June 16

Moran "The Man" In Renegade DirtCar Racing Series

Action At K-C!!!

By Bret Emrick - June 16, 2002

Donnie Moran of Dresden, OH captured his first Renegade DirtCar Racing Series sanctioned main event of the season Saturday pocketing the $7,000 to win "9th The Night The Stars Come Out 40" at K-C Raceway near Chillicothe,OH. The all-time career feature winner with the RDRS jumped in front from his pole starting position aboard the QPI Tools/Eddie's Sunoco/Fisher Racing Engines/C.J. Rayburn Race Cars No. 99 Donnie Moran Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo leading from green flag to checkered flag for his 73rd sanctioned victory.

"The monkey is finally starting to climb off my back", related Moran. "We have really struggled so far this season. But, this really helps to get us going in the right direction. The car really worked well. Now, if we can just keep it going".

Rick Aukland raced hard with Moran through the early stages of the event but by lap 15 Moran had pulled out to a three car length lead. Aukland was able to close to within two car lengths of Moran at the finish. Jackie Boggs rode home third with Aaron Bapst fourth and R.J. Conley fifth. Rounding out the top ten finishers were 14th starting Steve Francis in sixth then 16th starting Rob Blair, Rod Conley, 18th starting Davey Johnson and Randle Chupp.

The feature race was never finished until the early morning hours Sunday as rain moved over the speedway at the completion of the ISKY RACING CAMS dash. After a 1 hour 20 minute break for the rain, promoters Jim Nier Sr. and Jim Nier Jr. and the track prep crew got the track back into racing shape allowing the event to be completed.

Moran and Aukland brought the 24 car field to the green flag with Moran inching ahead of Boggs at the end of the first lap with Aukland, Bapst and R.J. Conley trailing. Aukland worked his way past Boggs for second on lap 3 and began to pressure Moran for the lead. Eight starting Mike Balzano broke into the top five on lap 7 putting the heat on Bapst for fourth. Aukland stayed right with Moran when they entered lapped traffic on lap 12 but lost a car length getting past the lapped traffic. Balzano kept his charge going finally working past Bapst on lap 14. The races first caution flew on lap 15 for debris on the frontchute.

On the restart Moran quickly pulled away from Aukland who now was battling with Boggs and Balzano. Balzano took third from Boggs on lap 17 and set his sights on Aukland. At the halfway mark Moran enjoyed a four car length lead with Aukland, Balzano, Boggs and Bapst in a great battle for position. R.J. Conley sat sixth with brother Rod seventh followed by Chupp, Chub Frank and Francis.

Before lap 21 could be completed the caution waved when John Mason stopped with an exploded left front tire. One more lap was put into the books before the yellow flag waved again. This time it was for Balzano who had a great run on Aukland heading down the backchute into turn three. But, Balzano, who was using the extreme outside edge of the speedway, ran out of real estate slipping off the top of the track and spinning to a stop.

With ten laps to go Moran was comfortably in the lead over Aukland with Boggs third, Bapst fourth and R.J. Conley fifth. Francis made a great charge after the lap 21 restart moving into seventh at this point. Debris again brought out the caution on lap 31 but from this point on Moran had no pressure at all.

The $31,000 event drew 34 drivers with Bapst earning the CARRERA SHOCKS "Challenge the Clock" time trial award with his quick lap of 13.902 seconds. BRODIX,INC. heat race wins fell to Frank, Moran and Balzano with the MASTERSBILT RACE CARS "B" Main falling to Steve Shaver and the ISKY RACING CAMS dash going to Moran.

Renegade DirtCar Racing Series Race Report For 6-15-02
Race No. 13-2002 Season-"9th The Night The Stars Come Out"
K-C Raceway-Chillicothe (Alma),OH-3/8ths Mile Oval
$31,000 Purse-$7,000 To Win-40 Lap Feature

Showing Finish Pos.,Start Pos.,Car #,Driver,Laps Completed,Reason Out (if any) and Purse Money Won

1. (1) #99 Donnie Moran 40 Running $7,100
2. (2) #12 Rick Aukland 40 Running $4,080
3. (4) #4B Jackie Boggs 40 Running $2,560
4. (5) #43 Aaron Bapst 40 Running $1,550
5. (3) #71C R.J. Conley 40 Running $1,270
6. (14) # 1 Steve Francis 40 Running $1,100
7. (16) #W11 Rob Blair 40 Running $1,000
8. (6) #71R Rod Conley 40 Running $940
9. (18) #19J Davey Johnson 40 Running $850
10. (11) #114 Randle Chupp 40 Running $800
11. (7) #1* Chub Frank 40 Running $750
12. (17) #75 Bart Hartman 40 Running $700
13. (9) #C9 Steve Casebolt 40 Running $650
14. (13) #71 Delmas Conley 40 Running $600
15. (8) #E1 Mike Balzano 40 Running $550
16. (22) # 7 Matt Miller 40 Running $550
17. (21) #32 Greg Lucas 40 Running $550
18. (15) #68 Tim Hitt 40 Running $500
19. (19) #30 Steve Shaver 40 Running $550
20. (23) #119 Jim Bernheisel 40 Running $550
21. (10) #72 John Mason 40 Running $500
22. (24) #59 Bill Cunningham 38 Running $550
23. (12) #1B Mark Banal 25 Steering $500
24. (20) #96F Keith Berner 14 Handling $550

Time Of Race: 25 Mins.
Yellow Flags: Four-Laps 15,20,21,31
Red Flags: None
Lap Leaders: One-Moran 1-50
OUTERWEARS CO. "Hard Charger of the Race": Johnson
ROCKET CHASSIS "Rookie of the Race": Bernheisel
Provisional Starters: Bernheisel,Cunningham
Car Count: 34
CARRERA SHOCKS "Challenge the Clock" Time Trial Award: Bapst 13.902 secs.
BRODIX,INC. Heat Race Winners: Frank,Moran,Balzano
SCOTT PERFORMANCE WIRE Heat Race Bonus Winner: Moran
TEAM SMART Heat Race Bonus Winner: Balzano
MASTERSBILT RACE CARS "B" Main Winner: Shaver
ISKY RACING CAMS Dash Winner: Moran

SUMMARY - CARRERA SHOCKS "Challenge the Clock" Time Trials:

1. #43 Aaron Bapst Jackson,OH 13.902
2. #71R Rod Conley Wheelersburg,OH 14.160
3. #4B Jackie Boggs Grayson,KY 14.168
4. #71C R.J. Conley Wheelersburg,OH 14.213
5. #99 Donnie Moran Dresden,OH 14.240
6. #12 Rick Aukland Zanesville,OH 14.240
7. #21 Jason Montgomery Jackson,OH 14.326
8. #C9 Steve Casebolt Richmond,IN 14.327
9. #W11 Rob Blair Titusville,PA 14.330
10. #1* Chub Frank Sugar Grove,PA 14.398
11. #71 Delmas Conley Wheelersburg,OH 14.403
12. #E1 Mike Balzano Parkersburg,WV 14.410
13. #72 John Mason Millersburg,OH 14.477
14. #68 Tim Hitt Weston,WV 14.487
15. #96F Keith Berner Millersburg,OH 14.535
16. #32 Greg Lucas Whitesburg,KY 14.557
17. #30 Steve Shaver Vienna,WV 14.597
18. # 1 Steve Francis Ashland,KY 14.608
19. #28 Steve Lucas Charleston,WV 14.613
20. #114 Randle Chupp Troutman,NC 14.665
21. # 7 Matt Miller Waterville,OH 14.685
22. #1B Mark Banal St. Clairsville,OH 14.785
23. #5M Ryan Markham Ashland,OH 14.850
24. #19J Davey Johnson Greensburg,PA 14.880
25. #1A Charlie Swartz Grayson,KY 14.893
26. #442 Audie Swartz Minford,OH 14.918
27. #11 Jack Fink Chillicothe,OH 15.013
28. #75 Bart Hartman Zanesville,OH 15.214
29. #119 Jim Bernheisel lebanon,PA 15.258
30. #73 Tony Throckmorton Chillicothe,OH 15.287
31. #59 Bill Cunningham Jefferson,OH 15.415
32. #71H Chris Conley Westerville,OH 15.420
33. #46 Jason Tolliver Proctorville,OH 15.447
34. #8UP Tracy Ross Waverly,OH 18.297

BRODIX,INC. Heat #1 (10 Laps-Top 6 Advance To Feature): Frank,R.J.
Conley,Mason,Banal,Bapst,Hartman,C. Swartz,G. Lucas,S. Lucas,Ross,
Cunningham,Montgomery
BRODIX,INC./SCOTT PERFORMANCE WIRE Heat #2 (10 Laps-Top 6
Advance To Feature): Moran,Casebolt,Chupp,D. Conley,Hitt,Rd. Conley,
Shaver,Bernheisel,A. Swartz,Markham,C. Conley
BRODIX,INC./TEAM SMART Heat #3 (10 Laps-Top 6 Advance To Feature): Balzano,Aukland,Boggs,Francis,Blair,Johnson,Berner,Miller,
Throckmorton,Fink,Tolliver
MASTERSBILT RACE CARS "B" Main (15 Laps-Top 4 Advance To Feature): Shaver,Berner,G. Lucas,Miller,S. Lucas,Bernheisel,Markham,
Montgomery,A. Swartz,Ross,Cunningham,Tolliver,C. Conley,Throckmorton,
Fink,C. Swartz
ISKY RACING CAMS Dash (Finish Determines First Three Rows Of Feature): Moran,Aukland,R.J. Conley,Boggs,Bapst,Rd. Conley

2002 Renegade DirtCar Racing Series Point Standings (after 6-15-02)

1. #19J Davey Johnson Greensburg,PA 2,720
2. #1* Chub Frank Sugar Grove,PA 2,680
3. #E1 Mike Balzano Parkersburg,WV 2,580
4. #30 Steve Shaver Vienna,WV 2,320
5. #71R Rod Conley Wheelersburg,OH 2,150
6. #W11 Rob Blair Titusville,PA 2,140
7. #12 Rick Aukland Zanesville,OH 1,640
8. #71C R.J. Conley Wheelersburg,OH 1,580
9. #72 John Mason Millersburg,OH 1,540
10. #119 Jim Bernheisel Lebanon,PA 1,410
11. # 1 Steve Francis Ashland,KY 1,250
12. #32 Greg Lucas Whitesburg,KY 1,210
13. #21 Billy Moyer Batesville,AR 990
14. #99 Donnie Moran Dresden,OH 910
15. #4B Jackie Boggs Grayson,KY 900
16. #71 Don O'neal Martinsville,IN 900
17. #59 Bill Cunningham Jefferson,OH 880
18. #68 Tim Hitt Weston,WV 860
19. #1B Mark Banal St. Clairsville,OH 860
20. #24 Rick Eckert York,PA 820

2002 ROCKET CHASSIS "Rookie of the Year" Point Standings (after 6-15-02)

1. #119 Jim Bernheisel Lebanon,PA 1,410
2. #59 Bill Cunningham Jefferson,OH 880
3. #46 Jason Tolliver Proctorville,OH 720
4. #07 Scott Cross Stevensville,MD 350
5. #19 Tim Yeager Harrodsburg,KY 250

2002 CARRERA SHOCKS "Challenge the Clock" Time Trial Point Standings (after 6-15-02)

1. #E1 Mike Balzano Parkersburg,WV 1,166
2. #1* Chub Frank Sugar Grove,PA 1,127
3. #30 Steve Shaver Vienna,WV 1,127
4. #W11 Rob Blair Titusville,PA 1,125
5. #71R Rod Conley Wheelersburg,OH 1,122

2002 WRISCO INDUSTRIES/HOOSIER TIRE-OHIO VALLEY "Dash King" Point Standings (after 6-15-02)

1. #E1 Mike Balzano Parkersburg,WV 21
2. #30 Steve Shaver Vienna,WV 18
3. #71R Rod Conley Wheelersburg,OH 15
4. #19J Davey Johnson Greensburg,PA 15
5. #1* Chub Frank Sugar Grove,PA 12

2002 MASTERSBILT RACE CARS "B" Main Point Standings (after 6-15-02)

1. #59 Bill Cunningham Jefferson,OH 770
2. #28 Steve Lucas Charleston,WV 400
3. #32 Greg Lucas Whitesburg,KY 390
4. #12 Cortney Clewell Cambridge,OH 390
5. #72 John Mason Millersburg,OH 380

2002 OUTERWEARS CO., INC. "Hard Charger" Point Standings (after 6-15-02)

1. #1* Chub Frank Sugar Grove,PA 52
2. #19J Davey Johnson Greensburg,PA 52
3. #W11 Rob Blair Titusville,PA 45
4. #E1 Mike Balzano Parkersburg,WV 39
5. #72 John Mason Millersburg,OH 37

2002 Renegade DirtCar Racing Series Feature Event Winners (after 6-15-02)

1. #71 Don O'Neal Martinsville,IN 3
2. #1* Chub Frank Sugar Grove,PA 2
3. #4B Jackie Boggs Grayson,KY 1
4. #99 Donnie Moran Dresden,OH 1
5. #E1 Mike Balzano Parkersburg,WV 1
6. # 1 Steve Francis Ashland,KY 1
7. #19J Davey Johnson Greensburg,PA 1
8. #75 Bart Hartman Zanesville,OH 1
9. #83R Scott Rhodes Somerset,PA 1

Back