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Steve Hixson
CHATSWORTH, Ga. (July 18) - For the second time in 2008 Skip Arp made it to victory lane Friday night at North Georgia Speedway in Dalton/Chatsworth. Although this time it wasn't an easy flag to flag stroll against the regular Super Late Model DAWGS of the 1/3 mile clay banked dirt track. This time, Arp was up against some of the regions best as the O'Reilly Southern All-Star series brought the 'Thunder through the Mountains' TRIPLEHEADER weekend swing through town. The SKIPPER now sets himself up for the CarSmart Auto Sales bonus of $2,500. if he can produce a victory at the Cleveland (TN) Speedway, Saturday night. The Georgetown, TN racer pocketed the $5,000. first place prize against a stout field of competitors, which by race-time was thirty-eight (38) teams strong representing six (6) states. As the first car to qualify, Arp set the standard with a 12:919 bump on the clock, but it was N. GA Speedway's track teach Dale McDowell setting the lesson on fast-time, when the # 17M 'Base Racing Fuel & Oil, New Vision Graphics, American Altenator' sponsored Rocket / Clements powered, Pontiac GTO racer STOMPED the CLOCK with a 12:646 for what would be Sunoco Race Fuels Pole Award. McDADDY and Arp were the only two of the locked-in Top 10 qualifiers in the 12 second bracket. Eric Jacobsen, Kevin Gibson, Gabe Wilson, Jimmy Owens, David Payne, Todd Morrow, Jake Knowles and Lee Sutton were the other locked-in contestants from qualifying.
Three 'B' Main / Last Chance races then set the stage, transferring the top four into the 'A' Main feature. Eleventh overall fastest qualifier was current O'SAS points leader / defending series champ Ivadent Lloyd which earned the Ocala, FL racer the pole for the first 8 lap race. Lloyd maintained the lead over Joe Armes, as Jamie Perry and Randy Burrows raced Brad Neat. The Dunville, KY racer almost earned a transfer spot, but when he bobbled in turn four of the 5th lap, that knocked himself out of contention. In the 2nd 'B' Main, pole sitter Michael England (another Kentuckian) took care of business over Jason Fitzgerald, the DIRTY WHITE BOY Anthony Whte and Mike Weeks. Uncharacteristically, Randy Weaver (a two-time winner at N. GA in 2008) failed to make a transfer position, finishing 5th. The 3rd and final 'HOOLIGAN RACE' the CHATTANOOGA FLASH, Ronnie Johnson had em' covered. Local racer Derek Ellis (who's following the O'SAS circuit this season) raced from fourth to the runner-up spot behind RJ, with Cody Barnett and Bobby Giffin taking transfer spots. The nights two O'SAS provisionals went to 2007 series rookie of the year Stacy Holmes and Anthony Hill.
After a beautifully displayed 4-WIDE SALUTE to the fans, McDowell and Arp staged the field for the 50 lapper. McDowell got warned with a jump on the initial try and for good measure as the SKIPPER had the well known 'cat-birds seat' on the outside. Fifth starting Wilson began smoking heavily, dropping fluid from his ride and pitting before the official first lap. Green flag # 2 and the field was off to the races with Arp in control, with his # 97 'Stanley Best Heating & Cooling, C.A.R. Auto Sales & Collision Repair, Tyler Bros. Farm Equipment' sponsored GRT / Vic Hill powered, Pontiac GTO mount with McDowell second and Jacobson third. The field made it thru lap # 2 when Johnson pulled up lame in turn 2 with a flat left rear Hoosier. The field set to the tune of the first DELEWARE DOUBLE-FILE restart with locals Gibson and Payne 4th and 5th to Arp, McDowell and EJ. The race went green until lap 10 when Barnett solo-ed in turn 4. On the restart 1999 O'SAS champ Perry and Sutton got bogged down and tangled up in turn 2. The nights scariest crash happened just after that when Holmes and leading rookie chaser Fitzgerald got high in turn four. Holmes went about flipping violently, getting some MAJOR AIR after making contact with the Jacksonville, FL racer. On the restart 9th starting Knowles in a new # 66 'CarSmart Auto Sales, Cruise with the Champions, Cleveland Speedway Driving School' sponsored MasterSbilt / Race Engine Design powered, Pontiac GTO began his quest for a top 5, duking it out with Todd Morrow for 7th.
Things for the most part settled down after lap 13 with a long 20 lap jont, which is just what the doctor ordered for the NEWPORT NIGHTMARE. Starting 6th, Owens snaked his way towards the front using the bottom of the track to pass Payne, Gibson and Jacobsen. McDADDY and the O'SHOW then went at it side by side for 2nd as the SKIPPER strolled towards back-marker traffic. Provisional starter Hill then decided to surprise everyone, by sitting sideways in the entrance to turn three, nearly getting T-boned by the leaders on lap 34. Jacobsen ended his top 5 run, with mechanical problems as Owens took the # 2 spot. Fourteenth starting Armes in the # 77 'Southeastern Construction, TN Valley Excavating' GRT / Clements, Pontiac GTO was making strides and entering the top 5 as Gibson and Payne began fading late in the race. Bringing the fans to their feet Owens went wheel to wheel with Arp as the laps clicked towards the end, with a single back-marker car loomed ahead. Lap 47 and the black n' green # 20 'Gantte Appraisals, Reece Monument Co., Byrds Radiator, VP Racing Fuels' sponsored Bloomquist / Cornett powered, Ford Fusion machine manuevered by Arp taking the lead officially on lap 48. Unfortunately for Owens that wasn't the one that counted and his racecar failed to stick as well in turn two, with the DWB directly in front of the leaders. Arp got back the lead down the back-stretch heading to the white flag and it was too little too late for Owens. The O-SHOW followed Arp underneath the checkers with McDowell, Armes and Knowles following.
O'Reilly Southern All-Star series
North Georgia Speedway, Chatsworth, GA
50 Laps $5,000. to-Win
1. Skip Arp (# 97) of Georgetown, TN
2. Jimmy Owens (# 20) of Newport, TN
3. Dale McDowell (# 17M) of Chickamagua, GA
4. Joe Armes (# 77) of Petross, TN
5. Jake Knowles (# 66) of Tyrone, GA
6. Michael England (# 5E) of Glasgow, KY
7. Ronnie Johnson (# 5) of Chattanooga, TN
8. David Payne (# 8) of Murphy, NC
9. Derek Ellis (# 99) of Chatsworth, GA
10. Ivedent Lloyd (# 21) of Ocala, FL
11. Anthony White (# 2x) of Clinton, TN
12. Anthony Hill (# 10) of Carrollton, GA
13. Eric Jacobsen (# 5) of Santa Cruz, CA
14. Kevin Gibson (# M45) of Ringgold, GA
15. Bobby Giffin (# 97) of Maryville, TN
16. Jamie Perry (# 16) of Ringgold, GA
17. Cody Barnett (# 18) of Ringgold, GA
18. Stacy Holmes (# H2) of Munford, AL
19. Jason Fitzgerald (# 7) of Jacksonville, FL
20. Randy Burrows (# 95) of Chattanooga, TN
21. Todd Morrow (# T1) of Cleveland, TN
22. Lee Sutton (# L7) of Taylorsville, GA
23. Mike Weeks (# 22) of Friendsville, TN
24. Gabe Wilson (# 12W) of Andrews, NC
DNS: Brad Neat, Randy Weaver, Gary McPhereson, Brady Coffey, Ricky Armes, Robert Gant, Preston Graves, Eddie Blackmon, George Mashburn, Buster Goss, Don Jenkins, April Farmer, Craig Burrows and David Crabtree
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