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

October 2, 2013

GUMBO NATIONALS AT GREENVILLE SPEEDWAY UP NEXT FOR NeSMITH CHEVROLET DLMS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

                CARTERSVILLE, GA – The $5,000-to-win 7th Annual Gumbo Nationals at Greenville Speedway in Greenville, MS is up next for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring Division this Thursday, Friday and Saturday night.  The Gumbo Nationals will be Round 20 and the penultimate event of the 2013 season. 

The on track activities begin this Thursday night with an Open Practice.  On Friday night, the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series will compete in Qualifying and Heat Races to set the front half of the Gumbo Nationals starting field.  Saturday night action will begin with B-Main races to fill the back half of the field, followed by the $5,000-to-win 50-lap Gumbo Nationals.

The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series will also be giving back to the community by bringing the “Ride For Life” two-seat dirt late model race car and fans will have the opportunity to bid at an auction on a six-lap ride at race speed around Greenville Speedway with one of five drivers.  All of the proceeds will benefit the local chapter of the American Cancer Society.

The five drivers that will donate their time and talent for the “Ride For Life” auction will be the 2012 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Champion and cancer survivor Chase Washington of Houlka, MS, defending Gumbo Nationals Champion Jeremy Shaw of Millport, AL, NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Rookie of the Year candidate Brent Barrett of Cleveland, MS, 2013 NeSmith Chevrolet Old Man’s Garage Weekly Racing Series National Championship Runner-Up Mike Palasini Jr. of Leland, MS, and the 11th-ranked NeSmith Chevrolet Old Man’s Garage Weekly Racing Series driver Bobby Jordan of McCarley, MS.

Race fans will also have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for special drawings that includes a six-lap Ride For Life, or one of three special Fan Pack Coolers packed with over $500 worth of special prizes donated by local merchants.  The tickets will be on sale at the track on Friday and Saturday, and the auctions will be held on Saturday night.

                The local chapter of the American Cancer Society is also selling Event Collector T-Shirts for $15 apiece for S-XL and $17 for 2X and 3X sizes.  The Raffle Tickets for the “Ride For Life” and the Cooler Fan Packs are currently on sale for $5.00 apiece. 

“Ride For Life” T-Shirts and Raffle Tickets can be purchased from American Cancer Society representatives Jana Sides at 662-820-8729, Pam Cockrell at 662-820-5989, and Kathy Gower at 662-822-6457.    All of the proceeds benefit the local chapter of the American Cancer Society.  Last year, the local chapter of the American Cancer Society raised $15,000 at the Greenville Speedway “Ride For Life” event.

The 2013 $20,000 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Championship could also be decided on Saturday at the Gumbo Nationals.  If point leader Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN leaves the Mississippi Delta on Saturday night with a 100-point lead, he will have clinched the title.

The National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame Inductee known as the “Chattanooga Flash” has a 108-point lead over the second-place driver and Rookie of the Year point leader Kyle Bronson of Brandon, FL.  Tait Davenport of Benton, KY is third in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series point standings with Ronny Lee Hollingsworth of Northport, AL in fourth, and Johnny Stokes of Columbus, MS in fifth.

The Gumbo Nationals will also feature Justin McRee of Cottondale, AL, who is sixth in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series points chase.  Seventh-place Josh Adkins of Talladega, AL and eighth-place Barrett are separated by just four points and the second spot in the Rookie of the Year points.

Michael Blount of Sumrall, MS, who is ninth in the point standings will be at the Gumbo Nationals, as will be the 2012 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA who is tenth in the point standings and has two Greenville Speedway wins on his resume.

Former Gumbo Nationals winners Shaw and Ashley Newman of Ripley, TN will be looking for their second trophy, and Washington will be joined by the 2012 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series National Championship Runner-Up Mickey Trosclair of Luling, LA at the Gumbo Nationals.

Along with Palasini and Jordan, the Greenville Speedway local favorites from the NeSmith Chevrolet Old Man’s Garage Weekly Racing Series Late Model Division taking on the touring regulars in the Gumbo Nationals will Ryan Colby of Greenville, MS, David Carpenter of Greenwood, TN, Greg Fore of Greenville, MS, Kenny Carpenter of Cleveland, MS, Peter Hazard of Greenville, MS, and Peyton Wilkerson of Leland, MS.

The Open Practice on Thursday night will have the pit gate opening at 5 p.m. with the practice from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.  On Friday night, the pit gate opens at 3 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. with hot laps at 7 p.m.

On Saturday, the pit gate opens at 3 p.m. with NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Check-In from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.  The Drivers Meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. with hot laps at 6 p.m.

Harlow’s Casino Resort & Spa at 4280 Harlows Blvd., Greenville, MS  38701 is the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Official Host Hotel for the Gumbo Nationals.  For more information, rates and availability call 1-866-534-5825, or visit their web site at www.harlowscasino.com.

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.

SPECIAL PAYOUT FOR THE NeSMITH CHEVROLET DIRT LATE MODEL SERIES 7TH ANNUAL 50-LAP GUMBO NATIONALS AT GREENVILLE SPEEDWAY IN GREENVILLE, MS ON 10/3-5/13:

1. $5,000
2. $2,500
3. $1,200
4. $1,000
5. $800
6. $700
7. $600
8. $550
9. $525
10. $500
11. $475
12. $450
13. $400
14. $350
15. $300
16. $300
17. $300
18. $300
19. $300
20. $300
21. $300
22. $300
23. $300
24. $300

ENTRY FEE:  $125

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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