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Steve Hixson
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (April 19) - The COACH David Payne of Murphy, NC could not be stopped Saturday night at the Cleveland (TN) Speedway, despite everything, but the "custom counter tops", being thrown at him by two time winner and fast qualifier BIG DADDY Randy Burrows. With the Crate Late Models taking top billing, for the Top Tracks Challenge series, CLEVELAND ALUMINUM 40, $2,000. to-Win event, a few of the Limited Late Models decided to race with the Super Late Models, which made an interesting mix. Burrows set the standard late in the order, clocking a 13:042, but it was Payne's 13:079 (while pulling double duty) that set the racefans to life at the 1/3 mile clay banked dirt track. The victor racing his white # 8 "Payne Tire Racing, Gibson Motorsports, PPM Racing Products" sponsored MasterSbilt / Racetek powered, Pontiac GTO, lead flag to flag with Burrows sandwiched between himself and another MURPHY MAFIA member Preston Graves at the conclusion of the 30 lap feature.
Saturday night, twenty SLM's signed in for action with the field starting straight-up from their qualifying times. Graves of Murphy, NC held the top spot with a 13:370, until Payne took time, followed by Burrows. As the green flag waved, the initial start was waved-off as Burrows got a jump. Payne evened it up on the re-try and took the preferred outside line to task. Burrows wisely tucked in to Payne's spoiler, keeping with the leader for the entire contest. Stephanie Powell, a normal LLM competitor, reared the first yellow stalling her racecar on the front-stretch. Reigning track champion Paul Tims had a solid run going in 3rd only to have mechanical problems around the halfway point. Longtime fan favorite Robby Mason and his return to action (pulling double duty), was stagnate, with problems on his racecar, regulating him to a disappointing finish. Ice Bowl 2008 champ Bobby Mayse and Derek Ellis battled, with Mayse eventually setting sail using the bottom groove to get into the Top 5, after starting 8th. Shawn Reece also had a strong contention, earning his first Top 5 of the season.
In other racing action Todd Morrow won the Top Tracks Crate Challenge series $2,000. to-Win event. Morrow beat 39 other competitors from four states, for the "Cleveland Aluminum 40" special. The Cleveland native, expressed his and the teams determination to compete for the TTCCs title, of which his teammate Jake Knowles won last season. Chad Collins was the winner of the B-Hobby feature. Condolences to the Chad, who lost his father the previous Saturday, while taking his first race of the season. In the A-Hobby division, the T-n-T Show, was "off the chain again", as last weeks winner Tanner Works battled Todd Hernandez (Tanner - n - Todd). A backmarker car and a wrong decision on Works part, handed an easy victory to Hernandez. The Pony Stock feature was won by Jimmy Elliott of Cleveland for the second consecutive week, while Kenny Kizzar again won the Front Wheel Drive feature. Next weekend, the Cleveland Speedway gets back to a Full Regular Racing Program with racing in all six (6) of its divisions. For more information visit the track web-site at www.clevelandspeedway.com .
Official SLM Results
4/19/08 - 30 Laps
1. David Payne (# 8) of Murphy, NC
2. Randy Burrows (# 95) of Chattanooga, TN
3. Preston Graves (# 105) of Murphy, NC
4. Bobby Mayse (# 22) of Harrison, TN
5. Shawn Reece (# 16) of Harrison, TN
6. Brad Coffey (# 88) of Friendsville, TN
7. Derek Ellis (# 99) of Chatsworth, GA
8. Kayne Hickman (# H3) of Soddy Daisy, TN
9. Ruben Mayfield (# 00) of Lenior City, TN
10. Brian Jackson (# B4) of Chatsworth, GA
11. Dewayne Powell (# 79) of Chattanooga, TN
12. John Winge (# 17J) of Chattanooga, TN
13. Nick Yancy (# N7) of Soddy Daisy, TN
14. Paul Tims (# 84) of Georgetown, TN
15. Robby Mason (# 47) of Hixson, TN
16. Jon Kwasnicki (# 13) of Cleveland, TN
17. Stephanie Powell (# Y7) of Chattanooga, TN
DNS:
David Gamble, Joe Armes, Kevin Gibson
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