Cleveland Speedway

By Lynn Acklin

CLEVELAND, Tenn. - The O'Reilly SAS Dirt Racing Series returned the Cleveland
Speedway Saturday night for the 26th Annual Johnston Coca Cola Memorial
50 and three time O'Reilly SAS Dirt Racing Series Champion Clint Smith
of Senoia, GA., got a little boost on his way to try and get a fourth
crown as he drove his GRT/Monte Carlo to the win as he led all 50 laps
to get his first win of the year with the series.

Smith started on the pole with a 13.901 lap around th1 /3 mile
oval with another drive that has been on a roll this month Terrance
Nowell of Phenix City, AL., got the outside starting spot as Nowell has
been one of the more consist drivers on the series the past month.

Smith and Nowell battled for the lead at the drop of the green
flag side by side for the first two laps when Smith got ahead of Nowell
down the back stretch on lap three with Lamar Scoggins and Paul Tims
falling into the third and fourth spot and Mike tinker fifth. Smith
would pull ahead by half a straight until first of only two cautions
came out as Royce Bray spun in turns one and two to bring out the
caution and bunch the field back up behind Smith.

The restart saw Smith continue his strong run as he worked his way
through some tough lapped traffic. This was the only time that any of
the rest of the field could get even close to him and challenge him.
The biggest move to the front came from Rex Richey as got hooked up on
the outside groove and moved into the second spot when the caution came
out on the 48th lap for the slowing car of Denney Slayton.

The final two laps Smith did not give Richey the inside as if he
was going to beat him Richey was going to have to do it on the outside,
but Rex could not get the job done and the Ringgold, GA., driver had to
settle for a second place finish. Third went to Paul Tims of
Georgetown, TN., in his best run with the series in a while, fourth to
Terrance Nowell to continue his hot streak of great runs and fifth to
Cleveland, TN., drivers Chris Beavers in his best run with the series as
he came form the 16th starting spot.

Sixth place was garnered by Mike Tinker of Ringgold, GA., in his
best run with the series in a while, seventh to Jody Summerville from
his 12th stating spot, eighth to Mike Head of Ellenwood, GA., from 18th,
ninth to John Ownbey of Cleveland, TN., who borrowed a car from Lamar
Scoggins to compete with Scoggins coming home in the tenth spot.

The next event will be Friday night may 30th at the Swainsboro
Raceway in Swainsboro, GA., a 50 lap $4,000 to win event and then on
Friday night at the Cochran Speedway in Cochran, GA., May 31st another
50 lap $4,000 to win event.

For more information contact the Southern All Stars at 256-539-4484
or www.southern-allstars.com

OFFICIAL FINISH O'REILLY SAS DIRT RACING SERIES CLVELAND SPEEDWAY:
1.Clint Smith; 2.Rex Richey; 3.Paul Tims; 4.Terrance Nowell; 5.Chris
Beavers; 6.Mike Tinker; 7.Jody Summerville; 8.Mike Head; 9.John Ownbey;
10.Lamar Scoggins; 11.Jake Lowry; 12.Todd Morrow; 13.Steven Harrison;
14.Bobby Mayse; 15.Jeff Cooke; 16.Brad Allen; 17.Billy Mayo; 18.Eddie
Blackmon; 19.Denny Slayton; 20.Shawn Chastain; 21.Duayne Hommel;
22.Royce Bray; 23.David Tindell; 24.Keith Frazier; 25.J. Allan.

O'REILLY SAS DIRT RACING SERIES POINT STANDINGS:1.Clint Smith 846;
2.Mike Head 832; 3.Terranceo Nowell 818; 4.Duayne Hommel 792; 5.Jeff
Cooke 772; 6.Jody Summerville 764; 7.Royce Bray 600; 8.Steven Harrison
600; 9.Chris Madden 504; 10.Tim Headen 466.