By Terry Young
54 cars rolled into the beautifully prepared Volusia Raceway for the inaugural event for the World of Outlaw Late Models, and just as the series had been hyped in recent weeks, the action was much what the fans had expected!
The Kentucky Colonel began the evening by touring the track at a time of 16.761 to record fast time.
The first heat was won by Francis over Dan Schlieper, Clint Smith and NASCAR Nextel Cup veteran Ken Schrader.
The second heat was won by Rick Eckert ahead of Bart Hartman, Scott Bloomquist and Mike Balzano.
The third heat was captured by The Moweaqua Missile Shannon Babb over Dale McDowell, R.J. Conley and young upstart and 2003 Battle of the Bluegrass Champion Mike Marlar.
The fourth and final heat was claimed by Wendell Wallace over Mr. Smooth Billy Moyer, Chuck Harper and Dennis Erb.
The dash which was done in a format which took the top 2 finishers from each heat, who drew for their starting position was topped by Dan Schlieper over Francis, Hartman, McDowell, Eckert, Moyer, Babb and Wallace. The finish of the dash would set the first 4 rows for the 30 lap main event.
The first consi was won by Jackie Boggs with Darrel Lanigan taking the second consi honors.
The feature was fast and furious with Francis moving to the point while Rick Eckert dogged him lap after lap. Back farther in the pack, Dale McDowell, Wendell Wallace and Shannon Babb waged an all out battle with Babb taking a liking to the top side.
A mid race miscue seen several cars get together coming off of turn 4 and Darrel Lanigan was the big loser as a result of contact with several other cars. Lanigan rolled his ride and was finished for the nights activities.
When the race resumed, Babb continued his march to the front on the top side. Eckert who had challenged Francis bumper to bumper suffered a flat right front tire after losing debris off his car and was relegated to the tail after a tire change. Bart Hartman then took over the role of aggressor pursuing Francis, but to no avail.
When the checkers fell on the 30 lap main event, it was Steve Francis etching his name into the record books as the first winner under the Boundless Motorsports umbrella of the New WORLD OF OUTLAWS... AMERICA'S PREMIER RACER'S. Following francis was Bart Hartman, Shannon Babb, Dale McDowell, Wendell Wallace, Scott Bloomquist, Billy Moyer, Jackie Boggs, Dan Schlieper, Mike Balzano, Mike Marlar, Ken Schrader, Rick Aukland, R.J. Conley, Rick Eckert, Tim Dohm, Dennis Erb and Chuck Harper.
The action continues tomorrow night for Round 2 of World of Outlaws late model action as the competitors take to the track for another $5,000.00 to win event!
Don't miss your opportunity to see the best known, most accomplished group of late model racers in the nation all gathered at one place...... VOLUSIA RACEWAY .
As an added bonus Tony Stewart was in the house tonight in a winged sprint car, and he made the effort to seek out Shannon Babb after the feature was over to compliment him on a heck of a drive on the high side!
For those wondering there was one car in competition with Goodyear tires as his choice, that being Zach Carney. He changed the tires early in the night and bolted on Hoosier Racing Tires. There was also one car with American Racer Tires on and that was Anthony Rushing, he looked very competitive in his heat but got caught up in a mishap while running in a transfer spot and was unable to finish the heat.
Same action packed racing, same group of stars and its all at Volusia again tomorrow night!
54 cars rolled into the beautifully prepared Volusia Raceway for the inaugural event for the World of Outlaw Late Models, and just as the series had been hyped in recent weeks, the action was much what the fans had expected!
The Kentucky Colonel began the evening by touring the track at a time of 16.761 to record fast time.
The first heat was won by Francis over Dan Schlieper, Clint Smith and NASCAR Nextel Cup veteran Ken Schrader.
The second heat was won by Rick Eckert ahead of Bart Hartman, Scott Bloomquist and Mike Balzano.
The third heat was captured by The Moweaqua Missile Shannon Babb over Dale McDowell, R.J. Conley and young upstart and 2003 Battle of the Bluegrass Champion Mike Marlar.
The fourth and final heat was claimed by Wendell Wallace over Mr. Smooth Billy Moyer, Chuck Harper and Dennis Erb.
The dash which was done in a format which took the top 2 finishers from each heat, who drew for their starting position was topped by Dan Schlieper over Francis, Hartman, McDowell, Eckert, Moyer, Babb and Wallace. The finish of the dash would set the first 4 rows for the 30 lap main event.
The first consi was won by Jackie Boggs with Darrel Lanigan taking the second consi honors.
The feature was fast and furious with Francis moving to the point while Rick Eckert dogged him lap after lap. Back farther in the pack, Dale McDowell, Wendell Wallace and Shannon Babb waged an all out battle with Babb taking a liking to the top side.
A mid race miscue seen several cars get together coming off of turn 4 and Darrel Lanigan was the big loser as a result of contact with several other cars. Lanigan rolled his ride and was finished for the nights activities.
When the race resumed, Babb continued his march to the front on the top side. Eckert who had challenged Francis bumper to bumper suffered a flat right front tire after losing debris off his car and was relegated to the tail after a tire change. Bart Hartman then took over the role of aggressor pursuing Francis, but to no avail.
When the checkers fell on the 30 lap main event, it was Steve Francis etching his name into the record books as the first winner under the Boundless Motorsports umbrella of the New WORLD OF OUTLAWS... AMERICA'S PREMIER RACER'S. Following francis was Bart Hartman, Shannon Babb, Dale McDowell, Wendell Wallace, Scott Bloomquist, Billy Moyer, Jackie Boggs, Dan Schlieper, Mike Balzano, Mike Marlar, Ken Schrader, Rick Aukland, R.J. Conley, Rick Eckert, Tim Dohm, Dennis Erb and Chuck Harper.
The action continues tomorrow night for Round 2 of World of Outlaws late model action as the competitors take to the track for another $5,000.00 to win event!
Don't miss your opportunity to see the best known, most accomplished group of late model racers in the nation all gathered at one place...... VOLUSIA RACEWAY .
As an added bonus Tony Stewart was in the house tonight in a winged sprint car, and he made the effort to seek out Shannon Babb after the feature was over to compliment him on a heck of a drive on the high side!
For those wondering there was one car in competition with Goodyear tires as his choice, that being Zach Carney. He changed the tires early in the night and bolted on Hoosier Racing Tires. There was also one car with American Racer Tires on and that was Anthony Rushing, he looked very competitive in his heat but got caught up in a mishap while running in a transfer spot and was unable to finish the heat.
Same action packed racing, same group of stars and its all at Volusia again tomorrow night!
