With a full moon illuminating the Cleveland Speedway a wild night of racing was capped off by Kent Hicks stealing a win taking the lead out of turn two of the final lap of the "A" Main Super Late Model feature race. Things started off quietly enough as track officials began a tire round-up of sorts during Budweiser: King of Speed qualifying time trials. As the fourth qualifier David Smith set the president early but was brought up on tire charges at the scale house. The next qualifier rookie James Gamble clocked an even faster lap than Smith (a 14:483) and had the correct compound on his mount. Gamble's time wouldn't be bettered despite six other tire indictments in post qualifying inspections at the scale house on rookie's Todd Morrow and Chris Beavers, Jamie Perry, Lamar Scoggins, reigning track champion Andy Dill and Dewayne Smith. Offenders would be allowed to start at the rear of the heats (determined by their qualifying order) as long as the legal tire compound was shoed onto the racecar. Three of the offenders decided to vacate. In the first heat race third fastest qualifier Brad Allen took the checkers over Randy Burrows and rookie Todd Morrow. In the second heat second fastest qualifier Jake Lowry held off Mike Tinker and Kent Hicks.
As the field roared towards the green flag Lowry poised into the lead over Allen. Tinker and Hicks made quick moves past Allen, Burrows and Morrow to show the mid-high groove was just as fast as the low one. Kevin Cook reared the first yellow of the race on lap 7 with a solo spin in turn four. This gave exit to former two time track champion David Millians, who returned to racing for the first time in over a year, piloting the vacationing John Owenby's mount. Heat winner Allen's night ended next after contact with hard chargin Andy Dill. Allen stacked up a few cars in turn four ending Morrow's night prematurely as well. Hicks and Tinker battled for second before the red, white and blue Rocket blasted off towards Lowry. Hicks drove each lap to the bottom of the track sticking the nose piece just under Lowry's red racecar. With Lowry looking towards the white flag lap Carroll Cate spun in turn one setting up a lap 28 green, white, checkered restart. Lowry held firm as the white flag unfurled, but Hicks grabbed a better bite of turn one and two and sped by on the inside of Lowry down the back straight-away. Hicks led just over a half a lap, which was enough to muster his fourth victory of the season, in his "Hicks Specialty Welding, Rocket Chassis" Pontiac Gran Prix, tying reigning track champion Andy Dill's mark in the process. Lowry finished second a few feet from Hicks with Tinker third, Dill fourth and rookie Chris Beavers fifth. Only three more weeks remain in the 2001 championship season, culminating with the double points season finale Saturday night August 25th. Check the update Cleveland Speedway schedule on the web-site at www.clevelandspeedway.com or call the track for more details. Next Saturday night at Cleveland Speedway Round #20 of the Championship Season: Full Regular Racing Program for all five divisions.

Super Late Model:
1.Kent Hicks (# 15) of Cleveland
2.Jake Lowry (# 44) of Georgetown
3.Mike Tinker (#22) of Ringgold GA
4.Andy Dill (# 39) of Georgetown
5.Chris Beavers (# 03) of Cleveland *
6.James Gamble (# 27) of Ooltewah *
7.Eddie Benefield (#10) of Cleveland
8.Nathan Parris (# 32) of Blue Ridge GA
9.Carroll Cate (# 37) of Ocoee *
10.Kevin Cook (# 48) of Chattanooga

* Rookie of the Year Contender

Hobby: "Summer Sizzler Championship" Winner - Lynn Roark (# 5) of Birchwood
2.Jeff Paige (# 58), 3.Shawn Reece (# 16), 4.Doug Works (# 35), 5.Kenny Scroggins (# 34)

Street: "Mid Season Championship" Winner - Donald Forgey (# 71) of Cleveland
2.Raymond Lowery (# 41), 3.Jason Seaton (# 92), 4.John Chambers (# 82), 5.Will Swearengin (# R2)

Pony Stock: Winner - Jimmy Brown (# 10) of Chattanooga
2.Jason Spraker (# 25), 3.Wendall Ingram (# 24), 4.Lindsay Doss (# 00), 5.Mandy Shaw (# 16)

Claimer Late Model: Winner - P.D. Doss (# 1) of Cleveland
2.Glen Seaton III (# 92), 3.Mark Cross (# 3), 4.Shane Breeden (# 12), 5.Ron Eidson (# 7)