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

August 17. 2015

NeSMITH CHEVROLET WEEKLY RACING SERIES WEEK 21 ROUND UP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

                CARTERSVILLE, GA – For the third straight NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series season, a driver is closing in on record perfect 14 week point total of 700 points.  Michael Arnold of Hattiesburg, MS drove The Strength Center Special to his 16th win of the season Friday night at Hattiesburg Speedway in Hattiesburg, MS, and now has a best 14 week point total of 699 points with six weeks to go in the 2015 season.

                Arnold’s 699 point total is represented by 13 weekly 50-point wins and one 49-point second-place finish. Three of Arnold’s 16 wins came as double wins during the same week, and will count if a tie-breaker comes into play for the $10,000 National Championship.  In 28 races, Arnold has 16 wins, 20 top five finishes, and 23 top ten finishes.

                To reach a perfect best 14 week total of 700 points, Arnold needs a 50-point win to net on the 49-point second-place total, which is currently the lowest weekly total of his best 14.  In reaching the 700 point perfect score, Arnold will join the 2013 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series National Champion Noah Daspit of Kiln, MS and the 2014 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series National Champion Chris Holley of Dayton, TX as drivers to record a perfect 700 point season.

Even if Arnold reaches the perfect mark of 700 points as soon as Week 22 action next week, it doesn’t necessarily mean he will clinch the $10,000 National Championship.  Several scenarios must be played out that include eligible tracks exercising their options to schedule Double Features to make up for rainouts earlier in the season, and a determined number of wins by five other drivers.

The 13-year-old Sunoco Young Guns Challenge Series point leader Cruz Skinner of Oxford, AL, the 2013 and 2014 National Championship Runner-Up Mike Palasini Jr. of Leland, MS, Daspit, Kevin Sitton of Baytown, TX, and Ronnie Cooper of McKenzie, TN are still mathematically eligible to have a chance to beat Arnold for the title. 

There are still a possible 12 point races possible over the next six weeks if eligible tracks schedule Double Features.  Skinner, Palasini and Sitton all have six 50-point wins, while Daspit and Cooper have five 50-point wins.  If Arnold fails to win another race this season, Skinner, Palasini, and Sitton would need 11 wins to pass him in points.  Daspit and Cooper need to win all 12, or every opportunity available. 

There will be Double Features this weekend at Whynot Motorsports Park in Meridian, MS with a Week 15 Make Up Race on Friday night and a Week 22 race on Saturday night.  Beyond Week 22, there are no Double Features on the schedule for the remainder of the season, but eligible tracks have until 12 noon on August 24 to schedule Double Features for Week 23.

That means if none of the eligible drivers sweep the Week 22 Double Features at Whynot Motorsports Park, a win by Arnold, and/or no eligible tracks schedule a Week 23 Double Feature event, Arnold could be declared the 2015 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series National Champion as soon as 12:01 p.m. on August 24.

But even if Arnold clinches the National Championship next week, that doesn’t mean the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series season is over.  There are still nine more points fund-paying positions to be decided in the next six weeks, along with a seat at the Annual NeSmith Racing Awards Banquet in January at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame and Thunder Road Museum in Dawsonville, GA.

Skinner is second in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series standings with a best 14 week total of 684 points after seven wins, 14 top five finishes and 16 top ten finishes in 17 races.  Skinner drove the Skinner’s Body Shop CVR to a fourth-place finish on Saturday night at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL.

Palasini finished second on Saturday night at Jackson Motor Speedway in Jackson, MS driving the MP Trucking Special to move up to the third spot in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series standings with a best 14 week total of 675 points.  Palasini has six wins and 14 top five finishes in 17 races.

Daspit is fourth in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series standings with a best 14 week total of 673 points after five wins, 12 top five finishes and 16 top ten finishes in 18 races driving the Billy Riels Racing Special.  Daspit finished second on Friday night at Hattiesburg Speedway.

Shannon Lee of Lumberton, MS and Robbie Starnes of Livingston, TX are tied for fifth in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series standings with a best 14 week total of 671 points apiece.  Lee has one win, 17 top five finishes, and 19 top ten finishes in 19 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series races.  Lee drove the Billy Riels Racing Special to a third-place finish on Friday night at Hattiesburg Speedway.

Starnes finished second on Saturday night at Battleground Race Park in Highlands, TX driving the Lonestar Hydro and Maintenance Special to move into the tie for the fifth spot with Lee.  Starnes has the tie-breaker advantage with four wins on the season with 14 top five finishes and 16 top ten finishes in 16 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series races.

Greg Fore of Greenville, MS drove the Washington Body Shop GRT to his third NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series win of the season on Friday night at Greenville Speedway in Greenville, MS.  Fore is seventh in the standings with a best 14 week total of 659 points after three wins, ten top five finishes and 14 top ten finishes in 17 races.

Joseph Joiner of Milton, FL is eighth in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series standings with a best 14 week total of 653 points after two wins, 13 top five finishes and 15 top ten finishes in 16 races driving the Three Trade Consultants Special.  Joiner, who is also the NeSmith Panhandle Challenge Series point leader, did not earn any points in Week 21 competition.

Cole Daffron of Pell City, AL is ninth in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series standings with a best 14 week total of 648 points.  The 17-year-old driver is also second in the Sunoco Young Guns Challenge Series point standings for NeSmith Late Model drivers 18 years of age and younger.  In 14 races, Daffron has ten top five finishes and 13 top ten finishes.  Daffron drove the TSR Warrior to a fifth-place finish on Saturday night at Talladega Short Track.

Bobby Jordan of McCarley, MS rounds out the Top 10 in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series standings with a best 14 week total of 637 points after two wins, eight top five finishes and 12 top ten finishes in 21 races.  Jordan finished sixth on Friday night at Greenville Speedway driving the SMJ Race Parts Trak-Star.

In other NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Week 21 action, Sitton drove the Mirage Construction Special to his sixth win of the season at Battleground Race Park, and Cooper posted win number six of the season on Saturday night at Camden Speedway in Camden, TN driving the Ronnie Cooper Trucking Special.  Cooper has five 50-point wins and one 40-point win on the season.

The 2012 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series National Champion Chase Washington of Houlka, MS took his first win of the season on Saturday night at Jackson Motor Speedway driving the Jerry Inmon Racing Trak-Star, and Josh Adkins of Talladega, AL took his second straight win on Saturday night at Talladega Short Track driving the CRM Motors GRT.

NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Week 21 racing at Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, MS was rained out, and the results of the NeSmith Panhandle Challenge Series race at Flomaton Speedway in Flomaton, AL were not reported by track officials.

Wins by Fore and Adkins gave four-time NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Chassis Manufactures Challenge Champion GRT Race Cars of Greenbrier, AR their 13th and 14th wins of the season and the lead in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Chassis points. 

Washington gave three-time NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Chassis Champion Trak-Star Race Cars built by Boland Performance of Cuba, AL their 12th win of the season and the second spot in the chassis points.  Rocket Chassis of Shinnston, WV is third with nine wins and CVR Race Cars of Lenoir City, TN is fourth with seven wins.  Warrior Race Cars built by Goddard Performance of Knoxville, TN is still looking for their first win of the season.

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.

NeSMITH CHEVROLET WEEKLY RACING SERIES POINT STANDINGS THROUGH 8/15/15:

NeSMITH CHEVROLET WEEKLY RACING SERIES WEEK 21 RESULTS:

August 14:

GREENVILLE SPEEDWAY – GREENVILLE, MS:
1. 17 Greg Fore
2. 38 Chase Washington
3. 8 Mike Palasini Jr.
4. 70 Dewayne Estes
5. 7p Peter Hazzard
6. J8 Bobby Jordan
7. D8jr Christopher Showah
8. 25 Billy Pate

HATTIESBURG SPEEDWAY – HATTIESBURG, MS:
1. 4 Michael Arnold
2. 347 Noah Daspit
3. 47 Shannon Lee
4. 7 Hunter Lewis
5. 14 Chase Cooper
6. 55 Pat Nichols
7. 78 Calvin Martin
8. J88 Jered Smith
9. 119 K.I. Davis
10. 11 James Patrick
11. 15 Jeffrey Cooper
12. S16 Brandon Underwood

August 15:

BATTLEGROUND RACE PARK – HIGHLANDS, TX:
1. 20 Kevin Sitton
2. 77 Robbie Starnes
3. 23 Howard Willis
4. 56jr Colton Horner – Y
5. 83 Joseph Penney
6. 65 Lucas Peterson
7. 37 Garrett Higgins
8. 99 Randy Lovell
9. 33 Jose Moran
10. 84 Mike Davenport

CAMDEN SPEEDWAY – CAMDEN, TN:
1. 10 Ronnie Cooper
2. 00w Ricky Waggoner
3. 1b Bryant Marsh – Y
4. 00g Ben Garner
5. 00 Bronson Berry
6. 97 Craig Lindsey
7. 12 Mike Bowles
8. 4 Joe Mike
9. 11 Kevin Fuller
10.63 Dennis Bush

JACKSON MOTOR SPEEDWAY – JACKSON, MS:
1. 38 Chase Washington
2. 8 Mike Palasini Jr.
3. C20 Cliff Ross
4. 4j Josh Banes – Y
5. 33 Sid Scarbrough
6. 232 Jamey Boland
7. 24 Bryan Foreman
8. 9 James Moore
9. 114 Marshall Hooter – Y
10.55 Aaron Fitzhugh
11. 54 Richie Beasley
12. C11 Cliff Williams
13. 21 Tony Henry
14. 121 Michael Blount
15. 34 Doug Sanchagrin
16. 22 David Weems
17. 110 Brent Barrett DNS
18. J88 Jered Smith DNS

TALLADEGA SHORT TRACK – EASTABOGA, AL:
1. 57 Josh Adkins
2. 81 Adam Cummings
3. 21 Joe Noojin
4. 11 Cruz Skinner – Y
5. 7 Cole Daffron – Y
6. B97 Lee Burdett
7. 99 Ronnie Revis
8. 07 Stevie Waters
9. 27 Zack Shelton
10. 67 Kyle Clifton
11. 19 Trey Wood
12. F97 Red Farmer
13. 04 Gene Norman
14. 13 Brian Dodgen
15. 119 Drew Ashley
16. 19 Chase Cotton
17. 44 Scott Davis
18. 8 Sam Norman
19. 2 Thomas Langley
20. 37 Tim Parker
21. 34 Lee Mason

MAGNOLIA MOTOR SPEEDWAY – COLUMBUS, MS:
Rained Out

FLOMATON SPEEDWAY – FLOMATON, AL (NeSmith Panhandle Challenge Series):
Did Not Report

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.  Racecar Engineering is the Official Parts Supplier 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, TNT Race Cars, and CVR Race Cars. 

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NeSmith Performance Parts Street Stock Division Presented By AR Bodies News Release:  Contact – ROBY HELM – (865) 207-4157

August 17, 2015

NeSMITH/AR BODIES STREET STOCK DIVISION WEEK 21 ROUND UP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

                CARTERSVILLE, GA – Richie Stephens of Salem, AL has become the first driver in the three-year history of the NeSmith Performance Parts Street Stock Division Presented By AR Bodies to post a perfect 14 week point total of 700 points in a single season.  Even though Stephens has a perfect score, there are still some other scenarios to be played out before he can clinch the National Championship.

Stephens drove the Rocketman Race Cars Chevrolet powered by a $3,495 Chevrolet Performance 602 Circle Track Engine to his 18th win of the 27-week NeSmith/AR Bodies Street Stock Division season on Friday night at Hattiesburg Speedway in Hattiesburg, MS in Week 21 competition. 

Among those 18 wins, 14 of them were weekly 50-point wins that represent the 700 points.  Four of the wins were a second weekly win, but they count in the tie-breaker.  After the first 21 weeks of the 27 week season, Stephens has a perfect 14 week total of 700 points after 18 wins, 22 top five finishes, and 23 top ten finishes in 27 races.

There are six weeks left in the season, and should eligible tracks exercise their option to run any double-features to make up for rainouts, there is one driver that could possibly challenge Stephens for the National Championship.

Brooks Strength of Raymond, MS took his tenth NeSmith/AR Bodies Street Stock Division win of the season on Saturday night at Jackson Motor Speedway in Jackson, MS driving the Sauls Farm Chevrolet powered by a Chevrolet Performance 602 Circle Track Engine in a race co-sanctioned by the Mississippi Street Stock Series.  In 17 races, Strength has a best 14 week total of 688 points with ten wins and 16 top five finishes.

Since no tracks requested Double Features for Week 22 by the 12 noon deadline today, that means there are still 11 opportunities still on the table for Strength to earn points, provided at least one eligible track requests to run Double Features in Weeks 23-27, and if Stephens doesn’t win any more races, Strength could still win the championship with nine more wins.

For each week there are no Double Features, and/or Strength does not win, the window of opportunity gets smaller for him to beat Stephens for the title, and Stephens comes closer to clinching the National Championship.

Aside from the National Championship battle, there are still nine other positions to be decided among the top ten points fund-paying positions and a seat at the Annual NeSmith Racing Awards Banquet in January at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame and Thunder Road Museum in Dawsonville, GA.

Branden Harris of Molino, FL is third in the NeSmith/AR Bodies Street Stock Division standings with a best 14 week total of 687 points after seven wins, 15 top five finishes and 17 top ten finishes in 20 races driving the Coastal Engine and Machine Chevrolet powered by Chevrolet Performance 602 Circle Track Engine.  Harris did not earn any points in Week 21 competition.

Steve Pate of Heflin, AL is fourth in the standings with a best 14 week total of 668 points after two wins, and 16 top five finishes in 16 races driving the Pate Racing Chevrolet.  Pate did not compete in NeSmith/AR Bodies Street Stock Division Week 21 action.

Bo Bailey of Milton, FL drove the L&L Construction Services Chevrolet to a third-place finish in the Week 14 Make Up Race, and a sixth-place finish in the Week 21 race on Saturday night at Southern Raceway in Milton, FL.  Bailey is fifth in the NeSmith/AR Bodies Street Stock Division standings with a best 14 week total of 662 points after two wins, 16 top five finishes and 20 top ten finishes in 21 races.

Larry Faulk of Monroeville, AL is sixth in the NeSmith/AR Bodies Street Stock Division standings with a best 14 week total of 654 points after two wins, 12 top five finishes and 17 top ten finishes in 18 races driving the Faulk Motorsports Chevrolet powered by a $3,495 Chevrolet Performance 602 Circle Track Engine.  Faulk did not earn any points in Week 21 competition.

Jason Jarrell of Hattiesburg, MS drove the Jarrell Rigged Racing Chevrolet powered by a $3,495 Chevrolet Performance 602 Circle Track Engine to a second-place finish on Friday night at Hattiesburg Speedway.  Jarrell is seventh in the NeSmith/AR Bodies Street Stock Division standings with a best 14 week total of 651 points after one win, 12 top five finishes and 17 top ten finishes in 22 races.

Kevin Mitchell of Pensacola, FL did not earn any NeSmith/AR Bodies Street Stock Division points in Week 21 competition, but he is eighth in the standings with a best 14 week total of 649 points.  Mitchell has one win, nine top five finishes and 12 top ten finishes in 15 races driving the Guy Brothers Roofing Chevrolet.

David Williamson of Seminary, MS finished fifth on Friday night at Hattiesburg Speedway driving the Sauls Farm Ford and is ninth in the NeSmith/AR Bodies Street Stock Division standings with a best 14 week total of 643 points.  Williamson has ten top five finishes and 17 top ten finishes in 20 races.

Jay Geddie of Ellisville, MS rounds out the top ten in the NeSmith/AR Bodies Street Stock Division standings with a best 14 week total of 642 points after nine top five finishes and 16 top ten finishes in 17 races.  Geddie finished sixth on Friday night at Hattiesburg Speedway driving the Geddie Tree Service Chevrolet.

In other NeSmith/AR Bodies Street Stock Division Week 21 action, Jason Savage of Mount Juliet, TN drove the Jones Construction Chevrolet to his first win of the 2015 season on Saturday night at Duck River Raceway Park in Wheel, TN.  Russell Chapman of Margaret, AL took his third win of the season on Saturday night at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL driving the Argo Air Chevrolet powered by a $3,495 Chevrolet Performance 602 Circle Track Engine.

Stuart Wilson of Milton, FL grabbed his fifth NeSmith/AR Bodies Street Stock Division win of the season in the Week 14 Make Up Race on Saturday night at Southern Raceway driving the Wilson Lumber Chevrolet powered by a $3,495 Chevrolet Performance 602 Circle Track Engine.  Calvin Cook of Pace, FL recorded win number four on the season on Saturday night at Southern Raceway in the A&P Welding Chevrolet powered by a Chevrolet Performance 602 Circle Track Engine.

Five of the Top 7 drivers in the NeSmith/AR Bodies Street Stock Division point standings, including the Top 3, after the first 21 weeks of competition, and five of the six Week 21 race winners have a $3,495 Chevrolet Performance 602 Circle Track Engine under the hoods of their respective race cars.  To place an order, call Tim Bland at NeSmith Chevrolet, Buick and GMC in Claxton, GA at 1-877-497-3624.

For more information and rules about the NeSmith Performance Parts Street Stock Division Presented By AR Bodies, visit the series web site at www.nesmithracing.com, or visit the series on Facebook at NeSmith Performance Parts Street Stocks Presented By AR Bodies.  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/AR BODIES STREET STOCK DIVISION POINT STANDINGS THROUGH 8/15/15:

NeSMITH/AR BODIES STREET STOCK DIVISION WEEK 21 RESULTS:

August 14:

HATTIESBURG SPEEDWAY – HATTIESBURG, MS:
1. 69 Richie Stephens
2. 20 Jason Jarrell
3. 26c Cole Cameron
4. 22 Clayton Lambert
5. 28 David Williamson
6. 37 Jay Geddie
7. T16 Leo Edwards
8. 11 Brad Taylor

JACKSON MOTOR SPEEDWAY – JACKSON, MS (Co-Sanctioned with the MSSS):
1. 18 Brooks Strength
2. 254 Jeff Butler
3. 82 Trey Bright
4. 41 Roger Flynn
5. 10 Donnie Monk
6. 5 Jason Jackson
7. 2 Lee Ray
8. 11 Spencer Hughes
9. 18c Cliff Childers
10. 23c Bryan Cox
11. 777 Brandon Leftwich
12. K42 Kindall Keating
13. 182 Justin King
14. 11t Brad Taylor
15. 02 Bubba Trotter
16. 01 Dustin Ladner
17. 42 Michael Sojourner
18. 911 Allen Parfait
19. 17 Newell Didone Jr.
20. 18r Brian Rickman
21. 9 Gary Cooper
22. 14 Ben Keith DNS
23. 72 Sam Maxie DNS

DUCK RIVER RACEWAY PARK – WHEEL, TN:
1. 84 Jason Savage
2. S1 John Smartt
3. 70 Kelly Bemonbreum

SOUTHERN RACEWAY – MILTON, FL:
(Week 14 Make Up Race):
1. 71 Stuart Wilson
2. 36 Sean Goodwin
3. 05 Bo Bailey
4. 20 Curtis Faircloth
5. 7 David Windham
6. 1 Adam Ellison
7. 02 J.C. Wilson
8. 24 Calvin Cook
9. 68 Chris Bayhi
10. 69 Brandon Harris DNS

(Week 21 Race):
1. 24 Calvin Cook
2. 7 David Windham
3. 71 Stuart Wilson
4. 68 Chris Bayhi
5. 1 Adam Ellison
6. 05 Bo Bailey
7. 20 Curtis Faircloth
8. 36 Sean Goodwin
9. 02 J.C. Wilson
10. 69 Brandon Harris DNS

TALLADEGA SHORT TRACK – EASTABOGA, AL:
1. 21 Russell Chapman
2. 17 Josh Yarbrough
3. 01 Greg Wilkins
4. 18 Brock Love
5. 109 Phillip Haynes
6. 00 Billy Wilkins
7. 14 Chris Carden
8. 23 Ronald Williamson
9. 6 Jordan Wilkens
10. 42 Chance McCain
11. W2 Cole Brown
12. 19 Kyle Davison
13. 34 Jeff Phillips

MAGNOLIA MOTOR SPEEDWAY – COLUMBUS, MS:
Rained Out

FLOMATON SPEEDWAY – FLOMATON, AL:
Did Not Report

NeSmith Performance Parts at NeSmith Chevrolet, Buick, GMC of Claxton, GA is the Title Sponsor of the NeSmith Performance Parts Street Stock Division Presented By AR Bodies.  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 Performance Parts Street Stock Division Presented By AR Bodies.  Hoosier Racing Tire is the Official Tire Sponsor of the NeSmith Performance Parts Street Stock Division Presented By AR Bodies.  AR Bodies is a Presenting Sponsor of the NeSmith Performance Street Stock Division Presented By AR Bodies.

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