June 28th , 2003

East Smethport, PA

Chub's Biggest Supporter
 
By  Bret Emrick - Renegade DirtCar Series
 

Chub Frank of Bear Lake, PA captured his second straight Renegade DirtCar Racing Series sanctioned main event win Saturday pocketing the $7,000 to win "Hazen Jordan Memorial 50" at McKean County Raceway in East Smethport, PA. Starting seventh aboard the Corry Rubber Corp./Corry Lazer Technology/Nystrom's Auto Sales No. 1* Chub Frank Racing Rocket Chassis/Draime Racing Engines Chevrolet Monte Carlo, the three-time defending champion went from third to the lead on lap 35 when he shot past second running Ed Carley exiting turn two and race leader Bart Hartman on the back chute when Hartman slipped off the outside edge of the racetrack. Once in front Frank ran uncontested to the finish taking the checkered flag by three car lengths over the 11th starting Carley. Pole sitter Randle Chupp was third with Hartman fourth and Brent Rhebergen fifth. Rounding out the top ten finishers were 24th starting Jack Pencil in sixth followed by 16th starting Rick Isadore, 18th starting Bob Close, 19th starting Jim Bernheisel and Dutch Davies.

 

"It's good to win anytime", stated the very happy winner to the near capacity crowd. "I hated to see all those cautions because we went with a harder tire and we needed green flag laps to make the tires work. Luckily it worked out for us. You could race anywhere you wanted but our car worked so much better on the outside. The track was smooth but man was it ever slick. You really had to finesse the car tonight".
 

 

Frank's win coupled with a 21st place finish for Mike Balzano and the surprising no show of Davey Johnson saw "Chubzilla's" quest for an unprecedented fourth consecutive title receive a huge boost. Entering the MCR event Frank held a 100 point lead over both Johnson and Balzano. The win increased Frank's point lead to 300 points over Balzano and 400 points over Johnson. Balzano suffered a broken tie-rod on lap 14 and returned to race after making repairs 4 laps down. Johnson surprised everyone with his no show including car owner Dale Beitler and crew.
 
Chupp and Hartman brought the 25 car starting field to the green flag when near disaster happened when Chupp spun in front of the field entering turn one damaging several cars. However, all were able to restart the race. Hartman got the break on the restart leading Chupp, Todd Andrews, Rob Blair and Allen Dellinger at the end of the first lap. The caution was quickly back out when Kenny Trevitz spun in turn two. One lap after going back to green Blair and Andrews moved past Chupp with Frank taking fifth from Chupp the next lap and Carley doing the same to Chupp on lap 5. Hartman enjoyed a four car margin over Blair as the race continued under green.
 
Frank grabbed third from Andrews on lap 7 with Carley taking fourth from Andrews two circuits later. Hartman entered lapped traffic on lap 12 but the yellow waved on lap 14 when Balzano slowed to a stop in turn four with the broken tie-rod. The restart order had Hartman in front trailed by Blair, Frank, Carley and Dick Barton then Andrews in sixth followed by Ron Davies, Chupp, Rhebergen and Close. Frank raced past Blair for second on lap 15 while Carley moved Blair back a spot on lap 17. But before lap 18 could be completed Barton stopped with broken suspension dropping him from the race. On the restart Carley powered past both Frank and Hartman to lead lap 18 but the yellow waved again when R. Davies spun in turn three and retired from the race.
 
Hartman moved right back in on Carley one lap after going back to green and regained the lead on lap 20. Caution waved again on lap 23 for debris. Carley worked his way back by Hartman for the lead on lap 25 but before any more action happened the yellow was out when Bernheisel spun in turn three. Hartman shot past Carley exiting turn four to lead lap 27 with another three laps recorded before the caution was back out for a D. Davies and Bill Cunningham tangle in turn three. Hartman, running the extreme outside edge of the speedway continued to lead Carley and Frank when the race restarted. Hartman continued his high groove assault with Carley on the bottom and Frank also using the outside groove.
 

Chub passes Bart Hartman for the lead
 
Working lap 36 Hartman slipped off the edge exiting turn two allowing Frank to power past both Carley and Hartman to lead lap 36 which proved to be the winning pass. With 10 laps to go Frank enjoyed a four car length lead over Carley with Hartman now third, Chupp fourth and Rhebergen fifth followed by Pencil in sixth then Isadore, Jeff Hoffman, Close and Jackie Boggs. Lap 41 saw Boggs spin in turn three for the races final caution. Frank continued to attack the outside edge over the final 9 laps pulling out to his three car length margin of victory over Carley.
 
The $32,000 purse event drew 38 drivers to the semi-banked 1/3rd mile track with Rod Conley earning the CARRERA SHOCKS "Challenge the Clock" time trial award with his quick lap of 16.227 seconds. Scoring the BRODIX, INC. heat races were Frank, Rhebergen, Hartman and Chupp with the MASTERSBILT RACE CARS "B" Mains going to Barton and Close and the ISKY RACING CAMS dash to Chupp.
 

Chub, Mary and Friends & Family in Victory Lane
 

1.  Chub Frank 50 Running
2. Ed Carley 50 Running
3. Randle Chupp 50 Running
4. Bart Hartman 50 Running
5. Brent Rhebergen 50 Running
6. Jack Pencil 50 Running
7. Rick Isadore 50 Running
8.  Bob Close 50 Running
9. Jim Bernheisel 50 Running
10. Dutch Davies 50 Running

 

2003 Renegade DirtCar Racing Series Point Standings (after 6-28-03)
 
1.  Chub Frank 2,850
2. Mike Balzano 2,550
3. Davey Johnson 2,450
4. Rob Blair 2,010
5. Rod Conley 1,870
6. John Mason 1,490
7. Dave Troutman 1,460
8. Jackie Boggs 1,250
9.  Jack Pencil 1,230
10. Steve Shaver 1,180
 

The next scheduled events for Chub

Stateline Speedway at Busti, NY on July 3rd

Bedford Speedway at Bedford, Pa on July 4th

Thunder Valley Speedway at Central City, PA on July 5th

Interstate 79 Speedway at Shinnston, WV. on July 6th

 For

The Renegade DirtCar Series
 

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.
 

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Copyright © 2003
Chub Frank Racing
Rt.1 Box 146
Lottsville Niobe Rd.
Bear Lake, PA 16402