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Steve Hixson
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (May 22) - Crossville's Randy THE DREAM Weaver won his second consecutive "TENNESSEE MEMORIAL RACE" Saturday night at the Cleveland (TN) Speedway, beating drivers from seven (7) other states. Weaver won the $5,000 first place prize, via holding off Chris Ferguson as well as Chris Madden in the 50 lap "A" Main event. Racetime drew thirty-seven (37) Super Late Model dirt teams all vying for a piece of the $20,000 Southern All-Star pie, including runner-up Ferguson making his first ever trip to Cleveland Speedway. Weaver piloting the #116 "BKW Disaster Relief, Ellis Contracting, Byrd's Radiator" sponsored Bloomquist / Race Engine Design powered racecar quickly and adamantly dedicated his recent success to is late friend, racing insider and entheusist Calvin Cheek, while in S.A.S/Cleveland Victory Lane. "Calvin is so very missed, he probably doesn't realize how much so..." choked up Weaver from KC GRAPHICS Victory Lane. "This team is really, working great. Which is a testament to Calvin whom always pushed me to get it to the front more."
As Time Trials took to the track, the 19yo. racer known as FERGY put his #22 "Carver & Sons, Starrette Trucking, Hol's Plumbing, Cushman Paint & Body" sponsored machine on the point during Qualifying, with a 13:324 lap. With the The Top 10 fastest getting locked in, Madden nails down the other FRONT ROW JOE honors with his #44 "Century Plastics, Cushman Paint & Body, Freeman Plumbing, Hamricks of Gaffney" sponsored Bloomquist / Cornett Racing Engines racercar. Weaver was third overall quick with local racers Derek Ellis of Chatsworth, GA and Jake Knowles of Tyrone, GA stabbing Top 5 qualifying runs. The DOUBLE TROUBLE qualifying format wasn't without its drama, as recent SHAMROCK $10,000 winner Jonathan Davenport crashed during his second lap after clocking 10th fastest time. The damage on SUPERMAN's racecar was too severe and the Blairesville, GA racer had to officially withdraw from the event.
Two Last Chance HOOLIGAN races took center stage before the "A" Main feature would be able to line-up. In the first 10-lap Consi. Kentucky's Brandon Kinzer held back THE X-MAN Shawn Chastain. Tommy Kerr, Steve Smith and Freddy Smith transferred as did Mike Hill. Local racer Brian Hickman battled COACH David Payne for Consi #2. Hickman led early, but the MURPHY MAFIA driver was too stout and took the win. Skip Arp finished 3rd just ahead of 1999 S.A.S champion Jamie Perry, current points leader Scott Creel of Franklinton, LA and George Mashburn. Series provisionals made up the remainder of the field and went to KY's Doug Smith and Virgina's Daniel Baggerly. Not making the event included; Andy Standridge, Brad Allen, Brad Coffey, Caleb Ashby, Craig Burrows, Gabe Wilson, Jeff Franklin, Johnny Chastain, Kayne Hickman, Keith Frazier, Robby Moses and Rodney Weeks.
A 4-Wide Salute to the fans, rolled around the track prior to green as CHRIS' SQUARED readied to mash the loud pedal. Madden and FERGY lit em' up without Baggerly or Hill officially. Yellow appeared quickly as 7th starting Morrow caught Mark Vineyard, Kinzer, William Thomas and Freddy Smith in turn 3 of lap 3. Knowles would rear a solo caution in turn two later. The restarts saw clean sailing for Madden as FERGY and Weaver went toe-to-toe for second. Ellis and WoOLM regular Shane Clanton were battling within the Top 5 as well as Weaver began mounting his charge on Madden. Battling side-by-side Weaver would head the field officially with a-little help from back-marker traffic. Under caution Perry and Hickman would tangle on the front-stretch, DQ'ing the former S.A.S champion for rough driving.
On the restart Ferguson came to life and passed Madden for second on the DELAWARE DOUBLE FILE restart. Weaver constantly felt the pressure from FERGY, but again Weaver would see daylight first within heavy traffic. Once in turn two Weaver's mount all but shutdown, which seemed throw Ferguson off for a second. Weaver got back on and stampered off. Madden even had a opportunity for second, but failed to complete the task heading into turn three. Tommy Kerr raced vigerously from his 15th starting spot to just behind the Top 5 Ellis' #99 "Ellis Contracting, Auto Zone, Gene's Racing Parts, Wilson Welding, Outlaw Racing Graphics" sponsored Rocket and Clanton's #25 "SAE Parts Inc, RSD Enterprises, GW Performance, PRC" sponsored Rocket. Thomas would finish one position ahead of his starting spot in 7th. Chastain and Payne would put the MURPHY MAFIA solidly into the Top 10 with their 8th and 9th place finish. Mike Hill would rebound to finish out the Top 10.
The B-MAN Brian ACTION Jackson took it to the house worth a $600 trip to the bank, Saturday night at Cleveland Speedway. The Chatsworth, GA racer piloting his #B4 "Cove Base LLC, IPI, Austin Trucking, Gene's Racing Parts", sponsored Vinson Racing Engines, Late Model led the entire way despite a barrage of challenges. John Gill, outside pole sitter challenged early, til the Ooltewah, TN racer surfed the turn four wall and nearly rolled his brand-new machine. Former ICE BOWL champion Bobby Mayse didn't have nothing for Jackson and would settle for third as THE BIG RED MACHINE Brian Pritchard came callin from his 8th starting position. BP threw everything he could at THE B-MAN but at the 20 lap mark it was all Jackson taking his first win of 2010. Bobby Doss continues to make strides with his FOR SALE ride, finishing 4th with Michael Combs rounding out the almost 20-car field
Dustin Cansler didn't make it look easy in the A-Hobby feature. Losing the lead to Jeff Paige, Cansler regained the lead with a few laps remaining with Scottie Hogan finishing third, Mike Hood fourth and Adam West 5th. Birthday boy Eric Hughes survived and early race skermidge with Jason Brown to take the B-Hobby 20-lap feature. Lamar Hughes, Loomis Smith, Ricky Wagner and Daniel Johnston followed Hughes. Wendall Ingram took the Pony Feature winning over; Sean Truelove, Josh Walker, John Brogden and Zack Shelton offically. In the FWD class Brad Cross who's also celebrating a birthday took the 12-lap feature. F.A.N. Fan Appreciation Night is next Saturday (Memorial Day Weekend) we will have full racing program in all 6-division with special $8 admission. Free Hot-Dogs and Kids Free admission also is begin given.
Southern All Stars Series
Cleveland Speedway
May 22, 2010
A-Main
1 116 Randy Weaver Crossville, TN
2 22 Chris Ferguson Mt Holly, NC
3 44 Chris Madden Gaffney, SC
4 99 Derek Ellis Chatsworth, GA
5 25 Shane Clanton Locust Grove, GA
6 4T Tommy Kerr Maryville, TN
7 22 William Thomas Phenix City, AL
8 X15 Shawn Chastain Murphy, NC
9 8 David Payne Murphy, NC
10 11 Mike Hill Rockwood, TN
11 31C Scott Creel Franklinton, LA
12 45 Doug Smith Somerset, KY
13 13 George Mashburn Cleveland, TN
14 3 Steve Smith Powell, TN
15 T1 Todd Morrow Cleveland, TN
16 31 Skip Arp Georgetown, TN
17 97 Bobby Giffin Maryville, TN
18 41 Brian Hickman Soddy Daisy, TN
19 4 Mark Vineyard Powell, TN
20 66 Jake Knowles Tyrone, GA
21 T21 Jamie Perry Ringgold, GA
22 18 Brandon Kinzer Allen, KY
23 00 Freddy Smith Seymour, TN
24 16 Daniel Baggerly Rural Retreat, VA
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