John Jones Recap's Cleveland Super Late Models

Cleveland TN (4/1/00) -- Tennessee Valley area fan favorite John Jones recaptured the Cleveland Speedway Super Late Model division checkered flag Saturday night. The Ringgold Georgia driver in his familiar # J1 raced to a flag to flag 30 lap "A" Main Feature win. Jones last win at Cleveland Speedway came just two events ago, which was the season ending "Gobbler 100" last November. "The track was in real good, racey shape tonight and this new clay is real good Joe's (Lee Johnson) put on." Stated Jones in a post race interview. Constant pressure was applied to Jones by second place finisher Mike Tinker in the # 22 racecar. Defending Track Champion David Millians in the # 9 racecar finished third. Shane Tankersly and Brian Hickman rounding out the top five.

As twenty-four Super Late Models signed in by race time Millians set the standard early in "BudLight Qualifying Time Trials" clocking a lap at 14:988 seconds as the seventh qualifier. Hickman then shocked the Cleveland Speedway fans by surpassing Millians time with a lap at 14:921 seconds. Jones then came along to vanquish all competitors rolling a time of 14:651seconds. Following Jones, Hickman and Millians in qualifying were Tinker and Shawn Chastain. In the first of two heats Jones defeated Millians for the "A" Main feature race pole position with Chastain finishing third. Hickman lost his battle against Tinker in the second heat, with Tankersly rounding out the top three.

With Jones and Tinker commanding the start, the pair of Ringgold Georgia residents drag-raced into turn one. Jones powered into the lead heading down the back stretch with Tinker, Millians, Hickman and Chastain following. The yellow flag erupted early as a four car pile ensued in turn three of lap one. Chastain ended his run with mechanical problems and was unable to restart losing his top five position. As the race went back to green for the next fifteen laps, Tinker began his conquest for the top spot by sliding under Jones in the turns. Jason McMahan reared a caution on lap 16 when the left front wheel collapsed down the front straight-away. Tankersly was able to pass Hickman for fourth by mid race as Tinker's pressure began to where off as the race continued green. A five car pile-up as well as a two car collision took place in separate incidents of lap 22 as the final yellow period of the race occurred. Jones was followed across the checkers by Mike Tinker, David Millians, Shane Tankersly and Brian Hickman.

Other Racing Action:

Claimer Late Models: Winner - Nick Yancy (# Y7) of Soddy Daisy TN
2.James Gamble (# 27), 3.Dana Burrows (# 14), 4.Elgin Gray (# 32), 5.Kenneth Sweatt (# 5)
Heat Race Winners: Yancy, Gray, & Anderson

UMP Open Wheel Modified: Winner - Jerry Coffman (# 30) of Soddy Daisy TN
2.Scott Boyd (# 11), 3.Dirk Carter (# 21)
Heat Race Winner: Coffman

Hobby: Winner - Kenny Scroggins (# 34) of Cleveland TN
2.Doug Works (# 35), 3.Richard Dixon (# 3), 4.Ken Muse (# 58), 5.Jeff Paige (# 14)
Heat Race Winners: Scroggins & Muse

Pony Stock: Winner - Justin Winters (# J1) of Cleveland TN
2.Jason Spraker (# 25), 3.Jeremy Spraker (# 7), 4.Todd Morrow (# T1), 5.Luke Shipman (# 44)
Heat Race Winners: Ja. Spraker & Farrell Holloway (# 9)

Street Stock (1st Race from rain-out 3/18/00): Winner: Jeff King (#K1) of Cleveland TN
2.Roy Nichols (# 00), 3.Donald Forgey (# 71), 4.Ritchie Nichols (# K2), 5.Phillip Sparks (# 6)

Street Stock (2nd Race): Winner: Donald Forgey (# 71) of Cleveland TN
2.Roy Nichols (# 00), 3.Herbert Chambers (# 31), 4.Anthony Hawkins (# 3),
5.Shane Wallace (# 19)