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For the second time this season, despite threatening advances from Mothernature, Duayne Hommell of Newport TN again took all the money, glory and prestige at Cleveland Speedway, this time in the 12th annual Southern All-Star Jean Johnson Memorial race. As race time rolled around 36 Super Late Models signed in for battle in attempt to make the 24 car starting grid for the $5,000 to win 60 lap "Budweiser" sponsored race. In Budweiser: King of Speed Qualifying Time Trials 4th qualifier of the event, Bobby Mayse of Harrison TN set the standard clocking a 14:327 second lap around the TN Valley dirt oval. Local racer/rookie in 2002 P.D. Doss of Cleveland came up with a good lap clocking a 14:439 second lap as the 9th overall qualifier. Randy Weaver of Crossville TN clocked a lap good enough to lock into the top 16 qualifiers. Georgetown TN's Paul Tims then set the track a-blaze lighting a 13:964 lap as the brakes let go coming off turn four for his first lap. Tims brought the # 84 to a slow crawl w/o brakes a failed to clock a second lap. Current S.A.S. points leader Duayne Hommell of Newport TN turned a speedy lap at 14:029 seconds making him second fast to Tims as the nineteenth qualifier. It would be defending race champion / 2001 S.A.S. Champion Rex Richey of Ringgold GA, knocking off Tims fast lap, turning a 13:937 to set fast time over the field. Shawn Chastain of Murphy NC and Robby Mason of Hixson TN followed Tims and Hommell rounding out the top five fast qualifiers of the event. Still with impending bad weather in the area a last chance - "B" Main were set next to determine the remainder of the 24 car starting field. Mike Tinker lined up against fellow local racer Dewayne Smith. Tinker got the front spot as caution flew for Jeff Stansberry on lap 3. Mark Mears attempted an highside route to no avail allowing Eddie Benefield and John Jones passage. Mears settled for 5th with local racer John Owenby earning the final transfer spot. S.A.S. Rookies Terrance Nowell and Dewayne Aldridge took the two provisional positions to set the 24 car starting field. As quickly as the field could stage on the front straight away the green flag unfurled over the Thunderous field. Unfortunately a lap 1 caution slowed as M. Tinker stumbled into turn one. Mears exited his run (a new blue on white looking schemed #19) also in this first of many yellow flagged periods. On the restart Nowell rolled to a halt in turn 3 before the field got to full speed. After the next restart it was Jamie Perry (donned with his new #71) bouncing off C. Tinker and current Cleveland Speedway points leader Todd Morrow of Old Fort TN on the front straight away to rear the third yellow in the first four circuits. Finally the field set forth for a long green flag stint with Richey leading, Hommell, Tims, Mason and Mike Head. Head worked past Mason to the thrill of the crowd for 4th on lap 8 bringing with him Chastain in the process. Tenth racing Mayse got tangled up with Kent Hicks in turn 2 and spun his mount on lap 12. The incident sent Mayse to the rear via S.A.S. spin rule and gave Head a run on Tims 3rd place position. The Headman's fans rose to their feet a few laps later as the # 54 worked under Tims. As the field began moving up the track passing for positions young (16 year old) Morrow set his mount to the "highside" and began picking off competitors passing Hicks, Mason, then Lamar Scoggins and finally Tims to crack the top 5, just before the halfway point. On lap 31 tenth racing C. Tinker spun his mount as John Owenby ended his run. Head seemed to be after Hommell's second place with Morrow hooked to his spoiler. Jones was rallying to his own accord passing the "squad" that Morrow flew by a few laps before. On lap 42 it all came to a head as the Headman spun collecting Morrow in turn four. This was the key for Hommell as the #H2 restarted with a highside run through turn 3 and 4 attempting to pass for the lead. Richey thwarted Hommell's advances for the next four laps when Smith reared the races final yellow, backing into turn one. On the restart Richey attempted to block Hommell going into turn one but the "Hawkeye Trucking, Miller Bros. Coal Inc." Warrior Chevrolet Monte Carlo slipped under in turn one for the lead. Richey came back to the inside of Hommell towards turn three as Hommell again about scrapped the outside retaining wall in turn 3 and 4. Morrow gave Richey a handful as the last ten circuits clicked off, giving Hommell his second of two S.A.S. victories at Cleveland this season. As they crossed the finish line Richey smoked his powerplant coming up one position shy of a successful title defense. Morrow was glued to Richey's spoiler for third, with Jones in fourth and Scoggins in fifth.
Official Results: S.A.S. 12th Annual Jean Johnson Memorial
Race Other Racing Action: Claimer Late Models: Winner - Mike Krizonavic (# 10) of Whitwell
TN 1st CLM Win @ Cleveland Hobby: Winner - Jerry Coffman (# 21) of Soddy Daisy TN Pony Stock: Winner - Donald Forgey (# 71)) of Cleveland TN Street: Winner - Roy Nichols (# 00) of Cleveland TN |
