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NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series News Release: Contact – ROBY HELM – (865) 207-4157
October 13, 2009
NeSMITH CHEVROLET DLMS TO GO TOPLESS FOR LAST TWO POINTS RACES AT SMS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CARTERSVILLE, GA – The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Tour will blow the lid off in their final two point races this Friday and Saturday nights at South Mississippi Speedway in Gulfport, MS for the Topless Fall Nationals. The roofs will come off the race cars for a 40-lap $2,000-to-win race on Friday night, and a 50-lap $2,500-to-win race on Saturday night.
The “topless” aspect of the weekend will give race fans a different perspective of the action on the track, as they will have a clear view of the drivers wrestling the steering wheel to keep their race cars under control while sliding sideways on the SMS dirt surface at over 100 miles per hour.
This weekend’s events at South Mississippi Speedway will mark the first time in the five-year history of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series that events have been contested without the roofs on the race cars.
It will also be Championship Weekend for the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National Tour as the top ten spots that receive cash awards from the $50,000 point fund will be decided, including the $20,000 National Championship and the $5,000 Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year Award.
Eric Cooley of Fulton, MS leads the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National point standings by 88 points over Larry Boutwell of Baker, FL going into the last two points races of the season. Cooley was in a position to all but lock up the title at the most recent points race at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL on October 3, but instead, the 18-year-old driver got a “reality check.”
At Talladega Short Track, all Cooley had to do was finish in front of Boutwell to all but wrap up the title. If the 18-year-old driver left TST with a 97-point lead, all he had to do was start the main events on Friday and Saturday nights at South Mississippi Speedway to claim the title. Cooley started the race in the seventh spot, and Boutwell started 14th.
Cooley was running in the top ten early in the race, but he suddenly slowed on lap 14 to bring out the caution flag. Cooley’s 78 Towing and Recovery Victory Circle broke a driveshaft. Cooley and his crew attempted to change the driveshaft, but the 50-lap race had only one more caution flag on lap 25, and that kept Cooley in the pits.
“The Talladega race was a reality check for us in that you never know what’s going to happen until it’s over,” Cooley said. “Our car was perfect at the start of the race, and since it was early, I was just riding trying to stay out of trouble and not push things. The next thing I heard was the ting, ting, ting of the driveshaft banging off the bottom of the car.”
Boutwell finished 17th, which was good enough to keep the 2008 NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National Championship Runner-Up in a position to move up one spot in 2009, but he has a long row to hoe to pull it off.
If Boutwell wins both races this weekend at South Mississippi Speedway, Cooley would have to finish 21st or better in each race to win the National Championship. So with the Championship on the line, will Cooley and his crew do anything differently for the Friday and Saturday night races at South Mississippi Speedway?
“We’re just going to go down to South Mississippi Speedway and race, but we’ll probably be a little more conservative than normal,” Cooley said. “Our goal is to finish the race, and whatever happens, is whatever happens. It would be great to win the championship, but even if we finish second in the points, we’ve still had a great season.”
Not only will Boutwell have to focus on winning the championship, but also having a good enough two races to keep the second spot in the point standings. Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA is just 56 points behind Boutwell in the third spot, and looking for his seventh straight top ten finish that includes a win and three top five finishes.
Derrick Rainey of Powder Springs, GA is fourth, 46 points behind Turner, and has two wins this season and a series-leading five McLeod Construction Fast Time Awards.
Ben McCreary of Baldwyn, MS and Chase Washington of Houlka, MS have battled for the Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year title during the second half of the 2009 season, swapping the point lead several times in the last 11 races. Going into the Topless Fall Nationals weekend, McCreary leads Washington by just 34 points.
McCreary and Washington will not only be battling for the $5,000 Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year Award, but also the fifth spot in the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National point standings.
Other top NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Touring regulars expected for the Topless Fall Nationals include Marcus Minga of Shannon, MS, Jeff Fields of Aragon, GA, Justin McRee of Woodstock, AL, and Todd Morrow of East Ridge, TN.
The local contingent of drivers will be highlighted by the top drivers in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region and regular Saturday night drivers at South Mississippi Speedway that have posted wins this season at the Gulfport, MS track.
The 2009 and three-time NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region Champion Lucky Keeton of Toomsuba, MS is expected along with the 2009 WRS West Region Runner-Up Michael Arnold.
Shannon Lee of Lumberton, MS finished third in the 2009 West Region standings and is the 2009 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Late Model Champion at South Mississippi Speedway. Other weekly winning drivers expected include Kody Barber of Bogalusa, LA, Tracy Brown of Lumberton, MS, Bryan Foy of Lacombe, LA, and Noah Daspit of Kiln, MS.
There are three host hotels for the Topless Fall Nationals at South Mississippi Speedway located ten minutes from the track at I-10 and U.S. Highway 49 that will be offering NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series fans and competitors a special discount rate. To make reservations call the Best Western at 228-864-0050, the Hampton Inn at 228-868-3300, or the Holiday Inn at 228-679-1700 and ask for the racers discount code of TOP09.
The pre-race festivities for the Topless Fall Nationals get underway on Wednesday night with a Pre-Race Party from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at The Dock Bar and Grill on Seaway Road in Gulfport, MS. There will be race cars and drivers on hand for photos and autographs. South Mississippi Speedway will host an open practice session on Thursday night from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National Tour will present compete racing events on both Friday night and Saturday nights with McLeod Construction Qualifying, Heat Races, and B-Main Races with a $2,000-to-win 40-lap main event on Friday night, and a $2,500-to-win 50-lap main event on Saturday night. Competitors are reminded that mufflers are required on race cars at all times.
South Mississippi Speedway is located just north of I-10 at Exit 24. For more information call 228-255-8008, or visit the track web site at www.southmsspeedway.com. For more information about the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series visit the series web site at www.nesmithracing.com.
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The Race Brothers Show-Me Racin Series will end the 2009 points season at Tri-State Speedway on THIS Saturday Oct 17.
Justin Wells has a hefty points lead, and will wrap up the 2009 championship when he checks in for Saturday's race, regardless of his finishing position. Larry Campbell has taken the 2009 Auto Xpress Rookie of the Year title, currently in 4th place in total points. The battle for 2nd and 3rd is a tight one, between Ken & Leslie Essary, and there's also great battles throughout the remainder of the field, with Rex Merritt, Jim Fulp, Rick Lebow, Kevin Henson, Bill McMurtrie, & Jarrod Hilton working for their spots in 5th-10th. Their finishing positions in Saturday's race will determine this year's final point standings - so everyone will be working hard for every position, making for a great race.
The "Spooker" is a long-running prestiogous event held at Tri-State Speedway. It starts on Wed, with the Race Brothers Show-Me Series coming in on Saturday for their portion of the event.
Saturday Oct 17th DETAILS:
Gates open 2 p.m. Races at 6 p.m.
Hot laps 4:30-5:30 pm.
Pit pass $35.00 adults, $10.00 kids 11 under
Grandstands $15.00 adults $5.00 kids 4-11.
Hope to see you this Saturday, for the final race of 2009 for the Race Brothers Show-Me Racin Series.
Also, remember to pick up your banquet tickets! The banquet will be NEXT Sunday Oct 25th at Camp Barnabas. All race fans are invited to attend!
Karen Fulp (417)723-1035 home (417)880-9693 cell www.Show-MeRacinSeries.com
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