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

February 13, 2014

NeSMITH CHEVROLET DLMS SUPER BOWL OF RACING PRESENTED BY ROCK AUTO.COM NOTEBOOK

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CARTERSVILLE, GA – After six straight rainouts to begin its 10th season, the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring Division finally got the first three races of 2014 in the record books at the Super Bowl of Racing Presented By Rock Auto.com on February 7 and 8 at Golden Isles Speedway in Brunswick, GA. The following is a “By The Numbers” Notebook:

There were 48 drivers from ten different states registered for the three races with 47 of them participating. Georgia topped the list with 18 drivers representing the Peach State. Alabama sent six drivers with five each for Florida, Mississippi and North Carolina. Tennessee has four drivers at the event with two from South Carolina and one each from Indiana, Kentucky and Virginia.

A total of 13 drivers made all three feature events. Four drivers, Mack McCarter of Gatlinburg, TN, Mark Whitener of Middleburg, FL, Chris Noah of Rainbow City, AL, and Robert Diekemper of Bloomingdale, GA, posted top ten finishes in all three races.

The next two stats show just how competitive the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series is this season. No drivers were able to record a top five finish in all three races, but four drivers, Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC, Walker Arthur of Forest, VA, McCarter, and Whitener turned in top five finishes in two of the three races.

Six drivers, McCarter, Whitener, Noah, Diekemper, Joey Coulter of Concord, NC, and the defending NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN, were the only drivers to complete all 110 laps of feature race competition over the three races.

With the February 6 race being postponed by rain, two races were held on February 7. Two drivers that missed the show for the afternoon race came back in the evening race with successful results. Jacob Anderson of Murphy, NC came back to set fast time for the evening race, and Jason Fitzgerald of Middleburg, FL came from the outhouse to the penthouse by winning the nightcap.

Five different drivers led laps in the three feature races with Arthur leading 74 laps, followed by Fitzgerald leading 29 laps, Cook leading five laps, while Anderson and Justin McRee of Woodstock, AL each leading one lap.

Noah used his three top ten finishes to take an early lead in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Rookie of the Year point standings. Noah holds a 64 point lead over Montana Dudley of Phenix City, AL.

Also running for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Rookie of the Year Award in 2014 are Wil Herrington of Cochran, GA, Braden Mitchell of Russellville, AL, Jak Kicklighter of Savannah, GA and Paul Jorgensen of Blackshear, GA. The top Rookie of the Year Candidate in the point standings with perfect attendance at the end of the season will earn $5,000.

The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Chassis Manufactures Challenge point standings are tight after the first three races of the season with just six points separating the top five. CVR Race Cars of Seymour, TN and Rocket Chassis of Shinnston, WV are tied for the point lead with 27 points apiece.

Defending and three-time Champion Warrior Race Cars built by Goddard Performance of Knoxville, TN is third with 24 points, former Champion GRT Race Cars of Greenbrier, AR is fourth with 23 points, and Trak-Star Race Cars built by Boland Performance of Cuba, AL is fifth with 21 points. Fitzgerald gave GRT a win in the February 7 nightcap, and Coulter gave Rocket a Fast Time Award on February 8.

There appears to be a changing of the guard among the Top 10 in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series point standings from last season. Only two drivers from the 2013 Top 10 list, Johnson and Josh Adkins of Talladega, AL, are in the Top 10 of the point standings after the first three races of the 2014 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series season.

Seven drivers from the 2013 Top 10, Johnson, Tait Davenport of Benton, KY, McRee, Brent Barrett of Cleveland, MS, Adkins, Michael Blount of Sumrall, MS and two-time series Champion David Earl Gentry of Murfreesboro, TN took part in the first three races of the 2014 season.

McCarter could be the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series breakout driver of 2014. McCarter is third in the points chase, four points behind Cook and two points behind Arthur. Cook and Arthur will be running a heavy super late model scheduled outside the series, while McCarter has a pair of series races at his home track on the horizon.

The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series will visit 411 Motor Speedway in Seymour, TN on March 28 with a 40-lap $2,000-to-win race, and on March 29 with a 50-lap $2,500-to-win event. Not only is 411 Motor Speedway McCarter’s home track, it is also his home base, as he can open the door to his shop and pull out on the race track owned by his father Mitch McCarter.

Johnson can’t be counted out for defending his $20,000 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Championship, especially when it comes to racing at 411 Motor Speedway. The 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval at the foot of the Great Smoky Mountains held two races in one day last season, and Johnson won both of them.

All of this is just speculation at this early point in the season, as there are at least 20 more NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series races to run through Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida between now and November. Only then will we know who will hoist the NeSmith Cup as the National Champion after the tenth season.

For more information and rules about the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series, visit the series all-new 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. RockAuto.com is an Official Sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. Racecar Engineering is the Official Parts Supplier of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. Renegade Race and Performance Fuels are a series Associate Sponsor and fuel supplier. AR Bodies is an Associate Sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Contingency Sponsors for 2013 are Dominator Race Products, Stealth Racing Carburetors, Modern Images, Mike Custom Tanks, Shorty’s Shock Service, Schoenfeld Headers, J.T. Kerr Racing Equipment, Kinser Air Filters, Velocita Racewear, and Performance Rod & Custom. 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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