The Shoestring Traveler Takes The Shootout

jdearing

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By Roby Helm

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Chub Frank holds high the biggest paycheck of his career-the $55,000 he took form Dixie Speedway in the Hardee's Shootout. Photo by Tony Hammett.

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WOODSTOCK, GA - Chub Frank of Sugar Grove, PA picked up the biggest win of
his career Saturday night with a $55,000 victory in the rain-shortened 13th
Annual Hardee's Shootout for the United Dirt Track Racing Association Pro
DirtCar Series in front of one of the largest crowds in the history of Dixie
Speedway.

Frank started seventh in the Corry Rubber Rocket/Draime Monte Carlo, and
was involved in a race that resembled a derailed train, as the 26 cars that
started were scattered everywhere battling for position two and three wide
around the 3/8-mile clay oval.

Frank fell back to eighth early in the race, but after a couple of
double-file restarts "Chubzilla" had charged up to the front of the pack,
and passed early race leader Skip Arp of Georgetown, TN for the lead on lap
15. Arp came back to pass Frank for the lead on lap 45, but it was Frank,
who came back on the outside to take the lead again on lap 46.

Rain began to fall during a caution period at the 80-lap mark of the
scheduled 100-lap UDTRA Pro DirtCar Series season finale, and series
officials called it a complete race.

"I started doing a rain dance at lap 74," Frank said. "This is the biggest
win of my career, and this will really help our team. We'll get to eat
steak this week. Those double-file restarts really helped us early in the
race, especially when we were on the outside."

With the Shootout win, on top of the $55,000 top prize, Frank will receive
a $100 bonus and free entry fee at each UDTRA Pro DirtCar event he attends
in 2003.

Arp stayed close to Frank after losing the lead on lap 46, but had to
settle for second in the Charter Communications/Crown Fiber GRT/Gaerte Grand
Prix.

"We were set up to run the inside groove, but Mickey Swims did a great job
in preparing the race track, and we could run anywhere on the track," Arp
said. "I wish we could run radios because my crew could have told me I
should have been running the outside. Chub was real fast out there!"

The defending and two-time Hardee's Shootout Champion and 1999 UDTRA
Champion Dale McDowell of Rossville, GA brought his Larry Shaw Race Cars
Rocket by Shaw/Custom Grand Prix home in the third spot, and was second in
the 2002 UDTRA Pro DirtCar Series point standings.

Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, IA charged from the 14th starting spot to
finish fourth in the Daufeldt Transport Mastersbilt/Pro Power Grand Prix.
The 1996 Shootout winner Wendell Wallace of Batesville, AR took the fifth
spot in the JFR Graphics/Monday Motorsports GRT/Gaerte Grand Prix.

Shannon Babb of Decatur, IL spun on lap four, went to the tail of the 26-car
field, and rallied to finish sixth in the Car City Company Rayburn/Pro Power
Monte Carlo. Randle Chupp of Mooresville, NC was seventh in the Biscotti's
Restaurant and Winery/Park Ohio Rocket/Draime Grand Prix.

Steve Francis of Ashland, KY finished eighth in the Valvoline/Mopar Parts
Rocket/Stanton Intrepid, and Jimmy Mars of Elk Mound, WI started his Jimmy
Mars Racing Mastersbilt/Pro Power Monte Carlo in the 19th spot and finished
ninth. Francis and Mars will finish third and fourth respectively in the
UDTRA point standings. Steve Shaver of Parkersburg, WV rounded out the top
ten in the Richard Construction Rocket/Malcuit Monte Carlo.

With weather radar showing showers moving into the area, the starting field
was hastily assembled after an adjustment in the program, the green flag
fell, and the action was fast and furious. McDowell grabbed the point from
the outside of row one at the start of the race, but it was polesitter Arp
who drove under McDowell in turn four to lead lap one.

Debris in turn one on lap four slowed the field under caution. Arp led
McDowell, Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, FL, Babb, and 1997 UDTRA and
Shootout Champion Billy Moyer of Batesville, AR down for the green flag on
the restart.

Babb spun in turn two, collecting the cars of Scott Sexton of Pigeon Forge,
TN, Rex Richey of Ringgold, GA, and a pair of UDTRA Champions, Freddy Smith
of Knoxville, TN and Rick Eckert of York, PA. Babb, Richey and Eckert would
rejoin the race, but the 1996 UDTRA Champion Smith was done for the night
with damage to his Christenberry Trucking and Farms Warrior/Custom Monte
Carlo.

Eckert, who clinched his second straight UDTRA Championship on October 5 in
Cumberland, MD, had a rough weekend after setting fast time on Friday night
for the Shootout. Eckert spun in his heat race, did not transfer through
the Polaris ATVs Consolation Race on Saturday night, had to take a
provisional and start 25th.

Eckert finished the race in the 14th spot, the worst finish of the season
for the driver of the Raye Vest Rocket/Cornett Taurus, but it was good
enough to earn the Advance Auto Parts Hard Charger of the Race Award.

Pearson was on the outside of the double-file formation on the next restart,
and pulled alongside Arp to challenge for the lead. Just as looked like
Pearson would take the point in turn three, his car jolted to the right with
a mechanical failure and slowed to a stop in turn one.

After repairs to his Lucas Oil/Dunn-Benson Ford Rocket/Eatmon Taurus,
Pearson would return to competition 11 laps down, and he finished 20th.
Pearson, who won the Isky Fast Qualifiers Dash on Friday night at Dixie
Speedway, will finish fifth in the UDTRA point standings.

The next double-file restart in front of the SPEED Channel cameras saw the
top ten drivers reshuffle the deck for positions. Moyer dropped from fourth
to seventh, Frank went from fifth to third, and Shaver dropped from third to
eighth.

The 1995 Shootout Champion Bill Frye of Greenbrier, AR stalled his Petroff
Towing GRT/Kuntz Taurus in turn one while running tenth to bring out the
fourth caution flag on lap 13. On the restart, the green gave way to the
fifth caution flag when Richey had a cut tire on his Underground Plumbing
and Service Rocket/Race Tech Monte Carlo in turn one.

Frank made beneficial use of the outside groove on the restart to pull along
side Arp to battle for the lead, while Wallace climbed up into the third
spot. Frank took the lead from Arp with an outside move coming off the
second turn on lap 15. By lap 20, it was Frank leading Arp, Wallace,
McDowell, Moyer, Chupp, Birkhofer, Francis, Mars, and Shaver.

Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC climbed into the tenth spot on lap 25, and the
leaders were in lapped traffic by the 28th lap. Cook's run in the top ten
was short lived, as he slowed to bring out the caution flag on lap 30 with a
cut right-rear tire on his Youngblood Concrete Mastersbilt/Cornett Taurus.

Cook would return to the race to finish 12th, and he finished in the eighth
spot in the point standings, his eighth consecutive top-ten point position
in UDTRA competition.

The 1993 UDTRA Champion Clint Smith of Senoia, GA broke the suspension on
his JP Contracting GRT/Race Tech Monte Carlo on the restart to bring out the
seventh caution flag, but on the next restart, several drivers got back to
wheeling and dealing side-by-side.

Moyer passed McDowell for the fourth spot on the restart, and Mars went to
the outside groove to pass both McDowell and Moyer. But coming off the
fourth turn, Mars got sideways in front of the rest of the field. Somehow,
nobody hit Mars while he gathered up his car, but he lost several positions,
and fell out of the top ten.

By lap 35, Babb had climbed back up to the seventh spot, and Chupp fell from
sixth spot back to tenth. Moyer worked the outside on Wallace for the third
spot, and made the pass for the position in turn four on lap 42.

Meanwhile up front, Arp began to pressure Frank for the lead, and worked
under him coming off turn two, and took the lead going down the backstretch
on lap 45. Frank was up to the challenge, as he motored back around the
outside of Arp to retake the lead on lap 46.

This side-by-side exchange among the top two drivers enabled Moyer to close
in and make it a three-car battle for the lead on lap 50. When the field
took the crossed flags signal at the halfway point, it was Frank, Arp and
Moyer battling for the lead, followed by Wallace, McDowell, Birkhofer, Babb,
Francis, Mars, and Chupp.

Wallace began to fade on lap 60 when McDowell passed him for the fourth
spot, and Birkhofer passed Wallace on lap 62 to move up into the top five.
On lap 70, Arp got caught behind a lapped car, and Moyer pounced to
challenge for second.

Just as Moyer was about to make a move, the right-front corner of his
Petroff Towing/J&J Steel Mastersbilt/Dickens Taurus collapsed, and the car
nosed hard into the first turn wall to bring out the eighth caution flag.
Moyer was not injured, but his car was done for the night.

Lamar Haygood of Douglasville, GA stalled his ABS Automotive Rocket/Bishop
Grand Prix in turn two on the restart to turn on the caution light for the
ninth time. During this caution flag, a light drizzle began to fall from
the Georgia sky, but UDTRA officials still found the racing surface safe for
competition.

Frank pulled out to a 10 car-length lead over Arp after the restart, the
biggest lead he had all race long. Babb moved up to battle Wallace for the
fifth spot on lap 77. Patrick Duggan of Lenoir City, TN stalled his D&R
Construction GRT/B&B Grand Prix in turn two on lap 81 for the tenth caution
flag.

During this caution period, the light drizzle turned into a steady rain, and
UDTRA officials brought out the checkered flag when the track became too
slick to race on.

The 2002 Lucas Oil Rookie of the Race was Billy Ogle Jr. of Knoxville, TN,
who finished 15th in the Calhoun's Restaurant GRT/Clements Monte Carlo.
Ogle is the 2002 Lucas Oil Rookie of the Year and he finished ninth overall
in the UDTRA point standings.

Two drivers that failed to make the main event for the Hardee's Shootout,
Randy Korte of Highland, IL and Shane Tankersley of Morganton, GA finished
seventh and tenth respectively in the 2002 UDTRA point standings.

Mars won the first 15-lap Polaris ATVs Consolation Race and Sexton took the
second Polaris ATVs consy in the Quality Heating and Air Mastersbilt/Custom
Grand Prix. On Friday night, Arp, McDowell, Babb, Shaver, Chupp, and
Pearson won the six 15-lap heat races. McDowell won the JE Pistons Bonus
Award and Chupp took the Scott Performance Wires Bonus Award.

The next UDTRA action on SPEED Channel will be on Monday at 3 p.m. ET with
action from the USA Nationals at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, WI.
The 13th Annual Hardee's Shootout will air on November 21 at 11 p.m. ET.
For the complete UDTRA SPEED Channel schedule and a direct feedback link,
visit the UDTRA web site at www.udtra.com.

OFFICIAL RESULTS OF THE 13TH ANNUAL HARDEE'S SHOOTOUT AT DIXIE SPEEDWAY IN
WOODSTOCK, GA ON 10/11-12/02:

POS STRT CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN CAR LAPS $ WON
1. 7 1* Chub Frank Sugar Grove, PA Chev. 80 $55,000
2. 1 31 Skip Arp Georgetown, TN Pont. 80 $20,000
3. 2 17m Dale McDowell Rossville, GA Pont. 80 $10,400
4. 14 15b Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA Pont. 80 $8,000
5. 10 6m Wendell Wallace Batesville, AR Pont. 80 $6,000
6. 3 18 Shannon Babb Decatur, IL Chev. 80 $5,000
7. 5 114 Randle Chupp Mooresville, TN Pont. 80 $4,050
8. 11 1 Steve Francis Ashland, KY Dodge 80 $3,500
9. 19 28 Jimmy Mars Elk Mound, WI Chev. 80 $3,000
10. 4 30 Steve Shaver Parkersburg, WV Chev. 80 $2,950
11. 17 31t Bobby Turner Ballground, GA Chev. 80 $2,900
12. 21 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC Ford 80 $2,850
13. 18 87 Rex Richey Ringgold, GA Chev. 80 $2,800
14. 25 24 Rick Eckert York, PA Ford 79 $2,900
15. 9 201 Billy Ogle Jr. (R) Knoxville, TN Chev. 79 $2,700
16. 15 15 Patrick Duggan Lenoir City, TN Pont. 79 $2,650
17. 22 1w Ricky Weeks Rutherfordton, NC Pont. 78 $2,600
18. 8 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR Ford 74 $2,575
19. 16 17h Lamar Haygood Douglasville, GA Pont. 73 $2,550
20. 6 1p Earl Pearson Jr. Jacksonville, FL Ford 69 $2,540
21. 23 44 Clint Smith Senoia, GA Chev. 29 $2,530
22. 13 75 John Gill Mitchell, IN Pont. 29 $2,520
23. 20 52 Scott Sexton Pigeon Forge, TN Pont. 26 $2,510
24. 12 66 Bill Frye Greenbrier, AR Ford 12 $2,500
25. 26 00 Freddy Smith Knoxville, TN Chev. 10 $2,500
26. 24 4 Vernon Smith Rome, GA Chev. 3 $2,500

ENTRIES: 62
PROVISIONALS: Eckert and Smith
LEAD CHANGES: 3 Among 2 Drivers
LAP LEADERS: Arp, 1-14; Frank, 15-44; Arp, 45; Frank, 46-80
LAPS LED: Frank, 65; Arp, 15
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS HARD CHARGER: Eckert (started 25th and finished 14th)
LUCAS OIL ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Ogle
CAUTIONS: 10 (Race Red Flagged For Rain On Lap 80)
TIME OF THE RACE: 1 Hour, 2 Minutes and 18.348 Seconds

FRIDAY NIGHT PRELIMINARY RESULTS:

QUALIFYING:

POS CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN CHASSIS CAR MAKE 1ST LAP 2ND LAP TIME SPEED
1 24 Rick Eckert York, PA Rocket Taurus 14.813 14.501 14.501 93.097
2 17m Dale McDowell Rossville, GA Rocket Grand Prix 14.538 14.790 14.538
92.860
3 18 Shannon Babb Decatur, IL Rayburn Monte Carlo 14.695 14.668 14.668
92.037
4 6m Wendell Wallace Batesville, AR GRT Grand Prix 14.848 14.720 14.720
91.712
5 1 Steve Francis Ashland, KY Rocket Intrepid 14.809 14.739 14.739 91.594
6 1p Earl Pearson Jr. Jacksonville, FL Rocket Taurus 14.868 14.745 14.745
91.556
7 31 Skip Arp Georgetown, TN GRT Grand Prix 14.786 15.081 14.786 91.303
8 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR Mastersbilt Taurus 14.853 15.132 14.853
90.891
9 44s Clint Smith Senoia, GA GRT Monte Carlo 14.872 14.983 14.872 90.775
10 30 Steve Shaver Parkersburg, WV Rocket Monte Carlo 15.197 14.883 14.883
90.708
11 114 Randle Chupp Mooresville, NC Rocket Grand Prix 15.190 14.910 14.910
90.543
12 89 Marshall Green Dalton, GA Rocket Monte Carlo 15.215 14.967 14.967
90.198
13 00 Freddy Smith Knoxville, TN Warrior Monte Carlo 14.980 15.082 14.980
90.120
14 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC Mastersbilt Taurus 15.017 15.004 15.004 89.976
15 201 Billy Ogle Jr. (R) Knoxville, TN GRT Monte Carlo 15.190 15.020 15.020
89.880
16 17 Lamar Haygood Douglasville, GA Rocket Grand Prix 15.526 15.034 15.034
89.796
17 52s Scott Sexton Pigeon Forge, TN Mastersbilt Grand Prix 15.302 15.056
15.056 89.665
18 66 Bill Frye Greenbrier, AR GRT Taurus 15.393 15.061 15.061 89.635
19 75 John Gill Mitchell, IN Rocket Grand Prix 15.072 15.142 15.072 89.570
20 15b Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA Mastersbilt Grand Prix 15.104 15.148
15.104 89.380
21 15 Patrick Duggan Lenoir City, TN GRT Grand Prix 15.290 15.155 15.155
89.080
22 116 Randy Weaver Crossville, TN Warrior Monte Carlo 15.528 15.190 15.190
88.874
23 31t Bobby Turner Ballground, GA Rocket Monte Carlo 15.222 15.224 15.222
88.687
24 19e Wayne Echols Cumming, GA Dominator Monte Carlo 15.238 15.283 15.238
88.594
25 00k Randy Korte Highland, IL Rocket Monte Carlo 15.265 15.246 15.246
88.548
26 28m Jimmy Mars Elk Mound, WI Mastersbilt Monte Carlo 15.262 15.341 15.262
88.455
27 20k Wade Knowles Tyrone, GA Warrior Monte Carlo 15.514 15.279 15.279
88.357
28 17w Ricky Williams Fayetteville, GA Mastersbilt Grand Prix 15.279 15.412
15.279 88.357
29 95 Bill Godowns Jr. Evans, GA Newman Grand Prix 15.550 15.282 15.282
88.339
30 9c Jason Croft Woodstock, GA Rocket Monte Carlo 15.285 15.880 15.285
88.322
31 11s David Smith Inman, SC GRT Taurus 15.458 15.286 15.286 88.316
32 21L Ivedent Lloyd Ocala, FL GRT Grand Prix 15.293 15.515 15.293 88.276
33 T22 Mike Tinker Ringgold, GA GRT Monte Carlo 15.307 15.296 15.296 88.258
34 1cm Chris Madden Laurens, SC Warrior Grand Prix 15.582 15.311 15.311
88.172
35 87 Derrick Rainey Powder Springs, GA Rocket Grand Prix 15.315 15.411
15.315 88.149
36 87r Rex Richey Ringgold, GA Rocket Monte Carlo 15.827 15.345 15.345
87.977
37 00j Jeff Smith Villanow, GA GRT Grand Prix 15.504 15.370 15.370 87.833
38 5k Greg Knight Suwanee, GA Mastersbilt Grand Prix 15.897 15.371 15.371
87.828
39 29m Gary McPherson Dalton, GA Mastersbilt Taurus 15.376 15.552 15.376
87.799
40 1w Ricky Weeks Rutherfordton, NC GRT Grand Prix 15.379 15.649 15.379
87.782
41 27m Tom Maddox Center, AL Rocket Monte Carlo 15.575 15.394 15.394 87.697
42 88 Petey Ivey Union, SC GRT Monte Carlo 15.505 15.416 15.416 87.571
43 1* Chub Frank Sugar Grove, PA Rocket Monte Carlo 15.427 15.607 15.427
87.509
44 1a Justin Allgaier Riverton, IL Rayburn Monte Carlo 15.438 15.431 15.431
87.486
45 41 Tony Reaid Acworth, GA GRT Monte Carlo 15.662 15.446 15.446 87.401
46 99 Donnie Moran Dresden, OH Warrior Monte Carlo 15.458 18.767 15.458
87.333
47 4s Vernon Smith Rome, GA GRT Monte Carlo 15.918 15.466 15.466 87.288
48 F1 Mike Duvall Gaffney, SC Barry Wright Monte Carlo 42.918 15.468 15.468
87.277
49 17j Justin Wakefield Woodstock, GA GRT Monte Carlo 15.479 15.471 15.471
87.260
50 p1 Phil Coltrane Canton, GA Stinger Taurus 15.625 15.503 15.503 87.080
51 T31 Shane Tankersley (R) Morgonton, GA Rocket Grand Prix 15.505 15.522
15.505 87.069
52 77 Tim Day Alpharetta, GA Barry Wright Monte Carlo 15.576 15.538 15.538
86.884
53 55n Terrance Nowell Phenix City, AL Rocket Monte Carlo 15.548 15.592
15.548 86.828
54 92m Rodney Martin Cartersville, GA Rocket Grand Prix 15.773 15.638 15.638
86.328
55 21c Benji Cole Canton, GA GRT Grand Prix 15.655 15.874 15.655 86.234
56 8 David Payne Murphy, NC GRT Grand Prix 15.760 15.862 15.760 85.660
57 41 Buck Simmons Baldwin, GA GRT Grand Prix 16.906 15.783 15.783 85.535
58 P4 Jamie Perry Ringgold, GA GRT Grand Prix 16.063 15.838 15.838 85.238
59 10k Chris Knight Lawsonville, NC GRT Mustang 15.895 15.944 15.895 84.932
60 70 Jeff Smith Dallas, NC GRT Grand Prix 15.911 NT 15.911 84.847
61 11 Leland Prewitt Savannah, GA Barry Wright Monte Carlo 16.774 16.397
16.397 82.332
62 5 Rodney Combs Fort Myers, FL Dirt Works Grand Prix 17.673 NT DQ DQ

HEAT RACES (15 Laps - Top 3 Finishers Transfer To Hardee's Shootout):

1ST HEAT: 1. Arp; 2. Frank; 3. Gill; 4. D. Smith; 5. Cole; 6. Wakefield;
7. Prewitt; 8. J. Smith (GA); 9. Eckert; 10. F. Smith; 11. Korte.

JE PISTONS 2ND HEAT: 1. McDowell; 2. Moyer; 3. Birkhofer; 4. Mars; 5.
Cook; 6. Lloyd; 7. Coltrane; 8. Allgaier; 9. Payne; 10. G. Knight.

3RD HEAT: 1. Babb; 2. Ogle (R); 3. Duggan; 4. Knowles; 5. C. Smith; 6.
McPherson; 7. Tankersley (R); 8. Reaid; 9. Tinker; 10. Simmons.

4TH HEAT: 1. Shaver; 2. Wallace; 3. Haygood; 4. Weeks; 5. Madden; 6.
Weaver; 7. Williams; 8. Day; 9. Perry; 10. Combs; 11. Moran.

SCOTT PERFORMANCE WIRES 5TH HEAT: 1. Chupp; 2. Francis; 3. Turner; 4.
Sexton; 5. Godowns; 6. V. Smith; 7. Rainey; 8. Maddox; 9. Nowell; 10. C.
Knight.

6TH HEAT: 1. Pearson; 2. Frye; 3. Richey; 4. Croft; 5. Echols; 6. Martin;
7. J. Smith (NC); 8. Duvall; 9. Green; 10. Ivey.

ISKY FAST QUALIFIERS DASH - 20 LAPS: 1. Pearson; 2. Mars; 3. McDowell; 4.
Francis; 5. Birkhofer; 6. Cook; 7. Eckert; 8. Moyer; 9. Sexton; 10. Green;
11. Chupp; 12. Shaver; 13. Korte; 14. Moran.

SATURDAY NIGHT 15-LAP POLARIS ATVs CONSOLATION RACES (Top 3 Finishers
Transfer To Hardee's Shootout):

1ST CONSY: 1. Mars; 2. Cook; 3. C. Smith; 4. Payne; 5. D. Smith; 6.
Knowles; 7. F. Smith; 8. Wakefield; 9. McPherson; 10. Eckert; 11. Lloyd; 12.
Korte; 13. Cole; 14. Allgaier; 15. Coltrane; 16. Tankersley (R); 17.
Prewitt.

2ND CONSY: 1. Sexton; 2. Weeks; 3. V. Smith; 4. Moran; 5. Godowns; 6.
Madden; 7. Combs; 8. Echols; 9. Croft; 10. Day; 11. J. Smith (NC); 12. C.
Knight; 13. Weaver; 14. Martin; 15. Williams; 16. Maddox.
 
FINAL 2002 UDTRA POINT STANDINGS:

1. Rick Eckert - 5959
2. Dale McDowell - 5858
3. Steve Francis - 5783
4. Jimmy Mars - 5644
5. Earl Pearson Jr. - 5155
6. Freddy Smith - 4790
7. Randy Korte - 4562
8. Ray Cook - 3989
9. Billy Ogle Jr. (R) - 3913
10. Shane Tankersley (R) - 3727
11. Donnie Moran - 3715
12. Brian Birkhofer - 3534
13. Billy Moyer - 2653
14. Mark Kraus (R) - 2477
15. Randle Chupp - 2433
16. Dan Schlieper - 2344
17. Rick Aukland - 2313
18. Scott Bloomquist - 2206
19. John Anderson (R) - 1962
20. Shannon Babb - 1824
 




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