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Clash Media
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (November 13) - Dean Bowen did everything he could to try and wrestle away the point's championship from Dennis Franklin at the Clash Bash season finale Saturday night at Fayetteville Motor Speedway including winning the race but it just wasn't enough. Coming into Saturday nights race Bowen trailed Franklin by just 40 points which was the difference between finishing 1st and 8th. Bowen qualified on the outside pole and led all 50 laps in the feature event winning the $5,000 prize but it just wasn't enough to take the crown from Franklin who finished the race in the 5th position. Ricky Weeks came home in the 3rd position in the final points by a mere 9 points over Jay Sessoms.
The race was also a very special tribute race to the late Jack Starrette in which a few drivers said a few words about Jack along with long time Carolina Clash Announcer Larry Long and current Carolina Clash Announcer Mark Huey. It was a special night and one that will stick in the minds and hearts of everyone in attendance.
The drop of the green flag saw Chris Meadows and Dean Bowen drag race into turn 1 but Bowen used the faster, high groove in turn 2 to make the pass on Meadows and set sail. Craig Shuffield pulled in on the very first lap after blowing his motor. Then on the very next lap, Brian Ledbetter, Chuck Smith, Jay Sessoms, and Dale Hammond all tangled in turn 4 bringing out the caution. Dean Bowen was out front leading the field but pressured heavily by Dennis Franklin was made his way up the 3rd place by the very first lap. Lap 2 then saw another major pileup in turn 2 when Steve Blackburn spun collecting Chuck Smith, Gary Mabe, Kerry King, and Chris Ferguson. Ferguson had the worst end of the stick when he slammed into King causing his car to go airborne but landed on all 4 wheels.
Lap 5 saw Dennis Franklin make the pass for the 2nd place position on the track and was catching Bowen out front until another caution on lap 7 when Ricky Weeks broke something in the rearend and came to rest on the frontstretch. He would be able to fix the car and make it back out on the track 20 laps down to finish the race in 16th.
On lap 8, a major pileup in turn 4 collecting the cars of Timmy Blackwell, Dale Hammond, Chris Ferguson, Kerry King, and Steve Blackburn. Hammond, Blackburn, and Blackwell were able to continue, the other two went behind the wall via the wrecker.
By lap 18, Bowen had stretched his lead out to nearly half a straightaway while Dennis Franklin began to slip back into the field. By lap 28 Franklin was back to the 5th position and falling quickly while Bowen was still out front with a pretty sizeable lead.
Lap 42 saw a battle brewing between Jeff Smith and Ray Tucker for the 2nd position which lasted until the last turn of the last lap with Tucker taking the 2nd position.
The final caution flew on lap 46 for Scott Shirey who came to rest in turn two. This caution was what Franklin was hoping wouldn't happen as it brought Travis Hair and Jay Sessoms to his back bumper but they couldn't make a move around Franklin in the final 4 laps.
When the checkered was thrown Dean Bowen brought home the $5,000 win with Ray Tucker in second, Jeff Smith in 3rd, Dustin Mitchell in 4th, and Dennis Franklin in 5th.
The Carolina Clash end of the year banquet will be held January 29th at the Speedway Club which is conveniently located at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Carolina Clash Series
Fayetteville Motor Speedway
November 13, 2010
Final Rundown
1. Dean Bowen (2) Whiteville, NC
2. Ray Tucker (6) Garland, NC
3. Jeff Smith (12) Dallas, NC
4 Dustin Mitchell (3) Pine Level, NC
5. Dennis Franklin (5) Gaffney, SC
6. Travis Hair (16) Fayetteville, NC
7. Jay Sessoms (17) Stanley, NC
8. Gary Mabe (7) Danbury, NC
9. Dale Hammond (22) Nichols, SC
10. Timmy Blackwell (9) Fayetteville, NC
11. David Taylor (19) Fayetteville, NC
12. Travis Yow (13) Fayetteville, NC
13. Donald Bradsher (14) Burlington, NC
14. Brian Ledbetter (20) Dallas, NC
15. Scott Shirey (18) Swansea, SC
16. Ricky Weeks (4) Rutherfordton, NC
17. Steve Blackburn (10) Brown Summitt, NC
18. Chuck Smith (21) Sanford, NC
19. Michael Marlowe (24) Nichols, SC
20. Chris Ferguson (11) Mt. Holly, NC
21. Justin Labonte (15) Trinity, NC
22. Kerry King (8) Delmar, DE
23. Chris Meadows (1) Beckley, WV
24. Craig Shuffield (23) Fayetteville, NC
Comp Cams Feature Winner: #15 Dean Bowen
Heintz Performance Fastest Qualifier: #33 Chris Meadows
R2C Performance Products Heat Race Winners: #22 Chris Ferguson, #18m Jeff Smith
Heat race #1 Chris Ferguson, Travis Yow, Justin Labonte, Jay Sessoms, David Taylor, Craig Shuffield, Kyle Pierce, Michael Marlowe, Andrew Brock, Chuck Smith
Heat race #2 Jeff Smith, Donald Bradsher, Travis Hair, Scott Shirey, Brian Ledbetter, Dale Hammond, Mike Evoch, Ronnie, Boykin, Michael Mason
Safety Kleen Hard Charger Award - #9 Dale Hammond
Dirttrax Motorsports Hard Luck Award - # 360 Craig Shuffield
Shafer Enterprises Cool Shirt 5th Place Finisher- #2 Dennis Franklin
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