Talladega Short Track
Heating up, Clanton gets SAS win at Talladega
By Kelley Carlton
O'Reilly Southern All StarsEASTABOGA, Ala. (Oct. 6) — Roaring to life after a late-race restart, Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga., won the O'Reilly Southern All Star event at Talladega Short Track. Clanton's $5,000 victory gave him back-to-back weekend victories following his Magnolia State 100 triumph the previous Saturday in Columbus, Miss.
Ronnie Johnson jumped out to the early lead over polesitter Chris Madden while Clanton was mixing it up in the top five with Terry Smith and Randy Weaver.
Clanton fell back as far as fifth during the top-five battle while Johnson built comfortable leads and began maneuvering through lapped traffic in the 50-lapper.
On a restart with 14 laps remaining, Clanton restarted third behind Johnson and Weaver, and his outside starting spot in the double-file restart spurred him past Weaver. On the next lap, he pulled even with Johnson on the outside, then completed the winning pass a lap later as racers headed into the race's final stages.
A final caution for a slowing Tim Busha with six laps remaining gave Johnson and Weaver a chance to answer Clanton's move, but Clanton drove away from his competitors over the final laps for his second Southern All Star victory of 2007 and fifth of his career. Johnson was second followed by Weaver, Madden and Brandon Kizner, the race's hard charger after advancing from a consolation race. Series points leader Ivedent Lloyd Jr. finished ninth.
Notebook
Clanton's Custom-powered Rocket Chassis is sponsored by RSD Enterprises, SAE Parts, Stevens Plumbing & Mechanical and Performance Rod and Custom. ... The race was over about 9:30 p.m. ... Brandon McCallum's first-lap spin caused a complete restart. ... Terrance Nowell slowed to bring out an early caution. ... Ross Martin slowed on lap 36 with a flat tire. ... The event drew 51 cars with Chris Madden setting fast time with a 14.745-second lap. ... Jason Wilson, Brandon Kinzer and Dingus Griffin won consolation races. ... Following driver introductions for the main event, a moment of silence was observed for former Dixie and Rome Speedway promoter Mike Swims, who died the previous week. ... Among drivers failing to make the feature: Jake Knowles, Dion Deason, Patrick Sheltra, Red Farmer, Bob Pohlman Jr., Larry Lambeth, Ricky Williams, Brett Wyatt and Justin McRee. ... Next up for the Southern All Stars is an Oct. 13 event at the reconfigured Golden Isles Speedway near Brunswick, Ga., paying $10,000 to the winner.
Talladega Short Track: (1) Shane Clanton, (2) Ronnie Johnson, (3) Randy Weaver, (4) Chris Madden, (5) Brandon Kinzer, (6) Terry Smith, (7) Dingus Griffin, (8) Clint Smith, (9) Ivedent Lloyd Jr., (10) Dennis Franklin, (11) Danny Peoples, (12) Earl Pearson Jr., (13) Mike Head, (14) Jason Wilson, (15) Tim Roszell, (16) Rod Carroll, (17) Stacy Holmes, (18) Mark Vineyard, (19) Kenny Gaither, (20) Brandon McCallum, (21) Terrance Nowell, (22) Tim Busha, (23) Ross Martin, (24) Ted Lackey, (25) Tony Knowles.
