NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series News Release:  Contact – ROBY HELM – (865) 207-4157

January 21, 2013

DRIVERS FROM ACROSS THE NATION READY FOR NeSMITH CHEVROLET DLMS SPEEDWEEKS AT BRP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

                CARTERSVILLE, GA – A growing list of drivers from across the nation are ready to descend on Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, FL for the 2013 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series five-race season opener, the Rock Auto.com Speedweeks Presented By Racecar Engineering beginning on January 28 and running through February 2. 

A field of over 50 drivers from the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS, the Northern States RUSH Racing Series, local Bubba Raceway Park favorites and many others are expected and will take to the track on January 28 for an open practice to prepare for five straight nights of competition.

They will be battling for the Rock Auto.com Racecar Engineering $10,000 cash point fund and special contingency awards that are each valued at $500 that will be paid to the Top 30 drivers in points that compete in all five races.  The first four races on January 29 through February 1 will be 40-lap $2,000-to-win races, and the 50-lap finale on February 2 will pay $3,000-to-win. 

NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Touring Series points will be awarded based on a driver’s best three races.  Many of the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS drivers that competed in the 2012 season will return to battle for the 2013 $20,000 Championship and the prestigious NeSmith Cup.

The 2012 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring Division Champion Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA will return to defend his title and continue his Ironman streak of being the only driver to have competed in every series event held since its inception in 2005.  Turner has competed 146 consecutive NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS events.

Last year’s NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring Division Championship Runner-Up David Earl Gentry of Murfreesboro, TN will be looking for his third series title in 2013 to go with his 2006 and 2007 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Championship Trophies.  Last season, Gentry had three wins in NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS competition.

Larry Harrod of Plains, GA finished third in last year’s NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series point standings, and the 2010 Rookie of the Year knows how important these early races are to winning the championship.  If it weren’t for Harrod missing the main event in an early race last year, he could have possibly been the 2012 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Champion.

Chase Edge of LaFayette, AL will race for the 2013 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series title after finishing fourth last season, and taking the 2011 Rookie of the Year Award.  Johnny Stokes of Columbus, MS will be back to compete for the 2013 NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS title after finishing fifth in points last season, his third straight series Top 10 finish.

The 2012 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Rookie of the Year Chris Cantrell will look to get 2013 started on the right foot, and on all four wheels.  Cantrell flipped his race car in the season opener last season, but recovered to finish sixth in the final point standings.  Also returning for 2013 are last season’s seventh and eighth-place point drivers, Michael Blount of Sumrall, MS and Cody Kierre of Beebe, AR.

Two drivers to date have thrown their respective hats in the ring to compete for the 2013 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Rookie of the Year honors.  Jeremy Shaw of Millport, AL won two series events in 2012, and finished fifth in the 2012 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series point standings for non-touring drivers.  Josh Adkins of Leeds, AL will run the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS Touring Division in 2013.

The Northern States RUSH Racing Series will send a large contingent of drivers to the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Rock Auto.com Speedweeks Presented By Racecar Engineering at Bubba Raceway Park next week.  The RUSH Racing Series is a new series that has formed an alliance with Crate Racin’ USA, the sanctioning body of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series, to present Crate Late Model racing in the Northeastern United States.

Doug Horton of Bruceton Mills, WV leads the Northeastern contingent.  Horton has three NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series career wins, including the 2011 Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race where he pocketed the $10,000 top prize.  Horton finished second in the 2008 World Championship Race and third in last year’s event.

Horton will be joined by his young 15-year-old protégé Ryan Montgomery of Fairmount, WV.  Montgomery made last year’s Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race and finished 22nd in the 2012 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series season finale.

Other Northeastern drivers representing the RUSH Racing Series are Mike Pegher Jr. of Wexford, PA, Andrew Satterlee of Rochester Mills, PA, John Over of Uniontown, PA, Nolan Dalton of Morgantown, WV, Wayne Robertson of Corning NY, Michael Lake of Uniontown, PA, and Walker Arthur of Forest, VA, who finished ninth in last year’s World Championship Race.

The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Rock Auto.com Speedweeks Presented By Racecar Engineering at Bubba Raceway Park will take on an international flavor with at least four Canadian drivers looking to make the trip south.  Darren Peters and his son Jorden Peters won the Humberstone Speedway Late Model Championship in 2011 and 2012 respectively.  Also coming from North of the Boarder are Greg Belyea of Frankford, ON and Dave McDonald of Brighton, ON.

Hometown Hero Ivedent Lloyd Jr. of Ocala, FL will be at Bubba Raceway Park to once again defend his home turf in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Rock Auto.com Speedweeks Presented By Racecar Engineering.  Lloyd took the $10,000 top prize by winning the 2012 Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race at Bubba Raceway Park on December 1.

Joining Lloyd in the local contingent for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Rock Auto.com Speedweeks Presented By Racecar Engineering at Bubba Raceway Park will be Shan Smith of Dade City, FL.  Smith finished second in the 2012 Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race.

Other local favorites expected are Keith Nosbisch of Valrico, FL, who finished fourth in the 2012 World Championship Race, Jason Fitzgerald of Middleburg, FL, Kyle Bronson of Tampa, FL, and Jeff Mathews of Valrico, FL.

Several other top contenders in the five-race NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Rock Auto.com Speedweeks Presented by Racecar Engineering at Bubba Raceway Park include three drivers that finished in the top ten of last year’s World Championship Race.

Dennis “Rambo” Franklin of Gaffney, SC finished fifth in last year’s World Championship Race and also won two NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring Division races last year.  Mack McCarter of Sevierville, TN finished sixth in last year’s World Championship Race, and Shannon Lee of Lumberton, MS started 28th and finished tenth in last year’s season finale.  Justin McRee of Cottondale, AL is also expected for the five-race Speedweeks.

The Howard Johnson’s Hotel in Ocala, FL at Exit 354 on I-75 is the Official Host Hotel for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Rock Auto.com Speedweeks Presented by Racecar Engineering at Bubba Raceway Park.

                The Howard Johnson’s Hotel is offering NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series fans and competitors a special discount rate of $64.99 per night plus tax.  Rooms are going fast, so call 352-629-7021 to make reservations, and ask for the NeSmith Racing special discount rate.  The physical address for the Howard Johnson’s Hotel is 3951 NW Blitchton Road, Ocala FL  34482.

Located just minutes from Bubba Raceway Park, the Howard Johnson’s Hotel has freshly remodeled rooms, each equipped with a mini fridge and a microwave, plus free high-speed internet service.  They also have a free continental breakfast and offer a hot breakfast for $4.99, a pool and hot tub.  There is also a plethora of restaurants and shopping close by.  For more information visit the Howard Johnson’s web site at www.hotelocala.com.

Bubba Raceway Park is located north of Ocala, FL at 9050 N.W. Gainesville Road, Ocala, FL 34482.  For more information call 352-622-9400, or visit the track web site at www.bubbaracewaypark.com and on Facebook at Bubba Raceway Park. 

For more information about the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series visit the series web site at www.nesmithracing.com, or visit the series on Facebook at NeSmith Racing.  Becoming a fan of the NeSmith Racing Facebook page will make you eligible for special prizes that will be given away each month.  You can follow us on Twitter @NeSmithRacing.

NeSmith Chevrolet, Buick, GMC of Claxton, GA is the Title Sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series.  NeSmith Chevrolet, Buick, GMC is the nation’s number one GM Powertrain and Performance Dealer six years running, with free delivery anywhere in the Southeast.  Chevrolet Performance Parts is an Official Sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series.  Hoosier Racing Tire is the Official Tire Sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series.  Hedman Hedders is the Official Hedder of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series and the Hedman Husler Award sponsor.  Bilstein Shocks is the Official Spec Shock of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series.  Old Man’s Garage is the sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Old Man’s Garage Weekly Racing Series.  RockAuto.com and VP Racing Fuels are Official Sponsors of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series.  NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Contingency Sponsors for 2013 are Dominator Race Products, Race Car Engineering, KRC, QA 1 Precision Products, Modern Images, Mike Custom Tanks, Shorty’s Shock Service, Schoenfeld Headers, Integra Racing Shocks, J.T. Kerr Racing Equipment, Kinser Air Filters, and AR Bodies.  2013 Chassis Sponsors are Trak-Star Race Cars, Warrior Race Cars, Rocket Chassis, GRT Race Cars, TNT Race Cars, Stinger Race Cars, and CVR Race Cars. 

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