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

March 30, 2016

EAST TENNESSEE FAVORITES READY TO DEFEND HOME TURF IN NeSMITH LATE MODEL SEASON OPENER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CARTERSVILLE, GA – The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Tour will open its 2016 season on April 8 and 9 with a pair of races at I-75 Raceway in Sweetwater, TN. Four East Tennessee favorites will be looking to begin the season on the right foot in quest of the $10,000 National Championship.

The defending and three-time NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN will once again have a big target on the back of his firesuit. The 60-year-old National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame Inductee is used to having younger drivers trying to knock him off the top of the mountain, and in fact, he likes that.

“There is some great young talent in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series, and I’ve gotten to know them pretty well traveling among them from race to race and being on the track with them,” Johnson said. “It doesn’t bother me at all that they all want to beat me because they make me feel a lot younger than I am both off and on the race track.”

Two young East Tennessee drivers had breakout seasons in 2015, and a third that will be looking to make a name for himself in 2016 traveling with the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. This trio of drivers is thrilled to be starting the season in their own backyard at I-75 Raceway with a 40-lap $2,000-to-win race on April 8 and a 50-lap $2,500-to-win race on April 9.

Ryan King of Seymour, TN finished second in the 2015 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series point standings and was the 2015 Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Year. King had two wins in 2015. After running up front in the September 12, 2015 race at I-75 Raceway, King will be looking to improve on a ninth-place finish.

King tuned up for his Sophomore season with the NeSmith Dirt Late Model Series by finishing third in the 2016 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series RockAuto.com Winter Shootout Series points standings.

Matt Henderson of Loudon, TN may have been the 2015 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion if it wasn’t for a couple of overheating issues that kept him out of a couple of early season main events. Henderson finished fourth in the 2015 point standings with two wins and he led the series with ten top five finishes, 16 top ten finishes, four Fast Time Awards and 167 laps led.

Henderson became a fan favorite by running the #H2 Duayne Hommel Tribute Car in honor of the popular Newport, TN dirt late model driver, whose super star racing career was cut short by a highway accident in 2003. One of Henderson’s two NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series wins last season came at I-75 Raceway with “Hollywood” Hommel himself in attendance to share in an emotional victory.

Cory Hedgecock of Loudon, TN will join the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Tour in 2016 and run for the Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Year Award. Hedgecock has competed in the majority of the series’ East Tennessee races and has always been a front runner. Hedgecock finished second to Henderson last year at I-75 Raceway.

Hedgecock has already made headlines in 2016 with a win last Saturday night in the sister series to the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series, the Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series at 411 Motor Speedway in Seymour, TN.

Among the favorites expected for the two-race season NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series 2016 season opener at I-75 Raceway on April 8 and 9 include Chase Edge of LaFayette, AL, who finished third in the point standings last season. Edge is the 2016 NeSmith Late Model RockAuto.com Winter Shootout Champion and had one win in the eight-race series.

Also expected are Ryan Crane of Panama City, FL and Marcus Minga of Shannon, MS who were fifth and sixth respectively in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National point standings last year. Also look for NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Cale Conley of Vienna, WV, David Smith of Inman, SC, Evan Ellis of Plantersville, MS, and Michael Blount of Sumrall, MS.

Youth shall also be served in 2016 with the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series with the Sunoco Young Guns Challenge Series that offers an additional point fund for NeSmith Late Model drivers 18 years of age and younger. Two Sunoco Young Guns Challenge Series drivers expected are 14-year-old Will Roland of Jasper, GA, and 15-year-old Ahnna Parkhurst of Evans, GA.

I-75 Raceway is located three miles west of I-75 at Exit 60 at 1775 Highway 68. For more information call 423-438-3677, or visit the track web site at www.i75raceway.com. You can also like their Facebook page at I-75 Raceway.

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, 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. 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 2016 are CrateInsider.Com, Integra Racing Shocks, Image Screen Printing, and Gresham Race Parts. 201 Chassis Sponsors are Trak-Star Race Cars, Warrior Race Cars, Rocket Chassis, GRT Race Cars, and CVR Race Cars.

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