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Steve Hixson
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (May 3) - For the second time in 2008 BIG DADDY Randy Burrows of Chattanooga, TN, has been the man to beat at the Cleveland (TN) Speedway. Saturday night Kevin Gibson gave him a strong run for his money, but the Alive # 95 'ParkerStore, Allstate Insurance, Custom Quality Counters' GRT / Race Engine Design, Pontiac GTO racer would not be denied and would lead flag to flag the 30 lap Super Late Model feature. Burrows swept the nights events, setting fastest time in qualifying, with a 13:705 second lap, followed by winning the first of two heats, for the features pole position. Gibson took outside 'FRONT ROW JOE' honors for the feature, winning heat # 2 from the pole, after clocking (13:738) which would stand as second fastest of the seventeen (17) SLM's signed in. 'This is just great…' stated Burrows after the race. Last night at North Georgia, was totally driver error, these guys that help me out did a great job and we deserve this win.' concluded Burrows.
Disaster laid in for the opening bell, as last weeks runner-up SHORTY Keith Frazier almost flipped after making contact with Shawn Reece, Nick Yancy and Jason Welshan on the front straight-away. After a second and third attempted start, Burrows jumped out front, leaving Gibson tucked in behind Brad Coffey. Lap three saw Jeff Franklin take a solo spin in turn four, to reset the field in single file fashion. Coffey's runner-up stint was short lived as the # 2 man in Cleveland Speedway SLM points lost control of the racecar in turn 2 of lap 6. Dewayne Powell almost went for a swim in the creek, after backing in hard to the turn 3 concrete, with Tim Rucker also being collected. Billy Mayo and Todd Morrow went at it for 4th, as Brian Hickman came in and out of the Top 5 runners. Morrow's bid for a 'Three-Peat' ended a few laps past the half-way point as Gibson began reeling in Burrows. With just outside five remaining back marker traffic was playing into effect for Burrows but Gibson could only close. Burrows takes his 3rd win of the 2008 season (second at Cleveland) and continues to lead the track SLM points championship. David Payne rallied after almost failing to start the feature to finish 3rd, with Mayo and Welshan rounding out the Top five.
In other racing action: the Limited/Crate division saw the wildest finish in recent memory. The NATURE BOY Chris Beavers led LIL' John Owenby for 19 laps, when the two tangled under the while flag. Crashing hard into turn 1, neither racer could continue, handing the feature to 11th starting Matt Steward. The A-Hobby the T-N-T show battled to the checkered flag, after 20 intense laps. Tanner Works held strong for the win over rival Todd Hernandez. Next week their division battles for all the glory in the A-Hobby Mid Season Championship race. The B-Hobby saw Patrick Harvey survive a lap 18 tangle with Donald Forgey. Somehow Harvey's smoking motor held together for the final two circuits and his second win this season. In the Pony Stock feature it was the 'same ole song n' dance' as Jimmy Elliott defeated all comers and in the final race of the night the Front Wheel Drive (fiasko) James Bragg was awarded the win, after no-one in the Top 3 would sell their motors. The Cleveland Speedway is anticipating the return of the O'Reilly Southern All-Star series, that is two weeks away. Saturday Night, May 17th, the series makes in 2008 debut with the $5,000. to-Win 31st Annual Coca Cola Tennessee Memorial Race. Visit www.clevelandspeedway.com for more details.
Official Results: Saturday, May 3, 2008
SLM Feature: 30 Laps
1. Randy Burrows (# 95) of Chattanooga, TN
2. Kevin Gibson (# M45) of Ringgold, GA
3. David Payne (# 8) of Murphy, NC
4. Billy Mayo (# 115) of Cleveland, TN
5. Jason Welshan (# 29) of Maryville, TN
6. Brian Hickman (# 41) of Soddy Daisy, TN
7. Preston Graves (# 105) of Murphy, NC
8. Dewayne Powell (# 79) of Chattanooga, TN
9. Jeff Franklin (# J12) of Ten Mile, TN
10. Nick Yancy (# Y7) of Soddy Daisy, TN
11. Todd Morrow (# T1) of Cleveland, TN
12. Tim Rucker (# 17) of Elijay, GA
13. Brad Coffey (# 88) of Maryville, TN
14. Shawn Reece (# 16) of Harrison, TN
15. Keith Frazier (# 11) of Cleveland, TN
DNS:
Derrick Ellis (# 99) of Chatsworth, GA
Gabe Wilson (# 12) of Franklin, NC
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