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

July 26, 2013

HOLLINGSWORTH BORROWS CAR FOR HOHENWALD NeSMITH WIN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

                HOHENWALD, TN – Ronny Lee Hollingsworth of Northport, AL led wire-to-wire in a borrowed race car to win the 40-lap NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series race on Friday night at Tennessee National Raceway.  The point leader borrowed the Ellis Welding Special from Evan Ellis to pick up his fifth win of the season.

                “I want to thank Evan Ellis for letting me borrow this car for the weekend, as I’m getting my car ready to run next weekend in Wisconsin,” Hollingsworth said.  “The car was fast right out of the trailer and it really helped us in the Championship battle.”

                Hollingsworth took the checkered flag with a three second advantage over the second-place finisher Josh Adkins of Talladega, AL in the Yellow Hammer Construction Special.  Adkins was also the Rookie of the Race.  National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame Inductee Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN finished third in the NeSmith Chevrolet Special.

                Hollingsworth now leads Johnson in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series point standings by eight points in the battle for the $20,000 National Championship.

                Todd Morrow of East Ridge, TN took the fourth spot in the A Plus Collision Center GRT and Shane Stephens of Arlington, TN was fifth in the FSR Racing Products Special.  Justin McRee of Cottondale, AL finished sixth in the High Roller Race Cars Special and moved up to the third spot in the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS point standings.

                Ashley Newman of Ripley, TN came back from a cut tire on lap 29 to claim the seventh spot in the Greg’s Sawmill Special, and A.J. Ferguson of Leona, TN was eighth in the Ferguson Racing Special.  Billy Tedford of Thaxton, MS started 19th in the Billy’s Auto Repair Trak-Star and finished ninth to earn the Hedman Husler of the Race Award.

                The defending NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA rounded out the top ten in the J.T. Kerr Racing Equipment Stinger.  Turner extended his Ironman streak of consecutive series events to 158, which represents every race the series has held since its inception in 2005.

                Hollingsworth took the lead at the drop of the green flag to start the race, but the yellow flag came out before the first lap could be completed when Jonathan Rowan of Jackson, TN spun the Rowan Racing Rocket in turn two. 

The complete restart saw Hollingsworth again grab the point from pole sitter Johnny Stokes of Columbus, MS in the Bassett Hound Motorsport GRT.  Adkins drove under Stokes for the second spot on lap one.  Behind Stokes in fourth was Johnson, and Tait Davenport of Benton, KY was fifth in the Murtco, Inc. Special.

The field was slowed by a lap three caution flag when Chris Tays of Corinth, MS spun the Tays Construction Trak-Star in turn two.  When the field went back to green flag action, Hollingsworth led Adkins, Stokes and Davenport, but a three-wide battle for fifth was being waged by Johnson, Morrow and Riley Hickman of Cleveland, TN in the Hickman Manufacturing Special.

The third caution flag of the race came out on lap five when Ronnie Cooper of McKenzie, TN gave up the eighth spot when he slowed with a cut down left-rear tire.  When racing action resumed, Stokes got by Adkins to take the second spot on lap six after a two-lap side-by-side battle for the position.

While Stokes and Adkins contested the second spot, Hollingsworth opened up a half-straightaway lead by lap seven, and the leader began to encounter the cars on the tail of the lead lap by lap 12.  Stokes was unable to close on Hollingsworth in lapped traffic, but a lap 21 caution flag would evaporate Hollingsworth’s lead when Marcus Minga of Shannon, MS stalled the B&M Salvage Rocket in turn two.

The restart at the halfway point of the race saw Hollingsworth leading Stokes, Adkins, Davenport, Johnson, Hickman, Morrow, Stephens, Newman, and McRee.  On the restart, Adkins got into the back of Stokes and cut down his left-rear tire.  Hickman got sideways in turn one causing a multi-car tangle behind him.

That brought out the fourth caution flag of the race and Stokes went to the pits to change his tire.  On the restart, Davenport stepped to the outside and passed Adkins for the second spot coming off the second turn.  Newman lit up the caution bulb for the fifth time on lap 29 with a cut down right-rear tire while running seventh.

The top ten for the restart was Hollingsworth leading Davenport, Adkins, Johnson, Morrow, Stephens, McRee, Ferguson, Kyle Bronson of Brandon, FL in the Brandon Ford Warrior, and Tedford.  On the restart, Bronson slid through the infield in turn three, and stacked up a multi-car tangle behind him.

Stokes got tangled up with two other cars and was forced into the light pole on the inside of turn four.  Once again, Stokes was forced to the pits for repairs which earned him the Dominator Race Products Hard Luck Award.

Bronson’s handling problems continued after the restart, as he spun in turn two to bring out the eighth caution flag on lap 31 while running ninth.  Davenport brought out the ninth and final caution flag on the restart when he spun in turn two while running second.

Hollingsworth led the field down for the restart.  Right Foot Ronny Lee packed his bags, turned in the key, and checked out on the field.  By lap 35, Hollingsworth had a half straightaway lead.

In preliminary action, Stokes out-timed the 27-car field with a lap around the ¼-mile clay oval in 14.573 seconds.  The two 12-lap B-Main Races were won by Stephens and Bronson.  The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring Division now moves to Clayhill Motorsports in Atwood, TN for a $2,500-to-win 50-lap race on Saturday night.

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.

OFFICIAL RESULTS OF ROUND 12 AT TENNESSEE NATIONAL RACEWAY IN HOHENWALD, TN ON 7/26/13:

POS        STRT     CAR #    DRIVER                               HOMETOWN                     LAPS     $ WON 
1.             2              73           Ronny Hollingsworth        Northport, AL                     40           $2,000
2.             3              19           Josh Adkins (R)                   Talladega, AL                     40           $1,000
3.             5              5              Ronnie Johnson                  Chattanooga, TN                40           $700
4.             9              8a           Todd Morrow                     East Ridge, TN                    40           $550
5.             11           15           Shane Stephens                   Arlington, TN                      40           $500
6.             8              25           Justin McRee                       Cottondale, AL                   40           $425
7.             14           73n         Ashley Newman                  Ripley, TN                            40           $375
8.             10           54           A.J. Ferguson                      Leona, TN                            40           $350
9.             19           91           Billy Tedford                      Thaxton, MS                        40           $425
10.          17           10           Matthew Turner                 Dawsonville, GA                 40           $300
11.          20           21m        Cody Martin (R) Christiana, TN                    40           $275
12.          1              1              Johnny Stokes                     Columbus, MS                     40           $250
13.          12           40b         Kyle Bronson (R)               Brandon, FL                        40           $225
14.          15           56           Jonathan Rowan                Jackson, TN                         39           $200
15.          21           121         Michael Blount                   Sumrall, MS                        39           $175
16.          13           6              Jimmy Halford                  Atwood, TN                          39           $150
17.          24           21           Shannon Ardry                   Columbia, TN                     39           $140
18.          4              18           Tait Davenport                   Benton, KY                          30           $125
19.          22           18L        Brent Lewis                         Harrisburg, IL                    29           $125
20.          6              R1           Riley Hickman                    Cleveland, TN                     25           $125
21.          7              10c         Ronnie Cooper                    McKenzie, TN                     20           $125
22.          23           19m        Marcus Minga                    Shannon, MS                       19           $125
23.          18           6e            Troy English                       Calvert City, KY                4              $125
24.          16           8              Chris Tays                           Corinth, MS                         2              $125

ENTRIES:  27
FAST TIME:  Stokes, 14.573 Seconds
PROVISIONALS:  None
LEAD CHANGES:  None
LAPS LED:  Hollingsworth, 1-40
HEDMAN HUSLER OF THE RACE:  Tedford (started 19th and finished 9th)
ROOKIE OF THE RACE:  Adkins
DOMINATOR RACE PRODUCTS HARD LUCK AWARD:  Stokes
PRC JUST MISSED IT AWARD:  T.J. Taylor
STEALTH RACING CARBURETORS 7TH-PLACE AWARD:  Newman
VELOCITA RACEWEAR 8TH-PLACE AWARD:  Ferguson
MODERN IMAGES 9TH-PLACE AWARD:  Tedford
AR BODIES 10TH-PLACE AWARD:  Turner
MIKE CUSTOM TANKS 11TH-PLACE AWARD:  Martin
SHORTY’S SHOCK SERVICE 12TH-PLACE AWARD:  Stokes
SCHOENFELD HEADERS 13TH-PLACE AWARD:  Bronson
J.T. KERR RACING EQUIPMENT 14TH-PLACE AWARD:  Rowan
KINSER AIR FILTERS 15TH-PLACE AWARD:  Blount
CAUTIONS:  9
MARGIN OF VICTORY:  3.073 Seconds
TIME OF THE RACE:  48 Minutes and 30.433 Seconds

QUALIFYING (Top 10 Transfer To Main Event):

B-MAINS (10 Laps – Top 6 Transfer To Main Event):

                1ST B-MAIN:  1. Stephens; 2. Halford; 3. Rowan; 4. Turner; 5. Tedford; 6. Blount; 7. Minga; 8. Ardry; 9. Felks.

                2ND B-MAIN:  1. Bronson (R); 2. Newman; 3. Tays; 4. English; 5. Martin (R); 6. Lewis; 7. Taylor; 8. Seibers.

NeSMITH CHEVROLET DIRT LATE MODEL SERIES POINT STANDINGS THROUGH 7/26/13:

1. 18 Ronnie Lee Hollingsworth – 918
2. 5 Ronnie Johnson – 910
3. 25 Justin McRee – 844
4. 40b Kyle Bronson (R) – 836
5. 18d Tait Davenport – 782
6. 1 Johnny Stokes – 742
7. 19 Josh Adkins (R) – 700
8. 47 Shannon Lee – 656
9. 56 David Earl Gentry – 630
10. 110 Brent Barrett (R) – 626
11. 10 Matthew Turner – 614
12. 121 Michael Blount – 590
13. 17ss Shan Smith – 544
14. 1s Jeremy Shaw (R) – 496
15. 51 Mack McCarter (R) – 486
16. 117 Jake Teague (R) – 382
17. 38 Scott Dedwylder – 378
18. 21m Cody Martin (R) – 360
19. 73 Evan Ellis – 342
20. 19 Marcus Minga - 334

R – Demotes Rookie of the Year Candidate

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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