CARTERSVILLE, GA – The Rumble On The Gumbo Nationals at Greenville Speedway in Greenville, MS is up next for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring Division with two races this weekend.  On Friday night it’s a 40-lap $2,000-to-win race, and on Saturday night it’s a 50-lap $2,500-to-win race, Rounds 10 and 11 of the 2013 season.

                NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series competitors, fans and officials are optimistic for good weather this weekend after the last five races on the schedule since June 1 have been rained out, and everyone is anxious to get back to the race track.

A tight point battle for the $20,000 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Championship will highlight the Rumble On The Gumbo 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.  The “Chattanooga Flash” is the leader in NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series all-time career wins list with 15 victories.

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.  Gentry has two Greenville Speedway wins among his 12 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series career wins, and is second on the series’ all-time career win list.

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.  “Dr. Dirt” has a NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series career win at Greenville Speedway, and warmed up for the Rumble On The Gumbo Nationals with a NeSmith Chevrolet Old Man’s Garage Weekly Racing Series win at Greenville Speedway last Saturday night.

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, Josh Adkins of Talladega, AL, and Jeremy Shaw of Millport, AL.

Turner has three NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series career wins, and two of them have come on the ¼-mile black gumbo clay of Greenville Speedway.  Turner will be looking to continue his “Ironman” streak of being the only driver to compete in every series event held since its inception in 2005 with his 156th consecutive race.

Barrett will be returning to his home track where he has several NeSmith Chevrolet Old Man’s Garage Weekly Racing Series victories, including one this season at Greenville Speedway.  Shaw is another driver that has had success at Greenville Speedway, winning the prestigious Gumbo Nationals for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series last October.

Greenville Speedway drivers that compete in the NeSmith Chevrolet Old Man’s Garage Weekly Racing Series each Saturday night at Greenville Speedway will be looking the give the Touring Division regulars some tough competition in the Rumble On The Gumbo Nationals.

Bobby Jordan of McCarley, MS is currently fifth in the NeSmith Chevrolet Old Man’s Garage Weekly Racing Series point standings.  Mike Palasini Jr. of Leland, MS is a NeSmith Chevrolet Old Man’s Garage Weekly Racing Series Championship contender, and is currently seventh in the point standings. 

Greg Fore of Greenville, MS has a pair of wins this season at his home track.  Other local favorites include Mark Tice of Avon, MS, David Carpenter of Greenwood, MS, Peyton Wilkerson of Leland, MS, Chad Washington of Greenville, MS and Kenny Carpenter of Cleveland, MS.

Greenville Speedway will host an open practice session on Thursday night with the pit gate opening at 4 p.m. and practice from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

On Friday night, the gates open at 4 p.m. with NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Pre-Race Registration and Technical Inspection from 4 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.  The Drivers Meeting is set for 6:45 p.m. and racing is scheduled for 7 p.m. 

On Saturday night, the gates open at 3 p.m. with NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Pre-Race Registration and Technical Inspection from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.  The Drivers Meeting is set for 5:40 p.m., and racing is scheduled for 6 p.m. 

The Econo Lodge at 3080 U.S. Highway 82 East in Greenville, MS is the Official NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Host Hotel for the 3rd Annual “Rumble On The Gumbo” 75 at Greenville Speedway.  The Econo Lodge is located just one mile from Greenville Speedway with plenty of restaurants and shopping close by.  To make reservations call 662-378-4976.

For more information about Greenville Speedway call 622-822-7071, or visit the Greenville Speedway web site at www.greenvillespeedway.net.  Greenville Speedway is located on the east side of Greenville, MS, one mile south of U.S. Highway 82 on Raceway Road.  The physical address is 1040 South Raceway Road, Greenville, MS  38701.

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.