Pittsburger 100

The Pittsburger 100

September 21st

Photo By Rick Schwallie

September 21, 2003

By Bret Emrick

Gary Stuhler and Keith Berner brought the 28 car starting field to the green flag but before lap one could be recorded contact in turn three sent Ben Miley spinning to a stop along with Jesse Burroughs. Stuhler won the drag race into turn one on the complete restart with Berner, Urban, Flinner and Alex Ferree trailing at the end of the first lap. Before lap 3 was completed the yellow was back out when Tim Hitt spun in turn four and suffered a flat tire. With the race back underway Stuhler easily pulled away from the field but behind him some great racing was taking place. Ferree worked past Flinner for fourth on lap 3 only to have Flinner regain the spot the next lap. Contact between Bart Hartman and Keith Barbara on lap 6 saw the nose piece on Barbara's car go flying through the air bringing out the caution for debris.

Photo By Rick Schwallie

Stuhler again showed his early race dominance on the double-file restart racing away from his pursuers who were duking it out for position. Ferree grabbed third from Urban on lap 7 with the top ten rundown at lap 10 showing Stuhler with the lead over Berner, Ferree, Urban and Flinner with Frank sixth ahead of Steve Baker, Mike Johnson, Balzano and Dave Wade. Stuhler entered lapped traffic on lap 20 allowing Berner and the field to whittle into Stuhler's lead. Lap 27 saw Johnson fall from the race with rear-end woes and 4 laps later Ferree headed pitside with a damaged engine. With 40 laps in the books Stuhler had cleared some of the lapped traffic and again opened up a sizeable lead over Berner with Urban third, Frank now fourth and Flinner fifth then Balzano in sixth followed by Baker, Wade, Myers and Geisler.

Urban got by Berner for second on lap 43 with Flinner also shuffling past both Frank and Berner to grab third.The caution waved before lap 44 was complete as Bart Hartman slowed after suffering a flat tire and suspension damage. At the mandatory halfway fuel stop the top ten running order was Stuhler with the lead ahead of Urban, Flinner, Berner and Frank with Myers now sixth ahead of Balzano, Dodd, Wade and Atallah. Once the race restarted Stuhler's dominance was not there like the first 50 laps. Frank worked his way past Berner for fourth on lap 51 as Urban was all over Stuhler for the lead. Racing off of turn two while working lap 52 Urban went to extreme outside edge of the race track taking the lead from Stuhler. Urban began to open up a lead on the field as the race stayed green but Flinner was now battling hard with Stuhler. Flinner got underneath of Stuhler entering turn one while working the 64th lap and contact between the two exploded the left rear tire on Stuhler's mount sending him spinning and bringing out the races final caution.

Urban continued to lead the event once the race was restarted with Flinner now second, Frank third, Berner fourth and Dodd fifth while Myers sat sixth ahead of Balzano, Atallah, Geisler and Sam Stile. Balzano gained quite a few positions grabbing 5th on lap 66 and then taking fourth from Berner on lap 73. Urban entered lapped traffic on lap 77 allowing Flinner to close to within three car lengths. Atallah worked his way into fifth on lap 78 and with 20 to go Urban developed a misfiring engine bringing Flinner right up to his back bumper. The lead duo raced through the lapped traffic as the race wore on and with 10 circuits to go Urban's lead was a car length over Flinner. Frank was third with Balzano fourth and Atallah fifth while Berner, Dodd, Myers, Moran and Geisler trailed.

With five laps to go a blanket could've been thrown over the first four drivers. Flinner pulled even with Urban as the raced off turn four to complete lap 98 with Frank directly behind the pair and Balzano less than a car length behind Frank. Urban kept his line entering turn one and Frank showed the nose of his car to the outside of Flinner. Flinner and Frank both slipped a bit exiting turn two giving Urban the cushion he needed to score the upset victory.

Photo By Rick Schwallie

1. Matt Urban
2. John Flinner
3. Chub Frank
4. Mike Balzano
5. Al Atallah
6. Keith Berner
7. D.J. Myers
8. Doug Dodd
9. Donnie Moran
10. Lynn Geisler
11. Rob Blair
12. Dave Troutman
13. Tim Hitt
14. Brian Ruhlman
15. Rod Conley
16. Sam Stile
17. Steve Baker
18. Dave Wade
19. Jack Pencil
20. Gary Stuhler
21. Ben Miley
22. Todd Andrews
23. Bart Hartman
24. Jesse Burroughs
25.Alex Ferree
26. Mike Johnson
27. Davey Johnson
28. Keith Barbara

The next scheduled event for Chub Frank Racing.

Friday & Saturday September 26 & 27 at

Winchester Speedway
For

Then At Hagerstown Speedway on

Saturday & Sunday September 27 & 28

The 2003 Renegade DirtCar Series Point Standings - (after 9-21-03)
1. Chub Frank - 6,120
2. Mike Balzano - 5,730
3. Rob Blair - 4,900

4. Davey Johnson - 4,560
5. Rod Conley - 4,220

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

Chub Frank Racing

Rt.1 Box 146

Lottsville Niobe Rd.

Bear Lake, PA 16402