By Steve Hixson

CLEVELAND, TN -May 17, 2008- Based on their Saturday night performances, Jimmy Owens and Skip Arp should've been in competition on Friday night at the North Georgia Speedway. That wasn't the case, so neither racer pocketed the $1,000. CAR SMART AUTO SALES bonus, offered for back to back Super Late Model wins at the Monty Morrow promoted facilities. Instead, Saturday night, the O'SHOW Jimmy Owens rolled into the Cleveland (TN) Speedway and rolled back home to Newport, Tennessee $5,000 richer, after leading all 50 laps of the TN MEMORIAL RACE presented by Coca-Cola. Owens is no stranger to victory lane at the 1/3 mile clay banked facility in Cleveland, TN, so it was no surprise when the # 20 ' Gantte Appraisals, Reece Monument Co., Byrd's Radiator, VP Racing Fuels' sponsored Bloomquist Team Zero / Cornett powered Ford Fusion racecar took the checkers.

Owens, who'se been on a strong roll since Florida's SpeedWeeks in February, commented on a couple of close calls during the 'A' Main feature… 'We got messed up in the crash in turn 3, but made the adjustments we needed to compensate for a loose handling car.' The NEWPORT NIGHTMARE told O'Reilly Southern All-Star series announcer and fans, from victory lane. 'I knew I couldn't make a mistake and came close to doing so there in the end, when I scraped the wall in turn 2 with a few laps to go.' Arp pressured his fellow Tennesseeian after getting by Sunoco Racing Fuels fast qualifier, Rick Rogers on lap 33, drawing along side Owens a time or two, before late cautions settled the action to inside ten laps remaining. Rogers had his best run at Cleveland Speedway conclude with a third place nod, despite challenging Arp late in the event.

Fourty (40) racers signed in for the 31st edition of the event Saturday afternoon with Tony Knowles of Tyrone, GA holding the fast qualifier spot early in the time trials. It wouldn't be until the 32nd qualifier of Owens that Knowles time (13:715) would be bested. Unfortunately for the O'SHOW it wouldn't stand, as Rogers came ready to play. The # 44 'Greeneville Forest Products, Goddard Performance, BKW Disaster Recovery & Rebuilders' sponsored Warrior / Vic Hill powered, Pontiac GTO clocked a 13:584, taking the pole position by 1/10th of a faster lap. Knowles would narrowly hang on to 3rd quick time as Randy THE DREAM Weaver chimmed in at a 13:730 for 4th fastest. Local racer Todd Morrow headed up the Cleveland BRUTE SQUAD timing 5th fastest with a 13:786 second lap. Arp, Joe Armes, Riley Hickman, Eric Jacobsen and N. GA's winner Ray Cook locked in the Top 10 qualifiers.

The first of 3 'B' Main Consi's took to the track, giving the racefans a pair of locals battling it out with a pair of series regulars. Reigning champion and current O'SAS points leader Ivedent Lloyd Jr. took control of the first 8 lap race. Jake Knowles roared back to life on the low line and took the lead on the white flag. Pole sitter and 11th overall fastest qualifier Randy Burrows was third, behind Lloyd, with Dion Deason of Greenwood, SC tallying the final transfer spot. In 'B' Main # 2 FRONT ROW JOE's Brad Neat and Stacy Holmes collided on the opening lap. Holmes was done for the race, as Neat in the # 41 ' Benley Properties, Tarter Gate, NWN Distributing, Tarter & Roberts Insuance' sponsored, MasterSbilt / Cornett, Ford Fusion went on to take the win. Murphy Mafia coach David Payne (racing for the 1st time since the new baby joined the family, last week) finished second. Mike Hill was third, but would give-up his starting spot, due to mechanical problems, with Preston Graves rounding out the transferees. The final 'B' Main Consi. was won by last weekend Cleveland SLM winner Kevin Gibson. Anthony Hill, Aaron Ridley and Lamar Scoggins all transferred.

Rogers and Owens brought the field to life, with Owens showing the way. Arp began immediately working on T. Knowles in 4th as Morrow raced with Hickman and Armes just out of the Top 5. Lap 7 saw Ridley and Hill collide, which collected a gaggle of racecars in turn 3. Among them race leaders Owens and Rogers, whom went high as directed via raceivers (O'SAS director Kelly Carlson). Graves and Ridley went on the hook and were done as the field showed green for the first DELAWARE DOUBLE FILE RESTART. With smackdowns galore being passed out on the restart, T. Knowles pulled up lame on the front straight-away, rearing a caution that collected Scoggins, Gibson, Burrows and Holmes. During the yellow, Weaver pulls his machine into the infield, handing 3rd to Arp. Back under green, Neat makes quick work of Morrow a few laps after the restart, as the action picks up the pace. Gibson pits on lap 15, as all eyes are on the 3-wide Battle-Royal for 2nd between Rogers, Arp and Neat.

Joe Armes gets into the Top 5 frame, taking Morrow out of the Top 5 picture. Hickman puts the local pressure on but the # 77 'South Eastern Construction, TN Valley Excavating' sponsored GRT / Clements powered Pontiac GTO is too stout. Lloyd pits on lap 31, just before Calfornian Jacobsen rears a caution on the back stretch at lap 32. Arp in the # B97 'Stanley Best Heating & Cooling, C.A.R. Auto Sales & Collision Repair, Tyler Bros. Farm Equipment' sponsored GRT / Vic Hill powered, Pontiac GTO takes second on the next DDF restart. Readying for his attack, Arp lap after lap, puts pressure on the NEWPORT NIGHTMARE. The 2nd to the last caution waves for Deason on the front straight-away, giving the fans a lap 41 yellow that brings everyone alive with anticipation for the SKIPPER.

It would be Owens that speeds off on the restart and distances himself, leaving Arp to fend off Rogers. Five laps later Lamar Scoggins blows fluid on the track beginning in turn 3 that sets up a 4 lap dash to the checkers. Arp looks low a few times on Owens, but it's too little too late by then and Owens takes the win. Arp is just ahead of Rogers with Neat and Armes rounding out the Top 5. Next Saturday (May 24th) it's back to regular racing in all six divisions at the Cleveland Speedway. For more information, including results from all classes visit the tracks web-site at www.clevelandspeedway.com

O'SAS Results 5/17/08
TN MEMORIAL RACE Feature: 50 Laps $5,000. to-Win

1. Jimmy Owens (# 20) of Newport, TN
2. Skip Arp (# 97B) of Georgetown, TN
3. Rick Rogers (# 44) of Knoxville, TN
4. Brad Neat (# 41) of Dunnville, KY
5. Joe Armes (# 77) of Petross, TN
6. Riley Hickman (# R1) of Ooltewah, TN
7. Ray Cook (# 53) of Brasstown, NC
8. Eric Jacobsen (# 5) of Santa Cruz, CA
9. Todd Morrow (# T1) of Cleveland, TN
10. David Payne (# 8) of Murphy, NC
11. Derek Ellis (# 99) of Chatsworth, GA
12. Jake Knowles (# 66) of Tyrone, GA
13. Stacy Holmes (# H2) of Munford, AL
14. Jason Fitzgerald (# 7) of Jacksonville, FL
15. Lamar Scoggins (# 32) of Cleveland, TN
16. Dion Deason (# D1) of Greenwood, SC
17. Randy Burrows (# 95) of Chattanooga, TN
18. Ivedent Lloyd (# 21) of Ocala, FL
19. Kevin Gibson (# M45) of Ringgold, GA
20. Randy Weaver (# 116) of Crossville, TN
21. Tony Knowles (# 26) of Tyrone, GA
22. Preston Graves (# 105) of Murphy, NC
23. Aaron Ridley (# 81) of Chatsworth, GA
24. Anthony Hill (# 10) of Carrollton, GA






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