Cleveland TN - With glimpses of the yet to be 12th annual
Gobbler 100 in the not-so-distant future Cleveland Speedway,
hosted their "Night of Champions" race this past Saturday
night. To the delight of attending race fans, longtime favorite
John Jones of Ringgold GA rocketed to the front of the field
passing early race leader Paul Tims to earn his fifth overall
season victory of the 1/3 mile speed-plant.
As BudLight Pole Qualifying took into effect over the thirty-seven car Super Late Model field, Ricky Holland busted out with fast time early. It wouldn't be until the last car took to the track that Holland would be dismounted from the pole position as Shane Tankersly of Morganton GA dashed to a 14:621 lap time. Holland's 14:625 second lap earned him the outside pole, unfortunately transmission problems would sideline the Shamrock 100 champion as the field took the green flag. Third fastest qualifier was Johnney Chastain, but it was fourth fastest Paul Tims (who ironically had an identical electronic time of Chastain's 14:711) that reaped Holland's misfortune moving forward to the outside front row as the green fell on the field.
In the first of two wild Last Chance Consolation races; Bear
Patterson held off Lamar Scoggins for the win. Chris Beavers
made his SLM debut a good one holding off Rookie of the Year
John Owenby for the final transfer spot. In the second consi.
Dewayne Smith topped the race. Jerry Coffman debuted a new SLM
racecar team bringing home second, with the third and final position
going to Bo Moorehouse.
As Tankersly and Tims took the green, it immediately became obvious to all that John Jones (though starting 8th) was the man to watch. By the third turn of lap one Jones had overpowered four positions, settling into fourth briefly just behind pole sitter Tankersly. Tims was out front with Chastain in hot pursuit. "Three-Wheelin`" Kent Hicks was on the move as well, trying to keep pace with Jones after starting tenth. Jones started working the mid-line of the track three-wheelin through back-marker traffic and eventually passing by Tankersly and Chastain. By this time Tims had built up a half a straight-away lead but it wasn't long 'til Jones "left front high and mighty" took the lead. D. Smith reared a couple of cautions before the races worse incident occurred down the back-stretch when Mike Tinker and Davy Davis bounced off on another. The incident shot Tinker into the concrete and collected Coffman and Jeff Smith. Tims held to second until the rear-end component of the racecar gave way, ending his run. Chastain inherited second which would see his season high finish at Cleveland, with Tankersly third, Hicks fourth and Jimmy Webb fifth.
Official Super Late Model Finish:
1.John Jones (# J1) of Ringgold GA
2.Johnney Chastain (# 00) of Murphy NC
3.Shane Tankersly (# T31) of Morganton GA
4.Kent Hicks (# 15) of Cleveland TN
5.Jimmy Webb (# 711) of Harrison TN
6.Keith Frazier (# 11) of Cleveland TN
7.Shawn Chastain (# 15) of Murphy NC
8.Bear Patterson (# 12) of Ellijay GA
9.James Gamble (# 27) of Ooltewah TN
10.Carson Burris (# 00) of Cleveland TN
11.Lamar Scoggins (# 32) of Georgetown TN
12.Johnney Parris (# 1) of Ellijay GA
13.Rick Hixson (# 16) of Soddy Daisy TN
14.Bo Moorehouse (# 29) of Benton TN
15.Chris Beavers (# 03) of Cleveland TN
16.Paul Tims (# 84) of Georgetown TN
17.Davy Davis (# 11) of Tunnel Hill GA
18.Jeff Smith (# 00) of Villanow GA
19.Mike Tinker (# 22) of Ringgold GA
20.Jerry Coffman (# K1) of Soddy Daisy TN
21.Randy Burrows (# 95) of Chattanooga TN
22.Zeke Buchannon (# 3) of Friendsville TN
23.Dewayne Smith (# 21) of Cleveland TN
24.Ricky Holland (# 42) of Ooltewah TN
Other Racing Action:
Claimer Late Model: Winner - Johnney Cloer Jr. (# 41) of Chatsworth
GA
2.Bobby Doss (# 28), 3.Darren Deverrell (# D7), 4.Sam Parris (# 18), 5.Peanut Clinton (# 51)
Hobby: Winner - Jason Ledford (# 21) of Dalton GA
2.Kenny Scoggins (# 34), 3.Dirk Carter (# 21),
4.Len McNeese (# 41), 5.Richard Dixon (# 3)
Pony Stock: Winner - Justin Winters (# J1) of Benton TN
2.Chad Elliott (# 39), 3.Jason Spraker (# 25), 4.Greg Henderson
(# 3), 5.Benji Massengill (# 30)
Street: Winner - Roy Nichols (# 00) of Cleveland TN
2.Anthony Hawkins (# 3), 3.Tom Swearingen (# R2), 4.Will Swearingen
(# R1), 5.Terry Graham (# 55)
