LAWNDALE,NC (May 2) - Randle Chupp led a star-studded field to his first Carolina Clash win of 2008 as he took home the $5,000 first place prize Friday night at Cleveland County Speedway and Motorsports.

'It feels great to win one of the Carolina Clash races," said the happy winner in victory lane. "I have to thank Jack Starrette and all this Starrette Trucking crew for all their hard work." Chupp is now eligable for a $5,000 bonus if he can capture the win in Saturday night's $10,000 to win 'Skyler Trull Memorial' at CCS.

Chupp and Dennis 'Rambo' Franklin led the 24 car field to the green flag with Chupp blasting from his outside front row starting spot to the lead. Wattertown NY's Tim McCreadie making his first career Carolina Clash start quickly moved into second as the field raced all over the 4/10 mile oval. With McCreadie setting his sights on Chupp, Benji Cole started to put some pressure on Franklin for third.

The first caution of the event came on out lap 12 when Furman Parton slowed in turn four. On the restart Cole blasted to the bottom of turn two and moved into third. As the field swept through turn four fifth place runner Petey Ivey got crossed up allowing several cars to slip by including Jonathan Davenport and Casey Roberts. Roberts then went to work on Davenport, applying heavy pressure to the Blairsville, GA native. Several cars including, Brandon Kinzer and Dale McDowell were quickly racing through the field. McDowell started in the 22nd position and by lap 30 was up to 11th with Kinzer moving into seventh after starting on the sixth row at the start.

Davenport's hopes of a top five run ended on lap 35 when he pulled up limp with a flat right rear tire. This moved Roberts into the top five. Up front it was still all Chupp as he kept McCreadie at bay. McCreadie closed to his rear bumper on several occasions but Chupp was to strong as he motored to the victory. McCreadie was second with Cole, Franklin, and Roberts completing the top five.

Davenport was the Mega-Plumbing of the Carolina's Fastest Qualifier of the 40 car field. He also received the $100 Dirt Trax Motorsports Hard Luck Award. McDowell took home the $50 Heintz Brothers Performance Hard Charger of the Race. Chupp and Franklin took the wins in the Cabinets by Design Fast Dashes.

CAROLINA CLASH FINISH: 1. Randle Chupp 2. Tim McCreadie 3. Benji Cole 4. 'Rambo' Franklin 5. Casey Roberts 6. Petey Ivey 7. Brandon Kinzer 8. Jason Fitzgerald 9. Ed Gibbons 10. Dale McDowell 11. Ricky Weeks 12. Damon Eller 13. Chris Meadows 14. Jeff Smith 15. Dan Breuer 16. Jonathan Davenport 17. Deano Long 18. Tim Allen 19. Jeff Cooke 20. Steve Blackburn 21. Kevin Tessner 22. Mike Duvall 23. Furman Parton 24. Ed Basey DNS; Steve Hendren, Frankie Beard, Craig Shuffield, Ronnie Hoover, Anthony Sanders, Brent Dixon, Scott Autry, Scott Neighbors, Larry Blankenship, Ricky Boahn, Justin Labonte, Kelly Thacker, Doug Sanders, Gary Mabe, David Taylor, Johnny Pursley

Carolina Clash will be in action this Saturday Night May 3rd at Cleveland County Speedway with a $10,000 to win Skyler Trull Memorial.



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