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

June 26, 2013

LATE MODEL RACE CAR RAFFLE TO BENEFIT CHASE WASHINGTON

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CARTERSVILLE, GA – National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame Inductee Jerry Inmon of Bruce, MS is donating a race-ready dirt late model race car that will be raffled off to benefit his protégé Chase Washington of Houlka, MS to help pay his mounting medical expenses while he undergoes chemotherapy treatments for Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma cancer.

Washington won the $10,000 2012 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series National Championship, but in March of this year, the 22-year-old driver was diagnosed with cancer. Washington had surgery in March to have the 18-inch cancerous portion of his small intestine removed.

While his doctors were confident they removed all of the cancer, as a precaution, they have had Washington undergo six chemotherapy treatments over an 18-week period, or one treatment every three weeks. He has completed four treatments, and still has two more to go.

The dirt late model race car Jerry Inmon Racing is raffling off is a 2008 GRT chassis with many new bolt on components and powered by a Chevrolet Performance 602 Crate Engine that is being freshened up by Jeff Burns Racing Engines.

Chances to win the car are $10 apiece, or three for $25. Representatives from Jerry Inmon Racing will be traveling to selected NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring Division events and NeSmith Chevrolet Old Man’s Garage Weekly Racing Series tracks to sell the raffle tickets. All of the proceeds will help offset Washington’s medical expenses.

The tickets can also be purchased through the mail by making checks and money orders payable to Sheila Inmon and sending them to 127 South McSweyn Place, Bruce, MS 38951. The winning ticket will be drawn at the Cotton Pickin’ 100 at Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, MS on October 12.

Washington’s long-time crew chief, 2012 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Crew Chief of the Year Joel Murphree is preparing the car, and they will have it on display at the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring Division races at Greenville Speedway in Greenville, MS on July 12 and 13 for the 3rd Annual Rumble On The Gumbo Nationals.

“This is a winning race car that Chase drove to sixth-place in the 2009 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National point standings, and he also won the Crate Late Model portion of the Cotton Pickin’ 100 at Magnolia Motor Speedway, as well as several other races over two seasons,” Murphree said. “I am putting this car together like we would be racing it ourselves. I’ll have it scaled and ready to race for the winning ticket holder.”

Murphree said the car is valued at $10,000 to $12,000 race-ready and a great car to get started in dirt late model racing while giving to a worthwhile cause at the same time.

“Someone will get a good race car for just $10, and that’s a deal that’s hard to come by,” Murphree said. “The important part of this is to help Chase get back on his feet financially. It has been hard enough for him physically while going through the surgery and chemotherapy, so we hope race fans will buy a lot tickets to help ease the financial burden on him and his family.”

Washington has displayed the courage and strength to bounce back from each treatment, as he climbed back into his race car for the first time since March on June 14 at Magnolia Motor Speedway where he set fast time and won the NeSmith Chevrolet Old Man’s Garage Weekly Racing Series Late Model race. He followed that up with a third-place finish in the June 15 race.

After his triumphant return to Victory Lane, Washington reflected on that evening, and his road to recovery, from both a physical and spiritual standpoint.

“I was feeling pretty good, so I thought I would just hot lap the car that night, and we were fast, so I decided to qualify it,” Washington said. “We set fast time, so I thought starting up front wouldn’t be so bad, so I decided to race it. We led all of the laps, and I got the win. It was a win that meant more to me than winning the National Championship the year before. It was tough from a physical standpoint, but I had to prove to myself that I could still do this and win races. I can’t thank everyone enough for the thoughts, the prayers, and the donations. Through God, I have felt all of the prayers and I have gotten closer to God through all of this. God has carried me through this, and I have faith in Him that He will heal me.”

After proving to himself that he could still drive a race car and win races, Washington said he was going to take a few more weeks off from competition while he completed his treatments, and would see how he felt by the Labor Day Weekend.

For more information about the Dirt Late Model Race Car Raffle to benefit Chase Washington, contact Sheila Inmon at 662-983-4601 between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. Central Time.

For more information 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. 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 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. 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, AR Bodies, 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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