FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact – ROBY HELM – (865) 207-4157
April 28th, 2010
MID-STATE NATIONALS AT CENTRAL MS SPEEDWAY UP NEXT FOR NeSMITH CHEVROLET DLMSCARTERSVILLE, GA – The Mid-State Nationals presented by the Kirk Auto Group this Friday and Saturday nights at Central Mississippi Speedway in Winona, MS will be Rounds 7 and 8 of the 2010 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series season. Tight point battles for both the National Championship and the VP Racing Fuels Rookie of the Year will highlight the action.
On Friday night, the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series will compete in a 40-lap $2,000-to-win event, and on Saturday night, it will be another complete show highlighted by a 50-lap $2,500-to-win main event.
The defending NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion Eric Cooley of Fulton, MS is the point leader heading into the double-race weekend, two races that the 19-year-old driver has had circle in red on his racing calendar. The NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National Champion will pocket $20,000 at the end of the season.
“I really like Central Mississippi Speedway because I’ve never lost a race there,” Cooley said. “At this point in the season, it’s too early to count points, so we just go to the races to win, and let the points take care of themselves.”
Cooley has already picked up his first win of the year, at the last NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National Touring event on April 10 at Jackson Motor Speedway in Jackson, MS. Cooley has a 14-point lead over Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA. Turner will be looking to extend his streak of races with the series to his 93rd and 94th consecutive events he has competed in.
Turner is the “Ironman” of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series as the only driver in series history to have competed in every event the series has held since its inception in 2005. Turner holds a 60-point advantage over the third-place driver in the National point standings Justin McRee of Cuba, AL.
“Chargin” Charlie Henderson of Cottondale, AL is fourth overall in the National standings, just six points behind his teammate J-Mac, and leads the VP Racing Fuels Rookie of the Year point standings. There are six VP Racing Fuels Rookie of the Year Candidates in the top 11 spots in the National standings.
Shannon Lee of Lumberton, MS is fifth in the National points and second in the VP Racing Fuels Rookie of the Year standings, just 28 points behind Henderson. Marcus Minga of Shannon, MS is sixth in National points, 18 points behind Lee, and Chris McElhenney of Lake, MS is seventh, four points behind Minga.
There are four drivers battling for the eighth spot in the National standing and the third position in the VP Racing Fuels Rookie of the Year points chase with just 38-points separating the quartet. The VP Racing Fuels Rookie of the Year candidate with the highest point total at the end of the season will receive a $5,000 cash award.
Larry Harrod of Plains, GA, the 2009 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region Runner-Up, is in the eighth spot with a 26-point advantage over Jay Burchfield of Columbus, MS. Frank Wilson of Harold, FL, the 2007 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series South Region Champion, is tenth just four points behind Burchfield, and has an eight-point advantage over Michael Blount of Sumrall, MS.
There will also be a tough local contingent of NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region drivers looking for big money in the Mid-State Nationals, including one driver working on an undefeated streak of his own.
Wesley Greene of Winona, MS has won two straight NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region events at Central Mississippi Speedway. Randall Beckwith of Kilmichael, MS is the defending NeSmith Chevrolet WRS Track Champion at CMS, and had six wins at the quarter-mile clay oval in 2009.
Two of Mississippi’s top dirt late model legends will also be in action this weekend at Central Mississippi Speedway for the Mid-State Nationals presented by Kirk Auto Group.
Seven-time Mississippi State Late Model Champion “Iron” Mike Boland of Cuba, MS will be looking for a pair of wins to move up to second all-time in NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS career wins. Another former Mississippi State Late Model Champion, “Dr. Dirt” Johnny Stokes of Columbus, MS, will also be in the house.
Other top drivers expected for the two Mid-State Nationals events this weekend at CMS include Evan Ellis of Plantersville, MS, Mark Tice of Avon, MS, Chris Ragan of Ramer, TN, Mike Palasini Jr. of Leland, MS, Cliff Williams of Star, MS, Lamar Furr of Hollandale, MS, Brooks Strength of Jackson, MS, Shay Knight of Ethelsville, MS, and Jered Smith of Hazlehurst, MS.
The NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS will present two complete shows on both Friday and Saturday nights with qualifying, heat races, and main events. Each day the pit gate along with NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS Tech and Registration opens at 4 p.m., with the drivers meeting set for 6:30 p.m., and Hot Laps are scheduled for 7 p.m. followed by racing action.
The Hampton Inn in Grenada, MS is the Official Host Hotel for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Mid-State Nationals presented by the Kirk Auto Group this weekend at Central Mississippi Speedway in Winona, MS. The Hampton Inn will be offering NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS fans and competitors a special discount rate of $69 per night.
The Hampton Inn in Grenada, MS is located at Exit 206 on I-55 and the number to call to make reservations is 662-226-1886. Be sure to ask for the Kirk Auto Group discount rate of $69 per night.
Central Mississippi Speedway is located seven miles east of I-55 at exit 185, then turn left on Hendrex Road. For more information call 662-312-0469, or visit the track web site at
www.cmsdirt.com. For more information about the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series visit
www.nesmithracing.com.
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