Michael Despain, SAS PR – Cleveland, TN (May 18, 2013)- The Southern All Star Racing Series would visit Cleveland Speedway in Cleveland, TN for the second time in 2013 on Saturday evening for the 36th Annual Tennessee Memorial event and Steve Casebolt of Richmond, IN would cash in for a $4,000 payday at the Ronnie Wilkomm promoted facility aboard the D&R Motorsports owned Hicks and Ingle Contracting/B&M Construction/Harrison Redi-Mix sponsored #C9 MasterSbilt Race Car powered by a Race Engine Design power plant.
The win by Casebolt was his first-ever victory with the Southern All Star Racing Series as he became the 159th different series winner in 628 series events and also marked the fifth different winner in six series events so far during the 2013 season.
After the initial start was called back for a spin by Shawn Chastain, Steve Casebolt would jump to the race lead, with Billy Ogle, Jr. nipping at his heels, while Ray Cook and Randy Weaver dueled for the third position. The front four remained the same as Casebolt started working slower traffic on lap 11, while Ogle, Jr., Cook, and Weaver jockeyed for the runner-up spot in a spirited battle. Caution waved again on lap 15 as fifth place running Aaron Ridley slowed in turn two. Back underway, Casebolt maintained the lead, while Cook would work past Ogle, Jr. for second on lap 17, while ninth starting William Thomas had charged to fifth and would battle three-wide with the duo of Ogle, Jr. and Weaver for the next two circuits before a caution for spin by David Payne in turn two slowed the action on lap 20.
This restart would see Casebolt again scoot away a bit from the pack, while Thomas, who won the battle for third prior to the caution, pressured Cook for second for the next six laps, while Weaver and Ogle, Jr. battled for fourth, with Weaver taking the spot on lap 29. Cook and Thomas mounted a charge on Casebolt and closed in the leader, only to see the final caution fly on lap 33 when Bret Holmes slowed at the bottom of turn three. The final restart would see Casebolt maintain the lead and drive on to the victory, with Cook and Thomas taking second and third respectively, while Weaver and Ogle, Jr. completed the top five. The remainder of the top ten would be Ivedent Lloyd, Jr., Skip Arp, Riley Hickman, Derek Ellis, and Mike Weeks.
The next Southern All Stars Dirt Racing Series event is on Saturday June 1 and will take place at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, TN and will be the 1st Annual Scott Sexton Memorial, paying $5,200 to win the 52 lap main event. This event will mark the Southern All Star Racing Series first visit to the 4/10 mile high-banked clay oval since 2004. As a note for series competitors, all cars must be equipped with a window net for the Volunteer Speedway event on June 1, per track rules.
Further information on the Southern All Stars Dirt Racing Series can be obtained by calling General Manager Lynn Acklin at (256) 924-4546, Race Director Chris Tilley at (606) 219-1723 or you can log on to the official series website at www.sasdirt.com . Also, LIKE the Southern All Stars Dirt Racing Series on Facebook or be a FOLLOWER on Twitter @SASDIRT.
Southern All Star Racing Series Official Summary of Results
Cleveland Speedway/Cleveland, Tennessee
Round 6 of 2013 Season (May 18, 2013)
Southern All Star Racing Series Late Models
36th Annual Tennessee Memorial Feature Finish:
1. Steve Casebolt- Richmond, IN
2. Ray Cook- Brasstown, NC
3. William Thomas- Phenix City, AL
4. Randy Weaver- Crossville, TN
5. Billy Ogle, Jr.- Knoxville, TN
6. Ivedent Lloyd, Jr.- Ocala, FL
7. Skip Arp- Georgetown, TN
8. Riley Hickman- Chattanooga, TN
9. Derek Ellis- Chatsworth, GA
10. Mike Weeks- Friendsville, TN
11. Michael Asberry- Crossville, TN
12. Jason Hiett- Oxford, AL
13. Dusty Carver- Englewood, TN
14. Jason Welshan- Maryville, TN
15. Chris Wilson- Crossville, TN
16. Bo Shirley- Gadsden, AL
17. Bret Holmes- Munford, AL
18. Mark Rosner- Rockford, TN
19. Jeff Franklin- Ten Mile, TN
20. David Payne- Murphy, NC
21. Kayne Hickman- Soddy Daisy, TN
22. Aaron Ridley- Chatsworth, GA
23. Ross White- Knoxville, TN
24. Shawn Chastain- Murphy, NC
Yellow Flags: 4 (Lap 0, 15, 20, 33)
Red Flags: None
Lap Leaders: 1 (Casebolt 1-40)
Time of Race: 26 minutes, 45 seconds
WhitePerformance.com Fast Time: Billy Ogle, Jr. 13.442
Series Provisionals: Bret Holmes, Bo Shirley
Entries: 29
JT Kerr Racing Equipment Hard Charger of the Race: Bo Shirley (started 24th- finished 16th: advanced 8 positions
AR Bodies Last Man on the Lead Lap: Bo Shirley
PPM Racing Products Last Chance Showdown #1 Finish (Top 7 Finishers Advance): William Thomas, Michael Asberry, Jason Hiett, Derek Ellis, Jason Welshan, Chris Wilson, Kayne Hickman, Adam Beeler, Jimmy Elliott, Skylar Marlar (DNS- Dylan Ames)
PPM Racing Products Last Chance Showdown #2 Finish (Top 7 Finishers Advance): Mike Weeks, Shawn Chastain, David Payne, Dusty Carver, Ross White, Mark Rosner, Jeff Franklin, Bo Shirley, Kurt English, Bret Holmes
Current Southern All Star Racing Series Championship Points (after May 18, 2013)
1. Riley Hickman (Chattanooga, TN)- 502
2. Mike Weeks (Friendsville, TN)- 466
3. Jason Hiett (Oxford, AL)- 462
4. Mark Rosner (Rockford, TN)- 422
5. Bret Holmes (Munford, AL)- 376
6. Billy Ogle, Jr. (Knoxville, TN)- 374
7. Jonathan Davenport (Blairsville, GA)- 372
8. Randy Weaver (Crossville, TN)- 306
9. Ray Cook (Brasstown, NC)- 280
10. Bo Shirley (Gadsden, AL)- 278
DirtonDirt.com/Cruise with the Champions Current Southern All Star Racing Series Rookie of the Year Points (after May 18, 2013)
1. Jason Hiett (Oxford, AL)- 153
2. Mark Rosner (Rockford, TN)- 150
3. Bret Holmes (Munford, AL)- 147
Southern All Star Racing Series 2013 Event Winners:
#1-Jared Landers-Batesville, AR (Cherokee Speedway) March 3rd
#2-Randy Weaver-Crossville, TN (Cleveland Speedway) March 9th
#3-Jonathan Davenport-Blairsville, GA (East AL Motor Speedway) March 16th
#4-Jonathan Davenport-Blairsville, GA (Smoky Mountain Speedway) March 23rd
#5-Billy Ogle Jr.-Knoxville, TN (Tazewell Speedway) April 6th
#6-Steve Casebolt-Richmond, IN (Cleveland Speedway) May 18
Upcoming Southern All Star Racing Series Events:
June 1 Saturday Volunteer Speedway/Bulls Gap, TN $5,200 to win 52 laps (1st Annual Scott Sexton Memorial)
June 15 Saturday Smoky Mountain Speedway/Maryville, TN $5,000 to win 40 laps (3rd Annual Big Daddy 500)
2013 Southern All Stars Dirt Racing Series Sponsors:
*Hoosier Racing Tire “The Official Race Tire” of the Southern All Star Racing Series
*Patriot Sports “The Official Merchandise Vendor” of the Southern All Star Racing Series
*Sunoco Race Fuel “The Official Racing Fuel” of the Southern All Star Racing Series
2013 Southern All Star Racing Series Supporters Include: AR Bodies, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Cruise with the Champions, DirtonDirt.com, H3 Performance Graphics, Integra Racing Shocks, Intercomp Racing Systems, JT Kerr Racing Equipment, MSR Mafia Web Design and Service, PPM Racing Products, RockAuto.com, Schaeffer’s Racing Oil by Ed Lowe, The Joie of Seating, WhitePerformance.com.