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

January 28, 2015

WHITENER CATCHES AIR TO VICTORY IN NeSMITH LATE MODEL SEASON OPENER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

                  OCALA, FL – Mark Whitener of Middleburg, FL bounced his way to victory on Wednesday night in the 40-lap NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series season opener at Bubba Raceway Park driving the Dave’s Towing Special.  Whitener had to hold on through adverse track conditions to bring his race car home in one piece to take the win.

                Several inches of rain earlier in the week gave track owner Bubba Clem and his crew a challenge just to even have the track with a new clay surface ready to race on Wednesday night for the Rock Auto.com Winternationals season opener.  A deep hole in the turn four surface developed with ten laps to go that sent the dirt late models airborne coming off the corner.

                “I race here a lot and Bubba and his crew do a great job to always have the best track conditions, so tonight was an exception because of all of the rain we’ve had here,” Whitener said.  “I thought they did great just to give us a track we could race on early, but when the hole developed in turn four, we just had to get through it as best we could.”

                As the rut deepened in turn four, Whitener had a big lead over Jacob Hawkins of Fairmont, WV in the Bland’s Towing Rocket.  After Whitener bounced through the hole a couple of times, he started to drive around it on the high side of the track.  After a caution flag restart with four laps to go, Whitener was back down rough riding on the bottom of the track in turn four.

                “After I bounced through the hole in turn four a couple of times, I tried to go around it on the high side,” Whitener said.  “When I did that, the car didn’t feel as fast as it did when I was driving through the hole.  After the car landed coming out of the hole, the car felt like it got better forward bite.  We’ll have to look at the tape and see which way was faster.”

                Whitener was able to hang on and take a 1.415 second margin of victory over Hawkins.  Max Blair of Centerville, PA finished third in the R&J Poultry Rocket, and Walker Arthur of Forest, VA took the fourth spot in the Cecil B. Arthur Beef Farms Special.  Ryan King of Seymour, TN was fifth in the Brian King Roofing Stinger.

                Sixth-place went to 12-year-old Tyler Clem of St. Petersburg, FL, who was both the Rookie of the Race and the Young Gun of the Race.  Then it went from the youngest driver in the race to the most senior driver, 61-year-old Johnny Stokes of Columbus, MS, who drove the Bassett Hound Motorsports Special to a seventh-place finish.

Cody Martin of Christiana, TN took the eighth spot in the Martin Motorsports Warrior.  Ryan Crane of Panama City, FL started 22nd and finished ninth in the Panama City Cycles Special to earn the Beyea Headers Hard Charger of the Race Award.  NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Cale Conley of Vienna, WV rounded out the top ten in the AAA General Contractors Special.

                History was made in preliminary action, as 13-year-old Michael Lake of Uniontown, PA became the youngest driver in the 11-year history of the NeSmith Late Models to earn a Fast Time Award, as he toured the track during Qualifications in 15.755 seconds and take the pole position for the main event.  The two 12-lap B-Main Races were won by Stokes and Rick Singleton of Hesston, PA in the Rick Singleton Rentals Special.

                Lake took the lead at the start of the race followed by Whitener, Hawkins, King, and Cody Dawson of Westover, MD in the R&J Poultry Rocket.  The first of five caution flags came out on lap two when Cla Knight of North Augusta, SC in the Augusta Aquatics Special, Singleton, Logan Roberson of Waynesboro, VA in the Cecil B. Arthur Beef Farms Special and defending and two-time NeSmith Late Model Champion Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN in the NeSmith Chevrolet Special tangled in turn one.

                The second caution flag came out on the restart after Dawson pounded the backstretch wall while running fifth.  The next restart saw Clem work to the inside of King, and take the fourth spot on lap three, only to give up the spot a couple of laps later when the Young Gun Challenge Series driver dropped to the eighth spot.

                Hawkins drove inside Whitener coming off the fourth turn on lap five to claim the second spot.  While Hawkins and Whitener battled for second, Lake began to pull away, but his big margin was erased on lap nine when Conley spun in turn two to bring out the third caution flag.  Lake led Hawkins, Whitener, King, Arthur, Blair, Stokes, Clem, Joe Mike of Mayfield, KY in the Mike Farms Special and Martin down for the restart.

                On the restart, Arthur got to the inside of King coming off the fourth turn to take the fourth spot.  Whitener picked up the pace on lap 13 when he powered inside of Hawkins coming off the fourth turn to take over the second spot, but he didn’t stay there long.

                Whitener quickly reeled in Lake, who seemed to be slowing off his early race pace.  On lap 14, Whitener once again used the bottom groove coming off the fourth turn to get underneath Lake and take the lead.  Lake began to drop through the pack before calling it a night on lap 17.  At the halfway point, Whitener led Hawkins, Arthur, Blair, King, Clem, Stokes, Crane, Mike and Martin.

                With just about every car in the field using the bottom groove in turn four, the surface gave up the ghost on lap 30 and began to come apart, sending all takers in its path airborne coming off the corner.  If anything, it created wholesale position changes, as drivers straightened themselves out and tried to maneuver around to depression.

                Bronson Berry of Huntingdon, TN lit up the caution bulb for the fourth time on lap 32 when he stalled the Garner Brothers Farms Special in turn one.  The top ten for the restart were Whitener, Hawkins, Blair, Arthur, King, Stokes, Clem, Crane, Martin and Conley, who was one lap down.  Whitener was sailing around the outside of the turn four crater and was pulling away from Hawkins.

                Johnson stalled in turn four with a cut tire on lap 37 to bring out the final caution flag.  The top ten for the dash to the cash were Whitener, Hawkins, Blair, Arthur, Stokes, King, Clem, Crane, Martin and Conley.  Whitener stayed on the treacherous bottom groove to the finish, with his car coming completely off the ground a couple of times before taking the checkered flag.

                The NeSmith Late Models return to Bubba Raceway Park on Thursday night for a 50-lap $2,500-to-win main event.  For Whitener and the rest of the competitors, it will be long and busy 24-hours, as they go over their race cars with a fine tooth comb looking for anything bent or broken from the night before.

                “These race cars are pretty tough, but we’ll take some extra time before tomorrow night looking everything over closely and we’ll probably replace some things just to be on the safe side,” Whitener said.  “I know Bubba, his crew, and this race track pretty well.  I believe we will have a much better race track tomorrow night and the rest of the week.”

For more information and rules 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.

OFFICIAL RESULTS OF ROUND 1 AT BUBBA RACEWAY PARK IN OCALA, FL ON 1/28/15:

POS        STRT     CAR #    DRIVER                               HOMETOWN                     LAPS     $ WON 
1.             3              58           Mark Whitener                   Middleburg, FL                  40           $2,000
2.             2              RJ1        Jacob Hawkins                   Fairmont, WV                     40           $1,000
3.             8              111         Max Blair                            Centerville, PA                   40           $700
4.             9              87           Walker Arthur                    Forest, VA                            40           $550
5.             4              30           Ryan King                            Seymour, TN                       40           $500
6.             7              14           Tyler Clem (R)                    St. Petersburg, FL              40           $425
7.             15           1              Johnny Stokes                     Columbus, MS                     40           $375
8.             18           21m        Cody Martin (R) Christiana, TN                    40           $350
9.             22           10           Ryan Crane                         Panama City, FL                40           $325
10.          11           14c         Cale Conley                         Vienna, WV                         39           $300
11.          13           4              Joe Mike                               Mayfield, KY                      39           $275
12.          21           5              Ronnie Johnson                  Chattanooga, TN                39           $250
13.          20           72           Frank Wilson                      Harold, FL                           39           $225
14.          6              25           Justin McRee                       Woodstock, AL                   38           $200
15.          10           42           Cla Knight (R)                     North Augusta, SC             38           $175
16.          12           00           Bronson Berry                    Huntingdon, TN                  30           $150
17.          1              27           Michael Lake                      Uniontown, PA                    16           $140
18.          17           33           Jeff Mathews                       Valrico, FL                          15           $125
19.          23           19           Marcus Minga    `               Shannon, MS                       14           $125
20.          14           66           Jake Knowles                      Rome, GA                             10           $125
21.          24           18L        Brent Lewis                         Harrisburg, IL                    6              $125
22.          5              36           Cody Dawson                      Westover, MD                     1              $125
23.          16           99           Rick Singleton                     Hesston, PA                          1              $125
24.          19           17           Logan Roberson                 Waynesboro, VA                1              $125

ENTRIES:  36
FAST QUALIFIER:  Lake, 15.755 Seconds
PROVISIONALS:  Minga and Lewis
LEAD CHANGES:  1

LAP LEADERS:  Lake, 1-13; Whitener, 14-40
LAPS LED:  Whitener, 27; Lake, 13
BEYEA HEADERS HARD CHARGER:  Crane (started 22nd and finished 9th)
ROOKIE OF THE RACE:  Clem
YOUNG GUN OF THE RACE:  Clem
CAUTIONS:  5
MARGIN OF VICTORY:  1.415 Seconds
TIME OF THE RACE:  34 Minutes and 7.520 Seconds

QUALIFYING (Top 14 Transfer To Main Event):

POS

CAR #

DRIVER

HOMETOWN

CHASSIS

LAP 1

LAP 2

TIME

1

27

Michael Lake

Uniontown, PA

Warrior

16.294

15.755

15.755

2

RJ1

Jacob Hawkins

Fairmont, WV

Rocket

15.895

16.301

15.895

3

58

Mark Whitener

Middleburg, FL

Barry Wright

16.245

15.916

15.916

4

30

Ryan King

Seymour, TN

Stinger

16.422

15.935

15.935

5

36

Cody Dawson

Westover, MD

Rocket

16.358

16.005

16.005

6

25

Justin McRee

Woodstock, AL

HRRC

16.611

16.064

16.064

7

14

Tyler Clem - R

St. Petersburg, FL

Rocket

16.067

16.076

16.067

8

111

Max Blair

Centerville, PA

Rocket

16.382

16.132

16.132

9

87

Walker Arthur

Forest, VA

Mastersbilt

16.292

16.135

16.135

10

42

Cla Knight - R

North Augusta, SC

Barry Wright

16.206

16.306

16.206

11

14

Cale Conley

Vienna, WV

Pierce

16.480

16.280

16.280

12

00

Bronson Berry

Huntingdon, TN

Pierce

16.420

16.316

16.316

13

4

Joe Mike

Mayfield, KY

Killer

17.106

16.364

16.364

14

66k

Jake Knowles

Rome, GA

Rocket

16.667

16.398

16.398

15

1

Johnny Stokes

Columbus, MS

HRRC

16.891

16.454

16.454

16

99

Rick Singleton

Hesston, PA

Mastersbilt

16.674

16.470

16.470

17

16v

Joe Janowski

Carmel, IN

Pierce

16.985

16.546

16.546

18

71

Matt Henderson - R

Loudon, TN

Rocket

44.315

16.628

16.628

19

5

Ronnie Johnson

Chattanooga, TN

Mastersbilt

16.643

16.840

16.643

20

45

Bobby Richardson

Eustis, FL

Mastersbilt

16.685

17.005

16.685

21

33

Jeff Mathews

Valrico, FL

Rocket

16.879

16.712

16.712

22

21m

Cody Martin - R

Christiana, TN

Warrior

16.792

16.939

16.792

23

17

Logan Roberson

Waynesboro, VA

Mastersbilt

17.009

16.805

16.805

24

72

Frank Wilson

Harold, FL

Trak-Star

17.445

16.889

16.889

25

66

Adam Beeler - R

Knoxville, TN

CVR

16.918

17.171

16.918

26

4L

Greg Lemley

Waynesburg, PA

Rocket

17.063

17.082

17.063

27

18L

Brent Lewis

Harrisburg, IL

Warrior

17.194

17.815

17.194

28

98

Eric Hickerson

Linden, TN

Mastersbilt

17.971

17.374

17.374

29

19

Marcus Minga

Shannon, MS

Rocket

17.389

18.425

17.389

30

10

Ryan Crane

Panama City, FL

Crane

19.453

17.440

17.440

31

32

Mark Tatalovic

Guys Mills, PA

Rocket

17.879

17.643

17.643

32

1m

Connor Meade

Clay City, KY

Revolution

18.214

17.813

17.813

33

6

Jimmy Halford

Atwood, TN

Trak-Star

18.672

18.169

18.169

34

15

Jason Britton - R

Alexander City, AL

Pierce

NT

NT

NT

35

56

David Earl Gentry

Murfreesboro, TN

Mastersbilt

NT

NT

NT

36

77

Brian Connor

Augusta, GA

Barry Wright

NT

NT

NT

B-MAINS (12 Laps – Top 4 Transfer To Main Event):

                1ST B-MAIN:  1. Stokes; 2. Mathews; 3. Roberson; 4. Johnson; 5. Lewis; 6. Tatalovic; 7. Beeler (R); 8. Minga; 9. Halford; 10. Janowski DNS; 11. Gentry DNS.

                2ND B-MAIN:  1. Singleton; 2. Martin (R); 3. Wilson; 4. Crane; 5. Henderson (R); 6. Meade; 7. Lemley; 8. Hickerson; 9. Richardson DNS; 10. Britton (R) DNS; 11. Connor DNS.

NeSMITH LATE MODEL POINT STANDINGS THROUGH 1/28/15:

1. 58 Mark Whitener – 100
2. RJ1 Jacob Hawkins – 96
3. 111 Max Blair - 94
4. 87 Walker Arthur – 92
5. 30 Ryan King – 90
6. 14 Tyler Clem  (R) – 88
7. 1 Johnny Stokes – 86
8. 21m Cody Martin (R) – 84
9. 10 Ryan Crane – 82
10. 14c Cale Conley – 80
11. 4 Joe Mike – 78
12. 5 Ronnie Johnson – 76
13. 72 Frank Wilson – 74
14. 25 Justin McRee – 72
15. 42 Cla Knight (R) – 70
16. 00 Bronson Berry – 68
17. 27 Michael Lake – 66
18. 33 Jeff Mathews – 64
19. 19 Marcus Minga – 62
20. 66 Jake Knowles - 60

R – Denotes Rookie of the Year Candidate

 

NeSmith Chevrolet, Buick, GMC of Claxton, GA is the Title Sponsor of the NeSmith Late Models.  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 Late Models.  Hoosier Racing Tire is the Official Tire Sponsor of the NeSmith Late Models.  RockAuto.com is an Official Sponsor of the NeSmith Late Models.  Racecar Engineering is the Official Parts Supplier of the NeSmith Late Models.  Beyea Headers is the NeSmith Late Model Hard Charger Sponsor.  Renegade Race and Performance Fuels are a series Associate Sponsor and fuel supplier.  Schaeffer’s Oil Presented By Chad Wallace and Heather Newsome is the Official Oil of the NeSmith Late Models.  AR Bodies is an Associate Sponsor of the NeSmith Late Models.  NeSmith Late Model Contingency Sponsors for 2015 are Dominator Race Products, Stealth Racing Carburetors, Modern Images, Mike Custom Tanks, Schoenfeld Headers, Kinser Air Filters, Performance Rod & Custom, and David Smith Carburetors.  2015 Chassis Sponsors are Trak-Star Race Cars, Warrior Race Cars, Rocket Chassis, GRT Race Cars, TNT Race Cars, and CVR Race Cars. 

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