NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series News Release: 
Contact – ROBY HELM – (865) 207-4157
May 1, 2012

MALDEN SPEEDWAY AND CLAYHILL MOTORSPORTS DOUBLE-HEADER UP NEXT FOR NeSMITH CHEVROLET DLMS TOUR

CARTERSVILLE, GA – The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring Division continues a busy two-week stretch of racing with a Friday night-Saturday night double header at Malden Speedway in Malden, MO and Clayhill Motorsports in Atwood, TN.  It will be the first-ever visit for the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS Tour at both tracks.

Malden Speedway will present at 40-lap $2,000-to-win show this Friday night, and then the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series cars and stars will travel east across the Mississippi River to Clayhill Motorsports for a 50-lap $2,500-to-win race on Saturday night.

NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series point leader Dennis Franklin of Gaffney, SC, who has won two of the first five races this season, has said he will be dropping off the tour, so that opens up the battle for the $20,000 2012 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Championship and the run for the NeSmith Cup.

Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA is currently second in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series point standings, 34 points out of first place.  Turner has two top five finishes and five top ten finishes in five starts. 

Turner, known as the “Ironman” of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series, will be looking to make his 130th and 131st consecutive series races this weekend.  Turner has competed in every series touring event held since its inception in 2005.

Two-time NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Champion David Earl Gentry of Murfreesboro, TN is just six points behind Turner and is fresh off his first win of the season and 10th series career victory last Saturday night in the Spring Nationals 40 at Albany Motor Speedway in Albany, GA.

In his first five 2012 starts with the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series, Gentry has one win, two top five finishes, and one fast time award in quest of his third series title.  Gentry, the 2006 and 2007 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Champion, was the 2011 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Championship Runner-Up.

The 2011 NeSmith Chevrolet  Dirt Late Model Series VP Racing Fuels Rookie of the Year Chase Edge of Lafayette, AL is also a 2012 title contender with one top five, two top tens, and one fast time award in five starts.  Chris Cantrell of Chester, SC leads the 2012 VP Racing Fuels Rookie of the Year point standings and is currently sixth overall in the series point standings.

Other NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Championship contenders expected for the two races this weekend are Johnny Stokes of Columbus, MS, Anthony White of Clinton, TN, Mark Tice of Avon, MS, Larry Harrod of Plains, GA, Michael Blount of Sumrall, MS, Jake Teague of Oliver Springs, TN, Frank Wilson of Harold, FL, and Marcus Minga of Shannon, MS.

A tough local contingent of NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series competitors are expected to defend their home turf at both Malden Speedway on Friday night and Clayhill Motorsports on Saturday night.

Local favorites expected on Friday night at Malden Speedway include NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series race winners Jamie Robards of Brosley, MO, Roger Witt of Batesville, AR, and Robby Moore of Brosley, MO.

Other Malden Speedway regulars expected are Tim Winchester of Gideon, MO, Cody Kierre of Beebe, AR, Kyle Berry of Portage, MO, Brent Raulston of Jasper, AR, Steve Tarry of Paragould, AR, Mike Atchison of Eminence, AR, Jerry Croney of West Plains, MO, Jayme Medlin of Caruthersville, MO, Jeff Cagle of Jonesboro, AR, Jim Gulley of Brookland, AR, and Jerry Buck of Paragould, AR.

Clayhill Motorsports favorites expected on Saturday night include Ashley Newman of Ripley, TN, who has a NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series career win, Ronnie Cooper of McKenzie, TN, who has also been competing with the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS Tour this season, and defending track champion Chris Tays of Corinth, MS, who is a former NeSmith DLMS Top 10 Touring driver.

The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series will compete in Time Trials, B-Main races, and main events at each track on each night.  The Malden Speedway race on Friday night will be Round 6 and the Clayhill Motorsports race on Saturday night will be Round 7 of the 2012 NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS season.

On Friday night at Malden Speedway, the pit gate opens at 4:30 p.m. with NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Pre-Race Registration and Technical Inspection from 4:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.  The Drivers Meeting will be at 6:45 p.m., Hot Laps are set for 7 p.m., and racing is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Malden Speedway is located north of Malden, MO at 21225 County Road 102, Malden, MO  63863.  For more information about Malden Speedway call 573-276-6265, or visit the track web site at www.maldenspeedway.com.

Clayhill Motorsports is located at 1315 Rinner Road, Atwood, TN  38220.  For more information call 731-669-3939, or visit the track web site at www.clayhillmotorsports.com. For Saturday night’s schedule, check the Clayhill Motorsports web site.

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 Racing.  Becoming a fan of the NeSmith Racing Facebook page will make you eligible for special prizes that will be given away each month.  You can follow us on Twitter @NeSmithRacing.