Cleveland Speedway
Arp scores caution-free victory at Cleveland
Haley Brooks, who has a rare form of cancer, posed with Skip Arp in victory lane. (Ronnie Barnett)
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (May 12) — Skip Arp of Georgetown, Tenn., collected $3,500 on Saturday night at Cleveland Speedway in earning his first Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series victory in nearly four years.
Arp won the caution-free 40-lap Tennessee Memorial over reigning series champion and polesitter Billy Ogle Jr. of Knoxville, Tenn., to become the fourth winner in four 2012 races on the series.
William Thomas of Phenix City, Ala., took third from Ray Cook of Brasstown, N.C., on the final lap while Jake Knowles of Tyrone, Ga., rounded out the top five. Randy Weaver of Crossville, Tenn., who entered the event leading SAS points, was sixth.
Arp’s victory is the ninth of his career on the circuit and first since Aug. 23, 2008, at Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, Ga.
Notes: Arp’s GRT Race Car is sponsored by Curtis Equipment Sales, Stanley Best Heating & Air and Tyler Bros. Farm Equipment. ... The victory comes just nine days after Arp suffered a tough last-lap loss to Riley Hickman at Boyd’s Speedway in nearby Ringgold, Ga. ... The feature lasted just over 10 minutes. ... Drivers failing to make the SAS feature lineup: Gabe Wilson, Jerry Bradley and Jeff Franklin. ... Lamar Scoggins topped the unsanctioned Limited Late Model/Crate feature, earning $1,200 in outrunning Jason Welshan. ... Cleveland hosts the Southern All Stars three more times, including July 14. ... Next up for the series is a May 26-27 weekend in Mississippi, starting with a $3,500-to-win event at Whynot Motorsports Park and concluding with the $5,000-to-win Governor’s Cup at Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus.
Tennessee Memorial: (1) Skip Arp, (2) Billy Ogle Jr., (3) William Thomas, (4) Ray Cook, (5) Jake Knowles, (6) Randy Weaver, (7) Dale McDowell, (8) Johnny Chastain, (9) Mike Weeks, (10) David Payne, (11) Riley Hickman, (12) Jacob Grizzle, (13) Chad Ogle, (14) Mark Vineyard, (15) Shan Smith, (16) Dylan Ames, (17) Aaron Ridley, (18) Jacob Anderson, (19) Preston Graves, (20) Joe Denby, (21) Gary McPherson, (22) Brian Hickman, (23) Ross White, (24) Kayne Hickman. Fast qualifier (among 27 cars): B. Ogle. Consolation race winners: Payne, C. Ogle. Provisional starters: White, K. Hickman.
