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