Gibson Survivor of Outsiders
Pre-All-Star Attack
In what looked like a preview of
next weekends Southern All-Star annual "Labor Day 50"
event, former track champion Kevin Gibson survived an onslaught
out Super Late Model "outsiders" Saturday night. At
race-time twenty four competitors signed in for qualifying at
the 1/3 mile clay banked facility. Last weeks winner Dewayne
Smith again set the standards with a early qualifying lap at
14:980 seconds. As the last car to qualify former S.A.S. champion
Roger Best of Maryville TN clocked the second quick time. With
Gibson third fastest, Dalton's Steve Anderson (debuting at Cleveland
Speedway) fourth quick and rookie Randy Burrows fifth in overall
qualifying the stage became set for the two preliminary heat
races. Gibson raced from the outside pole to victory in the first
heat Smith, Burrows, Andy Dill and Johnney Chastain finished
second thru fifth. In the second heat Best took command from
Anderson, with Jason McMahan, Mike Tinker and Tim Daniels rounding
out the top five.
As Gibson and Best thundered under the green flag the lead duo
went a lap and a half side by side until the yellow waved as
rookie John Owenby nosed the turn two concrete wall. Scoring
showed Gibson as the leader of the first lap (by a nose-piece),
Best second with Smith, Anderson and Burrows following. The race
would go green for the remaining 29 laps, providing multiple
races for position. Best stayed with Gibson for the most part
with Smith and Anderson separated by back marker cars. By far
the most exciting race was watching current Cleveland Speedway
points leader Andy Dill battle Burrows for fifth. Towards the
end of the race Mike Tinker made a charge passed Dill and followed
with a last lap pass on Burrows for fifth. Gibson's #M45 "Four
Corners Mini Storage, Action Sales & Rentals" Chevrolet
Monte Carlo took the checkers for the second time this season
with Best, Smith Anderson and Tinker following.
The special event of the night was
the Street Mid Season Championship 20 lap "A" Main
Feature. Roy Nichols of Cleveland piloted his #00 "Hines
Detail Shop, Parkway Tire" sponsored racecar to his biggest
career win. Current division points leader Anthony Hawkins finished
second with Herbert Chambers in third. Rounding out the top five
were; Shane Wallace and last weeks winner Donald Forgey.
Other Racing Action:
Claimer Late Model: Winner - James Gamble (# 27) of Ooltewah
TN
2.Randy Dillard (# 51), 3.Chad Anderson (# 0), 4.P.D. Doss (#
1), 5.Chris Beavers (# 03)
Hobby: Winner - Richard Dixon (#
3) of Cleveland TN
2.Lynn Roark (# 21), 3.James Nichols (# K3), 4.Jon Woodward (#
37), 5.Shawn Reese (# 16)
Pony Stock: Winner - Todd Morrow
(# T1) of Cleveland TN
2.Justin Winters (# J1), 3.Adam Roberts (# 94), 4.Benji Massingill
(# 30), 5.Mark Bishop (# 1)
