Not only did the Cleveland Speedway host the Southern All Stars Super Late Models as part of their traditional ‘The Gobbler’ show on Friday night, but the track located in the southeastern corner of Tennessee also held races for its regular weekly classes as well. Area regulars Jerry Coffman and Rick Hixson would earn victories in the Crate Late Model and Steelhead Late Model divisions by the end of the night.
Jerry Coffman drove the A-1 machine to victory in the Crate LM portion of Friday’s show.
Ray Cook set fast time in qualifying for the Crate Late Models as he toured the clay oval facility in a time of 14.06 seconds. The top-6 from time-trials were locked into the feature so Coffman, Cory Hedgecock, Riley Hickman, Bobby Mayse and Tanner Works earned feature starting berths without having to compete in the heat races.
Jason Welshan had won every Crate Late Model feature held at the track this season, dating back to its re-opening in September. However, his qualifying time on Friday relegated him to the heat races. He won the first preliminary over Jordon Horton and Bryan Pritchard.
Todd Morrow outpaced Jacob Grizzle and Josh Walker to secure the win in the second heat.
The 25-lap feature was not without excitement or controversy.
Coffman bolted to the early lead from his outside front row starting spot with Cook, Hedgecock and Hickman trailing close behind. By the second lap, Welshan had worked his way into the top-5 as he passed by Mayse to claim the position.
Coffman pulled ahead just slightly in the early going, leaving Cook and Hedgecock to carry out a fierce battle for the runner-up spot. A lap 5 restart opened the door for Hickman to make a move around Hedgecock for 3rd place while Welshan moved into position to challenge for 4th.
The middle stages of the race saw some intense action just behind the leader as the cars worked through heavy traffic. On lap 16, Hickman, went to the low side of Cook looking for 2nd which allowed Welshan to make a run on the high side. The three-wide battle went all the way through turns three and four but when the cars came onto the front straightaway, a slower car came into the mix. When Welshan made a move to get under the lapped machine, Cook and Hickman came in contact with each other and were sent spinning into the inside wall.
Cook retired his damaged car from the race at that point while Hickman was awarded the 2nd position and Welshan was sent to the rear by track officials.
Coffman took off on the restart and led the remaining laps to score the $1,200 win ahead of Hickman, Hedgecock, Mayse, Works and Horton.
Rick Hixson drove a car from the Riley Hickman stable to the win in the Steelhead class on Friday night.
Jerry Coffman also proved to be fast in the Steelhead Late Model class as he set fast time in qualifying with a lap of 14.00 seconds. Also locking into the starting lineup for the feature were Ethan Hunter, Rick Hixson, Justin Winters, Greg Martin and Bobby Giffin.
Aaron Wheat won the first heat race for the Steelheads over David Payne and Jason Manley while Tod Hernandez beat out John Owenby and Roger Dickson in the second heat.
Hunter went to the early lead of the 30-lap feature while Hixson wasted little time in moving around Coffman to claim the 2nd position. Those three cars would remain in tight formation for much of the race’s first half.
A yellow flag waved on lap 4 when Wheat was sent spinning off of turn four as he and Martin raced for 5th. Ultimately, Wheat was returned to his spot but Martin was sent to the rear of the pack by track officials.
Hixson was able to make the move around Hunter to take the lead on lap 12. That left Hunter and Coffman to battle for position, which they did by going on either side of a lapped car on the 14th circuit. Hunter would eventually emerge from that action with the spot.
In the final stages of the race, Rick Hixson drove away to claim the $1,500 first prize ahead of Ethan Hunter, Justin Winters, Andy Picklesimer and Aaron Wheat as Coffman had trouble on the final lap.
In other action, Booger Brooks continued his domination of the A-Hobby division in this area as he beat out Charles Devine and Mitch Brady for the win.
Jonathan Sims won out in B-Hobby ahead of Ricky Wagner and Richard Dixon.
