Peanut Claimer
LM Champ Again; Smith SLM Winner Again
The Cleveland Speedway Claimer Late
Model division ran their Mid Season Championship race Saturday
night. Sixteen racecars signed in for the 25 lap extended "A"
Main feature, that saw plenty of hard poundin' action around
the 1/3 mile clay banked oval. In the first 8 lap preliminary
heat race Rossville GA's; Charles "Peanut" Clinton
lined up for battle against (cadet: newcomer to the LM type racecars)
Mark Cross. Clinton gained the early advantage bringing with
him Randy Dillard and David Tinker. In the second heat another
"cadet" Tim Rodgers held back Chris Powell for the
win and outside pole position for the feature race. P.D. Doss
raced from the last row to finish third. As the field roared
to the green flag for the start of the "A" Main Clinton
took the lead only to have the first caution flag wave as Glen
Seaton III and Mark Cross tangled in turn two. On the restart
again Clinton powered into the lead leaving Dillard, Tinker,
Rodgers and current divisional points leader James Gamble to
follow the yellow #51 "Lambert Concrete" Dodge powered
for the first lap. Rodgers still reeling backwards from the top
line, slam the back half of the field, when he spun in turn four.
Rodgers bounced first off Bobby Doss' racecar before crashing
hard with Mitch Ellis, Chris Beavers, and Ron Tatum. After the
lengthy caution period Clinton again powered out to a comfortable
lead. Gamble began a charge to the front working past Tinker
for third. Dillard held off Gamble despite the constant pressure
to finish second with Tinker and Powell rounding out the top
five. In victory lane Clinton dedicated his second career Cleveland
Speedway Mid Season Championship race to his wife of which they
are celebrating their 25th Wedding Anniversary Monday.
Official Finish:
1.Charles "Peanut" Clinton
(# 51)
2.Randy Dillard (# 51)
3.James Gamble (# 27)
4.David Tinker (# 22)
5.Chris Powell (# P9)
6.Mark Cross (# 3)
7.Glen Seaton III (# 92)
8.Chris Beavers (# 03)
9.Nick Yancy (# Y7)
10.Bobby Doss (# 28)
11.Jimmy Bettis (# 95)
12.Ron Tatum (# 17)
13.Chad Anderson (# 0)
14.P.D. Doss (#1)
15.Mitch Ellis (# 40)
16.Tim Rodgers (# 00)
Super Late Model: Winner - Dewayne
Smith (# 21) of Cleveland TN (2nd Career SLM Win)
2.Andy Dill (# 39), 3.Mike Tinker (# 22), 4.Keith Frazier (#
11), 5.Lamar Scoggins (# 32)
Hobby: Winner - Richard Dixon (#
3) of Cleveland TN
2.Doyle Herron (# 77), 3.Kenneth Tatum (# 32), 4.Dewayne Powell
(# P17), 5.Stephanie Yancy (# Y7)
Pony Stock: Winner - Jason Spraker
(# 25) of Cleveland TN
2.Todd Morrow (# T1), 3.Justin Winters (# J1), 4.Mark Bishop
(# 1), 5.Adam Roberts (# 94)
Street Stock: Winner - Donald Forgey
(# 71) of Cleveland TN
2.John Chambers (# 92), 3.Herbert Chambers (# 31), 4.Anthony
Hawkins (# 3), 5.Shane Wallace (# 19)
