CLANTON COLLECTS $10K SOUTHERN ALL STARS SHAMROCK VICTORY AT CLEVELAND SPEEDWAY

Dirt Late Model
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Steve Hixson
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (March 12) - The GEORGIA GIANT Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, GA was on railz, plain and simple, Saturday night during the 16th running of the SHAMROCK race at Cleveland Speedway. Practice (Friday) seemed to pay off in $10,000 dividends as the # 25 "RSD Enterprises, SAE Parts Inc, GW Performance, VP Racing Fuels, Keyser Manufacturing" sponsored Capital Race Cars / Malcuit Racing Engines powered Pontiac led start to finish the 60 lap "A" Main. Clanton, 35 had no problems throughout the entirety of the Southern All-Star sanctioned event, only being slowed up once, while attempting to pass back-marker traffic. Other than a lengthy caution period for a grandstands medical emergency, the race was for second thru fourth place.

16th Annual Shamrock Photos

"The car was real good all weekend" touted Clanton during his victory interview. "Qualifying we failed to hit perfect, but to beat Dale (McDowell) in our heat, showed that we were going in the right direction." Clanton continued by thanking his guys and acknowledged the effort they put forth on the new racecar. Chassis builder and former Dirt Track World Champion Marshall Green stated after the race, "We're gonna get Shane finished up with car #2 before we work on anything else. I'm not wanting to mass produce cars right now although two other racers are in line for cars this Summer." Clanton mention to look for him around home (the South) alot this season, when not on tour with the World of Outlaw Late Model group.

At racetime 38-SLM's signed in for Murphy Mirror & Glass Qualifying. McDADDY Dale McDowell put his Clint Bowyer owned #17M "Crawford Supply, Cormetic Gaskets, Klotz Lubricants" Rocket / Earnhardt/Childress Engines powered Chevrolet into the fast-time status winning the $250 award with a 14:836 recorded lap. McDowell and Clanton went head to head in Heat #1 with Clanton taking the win. David Payne and 2010 Track Champion Todd Morrow won their respective heats from the pole, while Jimmy Owens worked past Mike Marlar for Heat # 4 victory. B-main #1 was won by Randy Weaver with Steve Smith taking B-main #2. Using S.A.S provisionals were Jake Knowles and Tommy Kerr respectfully.

After the 4-wide salute to the fans Clanton led the field to green leaving Morrow and Payne play a high-speed game of shuffle-board for second place After a few laps Payne takes over second til caution arrives on lap 5. Jeff Franklin, Randy Weaver, Shawn Chastain, Jake Knowles and Tommy Kerr get hung up in turn 2 leaving Franklin out. Skip Arp also pitted under yellow and would not return to action. Clanton leads at the restart as Brandon Williams not firing on all cylinders gets lapped early. Clanton has an easy 5-car length advantage over Payne, whom keeps getting challenged on the restarts by Morrow.

With Clanton still leading, the X-MAN Shawn Chastain slows up the leaders progress and allows the # 8 "Gibson Motorsports, Payne Tire, Base Racing Fuels, Andrews Heating & Cooling" sponsored MasterSbilt / Racetek Steve Allen, Pontiac his best shot at the leader. Finally clearing Chastain, Clanton works on Eric Wells At the halfway point Clanton leads as Jake Knowles ends his night. Randy Weaver goes a lap down and rears the third caution on lap 42. Morrow keeps pace with Payne on the restarts but the # 48 "KC Graphics, A&K Transport, JEM Motorsports, Cleveland Speedway" MasterSbilt / Racetek, GTO has to keep Owens in check and stays in third.

Caution #4, hits on lap 42 as 2011 Rookie candidate Tanner Works and Bo Shirley tangle in turn 3. Both cars to damaged to continue and retire to the infield pits. Clanton easily rebuilds his 3-5 car length advantage over Payne, Morrow and the O-Shows # 20 "Reece Monument, Gantte Appraisals, Red Line Oil" sponsored Bloomquist / Cornett powered Ford. McDowell is holding off William Thomas and would round out the Top-5 as the checkers wave over Clanton. In local racing action Booger Brooks (#148) won the Limiteds, Chuck Heiling (#444) won Hobby, Chris Poe (# 22) won Pony and Andy Singleton (# 1) won FWD. Next weekend LM's top the card for Cleveland Speedway along with the afore mentioned local divisions. Visit www.clevelandspeedway.com for more info.

Finish
1. 25-Shane Clanton of Locust Grovc, GA
2. 8-David Payne of Murphy, NC
3. 48-Todd Morrow of East Ridge, TN
4. 20-Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN
5. 17m-Dale McDowell of Chickamagua, GA
6. 22t-William Thomas of Phenix City, AL
7. 53-Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC
8. R1-Riley Hickman of Ooltewah, TN
9. 201-Billy Ogle Jr. of Knoxville, TN
10. 99-Derek Ellis of Chatsworth, GA
11. 4T-Tommy Kerr of Rockford, TN
12. T35-Tanner Works of Cleveland, TN
13. 111-Bo Shirley of Gadsden, AL
14. X15-Shawn Chastain of Murphy, NC
15. 18-Ronnie Hollingsworth of Northport, AL
16. 116-Randy Weaver of Crossville, TN
17. 36-Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN
18. 66-Jake Knowles of Tyrone, GA
19. 18-Eric Wells of Hazard, KY
20. 22-Mike Weeks of Friendsville, TN
21. 3-Steve Smith of Powell, TN
22. 95-Brandon Williams of Crossville, TN
23. 31-Skip Arp of Georgetown, TN
24. J12-Jeff Franklin of Ten Mile, TN

DNS: Dustin Cansler, Josh Johnson, Duane Treadwell, Kayne Hickman, Chad Ogle, Dennis Barton, Tony Knowles, Tod Hernandez, Brian Kinnersley, Chip Brindle, Justin McRee, Kerry Jones, Brian Hickman and Rubin Mayfield