b'RACERSPOTLIGHTIt certainly did at the IHRA Summit SuperSeries World Finals, where he faced Peterson, who earned his way to Memphis by winning the IHRA Division 3 Summit Team Finals. Cleveland knows about the tough competition in Division 3, particularly at his home track, officially known as Lancaster Dragway at New York International Raceway Park.Veteran racers Mike Swinarski, Vito Antonicelli and his wife, Sylvia, purchased the 1/8-mile drag strip IHRA Summitearlier this year and put a major emphasis on the IHRA Summit Superseries PrizeSuperSeries, the largest and efforts they put in. Without them andI wouldnt be able to do this without most prestigious program in the staff at Lancaster, none of this my mom and dad, he said. My Package Hasbracket racing. would be possible. finance Tracey, my kids, Jordan, Gabby and Owen were there every Cleveland on TopWe have some of the toughestCleveland also credited the efforts week supporting me. My brother competition anywhere, Clevelandof his family and close supporters.and sister-in-law were there almost said. You have to be good to win of Racing World at our track. The track was closed,He felt them with him every step every week along with my soon to but it reopened a month beforeof the way and every pass down be father-in-law Mike and my engine the season started because of thethe drag strip. builder Tom. Its just a dreamcome true.Keith Clevelands efforts in Memphis a company which manufacturers offshore equipment, could not be topped. was spot on throughout the Saturday eliminations. Representing Lancaster Dragway, he defeated Paul The suburban Buffalo racer drove to the top of thePeterson from Dragway 42 in the final round with a .010 racing world by winning the Top division championshipreaction time and a 5.66-second run at 119.80 mph. at the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) SummitIt was a surreal experience. Ive been racing for SuperSeries World Finals at Memphis International20 years and my father has been racing since 81, Raceway. Cleveland said. There are no slouches there. When I His championship package included $20,000 fromgot back home, they had on the board at work, World Summit Racing Equipment, a seven-night/eight-dayChampion. Its hard to put into words, but its an vacation for two on the island of Aruba courtesy ofamazing experience.Around Aruba Tours, a golf cart from Darts Carts, aClevelands championship-winning car is quite the head-world championship diamond ring, a world championshipturner. Its a 1923 Ford T bucket with a 383-cubic inch Ironman Trophy and IHRA Gold Card. Cleveland alsosmall block motor and a powerglide transmission. He took home an additional $500 from Battle Born Batteryexplained it wasnt the car which qualified him for the for having the best reaction time of all the final roundIHRA Summit SuperSeries World Finals.competitors.The trip to the exotic island comes in particularly handyWe get some looks, but it runs the number and works. after Cleveland got engaged earlier this year. Hes alsoIts a low-budget racing operation with me and my glad to plenty of extra cash in hand. father, he said about the 1923 Ford. We also race a 1970 Oldsmobile that we run with a 468 big block. But, Im looking forward to that. Its either going to be thethe Ford T bucket just fits me and I feel so comfortable in honeymoon or marriage, he said about the Aruba trip.that car. Then, $20,000 is nothing to sneeze at. Thats bigWhen we were talking about what car to bring money. Twenty-grand is twenty-grand and it feels goodto Memphis, I qualified for the World Finals in my to get that check. Oldsmobile, but, I wanted to take that car becauseIt felt good for him to perform like he did at Memphis.it just works. It would be nice to have one of those long Cleveland, who works as a painter and mechanic fordragsters, but the T bucket leaves soft andworks perfect.8 9'