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Steve Hixson
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (November 14) - For the second time this season Dale McDowell took the checkered flag at his home track the Cleveland (TN) Speedway, winning in dominating fashion the annual TURKEY RUMBLE event. Before leading all but the first lap, McDADDY rocked the clock, tuning up qualifying time trials with a new track record, blistering a 12:813 official lap in his # 17M "Cheerio's, Dollar General Corp, Cometic Gasket" sponsored Warrior / Custom Race Engines, Super Late Model. The track was ultra-fast on the cool fall evening, that had officials taking extra time to iron-in, before the program got officially rolling. Thirty-nine (39) Super Late Model teams from seven (7) states entered the 40 lapper, all chasing the $5,000 first place prize as the racing season bares down on its final two (2) weeks. From qualifying the Top 10 were locked in to their starting positions, with the rest of the field transferring through three (3) "B" Main Last Chance races.
"I just wanna thank everybody for coming out to this race and to Monty (Morrow track owner/promoter) for having it. We love coming here with out friends, family and loved ones and putting on a good show. The track was excellent tonight, despite it being really wet early this evening, but it came around nicely" stated McDowell from CAR SMART AUTO SALES Victory Lane, at the races conclusion. "Clint (Bowyer) get on to us back at the shop about keeping the bodies on these Warrior racecars in good condition, especially with him being a former body-man, before his NASCAR calling. So he'll be happy we kept this one in tact and come away with a late season victory." McDowell also concluded by stating the team will be back together in 2010 chasing again the LUCAS OIL series National Championship of which he finished fourth in this season.
Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC took a short lived lead at the start of the "A" Main Feature, using the CAT-BIRDS seat (the outside Pole Position) to his advantage. Cook would bobble in turn two of lap 2 and hand the lead to McDowell and Shane Clanton moved within striking distance on Cook. A premature caution flew as Anthony White and Northern RANKINGS racer Frank Heckenast Jr. got together on the back straight-away. The Cleveland Speedway debut of the Orland Park, Illinois driver would be short lived and highlighted by his "B" Main # 2 victory as he exited his Rick Rogers machine to the pits. Joe Armes bled-out a solo spin two laps later with Ethan Hunter getting "jacked-up" on the ensuing restart. "B" Main # 1 winner Todd Morrow soloed in turn 4 of lap 13 as McDowell and Cook began RUMBLING. Multi Cleveland Speedway 2009 winner Skip Arp began rolling and passed Dennis Erb Jr. to gain access to the Top 5.
The battle for the lead would heat up, but then third running Shane Clanton ended his run as the defending JOE LEE JOHNSON / GOBBLER champion would pit with tire problems on lap 17. Second half plaguing cautions for the DIRTY WHITE BOY, Mike Weeks and David Crabtree would stagnate the East Tennessee faithful for strong finishes. Arp wasn't thru with his march either as the laps waned the Georgetown, TN fan-favorite eeked by William Thomas, denying the Phenix City, AL racer his second consecutive Top 3 SLM finish. Cook kept close to McDowell but would settle for runner-up status. Jimmy Owens would bring the O-SHOW into the Top 5, late in the going passing the back-to-back UMP SUMMER-NATIONALS champion (Erb Jr.) who was also making his Cleveland Speedway debut.
Rick Hixson won the BATTLE-BRAWL Limited Late Model feature after stacking the field on the opening lap of the 20-lap feature. Hixson held off East Tennessee's Scott Sexton and local racer Lamar Scoggins for the win. In the Crate Late Model division Hixson's teammate Jerry Coffman was victorious holding of Greg Martin for the victory. James Dykes won the FWD race, with Steven Campbell nipping Jimmy Elliott in the Pony race. Next Friday and Saturday Cleveland Speedway hosts the two (2) day annual JOE LEE JOHNSON / GOBBLER event. Friday Qualifying and Heats take shape for the BIG MONEY LLM/Crate race as well as the $1,000 to-WIN FWD, PONY, and A&B-HOBBY races. Top be eligible racers must be pre-entered. Saturday (Nov. 21st) Nights GOBBLER will be O'Reilly Southern All-Star sanctioned and pays again $5,000 to-WIN the 60 lapper. For more information visit www.clevelandspeedway.com or call (423)479-8574.
TURKEY RUMBLE - 40 Laps / $5,000 to-WIN
1. Dale McDowell (# 17M) of Rossville, GA
2. Ray Cook (# 53) of Brasstown, NC
3. Skip Arp (# 31) of Georgatown, TN
4. William Thomas (# 22) of Phenix City, AL
5. Jimmy Owens (# 20) of Newport, TN
6. Dennis Erb Jr. (# 28) of Carpentarsville, IL
7. Clint Smith (# 44) of Senoia, GA
8. Austin Dillon (# 3) of Lewisburg, NC
9. Rick Rogers (# 44) of Knoxville, TN
10. Derek Ellis (# 99) of Chatsworth, GA
11. David Payne (# 8) of Murphy, NC
12. Tony Knowles (# 26) of Tyrone, GA
13. Aaron Ridley (# A1) of Chatsworth, GA
14. Ethan Hunter (# 15) of Tiger, GA
15. Anthony White (# 2x) of Clinton, TN
16. Shane Clanton (# 25) of Locust Grove, GA
17. Todd Morrow (# T16) of East Ridge, TN
18. Brian Booze (# B2) of Marion, PA
19. Ricky Arms (# 4) of Moss, TN
20. Mike Weeks (# 22) of Friendsville, TN
21. Scott Creel (# 31) of Franklinton, LA
22. Frank Heckenest Jr. (# T44) of Orland Park, IL
23. David Crabtree (# 41) of Maryville, TN
24. Jake Knowles (# 66) of Tyrone, GA
DNS: Randy Weaver, John Owenby, Mike Hill, Brian Hickman, Kevin Gibson, JJ Templeton Billy Ogle Jr., Riley Hickman, Alan Gendusa, Rick Hixson, Bobby Giffen, Luther Jenkins, Shawn Chastain, Jacob Grizzle, Kayne Hickman
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