EastTennRacer

New Website!!!

2009-07-25T11:15:00.000-07:00

For news regarding racing in east Tennessee, go to my new webiste, TennesseeRacer.com.

Click on the link below to visit the new site:

http://tennesseeracer.com/

Boyd's Speedway hosting Steel-Head Border Wars on Friday, July 24th

2009-07-23T13:38:00.001-07:00

Ringgold, GA/Chattanooga, TN (7/21/09) - - This Friday night, July 24th BORDER WARS returns to the BOYD's SPEEDWAY with round # 2 of the $2,000. to-WIN, double points touted (within the track championship points) event for the Steel-Head Late Models. Top area racers from Knoxville to Nashville; North Carolina, Alabama and Georgia that don't race regularly on Friday's at the track will be vying for a starting spot amongst the 24 starters. The 1st event on April 24th 2009, saw a photo-finish between Jason Welshan and Jason Cardwell and drew thirty-two (32) competitors. Mark Rosner has held the points lead until recently, since the beginning of the season, but now Rick Hixson has taken over. Hixson also won last weekends event in a caution free 25 lapper against fellow Austin Trucking sponsored William Thomas, who's now driving the # A19 that Lamar Scoggins began the season with. Friday qualifying (1 Lap) will place the Top 12 into two (2) DASH RACES. If needed "B" Main(s) will stage the remaining qualifiers.

Of the now eight (8) points events so far in 2009, (Steel-Head LM's) only two racers have been able to produce repeat a victories. Just prior to the BORDER WARS "A" Main Feature, track announcer Steve Milling will be giving away an official BORDER WARS/KING of CRATE t-shirt courtsey of RACIN' w/ REX, if someone can correctly identify all the winners thus far in the Steel-Head division, during the points season. The T-Shirts are available at the souvenir trailer location behind the turn-one grandstands. The Crate LM's will be on-hand for their regular $800 to-WIN - 20 lap feature along with a regular racing format for the A-Hobby and FWD classes. Racing begins at 7PM with Hot Laps at 6:30PM.

NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Preview(7-22-09)

2009-07-23T12:35:00.000-07:00

NeSMITH CHEVROLET WEEKLY RACING SERIES WEEK 17 PREVIEW

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CARTERSVILLE, GA – The NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series will have 12 events on the Week 17 schedule with six races each in the West and East Regions. Larry Harrod of Plains, GA took his third win of season in the East Region Week 17 opener on Tuesday night at East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City, AL driving the Harrod Logging Scorpion.

The NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region will open Week 17 action on Friday night at Hattiesburg Motorsports Park in Hattiesburg, MS. Saturday night West Region events will be held at Central Mississippi Speedway in Winona, MS, Columbus Speedway in Columbus, MS, Jackson Motor Speedway in Jackson, MS, Whynot Motorsports Park in Meridian, MS, and South Mississippi Speedway in Gulfport, MS.

East Region Week 17 competition will continue on Friday night at Penton Raceway in Penton, AL, and on Saturday night at Mountain Raceway Park in Maryville, TN, Tri-County Race Track in Brasstown, NC, Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL, and East Alabama Motor Speedway. Talladega Short Track will host a double-points event on August 8.

The Event Point Averages of Top 20 Regional drivers above 40 show nine drivers in the West Region, and ten drivers in the East Region. The EPAs are based on a driver’s best 16 finishes, including bonus points, and a perfect EPA is 52.5.

Two-time NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region Champion Lucky Keeton of Toomsuba, MS has the highest West Region EPA at 48.4, and leads the West Region point standings in quest of his third West Region title in the past four seasons. Keeton has 774 points based on his best 16 finishes in 21 starts with six wins, 17 top five finishes and 18 top ten finishes.

Eric Cooley of Fulton, MS has the second-highest West Region EPA at 48, and is seventh in the West Region standings with 625 points. Cooley has 13 starts, and can still earn full points in three more West Region events. The 18-year-old driver has six wins, 12 top fives, and 13 top tens.

Cooley is trying to win both the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Touring and the NeSmith Chevrolet WRS West Region titles in the same season. Cooley currently leads the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National Touring point standings.

Michael Arnold of Hattiesburg, MS is another 18-year-old driver looking for success in the NeSmith Chevrolet WRS West Region. Arnold has the third-highest West Region EPA at 46.4 and is second in the West Region standings with 742 points based on his best 16 finishes. Arnold is tied with the most wins in the NeSmith Chevrolet WRS at eight, and he has 20 top fives, and series-leading 25 top tens in 26 starts.

Shannon Lee of Lumberton, MS has the fourth-highest West Region EPA at 45.2, and is third in the West Region standings with 724 points based on his best 16 finishes in 25 starts. Kody Barber of Bogalusa, LA has the fifth-highest EPA at 44.4 and is fourth in the West Region standings with 711 points based on his best 16 finishes in 20 starts.

Tracy Brown of Lumberton, MS is fifth in the West Region standings with 703 points based on his best 16 finishes in 22 starts and has the sixth highest West Region EPA at 43.9. Cliff Williams of Star, MS is sixth in the West Region standings with 643 points in 15 starts, and has the seventh highest EPA at 42.9.

Two drivers outside the Top 10 of the West Region standings have the eighth and ninth-highest EPA. Chase Washington of Houlka, MS is 14^th in the West Region standings with 508 points in 12 starts and has the eighth-highest EPA at 42.3. Randall Beckwith of Kilmichael, MS is 12^th in the West Region standings with 522 points in 13 starts, and has the ninth-highest EPA at 40.1.

NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region point leader Scott Knowles of Lanett, AL also has the highest East Region EPA at 47. Knowles has 752 points in 16 starts with seven wins, 13 top fives, and 15 top tens. Terrance Nowell of Phenix City, AL has the second-highest East Region EPA at 45.1 and is fifth in the East Region standings with 632 points in 14 starts win one win and 13 top fives.

Defending NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region Champion Adam Martin of Talladega, AL is 15^th in the East Region standings with 494 points in 11 starts, but has the third-highest EPA at 44.9. Martin will be a driver to watch in coming weeks, as he still has five East Region races to earn full points. Martin has four wins and nine top fives.

Harrod’s win at East Alabama Motor Speedway on Tuesday night moved him up to the tenth spot in the East Region standings with 532 points in 12 starts, and the fourth-highest East Region EPA at 44.3. Montana Dudley of Phenix City, AL has the fifth-highest East Region EPA at 44.2 and is second in the East Region standings with 707 points in 16 starts.

Jerry Goodwin of Eastaboga, AL is 17^th in the East Region standings with 472 points in 11 starts, and has the sixth-highest EPA at 42.9. Dana Eiland of Salem, AL and Jimmy Elkins Jr. of Talladega, AL are tied with the seventh-highest EPA at 42.5. Eiland is third in the East Region standings with 637 points in 15 starts, and Elkins is 11^th with 510 points in 12 starts.

Richie Stephens of Phenix City, AL has the ninth-highest East Region EPA at 42.3 and is 12^th in the East Region standings with 508 points in 12 starts. Bobby Eiland of Phenix City, AL has the tenth-highest East Region EPA at 41.8 and is 18^th in the East Region standings with 460 points in 11 starts.

For a complete rundown of the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series point standings in both the West and East Regions, and links to the web sites of NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series tracks, visit the series web site at www.nesmithracing.com.

NeSMITH CHEVROLET WEEKLY RACING SERIES WEEK 17 EARLY RESULTS:

EAST REGION:

July 21:

EAST ALABAMA MOTOR SPEEDWAY – PHENIX CITY, AL:
1. 27 Larry Harrod
2. 95 Richie Stephens
3. 55 Terrance Nowell
4. 55 Montana Dudley
5. 18 Chase Edge
6. 5 Rodgerick Dykes
7. 02 Justin Weeks
8. 12 J.R. Cobb

NeSMITH CHEVROLET WEEKLY RACING SERIES WEEK 17 SCHEDULE:

WEST REGION:

July 24:

HATTIESBURG MOTORSPORTS PARK – HATTIESBURG, MS

July 25:

CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI SPEEDWAY – WINONA, MS
COLUMBUS SPEEDWAY – COLUMBUS, MS
JACKSON MOTOR SPEEDWAY – JACKSON, MS
WHYNOT MOTORSPORTS PARK – WHYNOT, MS
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI SPEEDWAY – GULFPORT, MS

EAST REGION:

July 24:

PENTON RACEWAY – PENTON, AL

July 25:

MOUNTAIN RACEWAY PARK – MARYVILLE, TN
TRI-COUNTY RACE TRACK – BRASSTOWN, NC
TALLADEGA SHORT TRACK – EASTABOGA, AL
EAST ALABAMA MOTOR SPEEDWAY – PHENIX CITY, AL

-30-

Southern Nationals stretch run goes through East Tennessee

2009-07-23T12:14:00.000-07:00

By Chris Tilley (O’Reilly Southern Nationals Series)
CONTACT: (606) 219-1723 or (606) 271-1724 or tilleyracing@hotmail.com

BRASSTOWN, NC (July 23, 2009)—After seven exciting races, the O’Reilly Southern Nationals Series is ready for the final three events on the 10-race mini-series which ends in East Tennessee.

During the first seven events, there have been five different winners including Vic Hill (Wythe Raceway), Jonathan Davenport (Carolina Speedway), Casey Roberts (Hartwell/Swainsboro & Screven Speedways), Tony Knowles (Fort Payne Speedway) and Chris Madden (Crossville Raceway). Already over 100 different drivers have raced with the O’Reilly Southern Nationals Series and a tight point battle is heating up for the final three race swing which starts Tonight (July 23rd) at Cleveland Speedway paying $3,500 to win.

The ninth stop on the tour following Cleveland Speedway will be at the Loven Family’s Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, TN on Friday Night July 24th which pays the event winner $5,300. Following Volunteer Speedway will be the finale event at the Tazewell Speedway in Tazewell, TN which pays $5,300 to the race winner on Saturday Night July 25th.

For more information on the O'Reilly Southern Nationals Series, please visit the series website at www.southernnationalsseries.com.
The O'Reilly Southern Nationals Series is brought to fans across the Southeast by many important sponsors and partners, including O'Reilly Auto Parts, Red Man Tobacco Products, American Racer Tires, Barry Wright Race Cars, Carolina Performance, DBR Performance Starters, Delph Communications, Fibertech Roofs by JB Performance, Graphic Impressions, GRT Race Cars, GW Performance, Hoosier Racing Tires, Integra Racing Shocks, MasterSbilt Race Cars, Ohlins Shocks, PPM Performance Products, Rocket Chassis, Schaeffer's Oil, SHY Racing Suspensions, Star Graphix, VP Racing Fuels, Wiles Driveshafts, and Wilwood Engineering.

Position Name Points Hometown
1. Tommy Kerr 976 (Maryville, TN)
2. Jonathan Davenport 954 (Blairsville, GA)
3. Tony Knowles 952 (Tyrone, GA)
4. Dennis Franklin 944 (Gaffney, SC)
5. Jeff Cooke 908 (Spartanburg, SC)
6. Shon Flanary 832 (Church Hill, TN)
7. Dane Dacus 815 (Lakeland, TN)
8. Daniel Baggerly 748 (Rural Retreat, VA)
9. Austin Dillon 684 (Lewisville, NC)
10. Gar ****son 680 (Flinstone, GA)

2009 SCHEDULE:
Monday, July 13 - Wythe Raceway, Rural Retreat, VA (Vic Hill)
Tuesday, July 14 - Carolina Speedway, Gastonia, NC (Jonathan Davenport)
Thursday, July 16 - Hartwell Speedway, Hartwell, GA (Casey Roberts)
Friday, July 17 - Swainsboro Raceway, Swainsboro, GA (Casey Roberts)
Saturday, July 18 - Screven Motor Speedway, Sylvania, GA (Casey Roberts)
Monday, July 20 - Fort Payne Motor Speedway, Fort Payne, AL (Tony Knowles)
Tuesday, July 21 - Crossville Raceway, Crossville, TN (Chris Madden)
Thursday, July 23 - Cleveland Speedway, Cleveland, TN
Friday, July 24 - Volunteer Speedway, Bulls Gap, TN
Saturday, July 25 - Tazewell Speedway, Tazewell, TN

Southern Nationals conclude at Tazewell on July 25th

2009-07-22T11:25:00.000-07:00

Southern Nationals championship race at Tazewell Speedway
By Michael Moats – MRM Media Services

Tazewell, Tennessee – For the fifth straight year, Tazewell Speedway hosts the finale for the O’Reilly Southern Nationals series, the mini-tour featuring 10 races in 13 nights this Saturday night. Some of the best drivers from the Southeast will be competing for the $5,300 winner’s check.

This year’s O’Reilly Southern Nationals has more drivers following the tour over previous years. And at least five drivers could have a shot at winning this year’s title at Tazewell Speedway.

Maryville’s Tommy Kerr is one of the drivers in the championship mix. Last year’s runner-up, Dennis “Rambo” Franklin, Jeff Cooke, Tony Knowles, and Jonathan Davenport are all locked in a tight battle for the 2009 O’Reilly Southern Nationals championship.

All the drivers chasing points for the O’Reilly Southern Nationals will also have to do battle with some of the area’s top drivers. Vic Hill, track record holder Rick Rogers, Billy Ogle Jr., last Saturday’s winner Mike Weeks, Mike Smith, and others will also be looking to win and claim the $5,300 winner’s check.

Also racing on Saturday will be the limited late models, modified streets, pure streets, and four cylinders.

General admission tickets are $20 for adults with kids 10 and under admitted free with a paying adult. Pit passes are $30. Pit gates open at 3:00 and grandstand gates open at 5:00. Racing will start at 7:45.

Tazewell Speedway is located just two miles northwest of Tazewell, Tennessee. Going north on US 25-E, turn right and then left onto Bacchus Rd, and then 1.8 miles north, then .8 miles west and the race track is located on the left. For additional information, visit www.TazewellSpeedway.net or call 865-626-2222.

Southern Nationals coming to Volunteer Speedway

2009-07-22T05:19:00.000-07:00

Volunteer Speedway to host 'O'Reilly Southern Nationals Series' on Friday, July 24

BULLS GAP, Tenn. — The O'Reilly Southern Nationals Series features 10 events in the span of 13 days, with races held in Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee. Volunteer Speedway will host the series for the next-to-last event of the two-week tour around the Southeast on Friday, July 24 for a $5,300-to-win ... $530-to-start Super Late Model show.

Also racing besides the Super Late Models will be Fastrak Racing Series-sanctioned "Courtesy Chevrolet" Pro Late Models and "McDonald's" Hobby Stocks. The fastest 10 cars in O'Reilly Southern Nationals Series qualifying will be locked into the 53 lap feature, with B-mains scheduled to complete the 24-car starting field.

The top 10 in Southern Nationals Series points following seven of the 10 events are Tommy Kerr of Maryville, Tenn.; Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga.; Tony Knowles of Tyrone, Ga.; Dennis Franklin of Gaffney, S.C.; Jeff Cooke of Spartanburg, S.C.; Shon Flanary of Church Hill, Tenn.; Dane Dacus of Memphis, Tenn.; Daniel Baggerly of Rural Retreat, Va.; Austin Dillon of Welcome, N.C., and Gar Dickson of Flintstone, Ga. Other drivers who are expected to compete at "The Gap" include Chris Madden of Gaffney, S.C.; Jared Landers of Batesville, Ark.; Randle Chupp of Troutman, N.C.; Brad Neat of Dunnville, Ky.; Brandon Kinzer of Allen, Ky.; Ronny Lee Hollingsworth of Northport, Ala.; Brian Nuttal Jr. of Clayton, Ga.; Chris Combs of Isom, Ky.;

East Tennessee drivers expected to be present include four-time (1997, ’98, 2000 and ’05) Volunteer Speedway track champion Vic Hill of Morristown, Jimmy Owens of Newport, Rick Rogers of Knoxville, Kerry Jones of Bristol, Jeff Maupin of Greeneville, Chad Ogle of Sevierville, Billy Ogle Jr. of Knoxville, Randy Weaver of Crossville, Mike Marlar of Winfield, Shanon Buckingham of Morristown, Michael Smith of Rogersville, Dale Ball of Johnson City, Mark Vineyard of Powell, Bryan Hendrix of Knoxville, Skip Arp of Georgetown, Mark Douglas of Knoxville, Dusty Carver of Englewood, Anthony White of Clinton, Steve Smith of Powell, Herman Goddard of Knoxville, Joe Armes of Petros, Bobby Mays of Jonesborough, and many more.

Adult grandstand admission on Friday, July 24 will be $15, youth (ages 11-15) $5, with kids 10-and-under admitted free in grandstands when accompanied by an adult. Pit passes and backside tier-parking $30.

The pit gate will open at 3 p.m. and the grandstands at 5 p.m. Hotlaps are tentatively scheduled to begin around 8 p.m., to be followed by qualifying and then racing action.

***NOTE: For the O'Reilly Southern Nationals Series event, no lawn chairs will be permitted in the grandstands. Only stadium seat-type cushions will be allowed. Also, no coolers or outside food allowed to be brought into the front straightaway (main) grandstands!

Directions to Volunteer Speedway: South on Interstate 81 from Tennessee/Virginia state lines, take Exit 23 (Bulls Gap/Greeneville), then turn right onto Hwy. 11-E at bottom of the exit ramp. Look for track entrance approximately 200 yards on left.

North on Interstate 81 from I-81/I-40 split (East of Knoxville, TN), take Exit 23, then turn left onto Hwy. 11-E at bottom of the exit ramp. Continue underneath the interstate over-pass and track entrance approximately 300 yards ahead on left.

For information about the O'Reilly Southern Nationals Series, visit the Web site at www.SouthernNationalsSeries.com or call promoter Ray Cook at (706) 835-7503 or (828) 837-0379.

Volunteer Speedway: (423) 235-5020 www.VolunteerSpeedway.com
Track Office - Weekdays Only 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.: (423) 378-5942
Phyllis Loven: (423) 676-9081
Robert Walden-Media/Public Relations Director: (423) 928-9644 robwald@prodigy.net
Jimmy Meade-Marketing and Sales: (423) 817-0925
Race Director David Bryant: Race Shop (423) 235-5420 ... Cell (865) 978-1752

Back to School night at Wartburg on August 8th

2009-07-21T12:39:00.001-07:00

Wartburg, TN (July 21st, 2009) Wartburg Speedway in Wartburg, TN will play host to the Tennessee Thunder DirtCar Series for the third time in 2009 on Saturday night August 8th. It will be the first time since April of last year the ‘Friday night ‘ track will run a Saturday night event. “I’ve wanted to try a special event on a Saturday night for some time now and the August 8th date looked like a great opportunity to give it a try” stated Wartburg Speedway owner/ promoter Scott Green.

The ‘Back-to-School Saturday Night Special’ as it’s being dubbed will offer up a full slate of racing action including the 40 lap, $3,000 to win, $300 to start main event for Thunder Series Late Models. Preliminary action will include two laps of time trials, the Sunoco Race Fuels Quick Six Twin Dashes and West Haven Speed Equipment B-Mains.

The Sportsman, Open Wheel Modified, Modified Street, Pure Street, Mini Stock and Front Wheel Drive Divisions will all be in action along with a special promotion geared toward kids. Details will be forthcoming.

It will mark the series’ eleventh overall visit to the 1/3 mile oval which is the site of the series very first race dating back to March 25th of 2005 when thirty-one Super Late Models appeared breaking the previous track record of twenty-six; many of which had never raced at Wartburg previously. Three-time Thunder Series Champion Anthony White of Clinton, Tennessee bagged his first ever series win and the $3,000 winner’s check that night and has since claimed four additional victories at his home track. Other series feature winners at the east Tennessee bullring include Stacy Boles of Claxton with two victories, Tommy Kerr of Maryville, Mike Marlar of Winfield and most recently Ricky Arms of Moss, TN with one series victory each.

Pit gates are scheduled to open at 3pm with stands and tier parking at 4pm and the drivers meeting is scheduled for 6:30pm with hot laps to immediately follow. Adult General Admission will be $15 with Adult Tier Parking at $20 and Adult Pit Passes at $30.

For more information fans can log onto the track’s website at www.WartburgSpeedway.net, the series’ website at www.TTDCS.com or by calling the track phone at (423) 346-6750. The track is located at 205 Heidel Road in Wartburg, Tennessee. For fans with GPS, the zip code is 37887.

Atomic Raceway night at The Mountain on August 1st.

2009-07-21T12:01:00.000-07:00

Maryville, TN (July 20th, 2009) Mountain Raceway Park in Maryville, TN will host the Tennessee Thunder DirtCar Series for it’s third visit of the season on Saturday Night August 1st for the $3,000 to win Atomic Speedway Memorial / Hall of Fame Race. For the third straight season, race fans will be able to reflect on all the good times of the legendary facility in Lenoir City, TN which has now been reduced to nothing more than a memory.

In continuing the rich tradition of the Atomic Speedway Hall of Fame, which has now moved to Mountain Raceway, there will be at least three more people inducted this year. The hall of fame committee is currently making their considerations for the 2009 class of inductees. The 2008 edition of this event produced thirty-two Super Late Models where Randy Weaver of Crossville, TN took home the victory over Tommy Kerr, Bobby Giffin, Billy Ogle Jr. and Joe Armes.

The TTDCS Super Late Model format will consist of two laps of qualifications for each car, the Sunoco Race Fuels Quick Six for Six Dashes, West Haven Speed Equipment B-Mains and a forty-lap A-Main. In addition to Super Late Models, a full slate of local racing action will be offered which includes Tennessee RV Sportsman, NeSmith Crate Late Models, Street Stock, Modified Mini, Mini Stock and Pure Mini.

Pit gates will be open on August 1st at 3pm, with stands and tier at 4pm and the driver’s meeting at 5:30pm with hot laps at 6pm. Adult General Admission will be $15, Adult Tier Parking will be $20 and Adult Pit Passes $30. Anyone with a Roane County driver’s license will get free grandstand admission or $5 off tier parking admission.

Mountain Raceway Park is located at 809 Brickmill Road in Maryville, Tn. The track phone is (865) 856-8989. The track’s website is www.MountainRaceway.net. The series' website is located at www.TTDCS.com

NeSmith Chevrolet Racing Series Round-up for 7-20-09

2009-07-20T20:44:00.000-07:00

NeSMITH CHEVROLET WEEKLY RACING SERIES ROUND UP FOR JULY 20

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CARTERSVILLE, GA – Week 16 of the 2009 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series season had three first-time winners. Several drivers also made big moves in the East and West Region point standings as they approached the 16 start mark.

Marc Gooden of Lafayette, AL drove the RPI GRT to his first East Region win of the season on Friday night at Penton Raceway in Penton, AL. Noah Daspit of Kiln, MS topped a 22-car field on Saturday night at South Mississippi Speedway in Gulfport, MS to pick up his first West Region win in the Billy Riels Racing GRT, and Tootie Arnold of Meadville, MS was a first-time West Region winner on Saturday night at Pike County Speedway in McComb, MS driving the Hilltop Café GRT.

Two-time NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region Champion Lucky Keeton of Toomsuba, MS in the Boland Performance Trak-Star finished second to Daspit at SMS on Saturday night to net ten points and extend his West Region point lead. Keeton has 774 points based on his best 16 finishes with six wins, 17 top five finishes, and 18 top ten finishes in 21 starts.

Michael Arnold of Hattiesburg, MS netted some West Region points with a pair of top five finishes in the Reynolds Racing Trak-Star and is second in the West Region standings with 742 points based on his best 16 finishes. Arnold has eight wins, 20 top fives, and 25 top tens in 26 starts.

Shannon Lee of Lumberton, MS is third with 724 points based on his best 16 finishes in the Billy Riels Racing GRT after four wins, 20 top fives, and 24 top tens in 25 starts. Kody Barber of Bogalusa, LA is fourth with 711 points based on his best 16 finishes after five wins, 11 top fives, and 18 top tens driving the Barber’s Hardware Mastersbilt.

Tracy Brown of Lumberton, MS is fifth in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region standings with 703 points based on his best 16 finishes. Brown has two wins, 17 top fives and 20 top tens in 22 starts driving the Triple R Painting Rocket.

Cliff Williams of Star, MS drove the Ware Construction Trak-Star to his seventh win of the season on Friday night at Hattiesburg Motorsports Park, and jumped from ninth to sixth in the West Region standings. Williams has 643 points with seven wins and 12 top fives in 15 starts. Williams still has one more race to earn full points.

Eric Cooley of Fulton, MS did not compete in NeSmith Chevrolet WRS competition during Week 16, as he was racing with the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Tour, where he leads the point standings. Cooley dropped to seventh in the West Region standings with 625 points after six wins, 12 top fives, and 13 top tens in 13 starts.

Even though Cooley dropped a spot, he will be a driver to watch in the coming weeks, as he has the second-highest Event Point Average in the West Region at 48 driving the 78 Towing and Recovery Victory Circle.

Owen Stockstill of Purvis, MS is eighth in the East Region standings with 610 points based on his best 16 finishes driving the Stockstill Trucking Trak-Star. Stockstill has six top fives and 15 top tens in 18 starts. Scott Ladner of Lumberton, MS is ninth with 583 points based on his best 16 finishes in the D&J Development GRT after three top fives and 17 top tens in 20 starts.

Jimmy Howell of Laurel, MS rounds out the top ten in the NeSmith Chevrolet WRS West Region standings with 536 points based on his best 16 finishes in 17 starts. Howell has driven the Greg’s High Performance GRT to one top five and 13 top ten finishes.

Randall Beckwith of Kilmichael, MS is lurking just outside the top ten of the West Region standings after driving the Hi Grade Farm Supply Rocket to his fifth win of the season on Saturday night at Central Mississippi Speedway in Winona, MS. In other NeSmith Chevrolet WRS West Region action, Jason Wilkey of Batesville, AR posted his fifth win of the season on Friday night at Batesville Motor Speedway in Batesville, AR driving the Dodds Signs Warrior.

Brian Kinnersley of Blairsville, GA drove the Arrant Spreader Service Mastersbilt to his eighth NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region win of the season on Saturday night at Tri-County Race Track in Brasstown, NC. Kinnersley is now tied with Michael Arnold for the most NeSmith Chevrolet WRS wins so far this season.

Jerry Goodwin of Eastaboga, AL picked his third NeSmith Chevrolet WRS East Region win of the season on Saturday night in the Goodwin Racing entry at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL.

Scott Knowles of Lanett, AL leads the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region standings with 752 points. Knowles has driven the All-Star Graphics Warrior to seven wins, 13 top five finishes, and 15 top ten finishes in 16 starts. Montana Dudley of Phenix City, AL is second with 670 points based on one win, 13 top fives, and 14 top tens in 15 starts driving The Racing Zone GRT.

Dana Eiland of Salem, AL is third in the East Region standings with 637 points after three wins, ten top fives, and 13 top tens in 15 starts driving the Andy’s Auto Parts GRT. Jacob Anderson of Murphy, NC holds down the fourth spot with 633 points based on his best 16 finishes after four wins, 15 top fives, and 16 top tens in 17 starts in the Jacob Anderson Company GRT.

Chase Edge of Lafayette, AL rides in the fifth spot in the East Region standings with 627 points based on his best 16 finishes driving the Gar’s Cash Flow Mastersbilt. Edge has five top fives and 15 top tens in 21 starts.

Jason Deal of Copperhill, TN is sixth with 608 points based on his best 16 finishes with two wins, 17 top fives and 18 top tens in 19 starts driving the Cougar Fireworks GRT. Rodgerick Dykes of Smith Station, AL is seventh with 598 points based on his best 16 finishes after two top fives and 15 top tens in 17 starts driving the Tri-City Machine Works GRT.

Terrance Nowell of Phenix City, AL is eighth with 594 points in 13 starts, but has the second highest Event Point Average in the East Region at 45.7. Nowell has one win and 12 top five finishes driving the Clarence’s Truck Repair GRT. Gooden’s win moved him up one spot in the East Region standings to the ninth spot with 559 points after one win, seven top fives and 12 top tens in 14 starts.

Jimmy Elkins Jr. of Talladega, AL moved up to round out the top ten in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region standings with 510 points based on nine top five finishes in 12 starts driving the Millennium Mechanical Mastersbilt.

There are five drivers with 11 starts to watch in the coming weeks that are currently outside the top ten in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region point standings, but have EPAs above 41.

Defending NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region Champion Adam Martin of Talladega, AL has the third-highest East Region EPA at 44.9, and is 13^th in the points chase. Larry Harrod of Plains, GA is 14^th, but has an EPA of 44.7. Goodwin is at 42.9, and Richie Stephens of Phenix City, AL has an EPA of 42.6. Bobby Eiland of Phenix City, AL has an EPA of 41.8.

Trak-Star Race Cars built by Boland Performance of Cuba, AL kept its streak alive with Williams’ win as the only chassis manufacturer to post at least one win in every NeSmith Chevrolet WRS week of competition so far this season. Trak-Star Race Cars leads the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Chassis Manufacturers Challenge point standings with 33 wins.

The defending and two-time NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Chassis Manufacturers Challenge Champion GRT Race Cars of Greenbrier, AR posted three wins during Week 16 competition to close within ten points of the point lead with 23 wins.

Mastersbilt Race Cars of Caruthersville, IN is fourth in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Chassis Manufacturers Challenge with 20 wins, followed by Warrior Race Cars built by Goddard Performance of Knoxville, TN with 15 wins, TNT Race Cars of Piney Flats, TN with five wins, and C.J. Rayburn Race Cars of Whiteland, IN with one win.

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

NeSMITH CHEVROLET WEEKLY RACING SERIES POINT STANDINGS THROUGH 7/18/09:

WEST REGION:

POS	CAR #	DRIVER	PTS	RACES	WINS	TOP 5	TOP 10
1	22	Lucky Keeton	774	21	6	17	18
2	9	Michael Arnold	742	26	8	20	25
3	47	Shannon Lee	724	25	4	20	24
4	21k	Kody Barber	711	20	5	11	18
5	R14	Tracy Brown	703	22	2	17	20
6	4	Cliff Williams	643	15	7	12	12
7	33c	Eric Cooley	625	13	6	12	13
8	s12	Owen Stockstill	610	18		6	15
9	21	Scott Ladner	583	20		3	17
10	1	Jimmy Howell	536	17		1	13
11	s12	Ashley Stockstill	532	15		3	9
12	84	Randall Beckwith	522	13	5	9	10
13	82	Rodney Barber	509	15		3	12
14	38	Chase Washington	508	12		6	10
15	69	Tony Lawson	441	13	2	3	7
16	41	Al Kouhout	434	13			10
17	33	Sid Scarbrough	429	12	1	3	8
18	K18	Kaleb Killens	422	12		5	9
19	27	Reed Long	408	12		2	6
20	121	Michael Blount	407	11		3	11

EAST REGION:

POS	CAR #	DRIVER	PTS	RACES	WINS	TOP 5	TOP 10
1	66k	Scott Knowles	752	16	7	13	15
2	55	Montana Dudley	670	15	1	13	14
3	K9	Dana Eiland	637	15	3	10	13
4	64	Jacob Anderson	633	17	4	15	16
5	18	Chase Edge	627	21		5	15
6	7	Jason Deal	608	19	2	17	18
7	5	Rodgerick Dykes	598	17		2	15
8	55	Terrance Nowell	594	13	1	12	12
9	52	Marc Gooden	559	14	1	7	12
10	07	Jimmy Elkins Jr.	510	12		9	9
11	27	Brian Kinnersley	503	13	8	11	13
12	B00	Josh Henry	497	13	4	11	12
13	47	Adam Martin	494	11	4	9	9
14	107	Larry Harrod	492	11	2	9	10
15	007	Hunter Best	478	12	3	10	12
16	38	Jerry Goodwin	472	11	3	7	10
17	50	Richie Stephens	469	11	4	7	8
18	08	Bobby Eiland	460	11		9	10
19	91	Tod Darda	457	13		3	9
20	k17	Corey Korreckt	446	12		5	6

NeSMITH CHEVROLET WEEKLY RACING SERIES RESULTS FOR WEEK 16:

WEST REGION:

July 17:

BATESVILLE MOTOR SPEEDWAY – BATESVILLE, AR:
1. 17 Jason Wilkey
2. 27 Greg Pectol
3. 23 Brandon Smith
4. 18 Roger Witt
5. 66 Marcus Andrews
6. 104 Kevin Grizzle

HATTIESBURG MOTORSPORTS PARK – HATTIESBURG, MS:
1. 4 Cliff Williams
2. 9 Michael Arnold
3. 33 Sid Scarbrough
4. 21 Scott Ladner
5. 121 Michael Blount
6. 47 Shannon Lee
7. 1 Jimmy Howell
8. 00 J.D. Pass
9. 8 Owen Stockstill
10. R14 Tracy Brown
11. S16 Ashley Stockstill
12. 75p Phillip Stanley DNS

July 18:

CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI SPEEDWAY – WINONA, MS:
1. 84 Randall Beckwith
2. 7 Eric Carr
3. 7s Chris Spencer
4. 9 Mike Haralson
5. C55 David Carpenter
6. 15 Clint Patterson
7. 95 Dustin Crowley
8. 2 Drew Holliday DNS

SOUTH MISSISSIPPI SPEEDWAY – GULFPORT, MS:
1. 47 Noah Daspit
2. 22 Lucky Keeton
3. 4 Cliff Williams
4. 9 Michael Arnold
5. 67 Cliff Spencer
6. 96 Jeffrey Lawson
7. 8 Owen Stockstill
8. K18 Kaleb Killens
9. 77 Michael Santangelo
10. 47 Shannon Lee
11. 21 Kody Barber
12. 94 Jason Warner
13. 21L Scott Ladner
14. 9 Ed Guidry
15. 13 Kevin Watts
16. 39 Michael Sibley
17. 14c Bubba Coste
18. 22C David Craddock
19. E10 Donnie Campbell
20. 1 Jimmy Howell
21. R7 Rodney Barber
22. J18 Junior Williams

PIKE COUNTY SPEEDWAY – McCOMB, MS:
1. 2T Tootie Arnold
2. 69 Tony Lawson
3. 13 Jeremy Idom
4. 68 Ray Windham

JACKSON MOTOR SPEEDWAY – JACKSON, MS:
Rained Out

EAST REGION:

July 17:

PENTON RACEWAY – PENTON, AL:
1. 52 Marc Gooden
2, 18 Chase Edge
3. 08 Bobby Eiland
4. 23 Jeff Landrum
5. 19 Paul Walters
6. 18 Matt Dooley
7. 21s Jake Sanders DNS
8. 7 Jason Deal DNS
9. 91 Tod Darda DNS
10. 17 N.B. Freeman DNS
11. 88 Matt Woodson DNS
12. K9 Richie Stephens DNS

July 18:

TRI-COUNTY RACE TRACK – BRASSTOWN, NC:
1. 27 Brian Kinnersley
2. 7 Jason Deal
3. L28 Terry Ledford
4. 81 Kevin Sutton
5. 71 Kevin Bradshaw

TALLADEGA SHORT TRACK – EASTABOGA, AL:
1. 38 Jerry Goodwin
2. 47 Adam Martin
3. 07 Jimmy Elkins Jr.
4. 17 Adam Gauldin
5. 10 Jason Hawkins
6. 55 Ryan King
7. C87 Chris Fennell
8. 17 Cameron Heath
9. 30 Karl Parks
10. 11 Chris Blackburn
11. 20 David Dailey
12. 5 Mike Combs
13. 6 Lee Woodard
14. 18 Landon Sims
15. 316 Kenny Brown
16. P5 Haley Pitts
17. 13 David Pettus
18. K17 Cory Korreckt

-30-

Rainey pours it on competition at The Mountain

2009-07-19T05:48:00.000-07:00

RAINEY BUMP DRAFTS TO MOUNTAIN RACEWAY PARK NeSMITH CHEVROLET DLMS RACE WIN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

MARYVILLE, TN – Derrick Rainey of Powder Springs, GA won his second NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Touring race of the season on Saturday night at Mountain Raceway Park in the Barto Enterprises/C&S Auto Electric/Hays Family Racing Warrior.

Rainey started eighth in the race, and took the high line of the speedway in his route to the front of the pack. Rainey also found out that with the long straightaways at Mountain Raceway Park, he could bump draft to get an advantage on his competitors. Rainey took the lead from Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN on lap 34.

“That was a thrill for me to race for the lead side-by-side with my idol Ronnie Johnson,” Rainey said. “Ronnie is one of the best there is, and it looked like he had us covered tonight, so this is a very special win for me and my crew.”

Johnson finished second in the Miller Brothers Coal Warrior after leading 31 laps of the 50 lap race. In true Ronnie Johnson fashion, he arrived at the track late, unloaded the car, which was a car Johnson had never sat in before Saturday night, pulled out on the track without hot laps at the tail of the qualifying line, took one lap, and set the third fastest time.

Aaron Ridley of Chatsworth, GA posted his second-straight top three finish of the weekend with a third-place effort in the True Temp Heating and Air Barry Wright. Ridley finished second on Friday night in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Touring event at Wartburg Speedway in Wartburg, TN.

The top three finishers had GM Performance Crate Engines with the original factory-sealed bolts, and Rainey’s win marked the 12^th win in 14 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Touring races this season that have been won by engines right out of the crate equipped with the original factory sealed bolts. Only Mike Boland’s two wins were with a rebuilt engine.

Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA picked up his first career McLeod Construction Fast Time Award with a lap around the historic 4/10-mile clay oval in 17.666 seconds, started the race from the pole position, led the first two laps of the race, and finished fourth in the Turner Excavating DWB.

Jensen Ford of Piney Flats, TN started the TNT Race Cars house car 14^th and drove it to a fifth-place finish to earn the Race Car Engineering Fifth-Place Award. Point leader Eric Cooley of Fulton, MS took the sixth spot in the 78 Towing and Recovery Victory Circle.

Chase Washington of Houlka, MS was seventh in the Jerry Inmon Race Cars GRT to earn the Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Race Award, and he also took over the lead in the Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year point standings.

Tom Maddox of Centre, AL was looking for his second win in as many nights after taking the victory Friday night at Wartburg Speedway. Maddox crashed his primary in qualifying, and started teammate Gathan Burns’ qualified Burns Timber Warrior at the tail of the 22-car field and finished eighth to earn the GM Performance Parts Hard Charger Award and the Race Car Engineering Eighth-Place Award.

Josh Henry of Newport, TN took the ninth spot in the Henry Trucking TNT to earn the Maximum Signs Ninth-Place Award. Hunter Best of Greenback, TN came back from an early race spin to round out the top ten in the Robin Myrick Realty Executives Warrior.

Side-by-side and sometimes three-wide racing, along with NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS-style bump drafting was common-place from green to checkered in the 50-lap race. Turner took the lead from the pole position at the start of the race followed by Johnson, Best, Marcus Minga of Shannon, MS in the B&M Salvage Mastersbilt, and Ridley.

Johnson went to the inside of Turner coming off the fourth turn on lap three to take the lead. Best brought out the first of seven caution flags on lap five when he spun in turn four. When the field went back to green flag action, they went three-wide although the pack. Ridley and Minga got around Turner to take the second and third spots respectively.

Weston Gantte of Dandridge, TN spun the Gantte Appraisals Rayburn down the backstretch on lap six to light the caution bulb for the second time. On the restart, Turner got back around Minga to take over the third spot, and Rainey moved up from seventh to fifth.

By the eighth lap, Minga had faded back to the ninth spot, while Cooley and Ford raced their way into the top ten, settling into the seventh and eighth spots respectively. Meanwhile up at the front of the pack, Johnson had checked out to a half-straightaway lead by lap ten. Brent Hensley of Russellville, TN spun the Henry Trucking TNT in turn two on lap 12 for the third caution flag.

After a caution flag on the restart for debris on the backstretch, the restart saw Maddox move up into the top ten, racing from 11^th to ninth after starting 22^nd. Johnson had once again pulled out to a half-straightaway lead over Ridley by lap 15.

Chris Ritchey of Maryville, TN spun the Stanley Best Heating and Air GRT in turn two on lap 18 to bring out caution flag number five. Johnson led Ridley, Turner, Rainey, Washington, defending NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National Champion Chip Brindle of Chatsworth, GA, Cooley, Ford, Maddox and Henry down for the green flag.

Rainey went to the outside on the restart, and passed Turner for the third spot in turn four. Minga brought out the sixth caution flag on lap 21 when he cut down a right-rear tire. Minga started fourth, ran as high as third, and was having his career best night. The cut tire sent Minga to the pits and earned him the Dominator Race Products Hard Luck Award.

Rainey once again went upstairs on the restart to challenge Ridley for second, and Brindle went even higher on the track trying to improve on his sixth position. Brindle smacked the second turn wall and had to bring his CSC Trailer Repair Mastersbilt to the pits.

By the 28^th lap, Ridley, Rainey and Turner were waging a tight battle for the second spot, while Johnson pulled away on the point. With the long straightaways at Mountain Raceway Park, Rainey was able to keep the heat on Ridley by bump drafting him into the corners. Ridley and Turner worked the bottom groove, while Rainey was a high flyer up on the cushion in the turns.

Another war was being waged for the fifth spot between Washington and Ford behind the trio of Ridley, Rainey and Turner. Rainey was able to get by Ridley for the second spot on lap 31, and then got some help catching Johnson on lap 33 when Jacob France spun his Rio Grande Fence Company Mastersbilt in turn two to bring out the sixth and final caution flag.

Rainey wasted no time on the restart, as he immediately went to work on his bump drafting to challenge Johnson for the lead. Rainey drove under Johnson coming off the fourth turn on lap 34 to take the lead. Johnson tried to keep his ground, as the two cars made slight contact on the front straightaway, but Rainey held on to the lead, and then began to pull away.

The last 15 laps of the race saw the top four cars of Rainey, Johnson, Ridley, and Turner hold their positions, but the battle for the fifth spot raged on among Washington, Ford, and Cooley. By lap 43, Cooley had passed both Ford and Washington to take the fifth position.

Lap 44 saw Ford pass Washington for sixth, and then he moved up to battle Cooley side-by-side for the fifth spot on lap 45. With four laps to go, Ford got around Cooley to record a top five finish.

After the race, Johnson, Cooley, Henry, and Best participated in the Ride For Life by giving race fans with a highest bids during a special silent auction a six-lap ride around Mountain Raceway Park in a two-seat dirt late model race car. The auctions raised over $1,000 for the local chapter of the American Cancer Society.

OFFICIAL RESULTS OF ROUND 14 AT MOUNTAIN RACEWAY PARK IN MARYVILLE, TN ON 7/18/09:

POS STRT CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN LAPS $ WON
1. 8 87 Derrick Rainey Powder Springs, GA 50 $2,500
2. 3 5 Ronnie Johnson Chattanooga, TN 50 $1,250
3. 5 81 Aaron Ridley Chatsworth, GA 50 $850
4. 1 10 Matthew Turner Dawsonville, GA 50 $800
5. 14 83 Jensen Ford Piney Flats, TN 50 $650
6. 13 33c Eric Cooley Fulton, MS 50 $550
7. 10 38 Chase Washington (R) Houlka, MS 50 $500
8. 22 19x Tom Maddox Centre, AL 50 $550
9. 7 B00 Josh Henry Newport, TN 50 $400
10. 2 007 Hunter Best Greenback, TN 50 $375
11. 12 58 Larry Boutwell Baker, FL 50 $350
12. 11 21 Ben McCreary (R) Baldwyn, MS 50 $300
13. 15 2 David Gentry Lewisburg, TN 50 $280
14. 16 9x Jacob France (R) Mount Juliet, TN 49 $260
15. 18 99 Justin Summers Maryville, TN 49 $250
16. 20 16 Jeff Fields Aragon, GA 40 $240
17. 6 38c Chip Brindle Chatsworth, GA 21 $320
18. 17 5r Chris Ritchey Maryville, TN 21 $200
19. 4 19 Marcus Minga Shannon, MS 20 $200
20. 19 70 Brent Hensley Russellville, TN 11 $200
21. 9 14 Weston Gantte Dandridge, TN 5 $200
22. 21 9 Gathan Burns Piedmont, AL 4 $200

ENTRIES: 22
McLEOD CONSTRUCTION FAST QUALIFIER: Turner, 17.666 Seconds
PROVISIONALS: None
LEAD CHANGES: 2
LAP LEADERS: Turner, 1-2; Johnson, 3-33; Rainey, 34-50
LAPS LED: Johnson, 31; Rainey, 17; Turner, 2
SUNOCO RACE FUELS ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Washington
GM PERFORMANCE HARD CHARGER: Maddox (started 22^nd and finished 8^th)
DOMINATOR RACE PRODUCTS HARD LUCK AWARD: Minga
RACE CAR ENGINEERING FIFTH-PLACE AWARD: Ford
RACE CAR ENGINEERING EIGHTH-PLACE AWARD: Maddox
MAXIMUM SIGNS NINTH-PLACE AWARD: Henry
CAUTIONS: 7

McLEOD CONSTRUCTION QUALIFYING:

POS	CAR #	DRIVER	HOMETOWN	CHASSIS	LAP 1	LAP 2	TIME
1	10	Matthew Turner	Dawsonville, GA	DWB	17.874	17.666	17.666
2	007	Hunter Best	Greenback, TN	Warrior	17.870	17.855	17.855
3	22	Ronnie Johnson	Chattanooga, TN	Warrior	17.886	NT	17.886
4	19	Marcus Minga	Shannon, MS	Mastersbilt	18.144	17.915	17.915
5	81	Aaron Ridley	Chatsworth, GA	Barry Wright	18.112	17.927	17.927
6	38c	Chip Brindle	Chatsworth, GA	Mastersbilt	18.541	17.949	17.949
7	B00	Josh Henry	Newport, TN	TnT	17.959	18.066	17.959
8	87	Derrick Rainey	Powder Springs, GA	Warrior	17.968	18.216	17.968
9	14	Weston Gantte	Dandridge, TN	Rayburn	17.981	17.981	17.981
10	38	Chase Washington - R	Houlka, MS	GRT	18.144	18.119	18.119
11	21m	Ben McCreary - R	Baldwyn, MS	Mastersbilt	18.193	18.254	18.193
12	58	Larry Boutwell	Baker, FL	Rocket	18.232	18.260	18.232
13	33c	Eric Cooley	Fulton, MS	Victory Circle	18.484	18.242	18.242
14	83	Jensen Ford	Piney Flats, TN	TnT	18.627	18.275	18.275
15	2	David Gentry	Lewisburg, TN	Mastersbilt	19.213	18.455	18.455
16	19	Gathan Burns	Piedmont, AL	Warrior	18.534	18.556	18.534
17	9x	Jacob France - R	Mount Juliet, TN	Mastersbilt	18.983	18.549	18.549
18	5r	Chris Ritchey	Maryville, TN	GRT	18.602	18.579	18.579
19	99	Justin Summers	Maryville, TN	TnT	19.042	19.021	19.021
20	70	Brent Hensley	Russellville, TN	Stinger	19.370	NT	19.370
21	16	Jeff Fields	Aragon, GA	Mastersbilt	18.787	NT	DQ-LT
22	9	Tom Maddox	Centre, AL	Mastersbilt	NT	NT	NT

NeSMITH CHEVROLET DIRT LATE MODEL SERIES NATIONAL POINT STANDINGS THROUGH 7/18/09:

1. 33c Eric Cooley – 1172
2. 2 David Gentry – 1146
3. 58 Larry Boutwell – 1128
4. 87 Derrick Rainey – 1078
5. 10 Matthew Turner – 1022
6. 38 Chase Washington (R) – 908
7. 21 Ben McCreary (R) – 898
8. 2x Jay Blair – 774
9. 19 Marcus Minga – 660
10. 22 Jason Wilson (R) – 654
11. 38c Chip Brindle – 600
12. 81 Aaron Ridley – 520
13. 47 Brad Hall – 506
14. 86 Rick Rickman – 466
15. 4 Cliff Williams – 414
16. F9 Frank Ingram – 406
17. 16 Jeff Fields – 382
18. 90 Brian Rickman – 374
19. 12 Hunter Peacock – 340
20. 68 Eddie Rickman - 326

R – Denotes Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year Candidate

Vic Hill takes $3,000 prize at Volunteer Speedway

2009-07-19T05:44:00.000-07:00

Hill deposits another $3,000 into bank account following fourth Volunteer Speedway Super Late Model victory on ‘Pizza Plus Night at the Races’

By Robert Walden

BULLS GAP, Tenn. (July 18) — When things are going your way, ride it for all it’s worth, because sooner or later the ride’s going to come to a screeching halt. But for now, Vic “The Thrill” Hill of Morristown is hanging on for an unbelievable ride.

Saturday night at Volunteer Speedway, Hill, a four-time (1997, 1998, 2000 and 2005) track champion, captured yet another $3,000 “TSC Cars” Super Late Model victory – his fourth straight feature win of the season. Hill’s four victories alone have deposited $13,000 into his bank account, including the Primetime Designs Race Decals Challenge $1,000 bonus.

Hill toured the high-banked oval in qualifying with a fast-lap of 12.210-seconds (117.940 mph) to earn the pole position for the Pizza Plus “Wing Zinger” 50. At the drop of the green flag Hill sped into a lead he would never relinquish over Kerry Jones, Mark Vineyard, Chad Ogle and Bobby Mays. The event’s first caution waved on lap 4 when Michael Smith spun in the fourth turn.

The top five remained the same on the restart, and Hill quickly began to put some real estate between his Landair Transport Inc./Pilot Travel Centers/Miller Brothers Coal Inc./American Racing Tire South/VP Racing Fuels/Dan Estes Construction/Ohlins/Peterson Fluid Systems/Comp Cams/Edelbrock/CP Pistons/Gary Williams Fuel Systems/Lunati Cranks/CV Racing Products/Joe Gibbs Driven Performance Synthetic Racing Oil/Jesel/Manley/Simpson/Vic Hill Racing Engines/Fastlane Signs & Graphics/Real Wheels/Team GRT Race Cars/No. 1 Chevrolet Impala SS, and his closest challengers Jones, Vineyard, Ogle and Mays.

Before the race reached halfway, two caution periods for spins waved – on lap 11 for Mark Douglas, and on lap 14 for Jeff Maupin. Both had their top-10 qualifying times disallowed for weight infractions and were relegated to the tail of the field for the initial start of the 50-lapper.

With Hill on cruise control out front, behind him Jones was being pressured for position by Vineyard, while behind them Mays was sticking his nose under Ogle each circuit in the corners. With the leaders beginning to work lap traffic, Hill got through cleanly and maintained his advantage. Just behind Hill on lap 29, Jones got trapped by the car he was attempting to lap – thus enabling Vineyard to capitalize and make the pass for second in the running order.

Over the final 10 laps the yellow appeared three times. A strong fourth-place run for Mays ended on lap 41, when suspension issues caused him to spin in turn two sending him into the infield hooked to the wrecker. Jeff Neubert, Bryan Hendrix and John Tweed tangled in the fourth turn to bring out a caution. And 18-year-old Cody Barnett, making his first-ever start at “The Gap” also brought out the yellow when he took a wild spin in turn two.

But the race belonged to Hill, as he held on with a deflating rear tire to beat Vineyard, Jones, Ogle and Dale Ball for the $3,000 payday.

Completing the top 10 finishers were Chris Chandler, Smith, Barnett, Neubert and Dusty Carver.

“Tonight we had a very good car once again, but we also had a little luck riding with us as well … because I don’t know if the rear tire would’ve stayed-up (inflated) much longer,” said a smiling Hill following the race. “I talked with Mark (Vineyard) and he told me he was hoping that last caution would last just a few laps more, because he could see my rear tire was almost flat. Fortunately for us we were able to get our fourth victory. This place was just bad-fast tonight. Fast qualifying times this season have generally been in the 12.4’s, 12.5’s and 12.6’s. The track was in great condition tonight, and I knew qualifying times would be quick. But when I looked up on the scoreboard and saw 12.210, I knew we had laid-down a good lap.

“I really want to thank track owner Joe Loven for holding these $3,000-to-win Super Late Model races. It’s a great thing for all local racers in East Tennessee. Take a look around and you won’t find another track in the United States that pays the kind of money all us guys are racing for weekly here at Volunteer Speedway. We’ll (crew) go over the car really well next week back at the race shop and hopefully we can get us a big win next Friday night in the O’Reilly Southern Nationals Series show. We won the first race in the series last Monday night at Wythe Raceway in Rural Retreat, Va., and I’d definitely like to win at my home-track.”

Brandon Umberger of Rural Retreat, Va., led all 25 laps in winning the “Courtesy Chevrolet” Pro Late Model feature. On the initial attempt to start the race, pole-sitter Jerry Broyles and Umberger tangled on the backstretch, with Broyles slamming hard into the concrete wall. Also collected in the melee were Jackie Hughes, Allen Carrier and Tommy Eastridge.

The second go at green saw Umberger grab the lead over Bobby Mays, Dale Ball, Kip Pearson and Ricky Moore. While battling Mays for the runner-up position, on lap 4 between turns three and four Ball looped his mount to bring out the caution.

Back under green, Umberger began to put some distance between himself and his challengers. While it was clear sailing out front for Umberger, Mays held a slim advantage over Pearson, who was making his first start of the season. Even though a late race caution on lap 20 tightened the field back up for a five-lap dash to the checkers, Umberger would not be denied a trip to victory lane as he won over Mays, Pearson, Vic Chandler and Moore.

Dale Reed of Whitesburg captured his second consecutive “McDonald’s” Hobby Stock feature win by holding off Ray Jarnigan, Jamie Whitt, Mark Sturgill and Chuck Johnson.

The O'Reilly Southern Nationals Series will visit Volunteer Speedway on Friday, July 24 for a $5,300-to-win Super Late Model event. For more information, contact the track at (423) 235-5020 or visit the Web site at www.VolunteerSpeedway.com

“TSC CARS” SUPER LATE MODEL (50 laps)

1) Vic Hill #1; 2) Mark Vineyard #4; 3) Kerry Jones #6; 4) Chad Ogle #10; 5) Dale Ball #7; 6) Chris Chandler #8; 7) Michael Smith #4s; 8) Cody Barnett #18; 9) Jeff Neubert #30th; 10) Dusty Carver #9; 11) Bryan Hendrix #5; 12) John Tweed #5T; 13) Bobby Mays #25; 14) Jeff Maupin #0; 15) Mark Douglas #52; 16) Paul Blackston #B4 – Did Not Start: Herman Goddard #22

“COURTESY CHEVROLET” PRO LATE MODEL (25 laps)

1) Brandon Umberger #54B; 2) Bobby Mays #19; 3) Kip Pearson #00; 4) Vic Chandler #88; 5) Ricky Moore #75; 6) John Harrell #H19; 7) Tony Trent #18; 8) Greg Burchett #99w; 9) Todd Brooks #T1; 10) James Cole #5; 11) Dale Ball #2; 12) Richard Adkins #73; 13) Allen Carrier #57; 14) Jerry Broyles #72; 15) Jackie Hughes #27; 16) Tommy Eastridge #37

“MCDONALD’S” HOBBY STOCK (20 laps)

1) Dale Reed #52; 2) Ray Jarnigan #73; 3) Jamie Whitt #1j; 4) Mark Sturgill #4; 5) Chuck Johnson #17; 6) R.J. Mayes #6m; 7) Devin Helton #17H; 8) Bobby Reed #54; 9) Mike Kelley #8; 10) Patrick Flannery #88; 11) Craig Schmalzried #6; 12) Tracy Wolfe #11; 13) Jesse Wilder #79; 14) Roger Hunter #7-11; 15) Blake Kelley #K5; 16) Stan Gordon #34; 17) Tony Reed #71; 18) Dennis Metcalf #55; 19) Robbie Wood #16; 20) Phillip Gentry #33; 21) Eddie Adams #9; 22) Chris Long #75; 23) Thomas Cook #00; 24) Charlie Bates #27

Volunteer Speedway: (423) 235-5020 www.VolunteerSpeedway.com
Track Office - Weekdays Only 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.: (423) 378-5942
Phyllis Loven: (423) 676-9081
Robert Walden-Media/Public Relations Director: (423) 928-9644 robwald@prodigy.net
Jimmy Meade-Marketing and Sales: (423) 817-0925
Race Director David Bryant: Race Shop (423) 235-5420 ... Cell (865) 978-1752

NeSmith results from Wartburg(7-17-09)

2009-07-18T05:15:00.001-07:00

July 17, 2009

MADDOX USES ARMSTRONG STEERING FOR NeSMITH CHEVROLET DLMS WARTBURG WIN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

WARTBURG, TN – Tom Maddox of Centre, AL picked his second NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Touring career win on Friday night in the 40-lap main event at Wartburg Speedway driving the Burns Timber Mastersbilt. Maddox had heavy arms after the race due to his power steering going out, but he had enough strength left to carry $2,000 to the bank.

Despite the steering difficulties, Maddox made it look easy, as he was the second-quick qualifier, and led all 40 laps. Maddox said it wasn’t as easy as it looked.

“My power steering went out on about the 12^th lap, and the car would turn about every direction but left,” Maddox said. “All I could do was hang on, and I about hit the wall one time coming off turn four when the car darted to the right, and I couldn’t get it back. I just have to give all of the credit to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for this win tonight.”

Aaron Ridley of Chatsworth, GA tried to make a late-race charge to challenge Maddox for the lead in lapped traffic, but he had to settle for second in the True Temp Heating and Air Barry Wright. Point leader Eric Cooley of Fulton, MS finished third in the 78 Towing and Recovery Victory Circle.

Two-time NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion David Gentry of Lewisburg, TN took the fourth spot in the Dixon Plumbing/Eades Farms Mastersbilt, and Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA was fifth in the Turner Excavating DWB to take the Race Car Engineering Fifth-Place Award.

Derrick Rainey of Powder Springs, GA started tenth and finished sixth in the Barto Enterprises/C&S Auto Electric Warrior to earn the GM Performance Parts Hard Charger of the Race Award. Josh Henry of Newport, TN was seventh in the Henry Trucking TNT, and Larry Boutwell of Baker, FL took the Race Car Engineering Eighth-Place Award in the McLeod Construction Rocket.

Chase Washington of Houlka, MS finished ninth in the Jerry Inmon Race Cars GRT to earn the Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Race Award and the Maximum Signs Ninth-Place Award. Jacob France of Mount Juliet, TN rounded out the top ten in the Rio Grande Fence Company Mastersbilt.

Just 34 points now separate the top three drivers in the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National point standings, as Cooley leads Gentry by 12 points, and Boutwell has the third spot 22 points behind Gentry. Washington and Ben McCreary of Baldwyn, MS in the Waddle Trucking Mastersbilt are tied for the Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year point lead.

Hunter Best of Greenback, TN was the McLeod Construction Fast Qualifier with a lap around the ¼-mile high-banked clay oval in 12.982 seconds. That gave the 15-year-old driver the pole position for the main event in the Robin Myrick Realty Executives Warrior.

Best and Maddox raced side-by-side for the lead during the first two laps of the race. Maddox led lap one by inches, and then put a car-length on Best to lead lap two. Maddox began to pull away from Best while Ridley, Cooley and Gentry gave chase. The leaders hit lapped traffic on lap 15, and Maddox put even more distance on the field.

Best got tangled up in lapped traffic on lap 17, which opened the door for Ridley and Cooley to get by for the second and third spots respectively. The only caution flag of the race came out on lap 19 for debris in turn four. Maddox led Ridley, Cooley, Best and Gentry down for the green flag on the restart.

Gentry got by Best for the fourth spot on the restart, and Best slowed on lap 20 with damage to the left-front corner of his race car and went to the pit area. That earned Best the Dominator Race Products Hard Luck Award.

Maddox once again hit heavy lapped traffic with ten laps to go, and Ridley began to close the gap, while Gentry put the heat on Cooley for the third spot. Maddox was able to keep lapped cars between himself and Ridley in the final five laps to cruise home to the victory.

The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Tour will now move to Mountain Raceway Park in Maryville, TN on Saturday night for a $2,500-to-win 50-lap main event.

OFFICIAL RESULTS OF ROUND 13 AT WARTBURG SPEEDWAY IN WARTBURG, TN ON 7/17/09:

POS STRT CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN LAPS $ WON
1. 2 9 Tom Maddox Centre, AL 40 $2,000
2. 3 81 Aaron Ridley Chatsworth, GA 40 $1,000
3. 5 33c Eric Cooley Fulton, MS 40 $700
4. 6 2 David Gentry Lewisburg, TN 40 $550
5. 7 10 Matthew Turner Dawsonville, GA 40 $500
6. 10 87 Derrick Rainey Powder Springs, GA 40 $525
7. 4 B00 Josh Henry Newport, TN 40 $375
8. 11 58 Larry Boutwell Baker, FL 40 $350
9. 12 38 Chase Washington (R) Houlka, MS 40 $325
10. 13 9x Jacob France (R) Mount Juliet, TN 40 $300
11. 8 19x Gathan Burns Piedmont, AL 39 $275
12. 15 21 Ben McCreary (R) Baldwyn, MS 39 $250
13. 14 19 Marcus Minga Shannon, MS 38 $225
14. 9 64 Jacob Anderson Murphy, NC 38 $200
15. 1 007 Hunter Best Greenback, TN 19 $275

ENTRIES: 15
McLEOD CONSTRUCTION FAST QUALIFIER: Best, 12.982 Seconds
PROVISIONALS: None
LEAD CHANGES: None
LAPS LED: Maddox, 1-40
SUNOCO RACE FUELS ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Washington
GM PERFORMANCE PARTS HARD CHARGER: Rainey (started 10^th and finished 6^th)
DOMINATOR RACE PRODUCTS HARD LUCK AWARD: Best
RACE CAR ENGINEERING FIFTH-PLACE AWARD: Turner
RACE CAR ENGINEERING EIGHTH-PLACE AWARD: Boutwell
MAXIMUM SIGNS NINTH-PLACE AWARD: Washington
CAUTIONS: 1

McLEOD CONSTRUCTION QUALIFYING:

POS	CAR #	DRIVER	HOMETOWN	CHASSIS	LAP 1	LAP 2	TIME
1	007	Hunter Best	Greenback, TN	Warrior	13.192	12.982	12.982
2	9	Tom Maddox	Centre, AL	Mastersbilt	13.142	13.039	13.039
3	81	Aaron Ridley	Chatsworth, GA	Barry Wright	13.201	13.155	13.155
4	B00	Josh Henry	Newport, TN	TnT	13.388	13.167	13.167
5	33c	Eric Cooley	Fulton, MS	Victory Circle	13.334	13.206	13.206
6	2	David Gentry	Lewisburg, TN	Mastersbilt	13.359	13.213	13.213
7	10	Matthew Turner	Dawsonville, GA	DWB	13.366	13.314	13.314
8	19	Gathan Burns	Piedmont, AL	Warrior	13.325	13.396	13.325
9	64	Jacob Anderson	Murphy, NC	GRT	13.453	13.354	13.354
10	87	Derrick Rainey	Powder Springs, GA	Warrior	13.369	NT	13.369
11	58	Larry Boutwell	Baker, FL	Rocket	13.605	13.409	13.409
12	38	Chase Washington - R	Houlka, MS	GRT	13.459	13.422	13.422
13	9x	Jacob France - R	Mount Juliet, TN	Mastersbilt	13.439	13.633	13.439
14	19	Marcus Minga	Shannon, MS	Mastersbilt	13.642	13.471	13.471
15	21m	Ben McCreary - R	Baldwyn, MS	Mastersbilt	13.503	13.629	13.503

NeSMITH CHEVROLET DIRT LATE MODEL SERIES NATIONAL POINT STANDINGS THROUGH 7/17/09:

1. 33c Eric Cooley – 1084
2. 2 David Gentry – 1072
3. 58 Larry Boutwell – 1050
4. 87 Derrick Rainey – 978
5. 10 Matthew Turner – 930
6. 21 Ben McCreary (R) – 822
6. 38 Chase Washington (R) – 822
8. 2x Jay Blair – 774
9. 22 Jason Wilson (R) – 654
10. 19 Marcus Minga – 598
11. 38c Chip Brindle – 534
12. 47 Brad Hall – 506
13. 86 Rick Rickman – 466
14. 81 Aaron Ridley – 426
15. 4 Cliff Williams – 414
16. F9 Frank Ingram – 406
17. 90 Brian Rickman – 374
18. 12 Hunter Peacock – 340
19. 68 Eddie Rickman – 326
20. 66k Scott Knowles - 316

R – Denotes Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year Candidate

Volunteer postpones from Friday to Saturday

2009-07-17T11:53:00.000-07:00

Racing scheduled Friday, July 17 at Volunteer Speedway postponed until Saturday, July 18 due to inclement weather

BULLS GAP, Tenn. — With rain around the East Tennessee region overnight Thursday continuing through mid-morning on Friday, racing scheduled for Friday, July 17 at Volunteer Speedway has been postponed until Saturday, July 18.

Highlighting the Pizza Plus "Wing Zinger" racing program on Saturday, July 18 will be a $3,000-to-win main event for "TSC Cars" Super Late Models, also racing will be Fastrak Racing Series-sanctioned "Courtesy Chevrolet" Pro Late Model and "McDonald's" Hobby Stock classes.

The pit gate will open at 4 p.m. and the grandstands at 5 p.m. The drivers' meeting will be held in the backside pits at 7:30 p.m. Hotlaps are tentatively scheduled to begin at 8 p.m., to be followed by qualifying and then featuring racing action.

Adult grandstand admission on Saturday, July 18 will be $10, youth (ages 13-15) $5, with kids 12-and-under admitted free in the grandstands. Pit passes and backside tier-parking $25.

Tell your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers all about racing at Volunteer Speedway. You can't beat the excitement of an action-packed night of racing at "The Gap!"

Directions to Volunteer Speedway: South on Interstate 81 from Tennessee/Virginia state lines, take Exit 23 (Bulls Gap/Greeneville), then turn right onto Hwy. 11-E at bottom of the exit ramp. Look for track entrance approximately 200 yards on left.

North on Interstate 81 from I-81/I-40 split (East of Knoxville, TN), take Exit 23, then turn left onto Hwy. 11-E at bottom of the exit ramp. Continue underneath the interstate over-pass and track entrance approximately 300 yards ahead on left.

NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Preview(7-17-09)

2009-07-17T04:53:00.000-07:00

NeSMITH CHEVROLET WEEKLY RACING SERIES WEEK 16 PREVIEW

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CARTERSVILLE, GA – Week 16 of the 2009 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series season will see nine events on the schedule with six races in the West Region and three races in the East Region. NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series competitors will also have an opportunity to earn bonus points at two NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Touring events.

Two NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region events will be held on Friday night at Batesville Motor Speedway in Batesville, AR and Hattiesburg Motorsports Park in Hattiesburg, MS.

Saturday night NeSmith Chevrolet WRS West Region races will be hosted by Central Mississippi Speedway in Winona, MS, Jackson Motor Speedway in Jackson, MS, South Mississippi Speedway in Gulfport, MS, and Pike County Speedway in McComb, MS.

The NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region events will begin Week 16 competition on Friday night at Penton Raceway in Penton, AL, with Saturday night races scheduled for Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL and Tri-County Race Track in Brasstown, NC.

One Week 16 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region race has already been held on Tuesday night at East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City, AL. Richie Stephens of Phenix City, AL drove The Ride 95.3 Scorpion to his fourth win of the season.

NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series drivers will have an opportunity to earn up to 20 bonus points that will be added to their best 16 finish point totals by competing in two NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Touring races this weekend.

Wartburg Speedway in Wartburg, TN will host a 40-lap $2,000-to-win NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National Touring race on Friday night, and Mountain Raceway Park in Maryville, TN will have a 50-lap $2,500-to-win NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National Touring race on Saturday night.

Each event will award 10 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Bonus points, and drivers can earn up to 40 Bonus Points during the NeSmith Chevrolet WRS season in their respective Regions.

There are still 12 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region drivers and ten NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region drivers with nine or more starts that are in Regional Championship contention with Event Point Averages above 40 points.

Eric Cooley of Fulton, MS is sixth in the NeSmith Chevrolet WRS West Region point standings, but his EPA of 48 leads the West Region. Cooley has six wins, 12 top five finishes, and 13 top ten finishes in 13 starts. The 18-year-old driver also leads the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Touring point standings.

Two-time NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region Champion and current West Region point leader Lucky Keeton of Toomsuba, MS has the second highest West Region EPA at 47.8 based on his best 16 finishes. Keeton has six wins, 16 top fives, and 17 top tens after 20 starts in quest of his third West Region title in the last four seasons.

Michael Arnold of Hattiesburg, MS has the third highest West Region EPA at 46.1 based on his best 16 finishes and is second overall in the West Region point standings. Arnold has a WRS-leading eight wins, 18 top fives, and a WRS-leading 23 top tens in 24 starts.

Shannon Lee of Lumberton, MS is third in the West Region standings and has the fourth-highest EPA at 45.3 based on his best 16 finishes. Lee has four wins, a WRS-leading 20 top five finishes, and 22 top ten finishes in 23 starts. Kody Barber of Bogalusa, LA has the fifth-highest West Region EPA at 44.4 based on his best 16 finishes, and is fourth overall in the West Region standings.

Tracy Brown of Lumberton, MS and the defending NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region Champion Jim McDuffie of Meridian, MS are tied with the sixth-highest EPA at 43.9. Brown is fifth overall in the West Region standings with 21 starts, and McDuffie is 18^th in the West Region points chase with nine starts. McDuffie still has seven races to earn full points.

Randy Boyd of Marion, MS is 20^th in the West Region standings, but is still a title contender with the eighth-highest West Region EPA of 43.1 after nine starts. Cliff Williams of Star, MS is ninth in the West Region point standings, and also has the ninth-highest West Region EPA of 42.5 after 13 starts.

Chase Washington of Houlka, MS is tenth in the West Region standings and has the tenth-highest West Region EPA of 42.3 after 12 starts. Wiley Williams of Stonewall, MS is 22^nd in the West Region points and has the 11^th-highest EPA of 41.8 after nine starts. Randall Beckwith of Kilmichael, MS is 13^th in the West Region standings with the 12^th-highest EPA of 40.2 after 12 starts.

NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region point leader Scott Knowles of Lanett, AL has the highest East Region EPA at 47 after 16 starts. Knowles has seven wins, 13 top fives and 15 top tens. Terrance Nowell of Phenix City, AL is eighth in the East Region standings, but has the second-highest EPA at 45.7 with one win and 12 top five finishes in 13 starts.

Montana Dudley of Phenix City, AL and Larry Harrod of Plains, GA are tied with the third-highest EPA in the East Region at 44.7. Dudley is second in the East Region standings with 15 starts, and Harrod is tenth in the East Region standings after 11 starts.

The defending NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region Champion Adam Martin of Talladega, AL is 15^th in the East Region point standings, but has the fifth-highest East Region EPA of 44.6. Martin has four wins and eight top five finishes in just ten starts. Stephens is 16^th in the East Region points, but has the sixth-highest EPA of 44.4 in ten starts.

Dana Eiland of Salem, AL is third in the NeSmith Chevrolet WRS East Region standings, and has the seventh-highest East Region EPA at 42.5 with 15 starts. Jimmy Elkins Jr. of Talladega, AL and Jerry Goodwin of Eastaboga, AL are tied for the eighth-highest East Region EPA at 42.2. Elkins is 12^th in the East Region standings with 11 starts, and Goodwin is 18^th with 10 starts.

Bobby Eiland of Phenix City, AL is 19^th in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region point standings, and has the tenth-highest EPA of 42 after ten starts.

NeSMITH CHEVROLET WEEKLY RACING SERIES EAST REGION EARLY WEEK 16 RESULTS

July 14:

EAST ALABAMA MOTOR SPEEDWAY – PHENIX CITY, AL:
1. 95 Richie Stephens
2. 107 Jake Knowles
3. 55 Terrance Nowell
4. 18 Chase Edge
5. S21 Shane Stodghill
6. 27 Gordy Scarbrough
7. 13k Kelly Leonard
8. 12 J.R. Cobb
9. 08 Bobby Eiland
10. RC3 Russ Ogletree
11. 11 Steven Roberts
12. 5 Rodgerick Dykes
13. 01 Travis Pennington
14. 21s Jake Sanders
15. 27 Larry Harrod

NeSMITH CHEVROLET WEEKLY RACING SERIES WEEK 16 SCHEDULE:

WEST REGION:

July 17:

BATESVILLE MOTOR SPEEDWAY – BATESVILLE, AR
HATTIESBURG MOTORSPORTS PARK – HATTIESBURG, MS

July 18:

CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI SPEEDWAY – WINONA, MS
JACKSON MOTOR SPEEDWAY – JACKSON, MS
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI SPEEDWAY – GULFPORT, MS
PIKE COUNTY SPEEDWAY – McCOMB, MS

EAST REGION:

July 17:

WARTBURG SPEEDWAY – WARTBURG, TN (National Event – Bonus Points Only)
PENTON RACEWAY – PENTON, AL

July 18:

MOUNTAIN RACEWAY PARK – MARYVILLE, TN (National Event – Bonus Points Only)
TRI-COUNTY RACE TRACK – BRASSTOWN, NC
TALLADEGA SHORT TRACK – EASTABOGA, AL

East Tennessee race fans can get the thrill of a lifetime and help beat cancer

2009-07-16T18:20:00.000-07:00

By Richard Allen

A few years ago I had the opportunity to ride on an authentic World War II B-17 Bomber. For a history teacher and an aviation buff that was about as cool as it could get.

On Thursday at The Mountain Raceway Park just south of Maryville, Tennessee I was fortunate enough to have yet another thrilling moment. This time, it was the auto racing enthusiast in me that got to experience the excitement.

Along with several other media types I was invited to ride in a specially made two-seat dirt late model car. Just like the actual cars raced on the NeSmith Chevrolet Late Model Series, the car was equipped and set up to run at race speed around the .4 mile dirt track. The only difference being a passenger seat on the right side of the car.

It truly is a heart pounding experience when the driver fires the engine and heads out onto the track. To feel the car slide through the turns and watch the driver’s hands work the wheel is a once in a lifetime joy ride.

When drivers say they drive with the seat of their pants I actually know what they are talking about now. The car slides and as an inexperienced passenger I thought in every turn of my five lap ride we were just about to spin out. Then, I could actually feel the car ‘hook up’ and the driver would nail the gas, which will really throws the passenger’s head against the back of the seat the first time it happens.

At the end of each straight it felt as if the car was going much too fast to make the turn and just at that moment, the driver would apply the brakes and pitch the car sideways again.

There is no way words can adequately describe the feeling.

Here’s the best part. Fans have the opportunity to experience the same thrill ride I did and to help fight cancer at the same time.

On Saturday, July 18th at The Mountain Raceway fans can bid on a ‘Ride for Life’ with all proceeds going to the American Cancer Society. Drivers Ronnie Johnson, Kevin Coffey, Hunter Best, Brad Hall and the driver who took me for a great ride, Josh Henry, will tour the high bidders around the historic track.

For those living in or near the east Tennessee area I highly recommend taking a shot at such a prize. And it is not just for the high bidders. Each fan who enters the track can donate $5 to the American Cancer Society. A winner will be drawn from those entrants who will also get to take the ‘Ride for Life’.

Even if you do not get to go for a ride, the action will be well worth coming for. The Mountain Raceway will be hosting a $2,500 to win NeSmith Late Model Series race on Saturday night.

Richard Allen is a member of the National Motorsports Press Association. His weekly column appears in The Mountain press every Wednesday.

Big weekend of NeSmith late model racing at Wartburg and The Mountain

2009-07-16T04:44:00.000-07:00

NeSMITH CHEVROLET DLMS DOUBLE THUNDER IN THE MOUNTAINS – TWO DIFFERENT TRACKS – TWO DIFFERENT DRIVERS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CARTERSVILLE, GA – The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Tour is set for Double Thunder in the Mountains this weekend with a 40-lap $2,000-to-win event on Friday night at Wartburg Speedway in Wartburg, TN, and a 50-lap $2,500-to-win race on Saturday night at Mountain Raceway Park in Maryville, TN, Rounds 13 and 14 of the 2009 season.

The weekend’s events will feature two different types of tracks and two different types of drivers battling for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Touring point lead.

Wartburg Speedway is a tight high-banked quarter-mile clay oval nestled in the Cumberland Mountains that lends itself to provide for high speeds and racing at close quarters. Mountain Raceway Park, also known as “The Mountain”, sits at the foot of the Smoky Mountains, and is a fast 4/10-mile clay oval with long fast straightaways, and tight challenging turns.

Both tracks are steeped in East Tennessee racing history, and when it comes to The Mountain, when one walks through the pit gate, they are walking in the footsteps of some of the greatest drivers in the history of motorsports.

In the 1960s and 70s, The Mountain, then known as Smoky Mountain Speedway, was a regular stop for NASCAR’s Grand National Division, now known as Sprint Cup. Richard Petty, David Pearson, Bobby and Donnie Allison, Cale Yarborough, and Buddy Baker have all competed at the track.

Drivers from eight different states are expected for this weekend’s NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National Touring events at Wartburg Speedway and Mountain Raceway Park. Eric Cooley of Fulton, MS leads two-time NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion David Earl Gentry of Lewisburg, TN by ten points in the series standings.

This point battle is “The Kid” versus “The Seasoned Veteran.” Cooley is an 18-year-old driver in his sophomore season with the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS. Gentry will see his 45^th birthday next month, and has been a Southeastern dirt late model favorite for over 25 years. In addition to his two series titles, Gentry has a pair of super late model titles and countless wins on his resume.

Cooley competed as a Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year candidate last season with the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS, finishing third in the Rookie point standings and seventh overall in the National point standings with two top five finishes and five top ten finishes in 14 starts. Cooley has gotten more aggressive with his racing program for 2009.

A chassis change put Cooley behind the wheel of a Victory Circle race car built by Hall of Fame dirt late model racer Billy Moyer, who has taken an interest in the teenage driver, and has been closely following his progress this season. Cooley is also attempting to become the first driver to win two NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS titles in one season.

In addition to its National Tour, the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS also has a Weekly Racing Series where drivers at weekly dirt tracks across the Southeast compete against each other for a Regional Championship using a point system that counts their top 16 finishes. Cooley currently has the highest Event Point Average in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region.

After the first 12 events on the National Tour in 2009, Cooley has four top five finishes and eight top ten finishes in 12 starts. Cooley took over the point lead from Gentry in May. After 15 weeks of NeSmith Chevrolet WRS competition, Cooley has six wins, 12 top fives, and 13 top tens in 13 starts.

Gentry led the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National points chase early in the season, and in the last couple of events has kept Cooley within arm’s reach at the top of the standings in quest of his third series title in the last four seasons.

In the first 12 events of the 2009 NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS season, “Lewisburg Lightning” has five top fives, eight top tens, and one McLeod Construction Fast Time Award. Since 2006, Gentry has recorded eight series wins, and has earned over $100,000 in prize and point fund money with the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series.

There are several other drivers chasing Cooley and Gentry for the 2009 NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National Championship. Larry Boutwell of Baker, FL is in the third spot, and Derrick Rainey of Powder Springs, GA holds down the fourth spot.

Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA is fifth in the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National points chase coming into the Wartburg Speedway and Mountain Raceway Park events this weekend, and is the Ironman of the series. Turner is the only driver that has competed in every NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS event ever held since the series’ inception in 2005.

Three other NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National title contenders expected for Double Thunder in the Mountains are also battling for the 2009 Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award. Ben McCreary of Baldwyn, GA, Chase Washington of Houlka, MS and Jason Wilson of Margaret, AL are seventh, eighth, and ninth respectively in the current National point standings.

National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame inductee Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN will be at Wartburg Speedway on Friday night and Mountain Raceway Park on Saturday night. Johnson leads the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS career win list with nine wins, and is the only driver to win an event in each of the last five seasons.

Also expected are Brad Hall of Knoxville, TN, Marcus Minga of Shannon, MS, and Aaron Ridley of Chatsworth, GA. The local contingent of NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region drivers will be led by Josh Henry of Newport, TN, Hunter Best of Greenback, TN, Chris Ritchey of Maryville, TN, and Steve Jones of Maryville, TN, who all have wins at Mountain Raceway Park this season.

The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series events on Friday night at Wartburg Speedway and on Saturday night at Mountain Raceway Park will each have McLeod Construction Time Trials, heat races, B-mains, and a feature race. Gates open at 5 p.m. and racing is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. each night.

The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series will be bringing the “Ride For Life” two-seat dirt late model to Mountain Raceway Park on Saturday night in an effort to benefit the local chapter of the American Cancer Society.

Race fans will have an opportunity to bid in five special auctions to win a ride with a top driver at race speeds around Mountain Raceway Park. The five drivers participating in the “Ride For Life” Auctions will be Johnson, Hall, Kevin Coffey of Friendsville, TN, Henry, and Best. Hall won the season-opening Icebowl for the series at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL.

Coffey is the Owner/Promoter of Mountain Raceway Park, and a three-time Track Champion, who is coming out of retirement from competition to participate in the Ride For Life Program. Henry and Best are second-generation drivers that have four and three wins respectively this season at Mountain Raceway Park in NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series competition.

Donations will also be accepted at the track, and a drawing will be held with one donor winning a ride with the driver of their choice. All of the proceeds from the Auctions and the Donations will go to the local chapter of the American Cancer Society.

For more information about Wartburg Speedway call 423-346-6750, or visit the track web site at www.wartburgspeedway.net. For more information about Mountain Raceway Park call 865-856-8989, or visit the track web site at www.mountainraceway.net. For more information about the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series, visit the series web site at www.nesmithracing.com.

Fans at The Mountain have a chance to ride in a race car

2009-07-15T05:08:00.000-07:00

NeSMITH CHEVROLET DLMS “RIDE FOR LIFE” 2-SEAT RACE CAR BENEFITS AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY AT MOUNTAIN RACEWAY PARK ON SATURDAY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CARTERSVILLE, GA – The “Ride For Life” Program is a special way the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series and its competitors take time out of their busy schedules in the fast-paced and highly competitive world of dirt late model racing, and give back some time and effort to help the American Cancer Society find a cure for the nation’s most deadly disease.

It also gives the fans an opportunity to do the same, and at the same time do something few fans get to experience. The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series “Ride For Life” Program involves the fans bidding for a ride at race speed around the track in a special built two-seat dirt late model race car.

The American Cancer Society Ride For Life program will be a part of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Touring event at Mountain Raceway Park in Maryville, TN on Saturday night, July 18.

Drivers that will participate in the “Ride For Life” on Saturday night, July 18 at Mountain Raceway Park are National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame Inductee Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN, NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Icebowl winner Brad Hall of Knoxville, TN, three-time Mountain Raceway Park Late Model Champion Kevin Coffey of Friendsville, TN, along with 2009 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Championship contenders Josh Henry of Newport, TN, and Hunter Best of Greenback, TN.

“The Ride For Life dirt late model is a real race car, just like the ones the fans see in competition,” NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS President of Operations and Communications Roby Helm said. “It’s the same type of chassis and the same GM Performance Racing Engine all of our competitors use. The only difference is that is has a passenger seat so race fans can take the Ride For Life.”

At selected events on the 2009 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series schedule; race fans will have the opportunity to bid for a six-lap ride at race speed around the track with their favorite driver. They can also purchase tickets that give them an opportunity to win a ride through a drawing. All of the proceeds go to the local chapter of the American Cancer Society.

“This is a rare opportunity for the race fans to experience the sport of dirt late model from a new perspective in that they can see, hear and feel what their favorite driver does, but instead of watching them at a distance from the grandstands, they can sit right next them in the race car,” Helm said. “They see the wall coming up fast, they hear the constant roar of the engine, and they feel breeze coming through the cockpit and the g-forces leaning them to the right in the seat. There is no amusement park ride that can come close to the 100 mile per hour Ride For Life.”

The American Cancer Society Ride For Life Program has become a community project in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series.

“Our competitors have gladly been taking turns at being the caretakers of the American Cancer Society Ride For Life two-seat race car,” Helm said. “Like any other race car, the Ride For Life race car needs the same maintenance and preparation that a competitive race car needs. Our competitors will load up the Ride For Life race car along with their own race car, take it to their shop, clean it up, do the maintenance, load it back up in the hauler, and bring it to the next event.”

Helm said the race teams prepare the Ride For Life race car so it will turn competitive lap times around the track with a passenger that would easily qualify the car for a NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series main event.

“The Ride For Life race car brings a lot of enjoyment to fans and competitors alike, but the biggest thrill will be using the proceeds to help the American Cancer Society find a cure for Cancer,” Helm said. “Cancer has affected all of us because we have all had a loved one or a close friend that has been a victim of this deadly disease.

“We have to find cure,” Helm said. “While most race fans and competitors are not doctors and scientists, we can play an important role in helping them find a cure by helping to fund the research they need. The American Cancer Society people have told me that one in three people have a high risk of being afflicted with a form of cancer. I tell the fans in the stands to look to their right, then look to their left, and one of them, including themselves stands a good chance of getting cancer.”

The hope of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series is that while a fan is getting the enjoyment of the Ride Fort Life at speed around the race track, the money they spent for the ride will be the money that puts the research over the top and finds the cure for cancer.

The 50-lap $2,500-to-win Nesmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Touring event on Saturday night at Mountain Raceway Park will be Round 14 of the 2009 season. The NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National Tour will also be in action at Wartburg Speedway in Wartburg, TN on Friday night with a 40-lap $2,000-to-win main event.

-30-

PHOTO CUTLINE: A NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series fan takes the “Ride For Life” at race speed with their favorite driver in a specially built two-seat dirt late model race car at a series event earlier this year after being the highest bidder in an auction to benefit the American Cancer Society. (Photo By Custom Creations)

Friday Night Fights at Volunteer Speedway set for July 17th

2009-07-15T05:07:00.001-07:00

'Friday Night Fights' — $3,000-to-win Super Late Models — scheduled Friday, July 17 at Volunteer Speedway

BULLS GAP, Tenn. — Volunteer Speedway management apologizes to all fans, drivers and race teams for the cancellation of racing this past Friday (July 10). But sometimes situations occur that leads to management having to make difficult operating decisions at the (track) facility.

Round 5 of Friday Night Fights is scheduled Friday, July 17 at Volunteer Speedway. Highlighting the Pizza Plus "Wing Zinger" racing program will be a $3,000-to-win main event for "TSC Cars" Super Late Models.

Tommy Kerr of Maryville won Round 1. Vic "The Thrill" Hill of Morristown reeled off three straight Friday Night Fights victories, depositing into his bank account $9,000. Hill, a four-time (1997, 1998, 2000 and 2005) track champion also pocketed an additional $1,000 for winning three consecutive events, claiming the “Get Wrapped! - Primetime Designs Race Decals Challenge” bonus, courtesy of Primetime Designs owner Dean Jones.

Besides the $3,000-to-win, 50 lap feature for the "TSC Cars" Super Late Model division on Friday, July 17, also racing will be Steel-Head Late Model, Fastrak Racing Series-sanctioned "Courtesy Chevrolet" Pro Late Model, and "McDonald's" Hobby Stock classes.

The pit gate will open at 4 p.m. and the grandstands at 5 p.m. The drivers' meeting will be held in the backside pits at 7:30 p.m. Hotlaps are tentatively scheduled to begin at 8 p.m., to be followed by qualifying and then featuring racing action.

Adult grandstand admission on Friday, July 17 will be $10, youth (ages 13-15) $5, with kids 12-and-under admitted free in the grandstands. Pit passes and backside tier-parking $25.

Tell your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers all about racing at Volunteer Speedway. You can't beat the excitement of an action-packed night of racing at "The Gap!"

Directions to Volunteer Speedway: South on Interstate 81 from Tennessee/Virginia state lines, take Exit 23 (Bulls Gap/Greeneville), then turn right onto Hwy. 11-E at bottom of the exit ramp. Look for track entrance approximately 200 yards on left.

North on Interstate 81 from I-81/I-40 split (East of Knoxville, TN), take Exit 23, then turn left onto Hwy. 11-E at bottom of the exit ramp. Continue underneath the interstate over-pass and track entrance approximately 300 yards ahead on left.