photo’s by: Michael Arp & Ronnie Barnett & Thomas Hendrickson
Cleveland, TN (5/7/11) — The INTIMIGATOR Chris Wall (# 71) of Springfield, LA was adopted into the Cleveland (TN) Speedway family Saturday night, by not only winning the $3,000 first place prize in the Cleveland FASTNERS: Tennessee Spring Fling, but then donating his entire winnings to a family devistated by last weeks killer toranto’s that ravaged the local area. The gator-farmer/professional dirt racer parked his # 71 “Appliance Zone, C&M Gator Farm, Xtreme Graphics, Lucas Oil, Stuckey Enterprises, Gator Trax Boats, Hoosier Tire, Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil, O.H. Hendricks, GVS Racing” sponsored MasterSbilt racecar in KC Graphics Victory Lane for the first-time after taking the lead on lap 17 of the 40 lap “A” Main feature. “I heard about the devistation of the area from folks when we pulled in early Saturday and I knew immediately I wanted to help, somehow.” Wall commented before the start of the feature as all 24-starters passed their helmets through the grandstands to take donations for the Morris family, a couple that have been a main-stay at the track as employee/family members since Joe Lee Johnson purchased the track in the 60’s. “I told Monty (Morrow) I didn’t care if I got $250 for starting or won the whole-thing tonight, I wanted to donate all my earnings of the night.” Betty and Jerry Morris joined Wall in victory lane and tears of joy weeped from all faces as they posed for photographers. Not only Wall but other racers; like Brian Reese, Michael Arp and Daniel Burnett stepped up donating earnings.
History, was also made Saturday night as a loud “gasp” was heard from the grandstands as the large CHEVROLET emblemed rig of Ronnie Johnson turned off South Lee Highway at the entrance to Cleveland Speedway. The stir caught the attention of all in the pits unable to see what had captured the fans breathe, but indeed it was: the MAN, the MYTH, the LEGEND and the CHATTANOOGA FLASH had finally come home to his family in Cleveland, TN. Johnson chased Wall for the second half of the feature race to finish 2nd at the conclusion. Johnson hasn’t competed at Cleveland Speedway (estimated) since the late 1990’s. Only eight, of th 24 starters finished all 40 laps of the feature with Jake Knowles, Skip Arp and Riley Hickman rounding out the Top-5. Local racer Dustin Cansler earned the $100 bonus for the highest finishing local racer. Ray Cook earned the M&S Auto Sales Fast Qualifier $100 bonus. Cook was involved in a crash with a back-marker racer on lap 6 of the feature. Brian Reese inherited the lead but was too damaged to continue after the restart. Derrick Ellis lead until Wall passed both he and RJ for the eventual win. At the start of the race Chris Brown got turned into the outside wall coming off turn-4 causing a massive crash, that sent Kayne Hickman’s racecar into a violent flip down the front straight-away. The crash took out four competitors before lap 1 was official. Hickman was uninjured, but the car was desytroyed. Cook set fast time with a 13:36 and won the first of three heat races. Other Heat winners were Reese and Johnson.
1. Chris Wall (# 71) of Springfield, LA
2. Ronnie Johnson (# 5) of Chattanooga, TN
3. Jake Knowles (# 17) of Tyrone, GA
4. Skip Arp (# 31) of Georgetown, TN
5. Riley Hickman (# R1) of Ooltewah, TN
6. Scott Creel (# 31) of Franklinton, LA
7. Jacob Grizzle (# 99G) of Blairesville, GA
8. Dustin Cansler (# 18) of Cleveland, TN (bonus $100)
9. Todd Morrow (# 48) of East Ridge, TN
10. Derrick Ellis (# 99) of Chatsworth, GA
11. Paul Tims (# 84) of Georgetown, TN
12. Johnny Chastain (# 00) of Murphy, NC
13. Brian Pritchard (# 3) of Harrison, TN
14. Brian Reese (# 33) of Sharpesburg, GA
15. Ray Cook (# 53) of Brasstown, NC (FQ $100)
16. Michael Evans (# 33) of Cleveland, TN
17. John Winge (# 17J) of Chattanooga, TN
18. Shawn Chastain (# X15) of Murphy, NC
19. Lee Frederick (# 12) of Cleveland, TN
20. John Owenby (# J39) of Cleveland, TN
21. Brian Jackson (# B4) of Chatsworth, GA
22. Kayne Hickman (# A1) of Soddy Daisy, TN
23. Chris Brown (# 21) of Spring, TX
24. Sammie Russell (# F4) of Madisonville, TN
STEVE HIXSON
CELL: (423) 314-6652
PR/Marketing Director (Cleveland Speedway)
www.clevelandspeedway.com