MODERN DAY COWBOY TAMES TAZEWELL BULLRING

Tazewell, TN (April 20th, 2008) The saying goes, “The third time is a charm” just not this time as the seventh time proved to be a charm for the 3rd Annual Thunder Thaw 50 at Tazewell Speedway on Sunday afternoon. After six prior attempts to get the event in the books failed, Mother Nature finally smiled on Tazewell Speedway Sunday afternoon.

John Gill of Mitchell, Indiana was running only his second race at the track accurately dubbed “The Bad Fast Taz” as the pilot of the #1G Warrior House Car fielded by Sanford Goddard of Warrior Race Cars based in nearby Knoxville, TN. Following a treacherous 50 lapper on a very slick surface, Gill stated from Victory Lane “I just want to thank Sanford and Warrior Race Cars for letting me drive this car. We had a tough weekend at Charlotte (Colossal 100) and it feels real good to get this win today. It really helps build your confidence when you get a win and any time you can beat The Newport Nightmare (Jimmy Owens) here at Tazewell you’ve really done something.”

Jimmy Owens really put on a show Sunday afternoon piloting his famous #20 Bloomquist Chassis for Reece Monuments of Tazewell to a second place finish. After knocking down the Powermaster Pole Award with a fast lap of 12:819 seconds he was then required to draw a pill from a bag that contained the numbers 0, 1, 2 and 3 to determine if and how many rows would be inverted for the two Sunoco Dash Events; a rule change that was implemented in the off-season to promote more excitement for the fans. While a few drivers voiced their displeasure with the rule, the fans appeared to really like the change and it did prove to be an exciting twist to the event as Owens drew out the number 3 which meant he would start sixth in his dash among the top six qualifiers.

Mike Weeks of Friendsville was able to take advantage of the rule. As the sixth overall qualifier he would start from the pole in the first dash which he led wire to wire over Gill, #77 Joe Armes of Petros, TN, Owens, #3 Steve Smith of Powell, TN and #1 Vic Hill of Morristown, TN. Dash number two contained the seventh through twelfth fastest qualifiers, which were also inverted based on the pill draw, enabling the #8 of David Payne of Murphy, NC to start from the pole after posting the twelfth fastest time among twenty-seven entries. Payne would claim the dash win over #86 Jeff Neubert of Knoxville, TN, #32W Shane Roberts; Bristol, TN, #10 Chad Ogle; Sevierville, TN, #201 Billy Ogle Jr.; Knoxville, TN and #4T Tommy Kerr of Maryville, TN

The two West Haven Speed Equipment B-Mains would transfer the top four from each to the Advance Auto Parts A-Main and were claimed by #17 Shannon Thornsberry of Martin, KY and #11B Stacy Boles of Claxton, TN respectively. The Series points provisionals (based on ’07 finishing results) were claimed by #12T Dan Tipton of Kingston, TN and #00 Richard Smith of Science Hill, KY while the Fast Time provisionals were awarded to #7 Marty Calloway of Maynardville, TN and Rookie Contender #14 April Farmer of Livingston, TN.

When the twenty-four car field took the green flag for the fifty lap A-main John “The Modern Day Cowboy” Gill charged from the outside pole to take the early lead over Weeks with Owens getting by Armes to take third followed by Steve Smith, Vic Hill and David Payne but the first of six caution flags flew on lap #2 for a spin among the back markers. Caution #2 waved on lap five for Chad Ogle who slowed to a stop with a flat tire while Armes spun down the backstretch after tagging the wall off of turn two ending his afternoon early. Additional cautions waved on laps nine and fourteen for Shane Roberts and Richard Smith respectively.

The red flag waved on lap seventeen when Shannon Thornsberry and Brian Smith tangled off of turn four with Smith coming over the nose of Thornsberry causing Smith to flip over on his top. He was un-hurt and the car suffered only moderate damage. The #25 of Bobby Mayes of Jonesboro, TN was also collected in the incident.

Once the race was back underway, Weeks began to wage a fierce battle to get by Gill and was able to pull alongside on several occasions but was never quite able to make the pass. Meanwhile Owens was making attempts at Weeks for second and Hill was trying to get by Owens for third. This would continue throughout the event but was intensified on lap twenty-five when the 00 of Smith spun in front of the leaders in turn two and nearly took the leader out after swiping Gills left side causing heavy body damage.

The final caution waved in the latter stages of the event following contact between mid-pack runners #2X Anthony White of Clinton, TN and #6 Kerry Jones of Bristol, VA ending both cars efforts early.

Meanwhile, back up front, the battle continued to wage for the lead with Weeks still hounding Gill, Owens hounding Weeks and Hill hounding Owens until the closing circuits when Owens decided to take a chance on the rim of the track to get by Weeks on the outside and it paid off with a pass on lap forty-eight and by now he would then charge to the rear of Gill with the crowd on their feet Owens was able to pull along side Gill off of turn two and down the back shoot only to drift a little too high off of the exit of turn four and lost ground to Gill as he took the checkers. Owens settled for second with Weeks, Hill and Steve Smith rounding out the top five.

Stacy Boles, after starting fourteenth, was locked in a fierce battle with David Payne for much of the event and was able to take home a sixth place finish. Payne, Tommy Kerr, Billy Ogle Jr. and Rick Rogers rounded out the top ten.

TAZEWELL SPEEDWAY OFFICIAL STATS 4-20-08

ADVANCE AUTO PARTS THUNDER SERIES EVENT #2
3RD ANNUAL THUNDER THAW 50
ENTRIES: 27 Representing five states (TN, KY, NC, VA, IN)
TIME OF RACE: 41 Minutes - 5:17pm - 5:58pm
YELLOW FLAGS: 6
RED FLAGS: 1 (#7 Brian Smith flips on top – turn 4)
LAP LEADERS: 1 (#1G John Gill 1-50)

POWERMASTER FAST TIME: Jimmy Owens #20 (12:819)
PHOENIX CONVERSIONS HARD CHARGER: #12T Dan Tipton (21st to 12th)

SUNOCO Dash #1 – #22 Mike Weeks

SUNOCO Dash #2 - #8 David Payne

WEST HAVEN SPEED EQUIPMENT B-MAIN #1 - #17 Shannon Thornsberry
WEST HAVE SPEED EQUIPMENT B-MAIN #2 - #11B Stacy Boles
FSR - HANS AWARD: #1G John Gill
RACIN' WITH REX RACER OF THE RACE: #20 Jimmy Owens
TIGER REAR ENDS/ DWB RACE CARS ROOKIE: #86 Jeff Neubert
HOOSIER TIRE SOUTH MOVE OF THE RACE: Jimmy Owens (Passes Weeks for 2nd on lap 48 – challenges Gill for lead on lap 49)

Goddard Guttering Gas Give-A-Way Winner: Matt Taylor of Maynardville, TN

ADVANCE AUTO PARTS A-MAIN

1. John Gill #G1
2. Jimmy Owens #20
3. Mike Weeks #22
4. Vic Hill #1
5. Steve Smith #3
6. Stacy Boles #11B
7. David Payne #8
8. Tommy Kerrr #4T
9. Billy Ogle Jr. #201
10. Rick Rogers #44
11. Jeff Neubert #86
12. Dan Tipton #12T
13. Richard Smith #00
14. Chad Ogle #10
15. April Farmer #14
16. Jeff Wolfenbarger #28
17. Anthony White #2X
18. Bobby Mays #25
19. Kerry Jones #6
20. Shannon Thornsberry #17
21. Brian Smith #7
22. Shane Roberts #32W
23. Joe Armes #77
24. Marty Calloway #7

Did Not Start Feature
Shon Flanary #98
Luke Crass #01
DeWayne Pesterfield #22

AMP Series meet up with the most rabid Super Late Model Race Fans in the Mid-South Region on May 9th & 10th

For Immediate Release
Contact: Christy Hudson
President, AMP Late Model Series
501-847-6019

April 21, 2008
www.ampseries.com

Alexander, ARK-- The AMP Series -Arkansas Motorsport Professionals bring the "Simple Series" of Dirt Late Model racing to Central Arkansas track promoters along with rabid Super Late Model Race Fans in the Mid-South Region; May 9th and 10th

AMP Series teams have been ready to self erupt in Central Arkansas since series kicked off their season opener in March of this year.   While schedules were being formed, members on the series started logging their dates in log books and websites as events to attend this season.

The series started out racing early last season in their home state and watched fan base and team growth populate at several locations that noted record crowds.   Arkansas Motorsport Professionals has been positive to the public, positive to the race teams and positive to the promoters in and out of the state.   We want to help track promoters build fan attendance on race nights by providing a great show with the drivers and race fans that attend special events.    The AMP series attracts race fans by ‘Entertaining  Audiences’ that come out and watch racers as they pilot in their stunning machines’ of top quality speed and watch racers as they show their skills from behind the wheel of a Super Late Model while racing on dirt tracks.

Race teams have had a few weeks off to enjoy their rest time, while the series has been off tour.  Teams are now starting to prepare for the AMP Series duel weekend that will take place on May 9th and May 10th while in the Central Arkansas area at Beebe Speedway www.beebespeedway.comm  and Central Arkansas Speedway www.centralarkansasspeedway.com  

Later in the month of May, race fans can expect to see the AMP Series teams, in tow to Monticello Speedway May 17th,  for a Tribute Memorial event to honor past Dirt Late Model Racer: #18 Kenneth Mitcham www.monticellospeedway.com  

AMP Series would like to thank our Marketing Partners and encourage all racer, fans and friends to visit with them during the 2008 race season.

The “Official Graphics” of the AMP Series, www.racewrapz.com : Blue Ridge Trailers Inc., www.blueridgeliftgate.com Team GRT, Larry Shaw Racing, Mike McNay DBA – SnapOn Tool’s, Smiley’s Racing Products, Hoosier Tire Southwest, Duralite Wheels, Wulff Pumps, William Gould Racing, Race on Driving Experience, Kenny Morden Racing. LuvRacin.com, Clampedup.com, Victory Lane Web Design, Realracingusa.com

For all the latest news and information about the AMP Series and its sponsors point your browser to www.ampseries.com or by calling (501) 847-6019 or (501) 920-AMPS (2677)
 -end-

 
www.ampseries.com

Contact: World Racing Group
Kevin Kovac, World of Outlaws Late Model Series P.R. Director
704-254-7929 • kkovac@dirtcar.com

World of Outlaws Late Model Series News & Notes: Wrapping Up The Circle K Colossal 100 At The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway

CONCORD, NC – April 21, 2008 -

HITTING HIS STRIDE: Before the 2008 season started, Steve Francis estimated that he’d be completely comfortable and rolling with Dale Beitler’s team by Memorial Day Weekend.

Well, after Francis cruised to a convincing $50,000 victory in Saturday night’s Circle K Colossal 100 at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway, he could probably move up that performance time-table.

“To win a race like this for Dale, as early as we are here with this new team, is just a great accomplishment,” said Francis, who decided to park his own team after winning the 2007 World of Outlaws Late Model Series championship and chase a second title driving for Beitler. “We haven’t gotten our consistency exactly where we want it yet, but our cars are getting closer and closer.

“We’re really starting to jell as a team. We’re getting everything where we really want it.”

Francis is actually still getting accustomed to using American Racer tires, which he rode to victory in the Colossal 100.

“I have worn them American Racer guys out since I took this ride,” said Francis. “We did a bunch of testing before the season started, and they’ve been sending some engineers to the races with us to help us out. We’ve been working on development, but we’re still not 100 percent there.”

Francis, 40, credits West Friendship, Md.’s Beitler with providing him all the tools for success.

“The group of guys that Dale has put together behind me – Robby Allen, Kevin Miller, Jeff, Jeremy – they’ve given me excellent equipment every time I’ve gone on the racetrack,” said Francis. “I can’t ask for anything more.”

Francis has especially enjoyed working with Allen, a former WoO LMS traveler as Rick Eckert’s chief mechanic who serves as a consultant to the Beitler team.

“Me and Robby are able to talk and he understands when I’m trying to explain things to him now,” said Francis. “It’s very similar to the relationship I had with Lee (Logan, Francis’s ’07 crew chief) last year, and my brother (the late Chris Francis) in the past.

“I’ve been real fortunate to be able to work with excellent crew chiefs my whole career – my brother, Ronnie Stuckey, Ronnie Hackworth, Lee – and then for Dale to put Robby in there…it’s phenomenal to work with guys like that. It makes my job a lot easier because it just adds that much experience.”

Beitler, meanwhile, is just enjoying the magic-carpet ride that Francis is giving him.

“This is great, as good as it gets,” a smiling Beitler said in the pit area after the Colossal 100. “It’s just an awesome feeling to win this race.

“I’ve got a great team, a great driver. I couldn’t be any happier right now.”

KNIGHTS OF THE OUTLAWS TRAIL: One of the spoils of victory in the Circle K Colossal 100 is the ceremonial Medieval knight's helmet and 50-inch Macleod Medieval sword that is presented to the race winner.

Francis, of course, donned the helmet and waved the sword during the Victory Lane ceremonies. But the whole time he posed in the full regalia he just wanted to find Robby Allen and hand the headgear over to the mechanic known affectionately as ‘Hog Head.’

“When we started racing this year Robby Allen said, ‘I wanna put that Colossal hat on at Charlotte,’” said Francis. “That’s why I was trying to find him after the race.”

When Allen came to the stage to try the helmet on for size, announcer Ozzie Altman asked him, “Is it big enough to fit you?”

Allen answered quickly, saying with a smile over the p.a. system, “I saw (Scott) Bloomquist wear it (after winning in 2006 and 2007), and if it fits on his head, I know it’ll fit on mine.”

Francis enjoyed joining Bloomquist as the only other winner of the Colossal helmet and sword, but he might have actually been a bit more excited about becoming the featured driver on the huge banner that will be hung from the back of The Dirt Track’s tower to promote the 2009 Circle K Colossal 100.

“It’s a pretty unique situation to be on the second winner of the race,” said Francis. “But when (Ryan) Newman (the NASCAR star who is friendly with Francis) drives by over here (for a Sprint Cup race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway), he gets to look at my picture now (on the banner) – plus everybody who drives through Charlotte will see it too!”

DOUBLE-DUTY: Francis also claimed a seventh-place finish in the Colossal 100 as the owner of the car driven by 2006 WoO LMS champion Tim McCreadie, who made his debut in Francis’s Valvoline No. 15.

McCreadie led Francis across the finish line in heat action on Friday night, finishing second to Francis’s third. But McCreadie had to fight through several problems during the 100 to score a top-10 finish.

McCreadie had to pit to change a left-front flat tire on lap 40 after a scrape with Jackie Boggs that also left his car with a bent spindle. He returned to the pits later to make more adjustments and work on his mud-caked helmet, which was out of tearoffs, and he finished the race with a right-rear tire that was deflating thanks to a piece of metal stuck in its side.

WILD RIDE: Chub Frank had never flipped a car during his 30-year racing career – until Saturday night.

While biding his time running 11th on lap 45 of the 100, Frank’s machine bicycled onto its right side between turns three and four and went flipping. He got some serious air time before the car landed on its wheels in turn four.

“I came in (the corner) on a bad angle,” said Frank. “Instead of going in high, I kinda come in a little bit off the cushion and slid to it. But I was in there so hot, the whole right side just caught and bicycled over, and then it just took off.

“It felt like when you’re watching a crash on those in-car cameras, when the camera is behind the driver. At one point I was standing on my nose and looking right at the ground, and I’m thinking, ‘This ain’t gonna be good.’”

Frank, who has worn an R3 head-and-neck restraint from Safety Solutions all season, quickly emerged from his cockpit without injury. He even jogged back to the pits.

Frank’s car – his favorite Rocket since he debuted it in September 2006 – had its bodywork mangled and plenty of suspension parts broken, but Frank didn’t think it sustained significant frame damage.

HE’LL TAKE IT: After losing several spots in the first-lap jam-up that occurred when outside-polesitter Eddie Carrier Jr. spun in turn four, Josh Richards thought he might be stuck racing just outside the top 10 for the entire Colossal 100.

But the 20-year-old broke free late in the distance and finished third, his personal-best run in the event.

Richards spent the race battling a push condition (his right-front tire choice was too hard), visibility problems due to the large amount of flying mud during the race (he ran out of tearoffs and actually changed helmets during the red flag for Frank’s wreck) and perhaps some unexpected handling issues that resulted from the thick mud that was caked all over the nose of his car.

“On that first lap the front of my car just got covered with mud,” said Richards. “I didn’t know the nose was so bad with mud, but I know the car drove kind of sluggish so maybe it was affected by all that extra weight on the front.”

UPON FURTHER REVIEW: While Francis thought that Darrell Lanigan had run out of fuel due to the excessive number of caution circuits when Lanigan slowed and fell from second place on lap 90, Lanigan’s fuel tank actually wasn’t dry.

The culprit: rearend problems on Lanigan’s car, which he said felt strong throughout the race.

“I was having fun out there,” said Lanigan.

DISAPPOINTMENT: Rick Eckert didn’t know if he “had anything for Francis,” but he certainly appeared to have enough speed in his GRT No. 24 to contend for a second-place finish.

Those hopes went down the drain, however, when Eckert’s car began billowing smoke on a lap-82 restart, seconds after he took fourth place. He pulled off two circuits later, done in by an oil line that had come loose.

ODDS & ENDS…

* Shannon Babb struggled on Friday night, but he turned his weekend around in the Colossal 100.

Guaranteed the 11th starting spot even though he failed to transfer in Friday’s heats because he won last October’s Jani-King Southern Showdown at The Dirt Track, Babb drove his Clint Bowyer-owned car straight to the front in the 100. He ran second for much of the distance, but after losing the spot when he slipped high in turn two on lap 86 he never recovered and settled for sixth place.

* Clint Smith had to rely on a WoO LMS provisional to start the A-Main after breaking a jackshaft in a Friday heat and sliding into the wall between turns three and four during Saturday’s B-Main, which was run with the track still slick in spots following a two-hour rain delay.

There were more problems in the 100 for Smith, who pulled out his backup car after the B-Main incident. He was an early retiree after a tangle smashed in his car’s right-side door.

* WoO LMS traveler John Blankenship persevered through several mid-race pit stops to claim eighth at the finish, just inches behind a slowing McCreadie at the checkered flag.

* WoO LMS Rookie of the Year aspirant Vic Coffey was forced out of his heat race with damage to his Sweeteners Plus No. 39, but he came from deep in the field of the B-Main to transfer to the 100. He was an early dropout, however, after being involved in several incidents.

* WoO LMS followers who failed to qualify were Shane Clanton, who broke a wheel during time trials, was involved in a couple heat-race scrapes and pulled out of the B-Main early; Tim Fuller, whose hopes ended when he slid into the wall between turns one and two on a slick track at the start of the first B-Main, causing him to fall from fourth to near the back of the pack; Brian Shirley, who dropped out of his heat and retired early from the second B-Main; and Rookie of the Year contenders Danny Johnson (blew motor on Friday) and Joe Isabell (did not return for a B-Main).

* With the Colossal 100 offering only WoO LMS show-up points to all entered drivers because the tour’s normal format was not used, the top of the points standings didn’t change.

Billy Moyer, who wasn’t allowed back in the race by Lowe’s Motor Speedway officials after he stopped on the track to draw a caution flag on lap 64 while running sixth because his car’s hood was flapping up, remains the points leader heading to a Missouri doubleheader on May 3 (Lebanon I-44 Speedway) and May 4 (Monett Speedway).

* The Sirius satellite radio NASCAR racing show Tradin’ Paint, which is hosted by MRN pit reporter Steve Post and former RCR gas-man ‘Chocolate’ Myers, beamed out live interviews with three WoO LMS stars – Josh Richards (Thursday), and Steve Francis and Shannon Babb (Friday) – who have affiliations with Sprint Cup drivers in advance of the Colossal 100.

* WoO LMS announcer Rick Eshelman reluctantly relinquished his race-calling duties to tour race director Bret Emrick – a longtime announcer himself – on Friday night after spending Thursday night in a local hospital.

Eshelman feared that he might be having a heart attack when he experienced chest tightness and shortness of breath upon arriving at The Dirt Track on Thursday afternoon, but tests he underwent on Thursday and Friday found no heart problems. He was released late Friday afternoon and told to rest that night, so he wasn’t at his usual spot behind the microphone.

Feeling much better on Saturday, Eshelman was in The Dirt Track’s announcer’s booth and called the Colossal 100.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

2008 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of April 19 - 7 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/wins/top-5s/top-10s/earnings/points/deficit to leader):

1. Billy Moyer 4-5-5-$66,820-935 (-0)
2. Josh Richards 1-4-6-$32,200-909 (-26)
3. Steve Francis 1-5-6-$69,000-905 (-30)
4. Rick Eckert 0-2-5-$18,050-895 (-40)
5. (tie) Darrell Lanigan 0-0-5-$13,850-879 (-56)
5. (tie) Chub Frank 0-2-4-$16,630-879 (-56)
7. Shannon Babb 0-3-4-$25,650-857 (-78)
8. Clint Smith 0-2-2-$11,660-843 (-92)
9. Shane Clanton 0-3-3-$14,750-839 (-96)
10. John Blankenship 0-0-2-$10,760-793 (-142)
11. Tim Fuller 0-0-1-$7,340-789 (-146)
12. Brian Shirley 0-0-2-$7,470-777 (-158)
13. Vic Coffey 0-0-1-$6,520-599 (-336)
14. (tie) Joe Isabell 0-0-0-$1,910-589 (-346)
14. (tie) Danny Johnson 0-0-0-$2,300-589 (-346)
16. Jeep VanWormer 0-0-1-$6,270-479 (-456)
17. (tie) Eddie Carrier Jr. 0-0-3-$8,500-471 (-464)
17. (tie) Tim McCreadie 0-1-2-$11,550-471 (-464)
19. Billy Decker 0-0-0-$3,020-438 (-497)
20. Darren Miller 0-0-3-$5,700-404 (-531)

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

April 21, 2008

NeSMITH CHEVROLET WEEKLY RACING SERIES ROUND UP FOR APRIL 21

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

                CARTERSVILLE, GA – Dana Eiland of Salem, AL and Lucky Keeton of Toomsuba, MS lead their respective Regions of the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing after the first four weeks of the season.  A total of 222 different drivers have competed in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing in the four weeks of competition.

                Eiland picked up his fourth straight top five finish with a second-place effort behind winner William Thomas of Phenix City, AL on Friday night at Penton Raceway in Penton, AL, and has tallied 182 points to hold a 12-point lead in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region over Richard Stephens of Phenix City, AL.

Anthony Meadows of Lanett, AL is third with 150 points.  Larry Harrod of Plains, GA is fourth in the NeSmith Chevrolet WRS East Region with 128 points, and Montana Dudley of Phenix City, AL is fifth with 127 points.

The defending NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region Champion Logan Yates of Delta, AL took his first win of the season on Saturday night by topping a 28-car field at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL.  The victory moved Yates up to the sixth spot in the East Region with 126 points.

Russell Welch of Cottondale, FL captured his second-straight win at Chattahoochee Valley Motor Speedway in Dothan, AL on Saturday night, and moved up to the seventh spot in the East Region points chase with 117 points. Ray Robbins of Hartford, AL is eighth with 116 points, and Matt Woodson of LaGrange, GA is ninth with 114 points.  Tyler Hurst of Lineville, AL rounds out the top ten in the NeSmith Chevrolet WRS East Region standings with 112 points.

Keeton finished second on Saturday night to Talbert Goldman of Meridian, MS at Whynot Motorsports Park in Meridian, MS.  Goldman stopped Keeton’s winning streak at four, and moved into the fourth spot of the NeSmith Chevrolet WRS West Region with 172 points.

Keeton, the defending NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region Champion has 240 points, and a 42-point lead over Herman Reynolds of Laurel, MS and Shannon Lee of Lumberton, MS, who are tied for second with 198 points.  Larry Murphy of Meridian, MS trails Keeton, Reynolds, Lee, and Goldman in the fifth position with 140 points.

Tootie Arnold of Meadville, MS is sixth in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region with 124 points, and Josh Huss of Flomaton, AL is seventh with 119 points.  Michael Santangelo of St. Rose, LA is eighth with 116 points.  Donald Watson of Greenwell Springs, LA and Chris Griffin of Flomaton, AL are tied for ninth with 115 points apiece.

Griffin took his first win of the season on Saturday night at Flomaton Speedway in Flomaton, AL.  In other NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region action on Saturday night, Jimmy Thagard of Greenville, AL was the winner at Butler County Motorsports Park in Greenville, AL, and Jay Blair of Angie, LA took the win at A1 Raceway in Slidell, LA.

Jim Bryant of McComb, MS was the winner at Pike County Speedway in McComb, MS as he tuned up for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Tour $10,000-to-win 100-lap Cajun Spring Nationals at Pike County Speedway this Friday and Saturday night.  Southern Speedway in Hattiesburg, MS was rained out on Friday night.

The NeSmith Chevrolet WRS West Region tracks will be off this weekend for the National event at Pike County Speedway, and drivers that enter the National event will earn ten bonus points in their respective home Regions.

The NeSmith Chevrolet WRS East Region tracks will be in action this week, with a couple of tracks running two events.  Green Valley Speedway in Glencoe, AL will be in action on Thursday and Saturday nights, and Talladega Short Track will be in action on Friday and Saturday nights. 

Penton Raceway will be in NeSmith Chevrolet WRS East Region action on Friday night, and East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City, AL returns to action on Saturday night.  Brownstown Speedway in Brownstown, IN will host its first NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region event on Saturday night. 

For a complete rundown of the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series point standings in both the East and West Regions, visit the series web site at www.nesmithracing.com and click on the Points page.

NeSMITH CHEVROLET WEEKLY RACING SERIES POINT STANDINGS THROUGH 4/21/08:

EAST REGION:

WEST REGION:

NeSMITH CHEVROLET WEEKLY RACING SERIES RESULTS FOR 4/18-19/08:

EAST REGION:

4/12/08:

CHATTAHOOCHEE VALLEY MOTOR SPEEDWAY – DOTHAN, AL:
1. 55 Russell Welch
2. 12 Ray Robbins
3. 55r John Richard
4. 17 Steve Blanchette Jr.
5. 22 Steve Blanchette Sr.

4/18/08:

PENTON RACEWAY – PENTON, AL:
1. 22 William Thomas
2. K9 Dana Eiland
3. 27 Larry Harrod
4. 34 Chad Wallace
5. 00T Shane Thompson
6. 52 Marc Gooden
7. 00 Richard Stephens
8. 88 Matt Woodson
9. C55 Scotty Curry
10. 18 Chase Edge
11. 17 N.B. Freeman
12. 31 Anthony Meadows
13. T11 Troy Tyson
14. 55 Montana Dudley
15. 30 Bert Tompkins
16. 04 Blake Stewart DNS

4/19/08:

TALLADEGA SHORT TRACK – EASTABOGA, AL:
1. 5 Logan Yates
2. 47 Adam Martin
3. 29 Brian Ponder
4. 07 Jimmy Elkins Jr.
5. 2 Tyler Hurst
6. 7 Dillon Crim
7. H2 Todd Hurst
8. 41k Steve Kirk
9. 18 Landon Sims
10. 11 Chris Blackburn
11. B4 Justin Brasley
12. 9 Brentt Roberts
13. 54 Greg Chumley
14. 11 Mark Garrard
15. 44 Tony Epperson
16. 41 Aaron Smith
17. 4 Gary Kellum
18. 6 Lee Woodard
19. P5 Haley Pitts
20. 17 Cameron Heath
21. 76 Nick Waugh
22. 14 Victor Turner
23. 28 Trent Thomas
24. 13 David Pettis
25. 15 Bobby Shuler
26. k17 Corey Korreckt
27. 87 Charlie Gushue DNS
28. B97 Lee Burdett DNS

CHATTAHOOCHEE VALLEY MOTOR SPEEDWAY – DOTHAN, AL:
1. 55 Russell Welch
2. 12 Ray Robbins
3. 55r John Richard
4. 08 Kevin Clark
5. 22 Steve Blanchette Sr.
6. 83 Mel Guiles
7. 17 Steve Blanchette Jr.
8. 4 Johnny Wilson

WEST REGION:

4/18/08:

SOUTHERN SPEEDWAY – HATTIESBURG, MS:
Rained Out

4/19/08:

WHYNOT MOTORSPORTS PARK – MERIDIAN, MS:
1. 07 Talbert Goldman
2. 22 Lucky Keeton
3. 27 Larry Murphy
4. K9 Chad Thrash
5. 9 Herman Reynolds
6. 18c Randy King
7. 4w Wiley Williams
8. 44 Roger Rolison
9. 118 Randy Boyd
10. 5 Gabe Windham
11. 000 Rick Hasselle
12. 7 Mike Shirley
13. 8 Craig Turan
14. 48 Tody Ratcliff
15. 75 Ray Paul
16. 760 Jim McDuffie
17. J7 Paul Jacobs

BUTLER COUNTY MOTORSPORTS PARK – GREENVILLE, AL:
1. 24 Jimmy Thagard
2. 11 Lucas Mosley
3. 16 Ben Callen
4. 68r Brandon Register
5. 777 Randy Adams

FLOMATON SPEEDWAY – FLOMATON, AL:
1. 25c Chris Griffin
2. 18 Clint Holmes
3. 8h Heath Gibson
4. 53 Wade Cole
5. 25 Josh Huss
6. 3m Micha McCall
7. 3g Seth Gransberry
8. T22 Tiffany Johnson
9. 50 David Odom
10. Bernard Blackwell

PIKE COUNTY SPEEDWAY – McCOMB, MS:
1. J5 Jim Bryant
2. 7 Cody Robbins
3. 17 Silas Martin
4. 39 Michael Sibley
5. 131 Jeremy Idom
6. 21 Kody Barber
7. 23 Shane Barbara
8. 35 Curt Lipsey

A1 RACEWAY – SLIDELL, LA:
1. 2x Jay Blair
2. 747 Billy Riels
3. K18 Kaleb Killens
4. GPS Joe Credidio
5. 1 Jody Miller
6. 47 Shannon Lee
7. 95 Robert Nevels
8. 2T Tootie Arnold
9. 77 Michael Santangelo
10. 9 Edward Guidry

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