July_6

Chub Wins

"Kendle West Virginia State

Championship 50"

at I-79 Speedway.

By Bret Emerick

July 6, 2003

Shinnston, WV

Photo By Rick Schwallie

Three-time defending Renegade DirtCar Racing Series champion and current point leader Chub Frank of Bear Lake, PA led from green to checkered in the $5,000 to win "Kendle West Virginia State Championship Series 50" Sunday at Interstate 79 Speedway near Shinnston, WV. The victory for the driver of the Corry Rubber Corp./Corry Laser Technology/Nystrom's Auto Sales No. 1* Chub Frank Racing Rocket Chassis/Draime Racing Engines Chevrolet Monte Carlo was the fifth of the season for Frank. Fourth starting Steve Francis tracked Chub from lap 2 to the finish but came up three car lengths short with Earl Pearson Jr. third, 15th starting Rob Blair fourth and 10th starting Dale McDowell fifth. Completing the top ten finishers were 17th starting Mike Balzano who suffered a flat tire on lap 31 and fought his way back for a top ten finish. Rick Aukland came home seventh with R.J. Conley eighth, Rick Eckert ninth and Chuck Harper tenth.

Photo By Rick Schwallie

Chub and Pearson Jr. brought the 26 car-starting field down for the green flag with Chub jumping into the lead off of turn two. But a tangle involving Mark Banal and Steve Casebolt in turn one quickly had the yellow waving. Casebolt suffered enough damage from the incident to put him pit side for the race. Chub again got the advantage of off turn two once the race went back to green. Chub, led the opening lap with Pearson Jr. second, Francis third, Aukland fourth and Harper fifth. Francis shot under Pearson Jr. exiting turn four to take the runner-up on lap 2. Chub pulled out to a four-car margin over Francis by lap 5 as Aukland took the third spot from Pearson Jr. only to have Pearson Jr. take the spot back the next circuit.

Chub and Francis took off from the field over the next few laps with Chub catching the back of the field on lap 11. Chub quickly made his way through the traffic extending his lead over Francis. The race stayed green with Chub putting cars down a lap almost at ease. Francis meanwhile was caught in the traffic allowing Chub to extend his lead to ten car lengths by the halfway point. Pearson Jr., Aukland and McDowell battled hard for third, fourth and fifth with Conley now sixth ahead of Blair, Balzano, Harper and Eckert. Balzano started to lose ground on lap 30 and limped to a stop on lap 31 with a flat right rear tire bringing out the yellow.

With a clear track ahead of Chub the leader again pulled out to lead over Francis but this time Francis was able to stay with Chub. Lap 36 saw Chub begin to open up some ground on Francis while McDowell took fourth from Aukland. Chub continued to outdistance Francis over the next few laps while Blair cracked the top five on lap 39. Three more laps were recorded before the final yellow waved when Rod Conley and Paul Wilmoth Jr. tangled in turn two. When the race returned to green Chub was able to pull away from Francis. Blair advanced one more spot on lap 43 but up front it was all Chub to the checkered flag.

Photo By Rick Schwallie

The $27,000 purse event, originally scheduled June 13 but rained out, drew 50 drivers to the semi-banked 1/4 mile speedway. Francis earned the CARRERA SHOCKS "Challenge the Clock" time trial award with a fast lap of 16.177 seconds. The BRODIX, INC. heat races went to Bart Hartman, R.J. Conley, Banal and McDowell while the MASTERSBILT RACE CARS "B" Mains were won by Balzano and Casebolt with Frank copping the ISKY RACING CAMS dash.

Renegade DirtCar Racing Series Race Report For 7-6-03
Race No. 16-2003 Season-"Kendle West Virginia State Championship Series 50"
Interstate 79 Speedway-Shinnston,WV-1/4 Mile Oval
$27,000 Purse-$5,000 To Win-50 Lap Feature

1. Chub Frank

2. Steve Francis

3. Earl Pierson

4. Rob Blair

5. Dale McDowell

2003 Renegade DirtCar Racing Series Point Standings (after 7-6-03)

1. Chub Frank 3,790

2. Mike Balzano 3,510

3. Davey Johnson 3,010

4. Rob Blair 2,880

5. Rod Conley 2,490

The next scheduled events for Chub

Then

Wayne County Speedway in Orrville, OH on July 8th

Sharon Speedway in Hartford, OH on July 9th

KC Raceway at Chillicothe, OH on July 11th

For

Then The Renegade DirtCar Series at

West Virginia Motor Speedway in Mineral Wells, WV. on July 12th

Don’t forget to stop by merchandise, there’s been a lot of new merchandise and his 1/24& 1/64 scale Diecast Collectable 2003 car recently added.

Hit Counter

Chub Frank Racing

Rt.1 Box 146

Lottsville Niobe Rd.

Bear Lake, PA 16402