LINCOLN, Ill. — Turnabout is fair play.
Chub Frank got the better of Josh Richards on Sunday night, holding off the 20-year-old sensation to capture the Land of Lincoln 40 before a standing-room-only crowd at Lincoln Speedway.
It was the first World of Outlaws Late Model Series victory of 2008 for Frank, who two nights earlier watched Richards pass him late in the distance to win the tour’s event at Attica (Ohio) Raceway Park.
“I wasn’t giving up the top this time,” said a smiling Frank, recalling Richards’s high-side pass at Attica. “Losing two nights in a row would’ve been real tough to take.”
Frank, 46, led the race from flag to flag after starting from the outside pole in the Lester Buildings Rocket car he calls ‘Old Faithful.’ He survived an early-race scrape with Dennis Erb, Jr. and heavy pressure from Richards to pocket the top prize of $7,150.
Richards settled for second place in his Seubert Calf Ranches Rocket, crossing the finish line a couple car lengths behind Frank.
“It was almost like déjà vu again from Friday night,” said Richards, who started fourth. “Chub was up top, and I was underneath him, trying to pass him.”
Defending WoO LMS champion Steve Francis finished third in Dale Beitler’s Rocket after starting sixth, driving what he called “probably the third-best car on the track.” He maintained his tour points lead with the run.
Darrell Lanigan and Rick Eckert rounded out the top five.
The finish:
Chub Frank, Josh Richards, Steve Francis, Darrell Lanigan, Rick Eckert, Shane Clanton, Brian Birkhofer, Tim McCreadie, Jeep VanWormer, Wes Steidinger, Shannon Babb, John Blankenship, Clint Smith, Jason Feger, Vic Coffey, Michael Kloos, Matt Taylor, Tim Fuller, Dennis Erb, Jr., Donny Walden, Brian Shirley, Tim Lance, Terry Casey, Eric Smith, Brady Smith.