BEAR LAKE, PA – A victory would’ve been ideal, but Chub Frank had no qualms about finishing second in last Saturday night’s World of Outlaws Late Model Series ‘Pepsi Nationals’ at I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo.
After struggling throughout the late-summer months and spending his 730-mile trip from Bear Lake, Pa., to NASCAR veteran Ken Schrader’s one-third-mile oval thinking that Saturday night’s action was very likely going to be rained out, the driver known as ‘Chubzilla’ was very happy about a runner-up finish worth $5,100.
“It feels good to be competitive again,” said Frank, who registered his best finish on the national tour since a second-place outing on July 20 at the Belleville (Kan. ) High Banks. “I think we’re getting back to where we need to be.”
Chub, who timed fourth-fastest in qualifying and finished second in a heat race, grabbed the lead at the start of the 50-lap A-Main from the pole position. He kept his Lester Buildings, Corry Rubber, All Star Performance, Corry Laser, Slavic Corporation, Farr MotorSports, Lake Shore Paving, Custom Race Engines Chevrolet Impala SS Rocket Chassis No. 1* in front through six caution flags over the first 26 laps, but one momentary slip off turn four allowed Shane Clanton to seize command and go on to the victory.
Though Chub got close enough to challenge Clanton again, he couldn’t pull off a pass and had to settle for second place. He actually lost second to Josh Richards on lap 42 but regained the position when Richards bounced over the cushion with four laps remaining.
“There was just a real fine line out there,” Chub said of the tracks outside groove. “I missed it one lap and had to almost stop to stay off the wall.”
“I think Shane knows that we probably would have won if I didn’t make that one mistake. He told me, ‘If you didn’t jump that cushion and give me an opening, I wouldn’t have passed you.’”
Chub credited his resurgence to help he’s received recently from Clanton, who has become arguably the nation’s hottest dirt Late Model driver over the past month.
“I have to thank him for really being good about showing us some of the things he’s been doing lately,” said Chub, who ranks fifth in the WoO LMS points standings with four events remaining on the 2008 schedule.
Chub headed back home following Saturday night’s action because the WoO LMS event scheduled for Sunday night at La Salle (Ill. ) Speedway was canceled due to heavy rain on Saturday and the forecast of more coming on Sunday with the arrival of the remnants of Hurricane Ike. He does not plan to race this weekend but is scheduled to enter the two-day United Late Model Series ‘Fall Classic’ on Sept. 26-27 at McKean County Raceway in East Smethport, Pa.
