story by: STEVE HIXSON
Cleveland, TN (11/21/09) -- Despite rumors, reports and estimates Chris SMOKEY Madden's race season was in-fact not done, and Saturday night the Gaffney, South Carolina racer put the exclamation point on a fantastic year, taking his eleventh (11th) season victory, winning the GOBBLER 21 $5,000 first place prize money at the Cleveland (TN) Speedway. Taking the lead, from outside FRONT ROW JOE starter (and 2nd fastest qualifier) Rick Rogers, on lap 7 the # 44 "Century Plastics, Xtreme Customs & Cycles, Hamricks of Gaffney's" sponsored Bloomquist / Cornett powered racer built up a half-track lead over Skip Arp and Clint Smith before the races final caution waved with just two (2) laps remaining.
Thirty-one (31) O'Reilly Southern All-Stars entered this seasons 21st (annual) event, by the 6PM racetime start and it was Madden's 14:038 (lap) that would trip the clock fastest in Qualifying Time Trials. Rogers and teammate Frank Heckenast Jr. had a stranglehold on the qualifying for awhile until Arp tuned up a third quick (14:107), just 4-one thousandths slower than Rogers time. Shane Clanton rounded out the Top 5 qualifiers, but an opening lap crash would take out the Defending (Back-to-Back) Race Champion before a lap-1 would even become scored. Two (2) "B" Mains staged the rest of the field with Randy THE DREAM Weaver and local Riley Hickman taking the wins. Drama for Todd Morrow heated up as the leading O'Rookie of the Year candidate broke a rear end after timing 13th quick. Morrow borrowed Rick Hixson's ride and earned a provisional starting spot for the feature.
At the OPENING BELL, disaster struck as CATDADDY got sideways and body-slammed Clanton and seventh starting Jonathan Davenport. Clanton's car became slightly airbourne and rolled to the pits under its own power during the caution. On the do-over restart (minus THE GEORGIA GIANT) Rogers took command with Madden being the CREAM FILLING of the team-ROGERS, with Heckenast Jr. in third. Madden makes his move one (1) lap prior to the the races first yellow with a POWER-SLIDE JOB in turn one. Arp takes thirds by using the Delaware Double File Restart to his advantage as he swept past Heckenast Jr. as the field roared back to green. Rogers is strong, but Madden extends his lead (like the commercial promises) and Arp begins battling Rogers for second.
With Arp hounding Rogers lap after lap THE SKIPPER uses back-marker traffic to his advantage around lap 37 and takes second. Smith battles past Rogers whom now has the proverbial mirror full of Weaver, who'se trying to distance himself from O'SAS points pursuer Ronnie Lee Hollingsworth. With Madden in full HIDE-N-SEEK mode (with a half-track lead) lap 48 see's the yellow for the final time, drawing the field closer for one final time. Madden doesn't miss a beat and wins his first ever GOBBLER title with Arp and Smith following. Despite Hollingsworth passing two (2) racers on the lap 48 restart and finishing fifth just behind Rogers, Weaver wins the 2009 O'SAS series crown. In similar fashion Todd Morrow takes wins the RotY battle against Ethan Hunter finishing one (1) spot ahead in the final race of the season. Next Saturday night (Nov. 28th) Cleveland Speedway's NOVEMBER TO REMEMBER culminates with the SRRS Grant Adcox Memorial event. Visit www.clevelandspeedway.com for more details.
Official Finish (11/21/09)
GOBBLER 21
50 Laps / $5,000 to-WIN
1. Chris Madden (# 44) of Gaffney, SC
2. Skip Arp (# A1) of Georgetown, TN
3. Clint Smith (# 44) of Senoia, GA
4. Rick Rogers (# 44) of Knoxville, TN
5. Ronny Lee Hollingsworth (# 18) of Northport, AL
6. Frank Heckenest Jr. (# T44) of Orland Park, IL
7. Randy Weaver (# 116) of Crossville, TN
8. Billy Mayo (# 115) of Cleveland, TN
9. Riley Hickman (# A19) of Ooltewah, TN
10. Tony Knowles (# 26) of Tyrone, GA
11. Kevin Gibson (# M45) of Ringgold, GA
12. David Payne (# 8) of Murphy, NC
13. Derek Ellis (# 99) of Chatsworth, GA
14. Mike Hill (# 11) of Rockford, TN
15. Todd Morrow (# 16) of East Ridge, TN
16. Ethan Hunter (# 15) of Tiger, GA
17. Brian Booze (# B2) of Hynman, PA
18. Jacob Grizzle (# 99G) of Blairesville, GA
19. John Owenby (# 48) of Cleveland, TN
20. Jonathan Davenport (# 49) of Blairesville, GA
21. Bobby Giffin (# 97) of Maryville, TN
22. David Crabtree (# 41) of Maryville, TN
23. Jake Knowles (# 66) of Tyrone, GA
24. Shane Clanton (# 25) of Locust Grove, GA
Cleveland, TN (11/21/09) -- Despite rumors, reports and estimates Chris SMOKEY Madden's race season was in-fact not done, and Saturday night the Gaffney, South Carolina racer put the exclamation point on a fantastic year, taking his eleventh (11th) season victory, winning the GOBBLER 21 $5,000 first place prize money at the Cleveland (TN) Speedway. Taking the lead, from outside FRONT ROW JOE starter (and 2nd fastest qualifier) Rick Rogers, on lap 7 the # 44 "Century Plastics, Xtreme Customs & Cycles, Hamricks of Gaffney's" sponsored Bloomquist / Cornett powered racer built up a half-track lead over Skip Arp and Clint Smith before the races final caution waved with just two (2) laps remaining.
Thirty-one (31) O'Reilly Southern All-Stars entered this seasons 21st (annual) event, by the 6PM racetime start and it was Madden's 14:038 (lap) that would trip the clock fastest in Qualifying Time Trials. Rogers and teammate Frank Heckenast Jr. had a stranglehold on the qualifying for awhile until Arp tuned up a third quick (14:107), just 4-one thousandths slower than Rogers time. Shane Clanton rounded out the Top 5 qualifiers, but an opening lap crash would take out the Defending (Back-to-Back) Race Champion before a lap-1 would even become scored. Two (2) "B" Mains staged the rest of the field with Randy THE DREAM Weaver and local Riley Hickman taking the wins. Drama for Todd Morrow heated up as the leading O'Rookie of the Year candidate broke a rear end after timing 13th quick. Morrow borrowed Rick Hixson's ride and earned a provisional starting spot for the feature.
At the OPENING BELL, disaster struck as CATDADDY got sideways and body-slammed Clanton and seventh starting Jonathan Davenport. Clanton's car became slightly airbourne and rolled to the pits under its own power during the caution. On the do-over restart (minus THE GEORGIA GIANT) Rogers took command with Madden being the CREAM FILLING of the team-ROGERS, with Heckenast Jr. in third. Madden makes his move one (1) lap prior to the the races first yellow with a POWER-SLIDE JOB in turn one. Arp takes thirds by using the Delaware Double File Restart to his advantage as he swept past Heckenast Jr. as the field roared back to green. Rogers is strong, but Madden extends his lead (like the commercial promises) and Arp begins battling Rogers for second.
With Arp hounding Rogers lap after lap THE SKIPPER uses back-marker traffic to his advantage around lap 37 and takes second. Smith battles past Rogers whom now has the proverbial mirror full of Weaver, who'se trying to distance himself from O'SAS points pursuer Ronnie Lee Hollingsworth. With Madden in full HIDE-N-SEEK mode (with a half-track lead) lap 48 see's the yellow for the final time, drawing the field closer for one final time. Madden doesn't miss a beat and wins his first ever GOBBLER title with Arp and Smith following. Despite Hollingsworth passing two (2) racers on the lap 48 restart and finishing fifth just behind Rogers, Weaver wins the 2009 O'SAS series crown. In similar fashion Todd Morrow takes wins the RotY battle against Ethan Hunter finishing one (1) spot ahead in the final race of the season. Next Saturday night (Nov. 28th) Cleveland Speedway's NOVEMBER TO REMEMBER culminates with the SRRS Grant Adcox Memorial event. Visit www.clevelandspeedway.com for more details.
Official Finish (11/21/09)
GOBBLER 21
50 Laps / $5,000 to-WIN
1. Chris Madden (# 44) of Gaffney, SC
2. Skip Arp (# A1) of Georgetown, TN
3. Clint Smith (# 44) of Senoia, GA
4. Rick Rogers (# 44) of Knoxville, TN
5. Ronny Lee Hollingsworth (# 18) of Northport, AL
6. Frank Heckenest Jr. (# T44) of Orland Park, IL
7. Randy Weaver (# 116) of Crossville, TN
8. Billy Mayo (# 115) of Cleveland, TN
9. Riley Hickman (# A19) of Ooltewah, TN
10. Tony Knowles (# 26) of Tyrone, GA
11. Kevin Gibson (# M45) of Ringgold, GA
12. David Payne (# 8) of Murphy, NC
13. Derek Ellis (# 99) of Chatsworth, GA
14. Mike Hill (# 11) of Rockford, TN
15. Todd Morrow (# 16) of East Ridge, TN
16. Ethan Hunter (# 15) of Tiger, GA
17. Brian Booze (# B2) of Hynman, PA
18. Jacob Grizzle (# 99G) of Blairesville, GA
19. John Owenby (# 48) of Cleveland, TN
20. Jonathan Davenport (# 49) of Blairesville, GA
21. Bobby Giffin (# 97) of Maryville, TN
22. David Crabtree (# 41) of Maryville, TN
23. Jake Knowles (# 66) of Tyrone, GA
24. Shane Clanton (# 25) of Locust Grove, GA
