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Steve Hixson
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (July 12) - Cleveland, Tennessee racer Billy Mayo returned to the home track victory lane Saturday night at the Cleveland Speedway. Mayo inherited the lead from two time track champion and 1999 O'Reilly Southern All-Star series champ Jamie Perry, when the race leader dropped out just past the halfway point of the 30 lap Super Late Model 'A' Main feature. Piloting his # 115 'Mike's Pro-Line Graphics, A&K Transport, Word of Life Minestries' GRT / B&B powered, Pontiac GTO, Mayo worked pasted two time Cleveland winner David Payne of the dreaded MURPHY MAFIA on lap 8 for 2nd place, holding on for the final 12 laps and challenges of not only, the COACH, but also the DITCHDIGGER Derek Ellis. With twenty-three (23) racers signed-in for qualifying, many using this weekend readying for next Saturday's (July 19th) mid-race TRIPLEHEADER with the O'SAS 'Jean Johnson Memorial' $5,000. to-WIN big-show, Payne STOMPED THE CLOCK with a 13:620 lap. In heat #1 Payne took the win with Mayo finishing 2nd after 3rd overall qualifier Preston Graves fell from action. Heat #2 saw Friday's North Georgia Speedway winner Jamie Perry pick-up where he left off taking the win over MAFIA sub-let Gabe Wilson.
With Payne and Perry pairing up for the 'FRONT ROW JOE' honors the field roared to green. With two laps in the yellow appeared as local racer Nick Yancy got into the turn 1 wall. Perry pressured and passed Payne for the lead 3 laps later using his patiented low line. Mayo followed suit 2 laps later just prior to Chris Beck bringing out a 2nd caution on lap 7 of the back straight-away. As racing resumed the current SLM points leader Randy Burrows began moving towards the top three. Dewayne Powell set up another restart when the front-end of his machine collapsed while being lapped. Burrows top run ended on the restart when he looped his machine in turn 2 as did the leading RINGGOLD KID when he pitted under caution. With Mayo now leading Payne and Ellis went to work smelling the sweat scent of victory looming. Making his 2008 Cleveland Speedway debut Dusty Carver was on the CARSMART Auto Sales scoreboard in 4th place. Lamar Scoggins began a late race charge into the top 5, on the outside as Ellis and Payne swapped the runner-up spot. Mayo cruised to victory as Payne took back 2nd, just prior to the last yellow when Glen Vanover, Jeff Franklin, Burrows and David Gamble littered the front straight-away on lap 27. The final three laps went away with Scoggins blasting into 4th at the checkers.
It looked as a new winner might emerge from the ranks of the A-Hobby as Chuck Cooper led most of the 20 lap feature. Tanner Works took the lead with a few laps remaining for his 10th win of the season. In the B-Hobby division points leader Michael Anderson was all over leader Willie Miller, but settled for second. In the Front Wheel Drive division it was Kenny Kissar winning. The Pony Stock feature winner was disqualified after refusing a post-race inspection and Jimmy Elliott was declared the winner. The Crate/Limited Late Model winner was 3rd fastest overall qualifier Justin Litchford. The LITCHMOD survived a match-stick lap 1 scrape with the turn 1 wall and held off a strong tyraid of Chris Beavers, John Owenby and Rick Hixson. Owenby passed Beavers for second with only a few laps remaining in the 20 lap feature. Next weekend along with the O'SAS $5,000. to-WIN event, the Monty Morrow special fan-fun WHEELBARROW race is scheduled which pays $150 to a lucky two-person team. For more details including a full field rundown, photo's, schedules and rules visit the tracks official web-site www.clevelandspeedway.com 24/7.
SLM Official Results (7/12/08)
30 Laps $1,200. to-WIN
1. Billy Mayo (# 115) of Cleveland, TN
2. David Payne (# 8) of Murphy, NC
3. Derek Ellis (# 99) of Chatsworth, GA
4. Lamar Scoggins (# 32) of Cleveland, TN
5. Dusty Carver (# 9) of Friendsville, TN
6. Jason Welshan (# 29) of Maryville, TN
7. Paul Tims (# 84) of Georgetown, TN
8. Cody Barnett (# 18) of Ringgold, GA
9. Shawn Reece (# 16) of Harrison, TN
10. Gabe Wilson (# 12W) of Franklin, NC
11. Preston Graves (# 105) of Murphy, NC
12. Glen Vanover (# 201) of Knoxville, TN
13. Jeff Franklin (# J12) of Ten Mile, TN
14. Randy Burrows (# 95) of Chattanooga, TN
15. David Gamble (# 27) of Ooltewah, TN
16. Jamie Perry (# 16) of Ringgold, GA
17. Eddie Blackmon (# 1) of Dallas, GA
18. Dewayne Powell (# 79) of Chattanooga, TN
19. Riley Hickman (# R1) of Ooltewah, TN
20. Chris Beck (# 2C) of Cedar Bluff, AL
21. Nick Yancy (# N7) of Ringgold, GA
DNS. Keith Frazier (# 11) of Cleveland, TN
DNS. Dewayne Pesterfield (# 22) of Chatsworth, GA
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