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

June 28, 2013

BUSY WEEK AHEAD FOR NeSMITH CHEVROLET DLMS “SALUTE TO AMERICA NATIONALS”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

                CARTERSVILLE, GA – Next week will be a busy one for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring Division, as they embark on the four-race, four-night “Salute To America” Nationals that begins Wednesday, July 3 and runs through Saturday, July 6.  The four events will be Rounds 10, 11, 12 and 13 of the 2013 season.

                The Salute To America Nationals begins on Wednesday night, July 3 with a $2,000-to-win 40-lap event at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL, the first visit for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring Division since 2007. 

Thursday night, July 4 will see the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series make its annual stop at East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City, AL for at $2,500-to-win 50-lap main event for the second race of the Salute To America Nationals.  East Alabama Motor Speedway will also have its huge July 4th Fireworks Show.

Penton Raceway in Penton, AL will host the third NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring Division Salute To America Nationals race on Friday night, July 5 with a $2,000-to-win 40-lap race.

The Salute To America Nationals finale for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series will take place on Saturday night, July 6 when the Touring Division makes it first-ever visit to Green Valley Speedway in Glencoe, AL for a $2,500-to-win 50-lap event.  The Life South Bloodmobile will be at GVS from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and those donating blood will receive a free T-Shirt and be eligible for a drawing to win a new TV.  GVS will also be giving away an LG washer and dryer.

A tight point battle for the $20,000 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Championship will highlight the Salute To America Nationals as Ronny Lee Hollingsworth of Northport, AL holds a 12-point lead over National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame Inductee Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN.

Hollingsworth has 658 points after four wins, five top five finishes, eight top ten finishes, and three fast time awards in nine starts.  Johnson has 646 points after one win, six top five finishes and eight top ten finishes in nine starts.

Kyle Bronson of Brandon, FL is third in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series standings with 618 points, and he also leads the Rookie of the Year point standings.  Bronson has one win, four top five finishes and six top ten finishes in nine starts.  Justin McRee of Cottondale, AL is fourth with 556 points after four top five finishes, five top ten finishes, and one fast time award in nine races.

Tait Davenport of Benton, KY and Shan Smith of Dade City, FL are tied for the fifth spot in the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS standings with 544 points apiece.  Davenport has two top five finishes and three top ten finishes in nine races, while Smith has one top five finish and three top ten finishes in nine starts.

Two-time NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion David Earl Gentry of Murfreesboro, TN is seventh in the standings with 518 points after one top five finish and three top finishes in nine races.  Shannon Lee of Lumberton, MS is eighth in the standings with 508 points after one top five finish and three top ten finishes in nine races.

Mack McCarter of Gatlinburg, TN is ninth in the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS standings with 486 points and is second in the Rookie of the Year standings.  McCarter has one top ten finish in nine events.  Johnny Stokes of Columbus, MS rounds out the top ten in the standings with 482 points after three top ten finishes in nine races.

Other top NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring Division regulars expected for the Salute To America Nationals include the defending NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA and Michael Blount of Sumrall, MS, along with Rookie of the Year candidates Brent Barrett of Cleveland, MS, and Josh Adkins of Talladega, AL.

Turner will be looking to keep his personal “Ironman” streak alive as the only driver that has competed in all 155 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series events held since the series’ inception in 2005.  Turner is the defending champion of the Penton Raceway event for the Touring Division.

With three of the four tracks being sanctioned by the NeSmith Chevrolet Old Man’s Garage Weekly Racing Series, a host of local favorites are expected to provide the Touring Division regulars with some tough competition in the Salute To America Nationals.

The Talladega Short Track contingent of NeSmith Chevrolet Old Man’s Garage Weekly Racing Series challengers include Talladega, AL drivers Adam Gauldin, Brian Ponder, and the 2011 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region Champion Jimmy Elkins Jr.

East Alabama Motor Speedway will be represented by NeSmith Chevrolet Old Man’s Garage Weekly Racing Series National Championship contender Montana Dudley of Phenix City, AL, who has seven wins at EAMS this season, plus defending race winner William Thomas of Phenix City, AL, Pat Wall of Columbus, GA, and Jimmy Thomas of Phenix City, AL.

A pair of former NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region Champions and former Touring Division Rookies of the Year will lead the Penton Raceway continent.  Chase Edge of Lafayette, AL was the East Region Champion in 2010, and was the Touring Division Rookie of the Year in 2011. 

Scott Knowles of Lanett, AL was the 2008 Touring Division Rookie of the Year and the 2009 East Region Champion.  Both Edge and Knowles have weekly victories this season at Penton Raceway.  Dana Eiland of Salem, AL and Taylor Mitcham of Lafayette, AL have also been weekly front runners this season at Penton Raceway and EAMS.

On Wednesday at Talladega Short Track, the pit gate opens at 4 p.m. with NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Pre-Race Registration and Technical Inspection from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., the Drivers Meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., and Hot Laps are set for 7 p.m.  Talladega Short Track is located at 4343 Speedway Blvd., Eastaboga, AL 36260.  For more information call 256-831-1413, or visit the track web site at www.talladegashorttrack.com.

On Thursday at East Alabama Motor Speedway, the pit gate opens at 3 p.m., with NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Pre-Race Registration and Technical Inspection from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., the Drivers Meeting is set for 7 p.m. and Racing is scheduled for 8 p.m.  East Alabama Motor Speedway is on Eastern Daylight Time and is located at 4238 U.S. Highway 80 West, Phenix City, AL  36870.  For more information call 334-297-2594, or visit the track web site at www.eamsdirt.com.

On Friday at Penton Raceway, the pit gate opens at 3 p.m. with NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Pre-Race Registration and Technical Inspection from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., the Drivers Meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m., and Racing is set for 8 p.m.  Penton Raceway is located at 2120 County Road 108, Lafayette, AL  36862.  For more information call 334-864-0666, or visit the track web site at www.pentonraceways.com.

On Saturday night at Green Valley Speedway, the pit gate opens at 3:30 p.m. with NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Pre-Race Registration and Technical Inspection from 4:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m., the Drivers Meeting is scheduled for 6:45 p.m., and Hot Laps are set for 7:15 p.m.  Green Valley Speedway is located at 1509 Green Valley Road, Glencoe, AL 35905.  For more information call 256-492-8550, or visit the Green Valley Speedway web site at www.greenvalleyspeedway.com. 

The Hampton Inn at 4210 Phillips Road in Lanett, AL and the Holiday Inn Express at 3645 55th Street in Valley, AL are the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Official Host Hotels for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Salute To America Nationals. 

To make reservations at the Hampton Inn call 334-576-5400 and ask for the NeSmith Racing discount rate of $69 per night.  To make reservations at the Holiday Inn Express call 334-756-2000 and ask for the NeSmith Racing discount rate of $51 per night.  Both hotels are located off I-85 at Exit 77 about a mile apart of each other.

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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