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Steve Hixson
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (April 5) - The BIG DADDY Randy Burrows cradled his second victory of the 2008 season coming again at the season opener of an area dirt track not far from his Chattanooga, Tennessee home. This week (much like two weeks ago at North Georgia Speedway) the # 95 'ParkerStore, Southern Fluid Power, AllState Larry Burrows' sponsored GRT / Race Engine Design, Pontiac GTO racecar found victory lane, this time at the Cleveland Speedway in Super Late Model division. Leading flag to flag the 30 lap feature, Burrows was hounded again this week, by a Morrow team car, this time by driver Jake Knowles of Tyrone, Georgia. Knowles having a spoiler full of Maryville's Tommy Kerr from time to time, allowed Burrows to pull away, leaving the runner-up duo to keep adjusting their respective lines around the 1/3 mile clay banked oval, in an attempt to reel in the leader.
On a very cloudy and drizzly overcast Saturday afternoon, twenty-two SLM's signed in for action in the top class. Qualifying saw Preston Graves of Murphy, North Carolina hold the top spot with a 13:380, until ROCKET-BOY Kerr clocked a 13:226. Knowles bested that time with a thundering 13:217, but the lightning strike would be Burrows, late in the order, popping a 12:941, which not only set fast-time, but would be the only 12 second lap recorded of the evening. Starting the field straight-up from qualifying was the order of business as, no-one knew just what was up the sleeve of mother-nature. As the green flag waved over the 20 starters (Bobby Mayse and 6th fast qualifier Mike Hill - failed to start) Burrows set sail again using the high line, with Knowles and Kerr following.
The first caution (on lap 3) showed early, as debris got in the racing groove. Two laps later Brad Coffey careened his mount off the front stretch wall ending his efforts. Johnny Chastain of the infamous MURPHY MAFIA began rolling strong working past reigning track champion Paul Tims for 6th after starting 9th overall. The leaders hit back-marker traffic on lap 12, as Dewayne Powell went a lap down. Shawn was the first of the Chastain Brothers to exit with mechanical problems Saturday night, while Johnny on the other hand was "movin' on up". Picking off competitors one by one, using the utlra-low groove, the HITMAN cracked the top five just prior to the half-way point, knocking Morrow from fifth. Setting his sights on another member of the MAFIA David Payne, Chastain's night would end 5 circuits shy of the checkers with severe rearend damage.
The field would end up where they started off with Burrows leading from the pole, Knowles and Kerr second and third with Payne and Morrow rounding out the top five. In other racing action Lamar Scoggins is dipping into the LLM/Crate pool, for the time being. The normal SLM pilot from Cleveland, took the 20 lap, 20 car feature race. Patrick Harvey won the B-Hobby feature. In the A-Hobby a stunning finish "WHOO-ED" the crowd as Todd Hernandez held off Tanner Works final turn attempt at glory. The Pony Stock feature was won by Rocky McNabb with Kenny Kizzar taking the Front Wheel Drive 12 lap feature. A LLM/Crate 15 lap Semi-Feature was contested, with Jerry Coffman the winner of the 9 car field. Next weekend, the kissin' cousin's North Georgia and Cleveland Speedway dirt tracks get a DOWN N' DIRTY DOUBLE-HEADER with $3,000. to Win, SLM features on Friday and Saturday nights. For more information visit either tracks web-site (www.northgeorgiaspeedway.com or www.clevelandspeedway.com) 24/7.
Official Results: 3/22/08
30 Laps / Super Late Models
1. Randy Burrows (# 95) of Chattanooga, TN
2. Jake Knowles (# 66) of Tyrone, GA
3. Tommy Kerr (# 4T) of Maryville, TN
4. David Payne (# 8) of Murphy, NC
5. Todd Morrow (# T1) of Cleveland, TN
6. Preston Graves (# 105) of Murphy, NC
7. Paul Tims (# 84) of Georgetown, TN
8. Derek Ellis (# 99) of Chatsworth, GA
9. Keith Frazier (# 11) of Cleveland, TN
10. Gabe Wilson (# 12W) of of Franklin, NC
11. Shawn Reece (# 16) of Harrison, TN
12. Lee Sutton (# L7) of Taylorsville, GA
13. Ruben Mayfield (# 00) of Knoxville, TN
14. George Mashburn (# 13) of Murphy, NC
15. Dewayne Powell (# 79) of Chattanooga, TN
16. Johnny Chastain (# 00) of Murphy, NC
17. April Farmer (# 14) of Livingston, TN
18. Shawn Chastain (# X) of Murphy, NC
19. Brad Coffey (# 88) of Friendsville, TN
20. Mike Tinker (# T22) of Ringgold, GA
DNS:
Bobby Mayse (# 22) of Harrison, TN
Mike Hill (# H11) of Rockwood, TN
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