160 Drivers Eligible For NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Invitational Race

CARTERSVILLE, GA – NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series officials have announced the 160 drivers that have been invited to the 5th Annual NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Invitational Race on November 27 at Columbus Speedway in Columbus, MS. Drivers invited include the top 10 Regional drivers, and the top 10 drivers from each WRS track.

Johnny Stokes of Columbus, MS is the 2010 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region Champion with 945 points based on his top 16 finishes in 33 starts with 13 wins, 28 top five finishes and 30 top ten finishes driving the TJC Mortgage/Maximum Signs and Graphics Special.

Stokes was also the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Track Champion in the combined points at Columbus, MS tracks Columbus Speedway and Magnolia Motor Speedway. At age 56, Stokes becomes the oldest driver to win a NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Regional Championship.

On the other end of the age spectrum, 17-year-old Chase Edge of Lafayette, AL becomes the youngest driver to win a NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Regional title by taking the 2010 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region Championship.

Edge tallied 936 points based on his top 16 finishes in 31 starts with six wins, 28 top fives and 30 top tens driving the Edge’s Gas Company Special. Edge was also the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Track Champion at East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City, AL.

The next nine eligible NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region point drivers will also receive invitations to the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Invitational Race. Justin McRee of Tuscaloosa, AL finished second in the West Region standings driving the Century Dedicated, Inc. Trak-Star.

McRee turned in 943 points based on his top 16 finishes in 21 starts with nine wins, 18 top tens, and 19 top tens. Cliff Williams of Star, MS took the fourth spot driving the Ware Construction Trak-Star to nine wins, and 16 top fives in 19 starts. Williams had 939 points based on his top 16 finishes.

Mark Tice of Avon, MS took the fifth spot in the West Region standings with 882 points based on his top 16 finishes in 22 starts with four wins, 14 top fives, and 18 top tens driving the Precision Marine Trak-Star. Shay Knight of Ethelsville, MS was sixth with 875 points based on his top 16 finishes in 17 starts with three wins, ten top fives and 14 top tens in the Dunn’s Autos Special.

Mike Palasini Jr. of Leland, MS finished seventh in the West Region standings with 872 points based on his top 16 finishes in 21 starts. Palasini drove the Medicaid Planning Specialists Trak-Star to seven wins, 15 top fives and 16 top tens. Palasini was also the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Track Champion at Greenville Speedway in Greenville, MS.

Tony Lawson of Laurel, MS earns an invitation to the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Invitational Race with an eighth-place effort in the Lawson Construction Rocket. Lawson also had 872 points based on his top 16 finishes in 30 starts with six top fives and 21 top tens. Palasini won the tie-breaker for the seventh spot based on the number of wins.

A pair of Greenville Speedway regulars, Bobby Jordan of McCarley, MS and Chad Washington of Greenville, MS took the ninth and tenth spots respectively in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region standings. Jordan had 827 points based on his top 16 finishes in 19 starts with one top five and 10 top tens driving the Henderson Waste and Recycling Special.

Washington posted 820 points based on his top 16 finishes in 17 starts with three wins, 11 top fives, and 15 top tens driving the C&W Graphics GRT. Jason Michau of Kilmichael, MS finished 11th in the 2010 West Region standings, but will get a West Region Top Ten invitation to the Invitational Race.

Michau has 813 points based on his top 16 finishes in 25 starts with six top fives and 15 top tens driving the Michau Logging Warrior. Michau gets a West Region Top 10 invitation in place of third-place driver Lucky Keeton of Toomsuba, MS, who is ineligible for the race due to a suspension from NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series competition.

The second through tenth-place drivers behind Edge in the 2010 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region point standings will receive invitations to the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Invitational Race on November 27 at Columbus Speedway.

Terrance Nowell of Phenix City, AL finished second in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region standings with 892 points in 16 starts with four wins, 14 top five finishes and 16 top ten finishes driving the Clarence’s Truck Repair GRT. Ryan King of Anniston, AL took the third spot with 864 points based on his top 16 finishes in 24 starts with nine top fives and 23 top tens driving the True Bond Masonry Special.

A pair of regulars at Flomaton Speedway in Flomaton, AL, Josh Huss of Flomaton, AL and Kevin Maher of McDavid, FL, took the fourth and fifth spots respectively in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region point standings.

Huss had 851 points based on his top 16 finishes in 19 starts driving the Charco, Inc. TNT with three wins, 17 top fives and 19 top tens. Maher had 850 points based on his top 16 finishes in 20 starts with six wins, 17 top fives and 19 top tens driving the United Bank GRT. Maher was also NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Track Champion at Flomaton Speedway.

Tim Staples of Pell City, AL finished sixth in the East Region standings with 807 points based on his top 16 finishes in 18 starts, driving the Family Nissan Rocket to three wins, 14 top fives and 17 top tens. The 2008 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region Champion Adam Martin of Talladega, AL took the seventh spot in the East Region standings.

Martin drove the Martin Racing Special to six wins, 16 top fives, and 17 top tens to tally 799 points based on his top 16 finishes in 17 starts. Martin was also the 2010 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Track Champion at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL.

Richie Stephens of Phenix City, AL took the eighth spot in the East Region standings, turning in 795 points based on his top 16 finishes in 21 starts with seven wins, 14 top fives and 20 top tens driving the Bennett Logging Special. Dana Eiland of Salem, AL was ninth with 790 points based on his top 16 finishes in 21 starts with three wins and 16 top fives driving the Andy’s Auto Parts GRT.

Paul Walters of Valley, AL rounded out the top ten in the 2010 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region standings with 778 points based on his top 16 finishes in 17 starts. Walters had one win, nine top fives and 15 top tens driving the Gary Davis Construction Warrior.

In addition to the top ten eligible drivers in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West and East Region point standings, the top ten drivers, excluding the Regional invitees, in the track point standings at each NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series venue will also receive an invitation to the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Invitational Race.

Tyler Stevens of Searcy, AR was the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Track Champion at Batesville Motor Speedway in Batesville, AR driving the Searcy Auto Salvage Rocket. Eric Carr of Bruce, MS was the Track Champion at Central Mississippi Speedway in Winona, MS driving the Carr Land and Timber Special.

Ashley Stockstill of Purvis, MS was the Track Champion at Hattiesburg Motorsports Park in Hattiesburg, MS driving the Stockstill Trucking Trak-Star. Sid Scarbrough of Florence, MS drove the Cliburn Performance GRT to the Track Championship at Jackson Motor Speedway in Jackson, MS.

Jamie Flannagan of Tuscumbia, AL was the Track Champion at North Alabama Speedway in Tuscumbia, AL driving the Seven Springs Lodge Special. Larry Murphy of Meridian, MS was the Track Champion at Whynot Motorsports Park in Meridian, MS driving the Bo Haarala Autoplex GRT.

Hunter Best of Louisville, TN was the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Track Champion at Mountain Raceway Park in Maryville, TN driving the Goddard Performance Warrior. Parrish Duncan of Newnan, GA was the Track Champion at New Senoia Raceway in Senoia, GA driving the Duncan Racing Special. Jeff Landrum of Lanett, AL was the Track Champion at Penton Raceway in Penton, AL driving the Mitcham Auto Parts Special.

A total of $41,100 in NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Regional and Track point fund money and prizes were paid out in 2010. A total of 420 drivers competed in the 2010 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series season that ran from April 2 through October 3.

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.