Randle Chupp Captures Carolina Clash Checkers at Lancaster Speedway

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Randle Chupp Captures Carolina Clash Checkers at Lancaster Speedway

Randle Chupp has made the most of his travels to Carolina Clash events in 2008. The Troutman, NC resident captured his third victory in only four starts with the nine year old racing series on Saturday night as he led wire to wire at Lancaster Speedway. After setting fast time in Mega Plumbing of the Carolina's Qualifying, Chupp quickly bolted to the lead over Jonathan Davenport as the green flag waved around the lightning fast 1/2 mile oval. Dennis 'Rambo' Franklin dove to the bottom of turn two and swept into second as Davenport, Ricky Weeks and Tim Allen crossed the stripe to complete lap number one. Ed Gibbons night ended early as the veteran driver from Manning, SC gave up his sixth place run on lap two when he had rear end troubles. The first caution of the event waved on lap five when Frankie Beard spun in turn two. On the restart Franklin went to work on Chupp for the lead as Weeks was all over Davenport for third. Jeff Smith joined the top five on lap 10 as he slid under Allen. Franklin was able to dive under Chupp repeatedly but the driver of the Starrette Trucking/Powell Construction/Randy Clary Racing Engines/Rocket Monte Carlo kept the current series points leader at bay. Weeks was finally able to make the pass stick on Davenport on lap 19 as Smith had caught the duo. Smith made the same move one lap later and quickly went to work on the four time and defending series champion for third. Up front, Franklin continued to hound Chupp for the lead as the pair raced in and out of lapped traffic. On lap 33 Franklin was able to get completely under Chupp coming out of turn four. After slamming doors Chupp was able to hold off the popular Gaffney, SC resident over the final seven laps to secure the $4,000 win. Franklin, Weeks, Smith and Davenport rounded out the top five. Craig Shuffield was the Heintz Brothers Performance Hard Charger of the Race. Gibbons collected the $100 Dirt Trax Motorsports Hard Luck Award.

CAROLINA CLASH FINISH: 1. Randle Chupp 2. Dennis Franklin 3. Ricky Weeks 4. Jeff Smith 5. Jonathan Davenport 6. Tim Allen 7. Johnny Pursley 8. Doug Sanders 9. Craig Shuffield 10. Keith Freeman 11. Anthony Sanders 12. Scott Neighbors 13. Frankie Beard 14. Brian Moody 15. Deano Long 16. Jimmy McCormick 17. Jim Shuffield 18. Petey Ivey 19. Randy Smith 20. Ed Gibbons DNS: Ed Basey
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