Racing returns with Tar Heel Tour
Story By: BRENDAN CAPRIA / WOO LM SERIES MEDIA Photos By: DAVE DALESANDRO / RACERSGUIDE.COM
CONCORD, N.C. – April 27, 2016 – Chub Frank, one of the 12 original drivers to sign with the World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series in 2004, is no stranger to many of the regular series tracks – until this week. Frank will face unpredictability in a first-time trip to Carolina Speedway (April 29) and with the ever-changing track conditions of Fayetteville Motor Speedway (April 30).
Not to say this week will be nearly impossible for the seasoned driver to handle. Frank not only sees this week as an equalizer among the field, but Frank also grew up on a track, grooming Stateline Speedway as early as when he was five-years-old. His father owned the speedway.
“…and I guess my advantage was I started driving cars when I was five,” Frank said. “It taught you a lot of car control then because you were always in the mud. You always knew where the car was going and stuff.”
Nowadays, young guns have the advantage to race before 16 years old; Frank had to wait back then. It paid off: he became dominant at his home tracks, winning the Stateline/Eriez circuit Limited Late Model titles from 1983-87 and capturing the Stateline Super Late Model championship in 1989 and ’90. Frank currently sits ninth all-time in career A-Main victories in series history (16).
“[My dad] didn’t intend me to race, especially to do it as a living,” Frank said. “Nobody ever pushed me into it. We were good right off the bat, and even then I didn’t expect doing this as a career. But it’s competitive.”
Between this week’s curve-balls and the other 15 full time drivers jockeying for a win, Frank is looking for the edge. He did say these tracks are an equalizer, but a level playing field just isn’t enough. Frank is watching past races from Carolina Speedway, documenting all the little nuances that may give him the boost he needs.
“We’ll probably go there standard (ready for anything) like we normally would and then figure out when we get there what we really need to do,” Frank said. “That doesn’t bother me. I enjoy going to new tracks.”
The following night, Frank will be trying for his first victory at Fayetteville Motor Speedway, which entered the World of Outlaws circuit in 2008. Last season, Frank resorted to a backup car because of a previous race, and there was “no getting ahead.”
“That place does throw you a curve,” Frank said. “You never know what you’re going to get. It could be rubbered up…wide open…but I like the track. It’s a fast track. That’s one of the tracks they take good care of and I enjoy racing there.”
Frank is preparing for anything and everything. But even with all this unpredictability looming, he said he knows one thing for sure in his experience with the Outlaws: fans are going to show.
“The races that we go to, they’re standing room only,” Frank said. “So that tells you a lot how our fan-base is, the people who love this series. There’re a lot of die-hard fans in late model and they’ve been around for a while.”
Tickets for the first-ever World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series event at Carolina Speedway will be available at the gate on the day of the event and are $30 for general admission and $40 for the pits. Children ages 6 to 12 are $10.
Gates for the Tarheel100 at Fayetteville Motor Speedway open at 4 p.m., while racing is at 7 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at the door.
ABOUT THE TRACK
CAROLINA SPEEDWAY , also known as “the Action Track,” is a 4/10th-mile clay oval. The track record is 14.784 and was established by Chris Ferguson.
Previous A-Feature winners:
No previous A-Feature winners.
FAYETTEVILLE MOTOR SPEEDWAY is a 1/2 semi-banked red clay oval.
Previous A-Feature winners:
2015 – Chris Ferguson on May 2
2014 – Darrell Lanigan on May 3
2010 – Josh Richards on April 30
2009 – Jeff Smith on April 17
2008 – Josh Richards on Oct. 7
DRIVER INFO
The following World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series drivers maintain websites:
Morgan Bagley – http://www.morganbagley.com/
Boom Briggs – http://www.boombriggs.com/
Steve Casebolt – http://www.stevecasebolt.com/
Shane Clanton – http://shaneclanton25.com/
Joey Coulter – http://joeycoulter.com/
Rick Eckert – http://www.rickeckertracing.com/
Frank Heckenast Jr. – http://www.frankjr99.com/
Chase Junghans – http://www.chasejunghans.com/
Billy Moyer Jr. – http://www.billymoyerjr.com/
Josh Richards – http://www.joshrichards.com/
Brian Shirley – http://brianshirley.com/
Eric Wells – http://www.ericwells18.com/
SEASON WINNERS: Josh Richards – 4 (Volusia on Jan. 18,19, Farmer City April 3,4); Shane Clanton – 2 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 20, Screven Motor Speedway on Feb. 12); Rick Eckert – 1 (Screven Motor Speedway on Feb. 13); Dale McDowell – 1 (Duck River Raceway Park on April 8).
LIVE ONLINE UPDATES: Listen live to free audio of event coverage on the DIRTVision Radio Network at DIRTVision.com.
GET SOCIAL: Follow the World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series on Twitter at Twitter.com/WoOLateModels, like it on Facebook at Facebook.com/WorldofOutlawsLateModelSeries, or check out the latest videos on YouTube at Youtube.com/WorldofOutlaws.
COMING UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series returns to action at Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, Ky. on Friday, May 6. The series then takes on Smoky Mountain Speedway in Maryville, Tenn. on Saturday, May 7.
2016 STAT ATTACK
There have been 8 World of Outlaws Late Model Series features this season.
Winners (4 Different Drivers)
Rank Driver, Hometown – Wins
1. – JOSH RICHARDS, Shinnston, W.V. – 4
2. – SHANE CLANTON, Zebulon, Ga. – 2
3. – RICK ECKERT, York, Penn. – 1
– DALE MCDOWELL, Chickamaugua, Ga. – 1
Last Chance Showdown Winners (12 Different Drivers)
Rank Driver, Hometown – Wins
1. – BRIAN SHIRLEY, Chatham, Ill.- 2
– CHUB FRANK, Bear Lake, Pa. – 2
2. – MORGAN BAGLEY, Longview, Tex.- 1
– CASEY ROBERTS, Toccoa, Ga.- 1
– RICK ECKERT, York, Pa. – 1
– MASON ZEIGLER, Chalk Hill, Pa. – 1
– ERIC WELLS, Hazard, Ky.- 1
– MARK WHITENER, Middleburg, Fla. – 1
– KYLE BRONSON, Brandon, Fla. – 1
– DON O’NEAL, Martinsville, Ind. – 1
– DENNIS FRANKLIN, Gaffney, S.C. – 1
– BILLY OGLE, JR. – 1
Feature Winnings (Platinum Drivers)
Rank Driver, Hometown – Winnings
1. – JOSH RICHARDS, Shinnston, W.V. – $57,050
2. – SHANE CLANTON, Zebulon, Ga. – $30,800
3. – RICK ECKERT, York, Pa. – $22,800
4. – BRIAN SHIRLEY, Chatham, Ill. – $13,560
5. – BRANDON OVERTON, Evans, Ga. – $12,245
6. – BILLY MOYER JR., Batesville, AR – $11,010
7. – STEVE CASEBOLT, Richmond, Ind. – $10,670
8. – MORGAN BAGLEY, Longview, Tex. – $10,650
9. – CHUB FRANK, Bear Lake, Pa. – $10,580
10. – BOOM BRIGGS, Bear Lake, Pa. – $10,060
11. – FRANK HECKENAST JR., Frankfort, IL – $8,990
12. – CHASE JUNGHANS, Manhattan, Kan. – $7,560
13. – ERIC WELLS, Hazard, Ky. – $7,290
14. – JOEY COULTER, Moorseville, N.C. – $3,820
15. – JORDAN YAGGY, Rochester, Minn. – $2,115
2016 World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series Schedule & Winners
No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Number of Wins in 2016)
1. Friday, Feb. 12 / Screven Motor Speedway / Sylvania, Ga. / Shane Clanton (1)
2. Saturday, Feb. 13 / Screven Motor Speedway / Sylvania, Ga. / Rick Eckert (1)
3. Thursday, Feb. 18 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barbersville, Fla. / Josh Richards (1)
4. Friday, Feb. 19 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barbersville, Fla. / Josh Richards (2)
5. Sat., Feb. 20 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barbersville, Fla. / Shane Clanton (2)
6. Sat., April 2 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, Ill. / Josh Richards (3)
7. Sun., April 3 / Farmer City Raceway / Farmer City, Ill. / Josh Richards (4)
8. Fri., April 8 / Duck River Raceway Park / Wheel, Tenn. / Dale McDowell (1)
The World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Bad Boy Buggies (Official Side-by-Side Vehicle), Craftsman (Official Tool), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), Morton Buildings (Official Building), Sears (Official Home Store), The Kenny Wallace Dirt Racing Experience (Official Racing Experience, VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel) and DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award); in addition to contingency sponsors, including: Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Edelbrock, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, MSD, Ohlins Shocks, Penske Shocks, QA1, QuarterMaster, Superflow Dynos and Wrisco Aluminum; along with manufacturer sponsors, including: Capital Race Cars, Integra Shocks, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, Rocket Chassis and TNT Rescue.
