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NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series News Release: Contact – ROBY HELM – (865) 207-4157
July 3, 2014
SMITH DOMINATES TALLADEGA SHORT TRACK FOR NeSMITH CHEVROLET DLMS WIN
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
EASTABOGA, AL – Jeff Smith of Chatsworth, GA was the dominant force Thursday night in winning the first of four Salute To America Nationals races for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring Division at Talladega Short Track driving the Hill Motorsports Warrior.
Smith never faced a challenger all night, as he was the fast qualifier among the 44 entrants at 14.676 seconds, and then led all 40 laps to record his second career NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series victory.
At one point in the race, Smith held a half straightaway lead on Todd Morrow of East Ridge, TN, who finished second in the A-Plus Collision Center GRT. The only time Morrow could get close to Smith was in heavy lapped traffic in the closing laps of the race, but he took the checkered flag .413 seconds behind Smith.
“We brought the same set up here that we use at Boyd’s Speedway, and the fast right out of the box tonight,” Smith said. “I was a little anxious towards the end of the race in lapped traffic because you never know how close someone is to you. This was a good opportunity for us here tonight because we love running at Talladega Short Track and we love running with the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. We got the best of both worlds tonight.”
The 12-year-old sensation Cruz Skinner of Oxford, AL showed the world that he is for real, as he drove the Skinner’s Body Shop Special to a third-place finish. The youngster showed that he knows his way around his home track where he has three NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Late Model wins this season.
Chris Noah of Rainbow City, AL finished fourth in the Old Man’s Garage Special and was the Rookie of the Race. The NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series point leader Adam Gauldin of Talladega, AL took the fifth spot in the Adam Gauldin Racing GRT at his home track where he also has three wins this season.
Montana Dudley of Phenix City, AL drove the Eiland Pools Rocket to a sixth-place finish and Josh Adkins of Talladega, AL was seventh in the Yellow Hammer Construction Special. The 2008 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion Chip Brindle of Chatsworth, GA finished eighth in the BDR Loopers Special.
The defending NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion and current point leader Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN was a man on a mission Thursday night at Talladega Short. In true fashion for the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame Inductee, he arrived at the track late, but just in time to unload, and hit the track for his two lap qualifying run.
Johnson had the tenth fastest time which would have transferred him into the main event, but the only problem was, he failed to go through the pre-race technical inspection line and his qualifying time was disallowed. Johnson took a provisional, started 23rd, and finished ninth in the NeSmith Chevrolet Special.
Not only did Johnson dig himself out of a hole, but he gained two points on Mack McCarter of Gatlinburg, MS, who finished tenth in the McCarter Lumber CVR. Johnson left Talladega Short Track on Thursday night with a 12-point lead over McCarter in the battle for the $20,000 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Championship.
In preliminary action, the three ten-lap B-Main Races were won by Tanner Works of Cleveland, TN in the D&K Auto CVR, Marcus Minga of Shannon, MS in the B&M Salvage Rocket, and Jimmy Elliott of Cleveland, TN in the Car Smart Auto Sales CVR.
In a race slowed by only one caution flag, Smith completed the 40-lap journey in just a second under 15 minutes. A total of 17 cars finished on the lead lap, and 21 cars were still running when the checkered flag fell.
After taking the lead at the start of the race, Smith had opened up a half straightaway lead on Morrow, Skinner, Noah and Gauldin by lap nine when he began to encounter the cars on the tail end of the lead lap. The field did catch up to Smith on lap 11 when the only yellow flag of the race came out for Shay Knight of Columbus, MS, who stalled the Olive Branch Can Am Special in turn two.
On the restart, Gauldin jumped to the outside to challenge Noah for the fourth spot and took the position on lap 12. Noah came right back to reclaim fourth on lap 14. Smith was in lapped traffic again by lap 21, as Morrow closed to within six car lengths. Johnson had climbed from the 23rd starting spot to tenth by lap 22.
Johnson sailed around the outside of the his Championship challenger McCarter on lap 30 to take control of the ninth spot. Johnson then moved up to create a three-car battle for the seventh spot with Adkins and Brindle in the last eight laps of the race.
Smith was in heavy lapped traffic during the last two laps of the race. Morrow closed to within a couple of car lengths on the last lap, but with lapped cars all around him, he had nowhere to go to make a serious bid for the lead.
Night two of the four-race Salute To America Nationals for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series will take place on Friday night at East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City, AL for a 50-lap $2,500-to-win race.
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.
OFFICIAL RESULTS OF ROUND 12 AT TALLADEGA SHORT TRACK IN EASTABOGA, AL ON 7/3/14:
POS STRT CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN LAPS $ WON
1. 1 17s Jeff Smith Chatsworth, GA 40 $2,000
2. 2 8a Todd Morrow East Ridge, TN 40 $1,000
3. 3 11 Cruz Skinner Oxford, AL 40 $700
4. 4 56 Chris Noah (R) Rainbow City, AL 40 $550
5. 5 17 Adam Gauldin Talladega, AL 40 $500
6. 7 55 Montana Dudley (R) Phenix City, AL 40 $425
7. 9 19m Josh Adkins Talladega, AL 40 $375
8. 10 38 Chip Brindle Chatsworth, GA 40 $350
9. 23 5 Ronnie Johnson Chattanooga, TN 40 $325
10. 8 51 Mack McCarter Gatlinburg, TN 40 $300
11. 6 8 Grant Pearl Anniston, AL 40 $275
12. 11 T35 Tanner Works Cleveland, TN 40 $250
13. 13 J39 Jimmy Elliott Cleveland, TN 40 $225
14. 14 67 Kyle Clifton Ranburne, AL 40 $200
15. 19 B97 Lee Burdett Bessemer, AL 40 $175
16. 12 19 Marcus Minga Shannon, MS 40 $150
17. 15 18 Chase Edge LaFayette, AL 40 $140
18. 20 1 Johnny Stokes Columbus, MS 39 $125
19. 17 05 T.J. Brittain Centre, AL 39 $125
20. 21 5d Rodgerick Dykes Smith Station, AL 38 $125
21. 24 121 Michael Blount Sumrall, MS 38 $125
22. 22 7 Josh Trammell Hoover, AL 22 $125
23. 16 25 Justin McRee Woodstock, AL 13 $125
24. 18 3 Shay Knight Columbus, MS 10 $125
ENTRIES: 44
FAST QUALIFIER: Smith, 14.676 Seconds
PROVISIONALS: Johnson and Blount
LEAD CHANGES: None
LAPS LED: Smith, 1-40
ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Noah
DOMINATOR RACE PRODUCTS HARD LUCK AWARD: Brent Barrett
PRC JUST MISSED IT AWARD: Chad Winkles
STEALTH RACING CARBURETORS 7TH-PLACE AWARD: Adkins
SCHAEFFER’S OIL 8TH-PLACE AWARD PRESENTED BY CHAD WALLACE AND HEATHER NEWSOME: Brindle
MODERN IMAGES 9TH-PLACE AWARD: Johnson
AR BODIES 10TH-PLACE AWARD: McCarter
MIKE CUSTOM TANKS 11TH-PLACE AWARD: Pearl
SCHOENFELD HEADERS 12TH-PLACE AWARD: Works
KINSER AIR FILTERS 13TH-PLACE AWARD: Elliott
CAUTIONS: 1
MARGIN OF VICTORY: .413 Seconds
TIME OF THE RACE: 14 Minutes and 59.294 Seconds
QUALIFYING (Top 10 Transfer To Main Event):
POS |
CAR # |
DRIVER |
HOMETOWN |
CHASSIS |
LAP 1 |
LAP 2 |
TIME |
1 |
17s |
Jeff Smith |
Chatsworth, GA |
Warrior |
14.676 |
14.690 |
14.676 |
2 |
8a |
Todd Morrow |
East Ridge, TN |
GRT |
14.847 |
14.918 |
14.847 |
3 |
11 |
Cruz Skinner |
Oxford, AL |
Mastersbilt |
14.871 |
15.454 |
14.871 |
4 |
56n |
Chris Noah - R |
Rainbow City, AL |
Mastersbilt |
15.000 |
14.935 |
14.935 |
5 |
17g |
Adam Gauldin |
Talladega, AL |
GRT |
15.252 |
14.979 |
14.979 |
6 |
8 |
Grant Pearl |
Anniston, AL |
Barry Wright |
15.049 |
15.208 |
15.049 |
7 |
55 |
Montana Dudley - R |
Phenix City, AL |
Rocket |
15.101 |
15.071 |
15.071 |
8 |
51 |
Mack McCarter |
Gatlinburg, TN |
CVR |
15.092 |
15.481 |
15.092 |
9 |
19m |
Josh Adkins |
Talladega, AL |
Barry Wright |
15.179 |
15.118 |
15.118 |
10 |
38 |
Chip Brindle |
Chatsworth, GA |
Pro 1 |
15.231 |
15.138 |
15.138 |
11 |
67 |
Kyle Clifton |
Ranburne, AL |
GRT |
15.372 |
15.201 |
15.201 |
12 |
19 |
Marcus Minga |
Shannon, MS |
Rocket |
15.228 |
15.460 |
15.228 |
13 |
J39 |
Jimmy Elliott |
Cleveland, TN |
CVR |
15.510 |
15.242 |
15.242 |
14 |
110 |
Brent Barrett |
Cleveland, MS |
GRT |
15.343 |
15.288 |
15.288 |
15 |
5d |
Rodgerick Dykes |
Smith Station, AL |
Warrior |
15.451 |
15.289 |
15.289 |
16 |
25 |
Justin McRee |
Woodstock, AL |
HRRC |
15.354 |
15.417 |
15.354 |
17 |
05 |
T.J. Brittain |
Centre, AL |
Warrior |
15.379 |
15.376 |
15.376 |
18 |
18e |
Chase Edge |
LaFayette, AL |
Mastersbilt |
15.634 |
15.386 |
15.386 |
19 |
00 |
Matt Black |
Douglasville, GA |
GRT |
15.419 |
15.577 |
15.419 |
20 |
T35 |
Tanner Works |
Cleveland, TN |
CVR |
15.501 |
15.441 |
15.441 |
21 |
3 |
Shay Knight |
Columbus, MS |
Pierce |
15.446 |
15.580 |
15.446 |
22 |
B97 |
Lee Burdett |
Bessemer, AL |
GRT |
15.448 |
15.614 |
15.448 |
23 |
55 |
Ryan King |
Anniston, AL |
TSR |
15.594 |
15.505 |
15.505 |
24 |
18f |
Cale Finley |
Athens, AL |
Pierce |
15.707 |
15.507 |
15.507 |
25 |
5 |
Mike Combs |
Odenville, AL |
TSR |
15.537 |
15.983 |
15.537 |
26 |
1 |
Johnny Stokes |
Columbus, MS |
GRT |
15.548 |
15.769 |
15.548 |
27 |
13r |
Brent Rhodes |
Boaz, AL |
Mastersbilt |
15.561 |
15.655 |
15.561 |
28 |
13 |
Chad McCool |
Millport, AL |
Mastersbilt |
15.603 |
15.571 |
15.571 |
29 |
17 |
Ronald Dunn |
Corinth, MS |
Barry Wright |
15.676 |
15.585 |
15.585 |
30 |
55 |
Terrance Nowell |
Phenix City, AL |
Warrior |
15.624 |
16.046 |
15.624 |
31 |
00c |
J.D. Pass |
Brandon, MS |
HRRC |
16.102 |
15.625 |
15.625 |
32 |
105 |
Taylor Mitcham |
LaFayette, AL |
Trak-Star |
15.635 |
15.776 |
15.635 |
33 |
1T |
Terry Mosley |
Gilbertown, AL |
Rayburn |
15.771 |
15.648 |
15.648 |
34 |
7 |
Josh Trammell |
Hoover, AL |
Mastersbilt |
15.767 |
15.687 |
15.687 |
35 |
12 |
Chad Winkles |
Hartselle, AL |
Warrior |
17.343 |
15.702 |
15.702 |
36 |
121 |
Michael Blount |
Sumrall, MS |
Trak-Star |
15.703 |
15.927 |
15.703 |
37 |
57 |
Maddox Mullinax |
Birmingham, AL |
GRT |
15.704 |
15.823 |
15.704 |
38 |
25 |
Jammie Gowers |
Vincent, AL |
GRT |
15.832 |
17.316 |
15.832 |
39 |
10c |
Ronnie Cooper |
McKenzie, TN |
Rocket |
15.944 |
15.878 |
15.878 |
40 |
22 |
Billy Franklin |
Calera, AL |
Rocket |
16.127 |
15.883 |
15.883 |
41 |
14 |
Tyler Clem |
St. Petersburg, FL |
Rocket |
16.535 |
16.016 |
16.016 |
42 |
5 |
Ronnie Johnson |
Chattanooga, TN |
Mastersbilt |
15.135 |
15.281 |
NT/DQ |
43 |
4 |
Bradley Whittle |
Ranburne, AL |
GRT |
15.944 |
15.949 |
NT/DQ |
44 |
J8 |
Justin Angle |
Anniston, AL |
Rocket |
NT |
NT |
NT |
B-MAINS (10 Laps – Top 4 Transfer To Main Event):
1ST B-MAIN: 1. Works; 2. Clifton; 3. Brittain; 4. Stokes; 5. Winkles; 6. Mitcham; 7. Dunn; 8. Clem; 9. Gowers; 10. King; 11. Barrett.
2ND B-MAIN: 1. Minga; 2. Edge; 3. Knight; 4. Dykes; 5. Cooper; 6. Blount; 7. Rhodes; 8. Mosley; 9. Whittle; 10. Finley; 11. Nowell.
3RD B-MAIN: 1. Elliott; 2. McRee; 3. Burdett; 4. Trammell; 5. McCool; 6. Johnson; 7. Combs; 8. Black; 9. Mullinax; 10. Pass; 11. Franklin.
NeSMITH CHEVROLET DIRT LATE MODEL SERIES POINT STANDINGS THROUGH 7/3/14:
1. 5 Ronnie Johnson – 984
2. 51 Mack McCarter – 972
3. 56 Chris Noah (R) – 842
4. 87 Walker Arthur – 838
5. 121 Michael Blount – 672
6. 19m Josh Adkins – 610
7. 1 Johnny Stokes – 572
8. 110 Brent Barrett – 522
8. J39 Jimmy Elliott – 522
10. 19 Marcus Minga – 494
11. 25 Justin McRee – 472
12. 18d Tait Davenport – 460
13. 18 Chase Edge – 458
14. 17 Ronald Dunn – 420
15. 73 Ashley Newman – 418
16. 38 Chase Washington – 348
17. 64 Jacob Anderson – 336
18. 8a Todd Morrow – 330
19. T35 Tanner Works – 310
20. 56r Jonathan Rowan - 280
R – Denotes 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. 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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