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Results Nov 17, 2001 Gobbler
In front of a capacity crowd of fans as well as fellow racers Rossville GA's Dale McDowell showed why most consider him to be the best Super Late Model racer to come from the Tennessee Valley area in a long time, by winning for the third time in his career the annual running of the Southern All-Star Gobbler at Cleveland Speedway. The tracks racing school instructor top a stellar 72 car field leading flag to flag holding off top rated competitors from six states earning the $5,000 top "Turkey" prize. McDowell climbing from the "Dover Cylinder Heads, Larry Shaw Racecars" Rocket Pontiac Gran Prix boasted how great it is coming home a few times a year and being able to win in front of all his friends and family that watched him begin his career some years back. "We just really enjoy being able to race back here and the track to be so great. I could put the car anywhere on the track and not be disadvantaged." A factor that came strongly into place passing back marker (lapped) traffic throughout the duration of the 75 lap "A" Main feature. McDowell was second to qualify after NASCAR racer Steve Grissom turned his first official lap-time around the track. McDowell blew the roof off the joint kicking a new track record on his second circuit laying a 13:550 second lap thwarting the six plus year record held by Bart Hartman of Ohio back in August of 1995. Fourth qualifier Jimmy Owens of Newport TN clocked a good lap at 13:819 which would eventually set him up to start 6th in the 24 car starting field. A set of three Georgian's Head, Joey Roland of Jasper and Wesley English of Clayton qualified good firing as the 11th, 12th and 16th qualifying positions. Head qualified 3rd fastest overall with Roland 5th and English clocking a 10th quick time. Martin clocking as the 23rd to take to the track set an amazing 13:622 lap around the facility earning the rights to the outside pole position along side McDowell for the "A" Main feature. Former S.A.S. champion Clint Smith set fourth quick time as the 28th qualifier. As for the 17th thru 72nd qualifiers, they were regulated to one of three "Triple Threat" last chance races. Defending Gobbler 100 champion Patrick Duggan was the 17th fastest and had to race against 18 other competitors for one of two transfer positions for his (the 1st) last chance race. Duggan powered into the lead bringing with him Jason Welshan (incidentally who Duggan duke out his Gobbler win against in 2000). Former Gobbler Champion (1999) Danny Peoples fell out early as did local racer Kent Hicks. Duggan and Welshan were followed across by fellow Clarksville TN natives Stuart Mays and Carnell Parker, with fan favorite John Jones fifth. Rod Carter Jr., local racer Dewayne Smith, Jeff Smith, Brad York and Shannon Davis rounded out the top ten in the race. In the 2nd race 18th fastest qualifier and S.A.S. series regular John Llewellyn of Knoxville had his hand full of action. Local "Brute Squad" member Mike Tinker raced passed Llewellyn for the lead before the yellow appeared for Kentuckian Steve Cornelius. Wade Knowles raced by Llewellyn for a transfer spot but couldn't work by Tinker, who's win set him to be the only local to make the race. Llewellyn was high enough in S.A.S. points to earn a provisional and start 23rd on the grid, despite finishing 5th behind Gary McPherson and Glen Morris. David Gentry, Ron Fleenor, Keith Frazier, Chris Beavers and David Killian rounded out the top ten. In the 3rd and final last chance race recently crowned S.A.S. series champion Rex Richey held off all challengers from his pole (19th fastest qualifier) position. Don Jenkins made it count racing by Derrick Duggan for the final transfer position. Two former track champions collided on the front stretch of lap two when Jamie Perry careened off Kevin Gibson (both of Ringgold GA). Richey and Jenkins were followed across by Mike Hawley, Johnney Parris, and Skip Freeman. Rounding out the top ten were a back pedaling Duggan, current and two time track champion Andy Dill, Shawn Chastain, Joey Reid, NASCAR racer Steve Grissom. Mark Mears used the other S.A.S. provisional to start in the 24th position of the "A" Main feature. With the field in place McDowell and Martin botched the first starting attempt. Unfortunately for Billy Ogle Jr. his mount bucked in the wrong place at the wrong time ending his and Ed Basey's night prematurely. As the first handful of laps clicked off McDowell literally rocketed into the lead leaving Martin with a handful of Head for second. A positive Cleveland Speedway debut for Bruce Taylor of Toccoa GA ended early coming to a stop in turn four on lap six. After a debris clean-up the race to watch became that of Duayne Hommell as he powered by Roland, Shane Tankersly. Jimmy Owens put forth a fight against his former open wheel modified foe as the two battled for 5th place. David Payne reared the lap 25 yellow stalling on the track. McDowell kept the pace feverish lapping back marker traffic despite the amount of cautions. Llewellyn reared one of those late yellow periods noising into the outside concrete retaining wall of turn three. Hommel and Clint Smith then began battling for 4th. Smith determined not to give up the bottom made Hommel use "the stairs" and climb to the outside line to make the pass. The outside line proved to be the thing as Hommel not only worked by C. Smith but also managed to inch pass Head for third under the checkers. Martin (aka. The Baxter Bullet) tried valiantly every possible combination to chase down McDowell but to no avail. Cook finished 6th with Richey coming from 19th to finish 7th. Duggan finished 8th with Owens and Tankersly rounding out the top ten. 1.Dale McDowell (# 17M) of Rossville GA, Rocket, Pontiac Gran
Prix Other Racing Action: Claimer Late Models: Winner - Bobby Doss (# 28) of Cleveland
TN Hobby: Winner - Lynn Roark (# 5) of Birchwood TN Pony Stock: Winner - Tony Martin (# 35) of Madisonville TN Street: Winner - Alex Nash (# 02) of Chattanooga TN |
