FRANCIS rolls to 1st win in 2005
Summer Nationals at Farley Speedway ... Results
Steve Francis just seems to get stronger each
outing at Farley but mechanical
problems/bad luck has plagued the Ashland, KY driver at his visits at
the Place of Speed, and tonight proved to be the
turning point as Francis powered to the front to win his 1st
UMP 2005 Summer National Tour & 1st
ever win at Farley Speedway. Francis
held off all challengers, including
an exciting battle with Brian Birkhofer over the last 10 laps but came
away with the win in the 40 lap main event and pocketing yet
another $10,000 to his bankroll.
Birkhofer lead the field to the green
flag but O'Neal muscled his way on the inside to take the lead on lap
1. Steve Boley charged to the front from his 7th starting position!
on lap 15 to take the lead from O'Neal as Brian Birkhofer & Steve
Francis were in hot pursuit of Boley. On lap 28 Birkhofer took the
lead from Boley as Boley had the right rear tire go flat with Francis
taking over the second spot. On lap 31 as Birkhofer was passing lap
traffic, Francis took the inside line & took the lead from Birkhofer.
The Kentucky Colonel and Dirty Dozen member Steve Francis who
was wheeling the Larry Moring owned mount,
was able to hold off a charging
Birkhofer during the final 9
laps. Following the duo to the stripe were Don
O'Neal, Brady Smith, current
Summer Nationals points leader Shannon Babb(after starting at the tail
on lap 1 f! or a broken tie-rod), Brian Shirley, Rodney
Melvin, Pete Parker, Ron Barker, Bobby Moyer.
Francis dedicated his 1st
Summer National win to his Crew for
giving him a great car & Owner Larry Moring for opportunity to drive
for the owner.
Don O'Neal began the evening
by recording the fast time honors
among the 22 cars on hand with a lap of 19.22.
The trophy dash was won by Brian
Birkhofer over Steve
Francis, Don O'Neal, Jimmy
Mars,&! nbsp;Shannon Babb, Dennis
Erb, Steve Boley, Rodney
Melvin and Patric Sheltra.
Heat races were won by Steve
Boley over Pete Parker, Jordon
Bland, Greg Johnson, Patric
Sheltra, Ron Barker, Dan
Shelliam, Lyle Zanker and Rodney
Melvin over Brady Smith, Scott
Nesteby, Brian Shirley, Jeep
Van Wormer, Bobby Moyer, Matt Mish.
Jeff Valentine"the bounty hunter" won
the 15 lap Pro Stock Feature in a great battle with Jeff Reinhert
through out the race.
40 Lap A-Main Finish:
1. Steve Francis(Ashland,KY)
2. Brian Birkhofer(Muscatine, IA)
3. Don O'Neal(Martinsville, IN)
4. Brady Smith(Solon Springs,
WI)
5. Shannon Babb(Decatur, IL)
6. Brian Shirley
10. Bobby Moyer
11. Matt Mish
12. Steve Boley
13. Dennis Erb
14. Jeep Van Wormer
15. Jimmy Mars
16. Greg Johnson
17. Scott Nesteby
18. Patric Sheltra
19. Lyle Zanker
20. Gary Crawford
21. Jordon Bland
22. Dan Shelliam
1. Jeff Valentine(Dubuque)
2. Jeff Reinhert(Dyersville)
4. Larry McCall(Mechanicsville)
5. Keith Kiernan(Dubuque)
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