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Steve Hixson
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (April 12) - The student (of sorts) beat the teacher, Saturday night at the Cleveland (TN) Speedway, when Joe Armes of Petross, Tennessee took a flag to flag victory over his mentor Dale McDowell in the 45 lap (in memory of his racecar # 45) Lamar Lowry Memorial race. Armes would set second quickest time in qualifying, for the outside pole start and that's what got the job done, as the # 77 "Southeastern Construction, Tennessee Valley Excavating" sponsored GRT / Clements powered, Pontiac GTO racecar mastered back marker traffic with MACDADDY on his spoiler the entire distance. "I like coming hear to race" commented Armes afterwards in victory lane. "…the fans are great and the track is always in good shape. Dale's been helping our racing program and I am real glad to have gotten this one, but couldn't have done it without his help."
At race-time 23 Super Late Models signed in for the event and Armes was the first racecar out the gate for Mid-Nite Oil qualifying. His 13:720 lap would stand, until McDowell in the # 17M "Base Racing Fuel & Oil, New Vision Graphics, American Alternator" sponsored Rocket / Clememts powered, Pontiac GTO hit the clock with a 13:647. Only BIG DADDY Randy Burrows (a former student of McDowell's) would come close to the fastest two, clocking a 13:776 lap. Jake Knowles was the 4th and final car locked into the feature from time trials clocking his # 66 "Car Smart Auto Sales, Cruise w/ Champions, Cleveland Speedway Driving School" sponsored MasterSbilt / Race Engine Design, Pontiac GTO beast at 13:786. Before the feature rolled out, two heat races took to the track, with Todd Morrow holding off Skip Arp for the win of the first 10 lapper. Brandon Kinzer held off Shon Flanary for heat # 2, and the third row outside starting position.
With former racer Jake Lowry on-hand to represent his father's memory, the field roared to life under the green flag, with Armes leading McDowell, Knowles, Morrow and Burrows for lap one. The LAWMAN Mike Tinker's early-season gremlins are still plaguing his racecar, as he reared the first yellow, stalling his machine in turn one and two on lap 6. Randy THE DREAM Weaver began marching thru the pack, picking off Flanary for 8th with his #116 "Hicks & Ingle Co., Premier Kitchen Cabinets, David Stremme Racing, 5150 Race Trailers" sponsored GRT, Race Engine Design powered, Pontiac GTO. Then Skip Arp roared to life and Kinzer was the first to witness the Georgetown, TN racers power. Back in the pack, local racer Dewayne Powell battled with North Georgia pilot Paul Hollander. Back marker traffic began to come into play by lap 16, just before Hollander reared a caution with smoke billowing from underneath the racecar.
Arp had stepped into the top 5, just before the yellow (for Hollander) passing Burrows. On the restart the two went at it, nip and tuck style, with Arp trying to get around Morrow for 4th. The HEADMAN Mike Head was in the mix battling Kinzer, Brad Coffey and Paul Tims, until the 2007 Cleveland Speedway Track Champ stalled on the back-stretch, ending his run. Arp, to the delight of the crowd, worked by Morrow with under 10 laps remaining, but lap 37 saw his end, while under caution, pitting his racecar, thus giving 4th place back to the # T1 "Car Smart Auto Sales, Cleveland Aluminum" TNT / Race Engine Design, Pontiac GTO driver. With Arp exited, all eyes were on the DREAM-WEAVER and the Crossville, TN native, didn't disappoint. The restart saw Weaver over-power Morrow and set sights on Knowles. With a few laps remaining, Knowles held a strong line as McDowell, peeked under Armes for a steal. At the conclusion it was Armes, McDowell, Knowles, Weaver and Morrow taking the top 5 nod.
In other racing action Lamar Scoggins continues to make the LLM/Crate racers cringe. Scoggins won from the pole, this time over a solid race of second place. The Cleveland native, assured racefans (as well as competitors) that his return to the SLM ranks would be very soon. Patrick Harvey won the B-Hobby feature, but refused to sell at the conclusion, giving his victory to Soddy Daisy's Chad Collins. In the A-Hobby Tanner Works of Cleveland held off last weeks winner Todd Hernandez and survived a protest teardown. The Pony Stock feature was won by Jimmy Elliott of Cleveland, while Kenny Kizzar took his second Front Wheel Drive 12 lap victory. Next weekend, the Cleveland Speedway hosts the TOP TRACKS Crate Late Model series with a $2,000. to-Win, race. For more information visit the track web-site www.clevelandspeedway.com.
Official Results: 4/12/08
45 Laps / Super Late Models
Lamar Lowry Memorial Race
1. Joe Armes (# 77) of Petross, TN
2. Dale McDowell (# 17M) of Chickamauga, GA
3. Jake Knowles (# 66) of Tyrone, GA
4. Randy Weaver (# 116) of Crossville, TN
5. Todd Morrow (# T1) of Cleveland, TN
6. Randy Burrows (# 95) of Chattanooga, TN
7. Brandon Kinzer (# 18) of Allen, KY
8. Brad Coffey (# 88) of Friendsville, TN
9. Shawn Reece (# 16) of Harrison, TN
10. Mike Head (# 54) of Ellenwood, GA
11. Shon Flanary (# 98) of Mount Caramel, TN
12. Brian Hickman (# 41) of Soddy Daisy, TN
13. Dewayne Powell (# 79) of Chattanooga, TN
14. Nick Yancy (# N7) of Soddy Daisy, TN
15. Ruben Mayfield (# 00) of Knoxville, TN
16. Skip Arp (# 31) of Georgetown, TN
17. Paul Tims (# 84) of Georgetown, TN
18. Preston Graves (# 105) of Murphy, NC
19. David Gamble (# 27) of Ooltewah, TN
20. Kevin Gibson (# M45) of Ringgold, GA
21. Paul Hollander (# 13) of Adairsville, GA
22. Kayne Hickman (# H3) of Soddy Daisy, TN
23. Mike Tinker (# T22) of Ringgold, GA
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