Cleveland Speedway
McDowell eyes bonus after Cleveland victory
From track reports
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (Nov. 16) — Dale McDowell of Rossville, Ga., showed his old form as he set fast time and led 25 of the 27 laps to win the Budweiser Joe Lee Johnson Memorial at Cleveland Speedway.
McDowell earned $3,500 for the victory — $2,700 from the winner's purse and $800 from lap money. A victory in Saturday night's O'Reilly Southern All Star-sanctioned Gobbler 75 would lift McDowell's weekend earnings to $11,000, as Saturday's $5,000-to-win main event comes with a $2,500 bonus from Car Smart Auto Sales for a McDowell weekend sweep.
Also to be decided on Saturday night is the Southern All Star championship as Ivedent Lloyd Jr. tries to hold off Mark Vineyard for the title.
On Friday night, McDowell was in control most of the race. While Steve Smith and Lloyd were waiting in the wings, Skip Arp and Clint Smith enjoyed some hard-nosed racing for the second spot. Clint Smith moved past Arp on lap 15 and set his sights on the leader, but a mirror-full of Arp would hold his attention. Arp regained the second spot on the white-flag lap while Clint Smith, Steve Smith and Lloyd rounded out the top five.
Chris Madden, who started alongside McDowell on the front row, led the first two laps, but a mechanical problem forced him to the pits on the 10th lap.
Saturday's practice session is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. with time trials and racing to follow.
Budweiser Joe Lee Johnson Memorial: (1) Dale McDowell, (2) Skip Arp, (3) Clint Smith, (4) Steve Smith, (5) Ivedent Lloyd Jr., (6) Randy Weaver, (7) Todd Morrow, (8) Ray Cook, (9) Shawn Chastain, (10) Shane Tankersley, (11) David Payne, (12) Jake Knowes, (13) Mike Hill, (14) Johnny Chastain, (15) Kayne Hickman, (16) Randy Burrows, (17) Josh McGuire, (18) David Breazeale, (19) Brandon Kinzer, (20) Chris Madden, (21) Stacy Boles, (22) Mark Douglas, (23) Lamar Scoggins, (24) Anthony White.
Correction: In a previous version of this story, McDowell's lap money earnings were listed as $2,500. He earned $800.
