NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series News Release:
Contact – ROBY HELM – (865) 207-4157
August 31, 2010

MISSISSIPPI DOUBLE RACING WEEKEND FOR NeSMITH CHEVROLET DLMS

CARTERSVILLE, GA – The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Tour will be competing in two events during the Labor Day Holiday weekend beginning with a two-day show at Whynot Motorsports Park in Meridian, MS this Friday and Saturday night, and then traveling to Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, MS on Sunday night.

The action begins with the $5,000-to-win NOS Energy Drink Nationals at Whynot Motorsports Park with preliminary qualifying and heat races on Friday night, and the B-Mains and a 75-lap feature race on Saturday night. Whynot Motorsports Park will host an open practice session on Thursday night from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Magnolia Motor Speedway will host the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt late Model Series National Tour for the second time this season with the $2,000-to-win GM Performance Parts Black Ice 40 on Sunday night.

Past NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Touring events at both Whynot Motorsports Park and Magnolia Motor Speedway have shown that three and four-wide racing throughout the field is the rule rather than the exception. An all-star line-up of drivers that are more than capable of producing that kind of racing are expected for both races.

The defending NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National Champion and current point leader Eric Cooley of Fulton, MS will be looking to help his cause of winning a second-straight $20,000 title, as he holds a 58-point lead over Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA. Cooley has 1,636 points with two wins this season, and Turner has 1,578 points with one win this season.

Justin McRee of Tuscaloosa, AL is third in the National points chase and has one win this season. “J-Mac” will be returning to the site of that June 25 victory, Whynot Motorsports Park, where is also has several NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region wins this season.

McRee leads a logjam of four drivers battling for the third spot in point standings with just 94 points separating them. McRee has 1,390 points, but just behind him are three drivers not only battling for the third spot in the point standings, but also racing for the $5,000 VP Racing Fuels Rookie of the Year Award.

Shannon Lee of Lumberton, MS is fourth in the standings 52-points behind McRee. Lee leads the VP Racing Fuels Rookie of the Year points with a 20-point margin over Larry Harrod of Plains, GA who is fifth in the National standings. “Chargin Charlie” Henderson of Cottondale, AL is 22 points behind Harrod for the third spot in the RoY points and the sixth spot in the National points.

Chris McElhenney of Lake, MS will return to his home track after competing this season with the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National Tour where he is seventh in the point standings, just 20 points behind Henderson. Michael Blount of Sumrall, MS is eighth in the National points, and fourth in the VP Racing Fuels Rookie of the Year standings.

Marcus Minga of Shannon, MS is ninth in the National points chase, and the 2008 NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National Champion Chip Brindle of Chatsworth, GA rounds out the top ten in the National points.

Drivers holding down the 11th through 15th spots in the National point standings have had past success at both Whynot Motorsports Park and Magnolia Motor Speedway. “Dr. Dirt” Johnny Stokes of Columbus, MS is 11th in the National points and he also leads the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region point standings with 12 wins this season.

Stokes won his first career NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National event at Magnolia Motor Speedway on August 1 after an exciting three-wide duel with Cooley and Turner. Jay Burchfield of Columbus, MS is 12th and has four top ten finishes this season.

Mike Boland is always a favorite to win at both WMP and The Mag. Boland has three wins this season on the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National Tour, with one of those victories coming at WMP on June 26. Boland is second all-time on the NeSmith Chevrolet Career Wins list with nine victories that include multiple wins at WMP and The Mag. Boland is 13th in the National points.

Chris Ragan of Ramer, TN is 14th in the National standings and has one win this season on the National Tour. Evan Ellis of Plantersville, MS is 15th in the National points chase, and is always a front runner at The Mag, as he has several NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region wins on the “Black Ice.”

NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series title contenders from both the West and East Regions are expected for the NOS Energy Drink Nationals and the GM Performance Parts 40 looking for bonus points, as they race for the Regional Championships before that season ends on October 3.

NeSmith Chevrolet WRS drivers earn 25 bonus points for each National event they enter and can earn up to 150 bonus points that are added to their weekly best 16 finish point totals. The defending and three-time NeSmith Chevrolet WRS West Region Champion Lucky Keeton of Toomsuba, MS will be looking to earn 50 bonus points, and move to within four points of Stokes.

Expected to join former Whynot Motorsports Park Track Champion Keeton in action this weekend will be top ten West Region drivers Mike Palasini of Leland, MS, and Mark Tice of Avon, MS, who are battling for the third spot in the West Region standings. Also expected are Cliff Williams of Star, MS, Shay Knight of Ethelsville, MS, and Tony Lawson of Laurel, MS.

The 17-year-old NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region point leader Chase Edge of Lafayette, AL will be looking for his final 25 bonus points, and he tries to lock up that title. Other top East Region drivers that will be looking for bonus points this weekend include Ryan King of Anniston, AL and Terrance Nowell of Phenix City, AL.

The local contingent of Whynot Motorsports Park drivers will include 2008 Track Champion Larry Murphy of Meridian, MS, Wiley Williams of Stonewall, MS, Tody Ratcliff of Meridian, MS, Greg Dedwylder of Vossburg, MS, and Roger Rolison of Meridian, MS. Rodney Wing of Meridian, MS will be filling in for the defending WMP Track Champion Randy Boyd of Marion, MS, who is recovering from recent heart surgery.

Magnolia Motor Speedway local favorites will include Jeremy Shaw of Columbus, MS, Mark Stokes of Steens, MS, Chad McCool of Millport, AL, Jason Michau of Kilmichael, MS, and Caleb Myers of Columbus, MS.

The NeSmith Chevrolet/American Cancer Society “Ride For Life” two-seat dirt late model race car will be at Whynot Motorsports Park on Saturday night, as race fans will have the opportunity to bid and register for rides at race speeds with their favorite driver. All of the proceeds will benefit the local chapter of the American Cancer Society.

The Whynot Motorsports Park Pure Stocks, Mini Stocks, and Stingers will compete on Friday night, and the Street Stocks, Modifieds and a Powder Puff Race will take place on Saturday night.
The Drury Inn and Suites in Meridian, MS is the Official Host Hotel for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Tour NOS Energy Drink Nationals at Whynot Motorsports Park this Friday and Saturday night. The Drury Inn and Suites will be offering NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS fans and competitors a special discount rate.
The Drury Inn and Suites is located at Exit 154B on I-59/20 at 112 Highway 11 and 80 North. The Drury Inn and Suites is offering NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS fans and competitors a special discount rate of $85 per night. To make reservations call 601-483-5570 and ask for the Whynot Racing Rate.

Each room at the brand new facility comes with a free hot breakfast, free long distance, free high-speed wireless internet, along with free evening cocktails and hot food. The Meridian, MS Drury Inn and Suites also have an indoor pool and hot tub. To see the facility on the Internet go to https://wwws.druryhotels.com/PropertyOverview.aspx?Property=0143.

On Friday night at Whynot Motorsports Park the pit gate will open at 3 p.m. with NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS pre-race registration and technical inspection from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. the Drivers Meeting will be at 7 p.m. with racing to follow. On Saturday, the pit gate will open at 3 p.m. with NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS check in from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Drivers Meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. with racing to follow.

Whynot Motorsports Park is located south of Meridian, MS on State Road 19. For more information call Whynot Motorsports Park at 601-644-3010, or visit the track web site at www.whynotmotorsportspark.com.

The Wingate Inn in Columbus, MS, located just south of U.S. Highway 82 at the Military Road exit, is the Official Host Hotel for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series event on Sunday night at Magnolia Motor Speedway. The Wingate Inn is offering NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS fans and competitors a special discount rate of $75 per night. To make reservations call 662-327-9999 and ask for the Columbus Speedway discount rate.

On Sunday, the pit gate at Magnolia Motor Speedway opens at 3 p.m. with NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS pre-race registration and technical inspection from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and the drivers meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. The grandstand gates open at 4:30 p.m., and racing is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Magnolia Motor Speedway is located west of Columbus, MS, just south of U.S. Highway 82 on U.S. Highway 45. For more information call Magnolia Motor Speedway at 662-240-3478, or visit the track web site at www.magnoliamotorspeedway.net.

For more information about the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series visit the series web site at www.nesmithracing.com, or visit the series on Facebook at NeSmith