Cleveland County Speedway
April 13, 2012
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David Smith Scores FASTRAK City Chevrolet Touring Division Opener at Cleveland County Speedway

Lawndale, North Carolina – Friday night’s FASTRAK City Chevrolet Touring Division event marked the Georgia-based series 9th season opener and at the end of the night, one of the series long-time supporters drove his machine into VP Race Fuels Victory Lane. 2010 FASTRAK Southeast Touring Champion David Smith overtook Chris Ferguson and drove away from the field to pick up a convincing victory. “What a great race car. It felt good to be able to come out here and have such a good car and get our season started off on the right foot. I am sure glad that my car owner Stanley McCarter could be here after a week in the hospital. Hopefully this win will make him feel a little better.” Smith said.
 
Smith established himself as the man to beat when he opened up the night by setting quick time during VP Race Fuels Race for the Pole Qualifying. Smith’s quick lap bested the other 23 drivers signed in for the event and handed him a nice $250 Fast Time Bonus from FASTRAK City Chevrolet Touring Division sponsor Velocita USA.
 
When the green flag waved over the field the battle for the lead was on immediately. Ferguson nosed ahead through turn 2 but Smith rallied to his inside and pulled even. The two Carolinians repeated the same scenario lap after lap and corner after corner over the first 9 circuits until Ferguson was able to slip by Smith exiting turn 4. Smith stayed glued to Ferguson’s rear deck until the 2 leaders reached backmarker traffic. Ferguson made quick work of the first lapper he approached putting the one car buffer between Smith and himself. However when Ferguson reached the machine of Heath Ellis he couldn’t find a way around. Ellis was running the very line Ferguson needed.
 
With Ferguson looking for a way around Ellis, Smith moved back in ready to pounce. Ferguson finally made the move by Ellis after some heavy racing contact between the two. Smith was then faced with the challenge of moving by Ellis. Smith was able to dispose of the lapped machine and again set after Ferguson down the back straightaway. When the leaders exited turn 4 Ferguson’s #22 dramatically slowed and Smith rolled by to take the lead. Ferguson slowed to a stop just past the flagstand after suffering a flat right rear tire on his mount.
 
With Ferguson on the tail for the restart, Smith now had to fend off the very fast Furman Parton. Parton took over the second position after the yellow flag and aligned to Smith’s outside for the lap 13 double-file restart. Smith’s #11 TNT Race Car scampered away handily with the drop of the green flag. Smith went on to avert all incidents and turn back all challengers to take the $2000 victory and secure the championship points lead. “I can’t say enough about how hard Carburetor Bob and Troy who has come on to help us here. I want to say thank you to Stanley McCarter because without him none of this would be possible. We are having fun and running well and that’s what it’s all about. It’s always good to come out of the gate with a win.” Smith added.
 
Final Results
 
1 – 11 David Smith – Inman, SC
2 – 6P Furman Parton – Union Mills, NC
3 – 77 Brian Connor – Martinez, GA
4 – 22 Chris Ferguson – Mt. Holly, NC
5 – 54B Brandon Umberger – Rural Retreat, VA
6 – 23 Corey Gordon – Charlotte, NC
7 – 22 Jordan Dill – Landrum, SC
8 – 8 Chris Chandler – Weaverville, NC
9 – 07 Dale Timms – Hodges, SC
10 – 57 Lee Cooper – Woodruff, SC
11 – 8 Heath Ellis – Hanover, WV
12 – 102 Kenny Barnes – Lawsonville, NC
13 – 44 John Ruggiero – Lincolnton. NC
14 – 281 Cole Dockery – Gastonia, NC
15 – 88 Trent Ivey – Union, SC
16 – 281 Kyle Pierce – Charlotte, NC
17 – 17 Jason Pack – Lawndale, NC
18 – 7 Clinton Cook – Radford, VA
19 – 84 Greg Clark – Stanley, NC
20 – 4 Taylor Hicks – Boiling Springs, SC
21 – 15A Barry Arnold – Max Meadows, NC
22 – 29 Steve Hendren – Rutherfordton, NC
23 – 8 Ron Parker – Bellwood, NC
24 – 15 Travis Blackwell – Greer, S