Wallace and Juvenile Diabetes Big Winners at Cleveland
Story by Bob Appleget
Kenny Wallace won the Race for Juvenile Diabetes Late Model Special, but the big winner of the night was Juvenile Diabetes, as the area chapter will receive approximately $7,500 from the Tuesday night's activities at Cleveland Speedway, Cleveland, TN.

#115 Todd Hernandez comes in 2nd to Kenny Wallace.

A great Tuesday night crowd was on hand at the third mile clay oval to spend an evening with Kenny Schrader and Wallace an event to raise money to help fight Juvenile Diabetes. The two NASCAR stars signed autographs, worked with local media, gave rides in the Cleveland Driving School Late Model and raced in the night's 30-lap Late Model feature.

Leading every lap Wallace would have his hands full throughout the race from a number of challengers. In the waning laps a very determined Billy Mayo became the third and final driver to mount a challenge on Wallace. With six laps to go Wallace in the high groove and Mayo using the low groove waged a torrid battle whose outcome was in doubt right down to the checkered flag.

"I don't know who the guy in the 115 (Mayo) was but he raced me and he raced me clean. We had a real good battle there at the end," said Wallace in victory lane. "My car was really good up on the cushion and I have to thank Kenny Schrader's crew for that as they do all the work on the car."

A local fan gets her copy of Motorsport America autographed by Schrader and Wallace.

Early in the event David Gamble, who started on the outside front row would take a shot at Wallace, but could not do anything with the leader. Anthony White would move from this sixth place starting spot into second on lap 19 and begin to stalk Wallace only to pull up lame on the back straight six laps later. This opened the door for Mayo to mount his final six-lap charge.

Jake Knowles, Shawn Reece and Kenny Schrader were third through fifth. Rounding out the top 10 were Jamie Oliver, Bobby Mayse, Dewayne Powell, Jake Herrell and Rick Rogers.

Barrett Terry took the lead from Rick Hixson on the third lap of the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature and the two would battle for the next sixteen laps until mechanical problems put Hixson in the pits. Terry would take the win with Matt Steward, David Tinker, Danny Pippin and Bobby Doss following him across the stripe.

Kenny Schrader in the driver's seat of the #99 Red Barron.

Tanner Works jumped from his sixth starting spot to third on the first lap of the Hobby feature. Works would spend the next 11 laps getting past Richard Dixon to take the second spot behind leader Todd Hernandez. In the next seven laps and three corners Works worked on Hernandez. Coming off the fourth turn looking at the checkered flag Works made one last ditch effort and was able to take lead and the win.

Hernandez settled for second with Dixon third, Jason Brown fourth and Tommy Miller fifth.

In B-Hobby action Patrick Wilson would take the lead from fellow front row starter Herbert Chambers on lap seven and never look back as he roared to victory. Following Wilson across the stripe were Chad Collins, Patrick Harvey, Duke Rodabaugh and Cody Herron.

Racing every Saturday night from March to November. Cleveland Speedway is East Tennessee's finest short track. The third mile clay oval is located on US Hwy 11 (Lee Highway) just north of the US 64 bypass in Cleveland, Tenn. For more information call the track (423) 479-8574. Or visit www.clevelandspeedway.com + (Photos: Fred Hanyon/MSA)

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