Frank Wins Buckey 50 at Sharon Speedway
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by Tony Mancuso
HARTFORD, Ohio — Chub Frank darted under Jeremy Miller on lap No. 45 on his way to scoring the victory in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series Buckeye 50 on the 3/8-mile oval at Sharon Speedway. “Chubzilla” led the money laps to score the $10,000 prize.
After 38 late models signed into the pit area and a two hour rain delay, Robbie Scott, who owns the Sharon Speedway late model track record set on Aug. 12, 2006 (15.383 sec.), set the quickest time in qualifying. Scott lapped the Hartford oval in 15.539 sec. (86.878 MPH), which gave him his first career World of Outlaws Late Model Series fast time. Tim Fuller was second in time trials (15.682 sec.), with Josh Richards third (15.724 sec.), Jason Covert fourth (15.748 sec.) and Donnie Moran fifth (15.753 sec.). The fastest four qualifiers garnered the pole for their respective heat races.
The top two finishers in the heat races earned a slot in the redraw for the top eight starting spots in the feature. In the heats, Moran, “The Million Dollar Man”, led all 10 laps in heat No. 1 to take the victory. Doug Horton crossed the line in second spot. In the second heat, Fuller maintained his pace from qualifying to score the heat race victory. Rick “Boom” Briggs finished second, which put him in the top eight redraw.
The third heat race was halted with two laps in the books when Richards, while leading spun his No. 1 machine in front of the field. Robbie Blair was in the wrong place at the wrong time in the incident, as he slammed into Richards’ nearly-stationary car. Despite the heavy impact, both drivers climbed out of their cars uninjured. Following the red flag, Darrell Lanigan scored the victory and Steve Francis was second. Jeremy Miller and Frank - “Chubzilla” - were the top two finishers, respectively, in the fourth and final late model heat.
The final six starting spots for the feature were filled in the two B-Mains. Shane Clanton, Matt Urban and Dutch Davies finished in the top three spots in the first B-Main. Brian Shirley, Richards and Rick Eckert, who won the 2006 Buckeye 50 at Sharon Speedway, advanced into the feature in second B-Main.
With the preliminary races in the books, the stage was set for the 50-lap showdown for the World of Outlaws Late Model Series. Francis, who is the current point leader, drew the pole position for the feature in the redraw. Miller started alongside Francis in the feature after drawing the No. 2 starting spot. Those two drivers paced the field to the green in the Buckeye 50, with Lanigan and “Chubzilla” occupying the second row. Francis led the first circuit, but Miller powered his way to the top spot before the second lap was scored. Frank slotted into second on the fourth lap, and moved in on the rear of Miller’s No. 24M machine. Frank stuck his nose under Miller just as the yellow flag flew on the ninth lap.
On the restart, Miller led Frank, Francis, Horton and Dave Scott. Miller jetted out to a 10 car-length lead, once again, as the field powered back up. Francis wheeled around Frank in Turn One on the 20th lap after “Chubzilla” caught a rut and briefly slowed. Frank returned the favor two laps later when Francis caught a rough spot, which caused him to relinquish second back to the No. 1* of Frank. Moran moved steadily through the field in the first half of the race after starting eight. The Dresden, Ohio native was third with 25 laps to go. He did not stop there, as he slid under Frank out of Turn Four one lap later to take second. Horton also followed Moran around Frank to move into third. The field slowed when the caution flag flew with a pair of cars slow on the oval after 27 laps.
Before the cars restarted, Miller led Moran, Horton, Frank and Francis. Moran saw the restart as his best opportunity to make a move on Miller. He attempted to stick his nose under Miller on the single-file restart, but Miller maintained his edge. Moran has his No. 99 machine hooked up on the bottom of the oval, while Miller found grip on the high side of the Hartford dirt. Behind the leaders, Francis found his way back around Frank for third spot with 15 laps remaining. However, “Chubzilla” was not done there. He closed back on Francis on lap No. 42, and ultimately drove under him. One lap later, Frank used the bottom once again to snag second spot away from Moran on the bottom of Turn Four. An Eckert spin on the 44th circuit was the opportunity Frank was looking for.
He was strong on restarts all night long, and the late restart was no different. “Chubzilla” found some grip on the bottom of Turn Two on lap No. 45. He carried that momentum into Turn Three as he and Miller raced side-by-side. Frank used the grip on the bottom to snag the lead. Frank drove five flawless laps and went on to take the Buckeye 50. Moran also found his way around Miller to finish second. Miller led more than 40 laps, and drove a great race to finish third. Francis and Lanigan rounded out the top five finishers. Clint Smith was sixth, Richards seventh, Tim Fuller eighth, Shane Clanton ninth and Horton wound up 10th.
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