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

October 15, 2014

GOLDEN ISLES SPEEDWAY SHOWDOWN ON THE COAST NEXT UP FOR NeSMITH CHEVROLET DLMS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

                CARTERSVILLE, GA – The two-race Showdown On The Coast is next up for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring Division with a pair of 50-lap $2,500-to-win races this Friday night and Saturday night at Golden Isles Speedway in Brunswick, GA.  Rounds 20 and 21 could decide the 2014 National Championship and other Top 10 spots in the point standings.

                The defending NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion and current point leader Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN has a very high probability of clinching his second straight $20,000 title by the time he loads up after Saturday night’s race.  Going into the Showdown On The Coast, Johnson holds a 218 point lead over Chris Noah of Rainbow City, AL.

                There are three races left in the 2014 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series season.  If Johnson has a 200-point lead or more over Noah after Friday night’s race, the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame Inductee clinches the championship.  If Johnson has a 100-point lead or more after Saturday night’s race, the “Chattanooga Flash” clinches the championship.

                So, in a nutshell, all Johnson has to do is show up and start each feature race to claim the 2014 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series title.  Johnson starting each feature race is a given, as the point leader is the first driver in line that is eligible for a provisional to make the feature race starting line-up.

                Barring any unforeseen catastrophes on the horizon, the points fate for both Johnson and Noah seems to be set, but beyond the points, both drivers have some goals they are anxious to reach in the final three races of the 2014 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series season.

                Johnson is currently tied with two-time NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion David Earl Gentry of Murfreesboro, TN for the most wins in a single season at seven.  Johnson has some improvement to make in his racing program at Golden Isles Speedway, as his first three races there in February do not reflect the season he has had since them.

                In 19 starts this season, Johnson has seven wins, ten top five finishes, 16 top ten finishes and two Fast Time awards.  Two of Johnson’s three finishes outside of the Top 10 this season came at Golden Isle Speedway to open the season in February.  In the season opener, Johnson missed the show and had to take a provisional to make the race.

                Johnson began the defense of 2013 title with a 14th-place finish in the daytime season opener on February 7, his worst finish to date in the 2014 season.  Johnson rebounded with an eighth-place finish in the February 7 nightcap, and came home 11th in the February 8 race.  Not the results Johnson is known for, but he says he does know how to fix it.

                “We really sucked those first three races at Golden Isles Speedway,” Johnson bluntly said.  “We took a car down there that we tried some different things from what I would normally do, so for this trip, we’re going back with a set up that I know will work a lot better.”

                On the other side of the coin, Noah was impressive in his first visit to Golden Isle Speedway in February to begin his run for the 2014 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Rookie of the Year Award.  Noah had finishes of seventh, fifth and eighth in his first three races, and set the table for his Rookie of the Year run by leaving Brunswick, GA sixth in the point standings.

                Noah has five top five finishes, 11 top ten finishes and one Fast Time Award in 19 Nesmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series races this season.  Noah has long clinched the 2014 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Rookie of the Year Award, but he says he has one more goal to reach, and he feels he can improve on his February Golden Isles Speedway performance to get there.

                “There were five other Rookie drivers at Golden Isles in February, and we got off to such a good start, I think they all gave up on running for it,” Noah said.  “We’re proud to be second in the point standings and winning the Rookie of the Year Award, but there is still one thing we would like to accomplish to complete our season and that’s win a National Touring race.  As well as we ran at Golden Isle Speedway in February, we still feel we learned a lot to improve on that and contend for a victory.”

                There are several drivers that will be looking to improve their spots in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series point standings in the Top 10 points fund-paying positions.  They include Johnny Stokes of Columbus, MS, Michael Blount of Sumrall, MS, Brent Barrett of Cleveland, MS, Marcus Minga of Shannon, MS, and Chase Edge of LaFayette, AL.

                The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series traveling regulars will face a tough contingent of South Georgia/North Florida favorites that will be led by Jason Fitzgerald of Middleburg, FL.  Fitzgerald won the second NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS race of the season at Golden Isle Speedway in February 7.

                Also expected for the Showdown On The Coast are Mark Whitener of Middleburg, FL, Jeremy Faircloth of Swainsboro, GA, Robert Diekemper of Bloomingdale, GA, Jak Kicklighter of Savannah, GA, Cecil Eunice of Blackshear, GA, Ben Faircloth of Swainsboro, GA, and Ryan Crane of Panama City, FL.

                The on track activities at Golden Isles Speedway begin on Thursday night with an Open Practice Session from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.  On both Friday and Saturday, the gates open at 10 a.m. with NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Pre-Race Registration and Technical Inspection from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.  The Drivers Meeting is set for 5:30 p.m. with Hot Laps scheduled for 6 p.m. 

Golden Isles Speedway is located 12 miles west of I-95 at Exit 29 on U.S. Highway 82.  The physical address for Golden Isles Speedway is 101 Speedway Drive, Waynesville, GA  31566.  For more information call 912-778-3767, or visit the track web site at www.goldenislesspeedway.com.  You can also like their Facebook Page at Golden Isles Speedway Park.

For more information and rules 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.  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.  Schaeffer’s Oil Presented By Chad Wallace and Heather Newsome is the Official Oil of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series.  AR Bodies is an Associate Sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series.  NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Contingency Sponsors for 2014 are Dominator Race Products, Stealth Racing Carburetors, Modern Images, Mike Custom Tanks, Schoenfeld Headers, Kinser Air Filters, Performance Rod & Custom, and David Smith Carburetors.  2014 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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