Cleveland Speedway
After victory, Wall gives purse to tornado victims
By Steve Hixson
Cleveland Speedway
Chris Wall (with flag) and other drivers made donations to track workers Betty and Jerry Morris. (Ronnie Barnett)
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (May 7) — Cleveland Speedway cancelled last weekend's racing after parts of the region were devastated by tornadoes, and Chris Wall wanted to do his part when traveling to the third-mile oval for Saturday's makeup of the Cleveland Fasteners Tennessee Spring Fling. | Weekly results
"I heard about the devastation of the area from folks when we pulled in early Saturday," the Springfield, La., driver said, "and I knew immediately I wanted to help somehow."
First Wall helped, along with other drivers, by carrying his helmet through the stands to collect for a relief fund. Then Wall helped by lifting spirits with an exciting victory in the 40-lap feature. Then Wall helped more than Tennesseans could've imagined by donating all his $3,000 earnings to racetrack employees Betty and Jerry Morris.
"I told (promoter) Monty (Morrow) I didn't care if I got $250 for starting or won the whole thing tonight, I wanted to donate all my earnings of the night," Wall said.
The alligator farmer followed through in victory lane with the Morris couple, tears in their eyes, joining him in posing for photographs. They've been mainstays at the track since the late Joe Lee Johnson purchased the track in the 1960s.
Overall the track raised $6,800 for the relief effort with drivers like Brian Reese, Michael Arp and Daniel Burnett joining Wall in donating their earnings.
Polesitter Ray Cook of Brasstown, N.C., led the first six laps before tangling with a slower car. Reese inherited the lead, but his car was also damaged and he wasn't able to continue. That handed the lead to Derek Ellis, but Wall took command on the 17th lap and led the rest of the way.
Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, Tenn. — Joe Lee's son who hadn't competed at the track in a dozen years or more — ended up second with Jake Knowles of Tyrone, Ga., in third. Skip Arp of Georgetown, Tenn., and Riley Hickman of Ooltewah, Tenn., rounded out the top five.
Notes: Wall's Longhorn Chassis is sponsored by Appliance Zone, C&M Gator Farm, Xtreme Graphics, Lucas Oil, Stuckey Enterprises and Gator Trax Boats. ... The victory was Wall's first at Cleveland. ... Only eight of 24 starters were running at the checkers. ... Dustin Cansler earned a $100 bonus as the highest-finishing local. ... Ray Cook earned $100 from M&S Auto Sales for his fast qualifying time. ... Chris Brown got into the turn-four wall at the outset of the race, triggering a massive accident that sent Kayne Hickman's machine into a violent flip down the frontstretch. Hickman wasn't injured but his car was destroyed.
Cleveland Fasteners Tennessee Spring Fling: (1) Chris Wall, (2) Ronnie Johnson, (3) Jake Knowles, (4) Skip Arp, (5) Riley Hickman, (6) Scott Creel, (7) Jacob Grizzle, (8) Dustin Cansler, (9) Todd Morrow, (10) Derek Ellis, (11) Paul Tims, (12) Johnny Chastain, (13) Brian Pritchard, (14) Brian Reese, (15) Ray Cook, (16) Michael Evans, (17) John Winge, (18) Shawn Chastain, (19) Lee Frederick, (20) John Owenby, (21) Brian Jackson, (22) Kayne Hickman, (23) Chris Brown, (24) Sammie Russell. Fast qualifier: Cook. Heat race winners: Cook, Reese, Johnson.
Correction: Fixes Wall's chassis brand to Longhorn sted MasterSbilt.
