tim McCreadie/47 $1,050
15. (13) Donnie Lingo Jr./39 $850
16. (19) Davey Johnson/33 $800
17. (11) Shannon Babb/27 $770
18. (20) Vic Coffey/26 $750
19. (22) G.R. Smith/25 $730
20. (18) Rick Whaley/24 $700
21. (15) Austin Hubbard/19 $700
22. (24) Kerry King/15 $700
23. (10) Ray Davis Jr./13 $700
24. (17) Jeremy Miller/8 $700

Time of Race: 43 Mins., 07.053 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 1.179 Secs.
Yellow Flags: 9 (Laps 0, 3, 8, 20, 24, 25, 34, 43, 47)
Lap Leaders: Richards (1-20); Frank (21-39); McCreadie (40-47); Frank (48-50)
Provision Starters: Darryl Hills, G.R. Smith
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Ricky Elliott ($500)
Rookie of the Race: None
National Interstate Insurance Fast Time Award: McCreadie ($100)
National Interstate Insurance Hard Luck Award: McCreadie ($50)

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Chub Frank Racing

Rt.1 Box 146

Lottsville Niobe Rd.

Bear Lake, PA 16402