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Steve Hixson
CHATSWORTH, Ga. (November 8) - The TURKEY RUMBLE has been the North Georgia Speedway finale event since 2002. Saturday night Jimmy Owens collected the $5,000. payday, winning the unsanctioned Monty Morrow promoted event that seals the 2008 racing season at the Dalton/Chatsworth NASTY FAST 1/3 mile high-banked clay oval. Owens defeated McDADDY Dale McDowell, an area fan favorite, leading all 40 laps of the Super Late Model feature, which ties the runner-up for the number of total TURKEY RUMBLE victories, at two (2) apiece. Qualifying saw forty-two (42) teams sign-in for the race, with 2005 winner Shane Clanton setting fast time, with a 12:279 pass. Clanton, Owens, McDowell and local Maryville, TN racer Brad Coffey were locked in from qualifying and drew an invert for the start of the feature. "It will get out of the way…" Owens told DirtonDirt.com's Todd Turner in a post-race interview, speaking of the Cornett motor with new heads from Billett. "It's the stoutest motor I've ever run." concluded Owens regarding the win at the track known for being ultra-fast. Owens won the 2006 edition of the November classic event and was second runner-up in 2007.
Event Images - 2008 Turkey Rumble
Four "B" Main HOOLIGAN RACES staged the remaining 38 competitors against each other, taking the Top 5 finishers and transferring them into the feature. Fifth overall fast qualifier Austin Dillon (one of two grandson's in competition of NASCAR team owner Richard Childress) and Ray Cook battled for the first heat race. Cook in his # 53 "Arvil Cook Property Investments, A+ Moving & Storage, Elliotts Heating & Cooling, Hamricks of Gaffney" sponsored MasterSbilt / Grover, Ford Fusion got the win and earned the inside row 3 starting spot with Dillon and Kayne Hickman following. Race # 2 Skip Arp (winner of the 2nd Turkey Rumble in 2003) got the win over Billy Ogle Jr. with Derek Ellis finishing third. The win put Arp 6th on the starting grid, making all previous winners of the event in the show and starting up front. Tony Knowles won race # 3 over Anthony White and Brady Smith, while ROCKETBOY Tommy Kerr blasted his # 4T "Bob Kidd Siding Co, Castone, Blount Excavating, Kelso Oil" sponsored Rocket / Custom, Pontiac GTO to victory in race # 4.
With Owens and Coffey inverted to FRONT ROW JOE honors for the start, the field roared to life, only to be stalled when Coffey got crossed up in turn four. Attempt # 2 and it was the SKIPPER's turn and he spun in turn 2. When lap 1 finally got recorded it was last years runner-up Clanton rearing the yellow with a damaged noise piece. With Owens leading McDowell made quick work of Coffey in second, bringing with him Kerr quickly. Arp's run ended prematurely, exiting the race on lap 5. Making his first ever trip to the Dalton/Chatsworth, GA track Brady Smith set a charge towards the front in his # 2 "Amsoil, Mid-States Hydraulics" sponsored Bloomquist racecar, passing both Ogle and T. Knowles en route to a fifth place finish. Jake Knowles and Ivedent Lloyd crashed on lap 14 in turn four, just prior to the final 24 laps of the race that saw Owens and his # 20 "Gantte Appraisals, VP Racing Fuels, Reece Monument Co., Byrd's Radiator" sponsored Bloomquist / Cornett, Ford Fusion check out over McDowell, and the # 1G "Willett Powder Coating, Dover Cylinder Heads, BiLo Markets, Goddard Industrial & Guttering" Warrior house-car.
Turkey Rumble: (11/8/08)
$5,000. to-WIN - 40 Laps
1. Jimmy Owens (# 20) of Newport, TN
2. Dale McDowell (# 1G) of Chickamagua, GA
3. Tommy Kerr (# 4T) of Rockford, TN
4. Ray Cook (# 53) of Brasstown, NC
5. Brady Smith (# 2) of Solon Springs, WI
6. Tony Knowles (# 26) of Tyrone, GA
7. Clint Smith (# 44) of Senoia, GA
8. Billy Ogle Jr. (# 201) of Knoxville, TN
9. Austin Dillon (# 3) of Lewisville, NC
10. Kayne Hickman (# H3) of Soddy Daisy, TN
11. Gary McPherson (# 29M) of Dalton, GA
12. Shawn Chastain (# X) of Murphy, NC
13. Jake Knowles (# 66) of Tyrone, GA
14. Brian Hickman (# 41) of Soddy Daisy, TN
15. Brad Coffey (# 88) of Maryville, TN
16. Jamie Perry (# 16) of Ringgold, GA
17. Ivedent Lloyd Jr. (# 21) of Ocala, FL
18. Johnny Chastain (# 00) of Murphy, NC
19. Anthony White (# 2X) of Clinton, TN
20. Skip Arp (# 31) of Georgetown, TN
21. Randy Weaver (# 116) of Crossville, TN
22. Mike Hill (# 11) of Rockwood, TN
23. Derek Ellis (# 99) of Chatsworth, GA
24. Shane Clanton (# 25) of Locust Grove, GA
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