STARS: East Bay Late Model Nationals Report and Results
10 February 1998
Gibsonton, Fla - Mike Balzano of Parkersburg, WV pocketed the $10,000 top
prize in the rain postponed Stars Racing Series sanctioned "East Bay Late
Model Nationals" Sunday night at Will Cagle's East Bay Speedway. Aboard
the Rocket/Draime/Eddie's Auto Parts No. E1 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Balzano
grabbed the lead after the first lap of the 100 lap feature event and held
off numerous threats in scoring the win. thirteenth starting Steve Francis
came second followed by fourteenth starting Scott Bloomquist, Billy Moyer
and fifteenth starting Dan Schlieper. Rounding out the top 10 finishers
were Jimmy Mars, Ronnie Johnson, Jack Boggs, Keith Nosbisch and Bart
Hartman.
As the field roared into turn one, after a nearly one hour delay for track
lighting problems, fourth starting Terry English spun in turn one
collecting the cars of Rick Eckert, Bloomquist, Rick Aukland, Jason Smith
and Schlieper. On the restart, Balzano shot into the lead followed by
Nosbisch, Tony Izzo Jr., Boggs and Moyer. Four cautions in the first 30
laps slowed the action but each time Balzano was able to hold onto the
lead. At the end of 30 circuits Balzano was trailed by R.J. Conley,
Francis, Izzo Jr. and Steve Lucas. By lap 40 Francis had worked his way to
second with Moyer in third followed by Bloomquist and Izzo Jr. At the lap
50 mandatory fuel-stop the running order had Balzano with the lead over
Francis, Moyer, Bloomquist and Izzo Jr. with Mars, Boggs, Nosbisch,
hartmand and Schlieper trailing. Only one caution in the final 50 laps
slowed the torrid pace as Francis battled Balzano for the lead. At lap 70
Balzano and Francis waged war with Bloomquist now to third over mars and
Moyer. with 20 to go Balzano had Francis all over him with Bloomquist
joining the battle. Balzano opened up a two car-lenght lead with 10 laps
to go as Bloomquist fell back ahead of Moyer and Schlieper. Balzano
crossed the finish line with a three car length margin over Francis for his
first ever trip to victory circle at East Bay Speedway.
68 drivers were on hand for the $39,000 event with R.J. Conley setting
quick at 14.815 seconds around the semi-banked 1/3rd mile. Moyer scored
the Scott Performance Wire heat race while other heat race winners were
Boggs, Eckert, Hartman, Aukland and Jason Smith. Nosbisch copped the ISKY
RACING CAMS Fast Dash while Conley and Lucas scored the wins in the Pro
Shcoks "B" Mains.
STARS
Fin
Pos Car Driver laps
---------------------------------------------
1. E1 Mike Balzano 100
2. 15 Steve Francis 100
3. 0 Scott Bloomquist 100
4. 21 Billy Moyer 100
5. S9 Dan Schlieper 100
6. 28 Jimmy Mars 100
7. 5 Ronnie Johnson 100
8. B4 Jack Boggs 100
9. 02 Keith Nosbisch 100
10 75 Bart Hartman 100
11 5L Steve Lucas 100
12 68 Tim Hitt 100
13. 16 Tony Izzo Jr. 100
14. 71r Rod Conley 99
15. 9f Mark Frazier 98
16. 19 Gary Stuhler 68
17. 17m Dale McDowell 65
18. 111 Terry English 54
19. 15a Bobby Alexander 54
20. 12 Rick Aukland 51
21. 71c R.J. Conley 22
22. 12s Jason Smith 20
23. 7 Mark Miner 14
24. 8 Rick Eckert 13
TIME OF RACE: 1HR.
YELLOW FLAGS: SEVEN-LAPS 0,11,13,16,22,35,65
RED FLAGS: NONE
FAST QUALIFIER: R.J. CONLEY 14.815 SECS.
SCOTT PERFORMANCE WIRE HEAT RACE WINNER: MOYER
HEAT RACE WINNERS: BOGGS, ECKERT, HARTMAN, AUKLAND, SMITH
ISKY RACING CAMS FAST DASH WINNER: NOSBISCH
PRO SHOCKS "B" MAIN WINNERS: R.J. CONLEY, LUCAS
LAP LEADERS: BALZANO 1-100
ROOKIE OF THE RACE: LUCAS
PROVISIONAL STARTERS: STUHLER, ROD CONLEY
NEXT RACE INFO: APRIL 4, 1998 K-C RACEWAY-CHILLICOTHE,OH
50 LAP-$32,000 PURSE-$8,000 TO WIN
John Kaiser -- The Auto Channel