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Steve Hixson
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (August 23) - A week later than intended, the Cleveland (TN) Speedway completed it's Carl Black Performance Parts Top Track Challenge Crate series event. Local racer Rick Hixson of Soddy Daisy, Tennessee put his # 16 'Austin Trucking' sponsored MasterSbilt racecar in victory lane for the 40 lap $2,000. to-WIN race presented by Cleveland Aluminum Products. A week ago twenty-five (25) GM Performance Crate motored Late Models had signed all looking for a start in the twenty-four (24) car starting field. Qualifying a week ago saw Dale McDowell set fast time, unfortunately for racefans of McDADDY, the fan favorite couldn't return due to commitments in Bristol, TN this weekend giving LIL' John Owenby the pole, clocking his # 48 'L&S Motor's' sponsored GRT at a 14:483. A mere 9 one-thousandths of a second slower was Hixson, being awarded the 'cat-birds seat' with McDowell ride being regulated to the rear of the starting grid with owner Craig Burrows aboard.
The pair of locals obtaining their FRONT ROW JOE honors brought the field to an early evening green flag with Hixson taking the lead. With Owenby tucked into second, North Georgia Speedway regular Alan Green held up third in front of TTCC series points leader Todd Morrow and crate touring regular Jeff Fields. The former Cleveland Speedway champ in his # T1 'Cleveland Aluminum Products" sponsored MasterSbilt didn't wait too long before racing past Green for third leaving the Fields to battle the B-MAN Brian Jackson. Local racer Bobby Doss reared the races first caution when he slowed on the front stretch. On the restart Morrow over-powered Owenby and set his sights on Hixson. Curtis Cline in the # 23 'Pearson Construction' Warrior racecar came into frame on the restart also looking for the top 5 after starting 13th on the grid. Burrows reared a caution for a solo spin on lap 19 as Hixson kept distance on Morrow.
In traffic worse than Atlanta I-75 rush hour, Morrow would get the closest to Hixson in the mid-stages of the event but that was about it. Morrow even made heavy contact with local racer Michael Evens late in the going as LIL' John kept the pressure from third place. Fields, Green and Cline would scrape for the fourth and fifth spots. 2008 Ice Bowl Champion Bobby Mayse, Jackson and Denny Slayton raced outside the top 5 for the final circuits. Green driving his 'BCI Racing' sponsored GRT held off Fields for fifth, although Cline raced passed late for fourth. The Top Tracks crate racers were treated to a 2nd 'A' Main feature race, under Cleveland Speedway rules and no-points. Hixson picked up where he left off out front and lead Morrow for all 20 laps for his second win of the night, which put close to $3,000. total in his pocket. The Top Tracks Crate Challenge series was scheduled for a 2nd night of competition this weekend in Gadsden, AL at the Green Valley Speedway, but remnance of Hurricane Faye postponed the event to a later date. Next Saturday (Aug. 30th) East Alabama Motor Speedway host $2,000. to win series event, for more information visit the series' web-site www.toptrackschallenge.com.
Top Tracks Crate Challenge series
Official Results (8/23/08)
1. Rick Hixson (# 16) of Soddy Daisy, TN
2. Todd Morrow (# T1) of Cleveland, TN
3. John Owenby (# 48) of Cleveland, TN
4. Curtis Cline (# 23) of Douglasville, GA
5. Alan Green (# 41) of Chatsworth, GA
6. Jeff Fields (# 16) of Aragon, GA
7. Brian Jackson (# B4) of Chatsworth, GA
8. Bobby Mayse (# 22) of Harrison, TN
9. Denny Slayton (# 7) of Rossville, GA
10. Phillip Anderson (# 9A) of Calhoun, GA
11. Brian Burke (# B39) of Chatsworth, GA
12. Randy Dillard (# 51) of Epworth, GA
13. David Tindell (# 111) of Fort Oglethorpe, GA
14. Craig Burrows (# 23) of Chickamagua, GA
15. Michael Evans (# 33) of Cleveland, TN
16. Alan Brewer (# 22) of Lilburn, GA
17. Chris Fennell (# C87) of Dallas, GA
18. Bill Peters (# 88) of Morganton, GA
19. Bob Gibby (# 34) of Douglasville, GA
20. Lucas Fremuth (# 4U) of Cleveland, TN
21. Bobby Doss (# 28) of Cleveland, TN
22.Cory Underdown (# 10) of Cleveland, TN
DNS. Mike Head (# 54) of Ellenwood, GA
DNS. Brent Wyatt (# 17) of Crossville, TN
DNS. J.J. Nye (# 55) of Talking Rock, GA
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