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

February 28, 2016

HICKMAN SWEEPS ROCKAUTO.COM WINTER SHOOTOUT FINALE FOR NeSMITH LATE MODELS IN COCHRAN, GA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

               COCHRAN, GA – Riley Hickman of Cleveland, TN drove the Hickman Manufacturing CVR to a clean sweep Sunday night in the RockAuto.com Winter Shootout Finale for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series at Cochran Motor Speedway.  Hickman set Fast Time to earn the pole position for the main event, and then led all 50 laps to take his four career win with the series.

               Hickman set a fast pace early in the race, holding at one point a full straightaway lead over Jimmy Thomas of Phenix City, AL.  The second half of the race saw Thomas close to within a couple of car lengths in lapped traffic, but Hickman had the dominant race car.

               Thomas finished second in the Five Star Hyundai Special and Chase Edge of LaFayette, AL finished third in the Edge’s Gas Company Special to earn the 2016 RockAuto.com Winter Shootout Championship.  In seven races, Edge has 612 points with one win, four top five finishes and six top ten finishes in seven races.

               Robbie Metts of Albany, GA finished fourth in the J&H Transmission Special, and Chesley Dixon of Swainsboro, GA drove the Central Fence Company Special to a fifth-place finish.  Jody Nipper of Gray, GA took the sixth spot in the Scotty’s Muffler Special, and Terrance Nowell of Phenix City, AL was seventh in the Harrod Logging Special.

               Will Herrington of Cochran, GA finished in the eighth spot in the Herrington Auto Warrior, and Larry Harrod of Plains, GA was ninth in the Harrod Logging Special.  The 2015 Sunoco Young Guns Challenge Series Champion, 14-year-old Cruz Skinner of Oxford, AL rounded out the top ten in the Skinner’s Body Shop CVR.

               Damian Bidwell of Eldred, PA started 24th and finished 17th in the Andrews Auto Salvage Rocket to earn the Beyea Headers Hard Charger of the Race Award.  Ahnna Parkhurst, a 15-year-old driver from Evans, GA, took her second Sunoco Young Gun of the Race Award for the second straight night with a 16th-place finish in the K&N Filters Warrior.

In preliminary action, Hickman out-timed the 28-car field with a lap around the 3/8-mile clay oval in 15.020 seconds to set fast time honors.  The two ten-lap B-Main Races were won by Herrington and Skinner.

               When the field took the green flag to start the main event, Hickman took the lead in the first turn followed by Thomas, Montana Dudley of Phenix City, AL in the Zaxby’s Rocket, Edge and Dixon.  Metts drove around Dixon to take over the fifth spot on lap two, while Hickman set a fast pace to hold a half-straightaway lead by lap four.

               Hickman caught the cars on the tail end of the lead lap by lap six.  Thomas, Dudley and Edge used this opportunity to close in on the leader, but by lap 15, Hickman had put a couple of lapped cars between himself and Thomas to pull away to a full straightaway lead. 

Just when it looked like Hickman was going to pack his bags, turn in the key and check out on the field, the pace was slowed by the first of just three cautions flags on lap 22 when Steven Bloodworth of McIntyre, GA stalled the Bloodworth Pallet Company Special in turn one.  The top ten for the restart had Hickman in the lead followed by Thomas, Dudley, Edge, Metts, Dixon, Nowell, Nipper, Herrington and Harrod.

The second caution flag came out on lap 26 when Marcus Minga of Shannon, MS stalled the B&M Salvage Rocket in turn four, and the third and final caution flag came out for a driveline misfortune for Dudley, who had to give up the third spot on lap 31.   When the field went back to green, Hickman, who was trying to manage his tire wear, could only open up a five car-length advantage on Thomas with ten laps to go.

Hickman reached lapped traffic on lap 44, and he was able to use the lapped cars to his advantage in the last six laps of the race to keep Thomas and Edge behind him.  Hickman took the checkered flag with a .654 second margin of victory.

Next up for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series will be the opening of the 2016 National Tour with a pair of races on April 8 and 9 at I-75 Raceway in Sweetwater, TN.  The Friday night, April 8 race will be 40 laps and $2,000-to-win, and the April 9 event will be 50 laps and $2,500-to-win.

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 8 OF THE ROCKAUTO.COM WINTER SHOOTOUT FOR THE NeSMITH CHEVROLET DIRT LATE MODEL SERIES AT COCHRAN MOTOR SPEEDWAY IN COCHRAN, GA ON 2/28/16:

POS       STRT    CAR #   DRIVER                             HOMETOWN                   LAPS     $ WON
1.            1             R1          Riley Hickman                 Cleveland, TN                   50           $2,500
2.            3             22           Jimmy Thomas                 Phenix City, AL                50           $1,250
3.            7             18           Chase Edge                        LaFayette, AL                  50           $850
4.            5             06           Robbie Metts                    Albany, GA                        50           $700
5.            4             3             Chesley Dixon                   Swainsboro, GA                              50           $650
6.            8             1n           Jordy Nipper                    Gray, GA                           50           $550
7.            6             27T        Terrance Nowell                             Phenix City, AL                50           $500
8.            9             14           Will Herrington                              Cochran, GA                     50           $450
9.            11           27H       Larry Harrod                   Plains, GA                          50           $400
10.          10           11           Cruz Skinner                    Oxford, AL                        50           $375
11.          17           27           Ben Faircloth                    Swainsboro, GA                              50           $350
12.          14           12           Eric Register                    Guyton, GA                       50           $300
13.          15           121        P.L. Williams                    Dublin, GA                         50           $280
14.          18           21           Cale Conley                       Vienna, WV                       50           $260
15.          19           4             Joe Mike                            Mayfield, KY                    50           $250
16.          20           23           Ahnna Parkhurst (Y)      Evans, GA                          50           $240
17.          24           7t           Damien Bidwell                Eldred, PA                         48           $220
18.          22           15           Jason Britton                    Alexander City, AL         48           $200
19.          2             55           Montana Dudley                             Phenix City, AL                30           $200
20.          13           66           Jody Knowles                   Tyrone, GA                       29           $200
21.          16           19           Marcus Minga                  Shannon, MS                     25           $200
22.          12           24           Steven Bloodworth          McIntyre, GA                   20           $200
23.          21           52           Ryan Carter (Y)                              Blackshear, GA                20           $200
24.          23           J1           Joshua Bishop                   Statesboro, GA                 5             $200

ENTRIES:  28
FAST QUALIFIER:  Hickman, 15.020 Seconds
LEAD CHANGES:  None
LAPS LED:  Hickman, 1-50
BEYEA HEADERS HARD CHARGER OF THE RACE:  Bidwell (started 24th and finished 17th)
SUNOCO YOUNG GUN OF THE RACE:  Parkhurst
CAUTIONS:  3
MARGIN OF VICTORY:  .654 Seconds
TIME OF THE RACE:  23 Minutes and 51.645 Seconds
NEXT RACE:  April 8, I-75 Raceway, Sweetwater, TN, 40-laps $2,000-to-win

QUALIFYING (Top 8 Transfer To Main Event):

POS

CAR #

DRIVER

HOMETOWN

CHASSIS

1ST LAP

2ND LAP

TIME

1

R1

Riley Hickman

Cleveland, TN

CVR

15.262

15.020

15.020

2

55

Montana Dudley

Phenix City, AL

Rocket

15.121

15.574

15.121

3

22

Jimmy Thomas

Phenix City, AL

Scorpion

15.276

15.500

15.276

4

3

Chesley Dixon

Swainsboro, GA

Barry Wright

15.312

16.790

15.312

5

06

Robby Metts

Albany, GA

Brown

15.338

15.766

15.338

6

27n

Terrance Nowell

Phenix City, AL

Harrod

15.369

15.772

15.369

7

18

Chase Edge

LaFayette, AL

Mastersbilt

15.443

15.385

15.385

8

1n

Jordy Nipper

Gray, GA

Newman

17.368

15.446

15.446

9

14

Will Herrington

Cochran, GA

Warrior

15.675

15.509

15.509

10

11

Cruz Skinner

Oxford, AL

CVR

16.506

15.517

15.517

11

27

Ben Faircloth

Swainsboro, GA

GRT

15.780

15.552

15.552

12

24

Steven Bloodworth

McIntyre, GA

Barry Wright

15.585

15.996

15.585

13

J1

Joshua Bishop

Statesboro, GA

Newman

16.233

15.656

15.656

14

19

Marcus Minga

Shannon, MS

Rocket

15.700

15.775

15.700

15

66

Jody Knowles

Tyrone, GA

Scorpion

15.704

15.781

15.704

16

12

Eric Register

Guyton, GA

Rocket

15.705

19.000

15.705

17

27

Larry Harrod

Plains, GA

Harrod

15.786

15.708

15.708

18

21c

Cale Conley

Davidson, NC

Pierce

15.715

15.760

15.715

19

121

Pearson Lee Williams

Dublin, GA

TNT

16.061

15.864

15.864

20

15

Jason Britton

Alexander City, AL

Pierce

16.568

15.906

15.906

21

4

Joe Mike

Mayfield, KY

Pierce

16.614

15.995

15.995

22

7T

Damian Bidwell

Eldred, PA

Rocket

16.001

16.398

16.001

23

52

Ryan Carter - Y

Blackshear, GA

Mastersbilt

16.204

16.019

16.019

24

5

Hunter Carter

Blackshear, GA

Warrior

16.188

16.084

16.084

25

04c

Colby Boyett

Bainbridge, GA

Rocket

16.946

16.093

16.093

26

23

Ahnna Parkhurst - Y

Evans, GA

Warrior

16.568

16.177

16.177

27

5d

Rodgerick Dykes

Smith Station, AL

Warrior

16.185

16.329

16.185

28

19w

Trey Wood - Y

Newnan, GA

Rocket

16.688

16.320

16.320

B-MAINS (10 Laps – Top 8 Transfer To Main Event):

               1ST B-MAIN:  1. Harrington; 2. Harrod; 3. Knowles; 4. Williams; 5. Faircloth; 6. Mike; 7. R. Carter (Y); 8. Bishop; 9. Boyett; 10. Dykes.

               2ND B-MAIN:  1. Skinner; 2. Bloodworth; 3. Register; 4. Minga; 5. Conley; 6. Parkhurst (Y); 7. Britton; 8. Bidwell; 9. Wood (Y); 10. H. Carter.

FINAL 2016 ROCKAUTO.COM WINTER SHOOTOUT POINT STANDINGS:

1. 18 Chase Edge – 612
2. 21 Cale Conley – 504
3. 14 Will Herrington – 384
4. 52 Ryan Carter (Y) – 366
5. 121 P.L. Williams – 362
6. 30 Ryan King – 348
7. 3 Chesley Dixon – 326
8. 5d Rodgerick Dykes – 268
9. J1 Joshua Bishop – 252
10. 88 Trent Ivey – 242
11. 14c Tyler Clem (Y) – 210
12. 48 Robert Diekemper – 206
13. 15 Jason Britton – 204
14. 40b Kyle Bronson – 196
15. 19 William Thomas – 194
15. R1 Riley Hickman – 194
17. 23 Ahnna Parkhurst (Y) – 192
18. 4n Joe Mike – 188
19. 6 Blake Spencer – 186
20. 17b Josh Richards - 184

Y – Denotes Sunoco Young Guns Challenge Series Champion

 

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.  Beyea Headers is the NeSmith Late Model Hard Charger Sponsor.  Sunoco Race Fuels is the Official Race Fuel of the NeSmith Late Models.  Panama City Cycles is the Official ATV Provider of the NeSmith Late Models.  AR Bodies is an Associate Sponsor of the NeSmith Late Models.  NeSmith Late Model Contingency Sponsors for 2015 are CrateInsider.Com, Integra Racing Shocks, Image Screen Printing, and Gresham Race Parts.  2015 Chassis Sponsors are Trak-Star Race Cars, Warrior Race Cars, Rocket Chassis, GRT Race Cars, and CVR Race Cars. 

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