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Roby Helm
TAMPA, Fla. (February 19) - Shan Smith of Dade City, FL drove the Gardner Racing TNT to victory on Friday night at East Bay Raceway Park in the 50-lap main event for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. Smith took the lead on lap 22 from polesitter Charlie Henderson of Cottondale, AL then held off a pair of challenges in lapped traffic from Randy Weaver of Crossville, TN.
Smith made his bid for the win early in the race, as he bolted from his tenth starting spot and was up to third by the end of the first lap. Lap three saw Smith drive by Weaver in the Cardinal Paint and Body Custom to take the second spot.
"I've got a lot of laps around this place, and I've got a set up that works good when the track rubbers up," Smith said. "I knew I had to get to the front early, and we were able to use the track conditions to our advantage."
Weaver finished second followed by Henderson in the Century Carriers, Inc. Mastersbilt, who was also the Rookie of the Race Award winner. Keith Nosbisch of Valrico, FL was fourth in the Miller Lite Rocket, and Devin Dixon of Apollo Beach, FL took the Race Car Engineering 5th-Place Award in the Night Hawk Towing Rocket.
Doug Horton of Bruceton Mills, WV drove the Adams Used Auto Parts Warrior to the KRC 6th-Place Award, and Shane Hitt of Buchannon, WV claimed the Joe Gibbs Driven 7th-Place Award. William Thomas of Phenix City, AL started the J.W. Miller Land and Timber Scorpion in the 18th spot and finished eighth to take the GM Performance Parts Hard Charger Award and the Race Car Engineering 8th-Place Award.
Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA took the Maximum Signs and Graphics 9th-Place Award, and Jeff Matthews of Dover, FL was the KRC 10th-Place Award winner in the Night Hawk Towing Warrior. Defending NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion Eric Cooley of Fulton, MS won the Mike's Customs Tanks 11th-Place Award.
Turner remains the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National point leader with a six-point lead over Cooley in second spot, and a 16-point advantage over Thomas in the third position.
Henderson earned his second straight Pole Award by out-qualifying the 53 entrants with a lap around the 1/3-mile clay oval in 15.344 seconds. Henderson started along side his teammate Justin McRee of Cuba, AL in the Century Carriers, Inc. Trak-Star in the front row for the start of the race.
When the green flag came out, things got busy in a hurry with Henderson leading Weaver, McRee, Smith, and Nosbisch off the second turn. McRee jumped the cushion in turn three on the opening lap, and that dropped him back to tenth by the time he gathered up his race car. Smith passed Weaver for the second spot on lap three, and Dixon moved up into the top five.
The first of three caution flags came out on lap seven when Chris McElhenney of Lake, MS spun the G&M Trucking Trak-Star in turn four. Henderson led Smith, Weaver, Nosbisch, Dixon, Matthews, Horton, Hitt, Steve Mathis of Plant City, FL in the Mathis Farms Rayburn, and McRee back to the green flag.
Matthews jumped one car on the restart, and he would be penalized two positions on the next caution period, which came out on lap 14 when David Pollen Jr. in the B&D Trucking Rocket caught fire. The fire was extinguished by the track safety crew and Pollen was uninjured. Pollen's misfortune earned him the Dominator Race Products Hard Luck Award.
The top ten for the restart had Henderson leading followed by Smith, Weaver, Nosbisch, Dixon, Horton, Hitt, Matthews, Mathis and Turner. When the field went green, Turner passed Mathis for the ninth spot, and McRee moved back into the top ten with a pass on Mathis on lap 15. Thomas had charged from the 18th starting spot and passed McRee for tenth on lap 17.
Henderson was holding a steady three car-length lead over Smith, but as the leaders approached lapped traffic on lap 20, Smith and Weaver began to close the gap. Smith and Weaver got by Henderson for first and second on lap 22, but a caution flag on lap 24 for the stalled SEG Ramlaw Mastersbilt driven by Mitchell Godfrey of Crawford, GA brought out the third and final caution flag, and kept the field tightened up.
When the field went back to green flag action, Smith was able to open up a six car-length lead by lap 34 when the leader began to encounter lapped traffic. Weaver closed in as Smith began to pick his way around lapped cars running the groove he wanted to stay ahead of Weaver.
On lap 38, Weaver was able to get a run on Smith in turn one on the inside, but Smith was up to the challenge and kept the lead. Weaver would get another opportunity with ten laps to go, but couldn't make the pass. Once Smith cleared the lap cars, he could keep a three car-length gap between himself and Weaver the rest of the way to the checkered flag.
In preliminary action, the four ten-lap heat races were won by Godfrey, McElhenney, Horton, and Smith. The two 12-lap B-Main races were won by Turner and Larry Harrod of Plains, GA in the Harrod Logging Scorpion.
The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series returns to East Bay Raceway Park for its three-race finale on Saturday night with a 50-lap $3,000-to-win main event.
PENDING RESULTS OF ROUND 3 AT EAST BAY RACEWAY PARK IN TAMPA, FL ON 2/19/10:
POS STRT CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN LAPS $ WON
1. 10 17ss Shan Smith Dade City, FL 50 $2,500
2. 4 116 Randy Weaver Crossville, TN 50 $1,250
3. 1 88 Charlie Henderson (R) Cottondale, AL 50 $850
4. 6 101 Keith Nosbisch Valrico, FL 50 $700
5. 5 33x Devin Dixon Apollo Beach, FL 50 $650
6. 9 11 Doug Horton Bruceton Mills, WV 50 $550
7. 11 2h Shane Hitt Buchannon, WV 50 $500
8. 18 22 William Thomas Phenix City, AL 50 $550
9. 19 10 Matthew Turner Dawsonville, GA 50 $400
10. 14 33 Jeff Matthews Dover, FL 50 $375
11. 21 33c Eric Cooley Fulton, MS 50 $350
12. 17 12 Jack Nosbisch Jr. Riverview, FL 50 $300
13. 20 27 Larry Harrod (R) Plains, GA 50 $280
14. 22 47 Shannon Lee (R) Lumberton, MS 50 $260
15. 13 95 Steve Mathis Plant City, FL 50 $250
16. 24 116r Greg Robertson Waynesboro, VA 49 $240
17. 12 31 Brian Force Indiana, PA 49 $220
18. 16 07 Doug Watson Lithia, FL 49 $200
19. 7 21b Mitchell Godfrey Crawford, GA 49 $200
20. 2 25 Justin McRee Cuba, AL 23 $200
21. 8 28 Chris McElhenney Lake, MS 22 $200
22. 15 88p David Pollen Jr. Tampa, FL 13 $200
23. 3 18h Ronny Hollingsworth Northport, AL 6 $200
24. 23 19 Marcus Minga Shannon, MS 5 $200
ENTRIES: 53
FAST QUALIFIER: Henderson, 15.344 Seconds
PROVISIONALS: Minga
LEAD CHANGES: 1
LAP LEADERS: Henderson, 1-21; Smith, 22-50
LAPS LED: Smith, 29; Henderson, 21
ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Henderson
GM PERFORMANCE PARTS HARD CHARGER: Turner
DOMINATOR RACE PRODUCTS HARD LUCK AWARD: Pollen
RACE CAR ENGINEERING 5TH-PLACE AWARD: Dixon
KRC 6TH-PLACE AWARD: Horton
JOE GIBBS DRIVEN 7TH-PLACE AWARD: Hitt
RACE CAR ENGINEERING 8TH-PLACE AWARD: Thomas
MAXIMUM SIGNS 9TH-PLACE AWARD: Turner
KRC 10TH-PLACE AWARD: Matthews
MIKE'S CUSTOM TANKS 11TH-PLACE AWARD: Cooley
CAUTIONS: 3
TIME OF THE RACE: 28 Minutes and 22.578 Seconds
HEAT RACES (10 Laps - Top 3 Transfer To Main Event):
1ST HEAT: 1. Godfrey; 2. Hitt; 3. Pollen; 4. Turner; 5. Cooley; 6. Knowles; 7. Courson; 8. Hines; 9. S. Miller; 10. Mosley; 11. Robertson; 12. M. Miller.
2ND HEAT: 1. McElhenney; 2. B. Force; 3. Watson; 4. Harrod (R); 5. Augspurger; 6. Lee; 7. Hill; 8. C. Force; 9. Burchfield (R); 10. Allen; 11. Minga DNS; 12. Breuer DQ.
3RD HEAT: 1. Horton; 2. Mathis; 3. J. Nosbisch; 4. Varnadore; 5. Bernhardt; 6. F. Wilson; 7. Waldrop; 8. Blount (R); 9. K. Wilson; 10. T. Dixon (R); 11. Brown; 12. Erskine DNS.
4TH HEAT: 1. Smith; 2. Matthews; 3. Thomas; 4. Cobb; 5. Tice (R); 6. Wadforth; 7. Cooke; 8. Walters (R); 9. Wiggins; 10. Koller; 11. Williams.
B-MAINS (12 Laps - Top 2 Transfer To Main Event):
1ST B-MAIN: 1. Turner; 2. Cooley; 3. Robertson; 4. Hines; 5. Knowles; 6. Courson; 7. K. Wilson; 8. Varnadore; 9. Blount (R); 10. S. Miller; 11. Bernhardt; 12. Waldrop; 13. Dixon (R); 14. M. Miller; 15. Mosley; 16. F. Wilson (R); 17. Brown DNS; 18. Erskine DNS.
2ND B-MAIN: 1. Harrod (R); 2. Lee (R); 3. Cobb; 4. Hill; 5. Wadforth; 6. Walters (R); 7. Allen; 8. Burchfield (R); 9. Augspurger; 10. C. Force; 11. Williams; 12. Koller; 13. Tice (R); 14. Cooke; 15. Wiggins; 16. Minga; 17 Breuer DNS.
NeSMITH CHEVROLET DIRT LATE MODEL SERIES NATIONAL POINT STANDINGS THROUGH 2/19/10:
1. 10 Matthew Turner - 254
2. 33c Eric Cooley - 248
3. 22 William Thomas - 238
4. 88 Charlie Henderson (R) - 228
5. 25 Justin McRee - 226
6. 28 Chris McElhenney - 206
7. B69 Bryan Bernhardt - 198
7. 47 Shannon Lee (R) - 198
9. 19 Marcus Minga - 196
10. 116 Randy Weaver - 192
11. 33x Devin Dixon - 190
12. 33 Jeff Matthews - 174
13. 2h Shane Hitt - 170
14. 116r Greg Robertson - 154
14. 101 Keith Nosbisch - 154
16. 27 Larry Harrod (R) - 152
17. 17b Dan Breuer - 148
18. David Pollen Jr. - 144
19. 12 Jack Nosbisch Jr. - 132
20. 72 Frank Wilson (R) - 128
20. 18 Ronnie Lee Hollingsworth - 128
QUALIFYING (Top 6 Transfer To Main Event):
POS CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN CHASSIS LAP 1 LAP 2 TIME
1 88 Charlie Henderson - R Cottondale, AL Mastersbilt 15.562 15.344 15.344
2 25 Justin McRee Cuba, AL Trak Star 15.47 15.546 15.47
3 18h Ronny Lee Hollingsworth Northport, AL Mastersbilt 16.031 15.674 15.674
4 116 Randy Weaver Crossville, TN Custom 15.687 15.778 15.687
5 33x Devin Dixon Apollo Beach, FL Rocket 16.049 15.755 15.755
6 101 Keith Nosbisch Valrico, FL Rocket 16.044 15.867 15.867
7 21b Mitchell Godfrey Crawford, GA Mastersbilt 16.031 15.873 15.873
8 28 Chris McElhenney Lake, MS Trak Star 15.875 16.021 15.875
9 95 Steve Mathis Plant City, FL Rayburn 16.172 15.959 15.959
10 17ss Shan Smith Dade City, FL TNT 16 16.937 16
11 10 Matthew Turner Dawsonville, GA DWB 16.356 16.005 16.005
12 7 Doug Watson Lithia, FL Rocket 16.301 16.009 16.009
13 11 Doug Horton Bruceton Mills, WV Warrior 16.011 16.188 16.011
14 24 Mark Tice - R Avon, MS Trak Star 16.22 16.025 16.025
15 2h Shane Hitt Buchannon, WV Rocket 16.381 16.04 16.04
16 17b Dan Breuer Troutman, NC Barry Wright 16.128 16.053 16.053
17 22b Perry Brown Riverview, FL Rocket 16.297 16.059 16.059
18 22 William Thomas Phenix City, AL Scorpion 16.274 16.063 16.063
19 88p David Pollen Jr. Tampa, FL Rocket 16.064 16.156 16.064
20 35 Christian Augspurger Palm Bch Gar, FL Mastersbilt 16.25 16.142 16.142
21 141 Travis Varnadore Dover, FL Rayburn 16.156 16.394 16.156
22 X19 Scott Knowles Lanett, AL Warrior 16.165 16.318 16.165
23 33 Jeff Matthews Dover, FL Warrior 16.165 16.217 16.165
24 27 Larry Harrod - R Plains, GA Scorpion 16.606 16.173 16.173
25 12 Jack Nosbisch Jr. Riverview, FL Rocket 16.225 16.193 16.193
26 40r Ron Wadforth Trenton, ON CAN Rocket 16.967 16.21 16.21
27 73 Jim Courson Riverview, FL Warrior 16.624 16.225 16.225
28 31 Brian Force Indiana, PA Rocket 16.491 16.26 16.26
29 B69 Bryan Bernhardt Clearwater, FL Rocket 16.408 16.264 16.264
30 P19 Paul Walters - R Valley, AL Warrior 16.269 16.644 16.269
31 33c Eric Cooley Fulton, MS Victory Circle 16.342 16.282 16.282
32 14m Marcus Minga Shannon, MS Rocket 16.374 16.446 16.374
33 72 Frank Wilson - R Harold, FL Goliath 16.384 16.543 16.384
34 18 Rod Wiggins Swainsboro, GA Newman 16.776 16.421 16.421
35 51 Terry Mosley Gilbertown, AL Mastersbilt 16.503 16.465 16.465
36 47 Shannon Lee - R Lumberton, MS GRT 16.582 16.486 16.486
37 *18 Kevin Wilson Stoneville, NC Wilson 16.701 16.511 16.511
38 32c Phillip Cobb Riverview, FL Barry Wright 17.059 16.518 16.518
39 8s Steve Miller Tampa, FL Rocket 16.551 16.538 16.538
40 69 Chris Force Indiana, PA Rocket 16.744 16.538 16.538
41 121 Michael Blount - R Sumrall, MS Trak Star 16.585 16.7 16.585
42 17c Steve Cooke Mount Airy, NC Barry Wright 16.603 16.833 16.603
43 49 Jeremy Hines Seymour, IN Mastersbilt 16.811 16.604 16.604
44 25b Jay Burchfield - R Columbus, MS Barry Wright 17.183 16.607 16.607
45 9w Jimmy Waldrop Seffner, FL Rocket 16.664 16.614 16.614
46 24w Dennis Williams Zephyrhills, FL TNT 16.629 16.89 16.629
47 8m Matt Miller Tampa, FL Rocket 17.046 16.707 16.707
48 84 Matt Hill Georgetown, DE Warrior 16.788 16.813 16.788
49 32 Troy Dixon - R Temple, GA Mastersbilt 17.454 16.807 16.807
50 1* John Koller Grand Island, FL Rocket 17.085 16.893 16.893
51 116r Greg Robertson Waynesboro, VA Rocket 16.896 17.141 16.896
52 21 Mike Allen Oak Hill, WV Rocket 17.553 17.076 17.076
53 75 Frankie Erskine Jr. Lutz, FL TNT NT NT NT
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