NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series News Release:
Contact – ROBY HELM – (865) 207-4157
August 16, 2010

NeSMITH CHEVROLET WEEKLY RACING SERIES ROUND UP FOR AUGUST 16

CARTERSVILLE, GA – Johnny Stokes of Columbus, MS netted five points on his NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region leading total over the weekend with a pair of victories at Greenville Speedway in Greenville, MS. Stokes drove the TJC Mortgage/Maximum Signs and Graphics Mastersbilt to win number 11 on Friday night and then captured his 12th win on Saturday night.

Johnny Virden of Russellville, AR drove the Bill Frye Motorsports GRT by Frye to victory on Friday night in NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region action at Batesville Motor Speedway in Batesville, AR. It was the first win of the season for the 1996 Hav-A-Tampa Dirt Late Model Series Rookie of the Year.

NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region point leader Chase Edge of Lafayette, AL picked up his fifth win of the season on Friday night at Penton Raceway in Penton, AL driving the Edge’s Gas Company Mastersbilt.

In other Week 20 East Region action, Jason Welshan of Madisonville, TN took the win on Saturday night at Mountain Raceway Park in Maryville, TN. Welsham drove the A Lot Less Factory Outlet Trak-Star to his third NeSmith Chevrolet WRS East Region win of the season.

Mother Nature forced a limited schedule during Week 20 of the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series season, as six races were rained out. In the West Region, Hattiesburg Motorsports Park in Hattiesburg, MS was rained out on Friday night, while Jackson Motor Speedway in Jackson, MS and Whynot Motorsports Park in Meridian, MS were rained out on Saturday night.

Saturday night NeSmith Chevrolet WRS East Region events at Flomaton Speedway in Flomaton, AL, Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL, and New Senoia Raceway in Senoia, GA were rained out.

The rainouts meant that just a few of the drivers in the top ten of both the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West and East Regions were able to compete, but those that did were able to make some moves in the point standings.

Stokes continues to work towards a “perfect season” by trying to earn 950 points. That would be 16 50-point wins and 150 bonus points for competing in six NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Touring events. A driver’s best 16 finishes, plus bonus points, make up their season total. Stokes has 943 points and is seven points away from a perfect season.

After reaching the 16-race mark, Stokes is now “netting” points by trying to replace his lowest event point total with a higher one. A driver earns 50 points for a win with a car-count of eight or more, and the points drop one point per position through 10th. Drivers that finish 10th on back earn 41 points, and if a driver attempts to race, but fails to make the feature event, that driver earns 25 points.

Eleven of Stokes’ 12 wins were 50-point wins. He does have a 40-point win that came with a car count of less that eight. Stokes is now trying to net 48-point races, which means he has to finish first or second in his remaining races to net points. Stokes has also earned his 150 bonus points.

Three-time NeSmith Chevrolet WRS West Region Champion Lucky Keeton of Toomsuba, MS is still in the second spot with 887 points based on his best 16 finishes, but can still earn 50 bonus points, which would put him to within six points of Stokes. With eight wins this season and seven weeks of competition remaining, Keeton also has a chance for a perfect season.

Tony Lawson of Laurel, MS is third with 866 points based on his best 16 finishes, and Shay Knight of Ethelsville, MS is fourth with 848 points based on his best 16 finishes.

Mike Palasini of Leland, MS finished second to Stokes both nights at Greenville Speedway in the Medicaid Planning Specialists Trak-Star, and climbed from eighth to fifth in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region standings. Palasini has 845 points, and has reached the 16-race mark, so he will now start to net points.

Knight has a 25 and a 41 to net from in his next two starts, while Palasini has a pair of 41s to net from in his next two starts. Palasini has an advantage, as he can still earn 50 more bonus points, while Knight can still earn 25 bonus points.

Mark Tice of Avon, MS competed in both Greenville Speedway races and moved up one spot to sixth with 838 points based on his best 16 finishes in the Precision Marine Trak-Star. Chad McCool of Millport, AL is seventh with 794 points, and Jason Michau of Kilmichael, MS is eighth with 780 points.

Cliff Williams of Star, MS is ninth with 708 points, and Eric Carr of Bruce, MS rounds out the top ten of the NeSmith Chevrolet WRS West Region standings with 677 points. Williams and Carr have yet to reach the 16-race mark, as Williams has 12 starts and Carr has 14 starts.

Edge has been the busiest driver in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series, as the East Region point leader has 906 points based on his best 16 finishes, and leads the series in starts with 27, top five finishes with 25 and top ten finishes with 26.

Ryan King of Anniston, AL was the only other driver in the top ten of the East Region standings to compete in Week 20 competition with a third-place finish in the True Bond Masonry TSR on Friday night at Penton Raceway. King has 854 points based on his best 16 finishes. Richie Stephens of Phenix City, AL is third with 766 points based on his best 16 finishes.

Dana Eiland of Salem, AL is fourth with 756 points based on his best 16 finishes, and Kevin Maher of McDavid, FL is fifth with 754 points in 15 starts. Josh Huss of Flomaton, LA is sixth with 753 points in 15 starts, and Terrance Nowell of Phenix City, AL is seventh with 749 points in 14 starts, and remains an East Region title contender.

Paul Walters of Valley, AL is eighth with 729 points in 15 starts, and Chris Griffin of Flomaton, AL is ninth with 686 points in 15 starts. Craig Scott of Newnan, GA rounds out the top ten of the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region standings with 667 points in 16 starts.

Welshan gave defending NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Chassis Manufacturers Challenge Champion Trak-Star Race Cars built by Boland Performance of Cuba, AL its 51st win of the season to lead the standings in search of their second straight title.

Virden’s win brought three-time NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Chassis Manufacturers Challenge Champion GRT Race Cars of Greenbrier, AR its 36th win of the season, and the second spot in the standings. Rocket Chassis of Shinnston, WV is third with 20 wins, TNT Race Cars of Piney Flats, TN is fourth with six wins, and Warrior Race Cars built by Goddard Performance of Knoxville, TN is fifth with three wins.

For a complete rundown of the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series point standings in both the East and West Regions, visit the series web site at www.nesmithracing.com, or visit the series on Facebook at NeSmith Racing. Becoming a fan of the NeSmith Racing Facebook page will make you eligible for special prizes that will be given away each month.