The Dirt Track at Charlotte
Notes: Full-fender Fuller aims for Colossal success
By Kevin Kovac
World of Outlaws Late Model Series
Tim Fuller heads to Lowe's for the March 27-28 event (thesportswire.net)
Tim Fuller has tasted success at the Dirt Track at Lowe's Motor Speedway, as evidenced by his victory in a big-block modified event and a Late Model run from deep in the field to finish third in the 2007 Vault World Finals finale.
But Fuller, 41, of Watertown, N.Y., hasn't made the starting field for the Circle K Colossal, the World of Outlaws Late Model Series event that runs for the fourth time at the Concord, N.C., oval on March 27-28. Fuller missed the $50,000-to-win show in 2007 early in his run to the WoO Rookie of the Year crown, and last year he failed to transfer to the main event after sliding into the turn-one wall at the start of a consolation race on a track surface still slick following a rain delay.
“I've won there in a modified, so I know how great it is to win at that place,” said Fuller, sixth in the WoO points standings. “I have no doubts that with the right circumstances, we can win there. I'm just not real good in that rough, fast stuff, so I'm hoping for a slower track.”
Sunday set as rain date
Responding to inquiries concerning weekend weather forecasts, Lowe's Motor Speedway officials announced Wednesday afternoon that the Circle K Colossal 100 weekend is still set to run as scheduled.
According to track officials, if inclement weather cancels Friday's events, those activities will shift to Saturday. If the weather persists and cancels Saturday's planned festivities, the Circle K Colossal 100 program will be held in its entirety on Sunday.
Francis looking for repeat
Steve Francis, the 41-year-old standout from Ashland, Ky., will be funning for his second straight victory at the Colossal 100 in the Dale Beitler Enterprises No. 19.
“Me and Scott (Bloomquist) are the only two guys so far who have gotten to wear that helmet and hold that sword,” said Francis, noting the traditional medieval armor and weapon that the Colossal 100 winner poses with in victory lane. “Hopefully we can win it again and have two like Scott.”
Francis led every lap of last year's rough-and-tumble event, turning back several challenges along the way. It was his first WoO triumph teamed with his Maryland car owner and “a real memorable moment for me in my career.”
Though Francis is coming off a rare DNF because of an accident in Saturday night's WoO Lone Star 100 at Battleground Speedway in Highlands, Texas, he's won two of the tour's four WoO races in 2009.
This could be the one
Josh Richards is hoping that this weekend he can finally take his name off the list of the best drivers who haven't won a crown jewel Dirt Late Model event.
“We've been close to winning a big one but haven't been able to get it done,” said the 21-year-old Richards, who has been in position to win the Colossal 100 as well as the World 100, Dirt Track World Championship and Knoxville Nationals. “Maybe we can pull it off at Charlotte.”
Richards has likely never entered a prestigious, high-dollar race with more momentum than he's currently carrying. He's won six overall features already this season (including last month's WoO opener), leads the WoO points standings and returns this weekend to a 410-mile oval at which he visited victory lane in his last appearance.
The sensation from Shinnston, W.Va., doesn't plan to run the same Rocket Chassis house car that he steered to the checkered flag in last fall's Vault World Finals finale at Lowe's, but that nationally-televised triumph has him feeling good about his chances for a Colossal 100 score.
“I'm pumped up,” said Richards, who finished third in last year's Colossal 100. “I kinda want to run the old car we won with (at Charlotte) last year, but out new cars are a little bit better so I think we'll have something that can run up front.”
Looking for a biggie
The only thing missing from Darrell Lanigan's impeccable 2008 WoO championship campaign was a signature victory in a major event. That's something the Union, Ky., standout would like to change in '09, preferably this weekend.
“It would've been nice to win a big one last year to kind of top off our season,” Lanigan said. “We came close a couple times, like in the Colossal (he dropped out with a broken rear end while running second with 10 laps remaining) and at Lernerville (second place in the Firecracker 100), but for whatever reason we couldn't get the job done.
“Our goal right now is to win more races this year, especially a big one. The Colossal would be a good place to get that first one.”
Lanigan, who had two WoO victories last year, has two runner-up finishes in four 2009 tour races.
The scene of the flip
Chub Frank's outing in the 2008 Circle K Colossal 100 was memorable, but for the wrong reason. While running in 11th place on lap 45, Frank's car dug into the track surface and flipped wildly in turn four. It was the first time in the veteran driver's 30-year career that he had gotten upside down in a race.
“The track was smooth, but it just had a big cushion built up and I got into it on a bad angle,” said Frank, who escaped injury in the wreck and had his damaged Old Reliable Rocket machine back in action a few weeks later. “When I did, the car caught and just started tumbling.”
The Bear Lake, Pa., star returns to Lowe's hoping for better results this weekend. He also noted that he'll miss having Roger Slack, the former director of short-track events at Lowe's, in charge to serve as his foil. Slack, who left his position three months after the 2008 Colossal 100, spent several years trading good-natured barbs about The Dirt Track's shows and surface.
“It definitely ain't gonna be the same without Roger and Humpy (Wheeler, the former Lowe's Motor Speedway president) there anymore,” Frank said. “I liked going back-and-forth with Roger. He liked doing it too and played it up.”
Winning combo for Eckert?
Rick Eckert had a strong car in the last two runnings of the Colossal 100 but didn't have a good finish to show for it — in 2007 a shove from behind when a caution flag came out sent him into the backstretch wall and ended his bid after just three laps, and last year he had just grabbed fourth place on lap 82 when a busted oil line knocked him out.
The York, Pa., racer enters this weekend's action with his hopes riding high. Very pleased with his new Bloomquist Race Car this season, he feels this could be the race that busts him out of a frustrating slump in which he's won just once in the last 104 WoO events.
“I'm excited to go there with a Bloomquist car,” said Eckert, noting that Scott Bloomquist has won the event twice. “The last time we were there Scott won one night and (Chris) Madden won the topless race (in a Bloomquist car), so I know these cars can win there.”
Balzano to be honored
Retired Dirt Late Model standout Mike Balzano of Parkersburg, W.Va., will be inducted into Walk of Fame at Lowe's during a special ceremony scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Balzano, a former STARS/Renegade and MACS tour champion and winner of the inaugural Armour Vienna Sausage Showdown in 2004 at The Dirt Track, retired from competition at the completion of the 2009 season.
