FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ben Shelton (901) 335-3037
March 20th, 2010

Josh Putnam Prowls On P.R.O. Foes At North Alabama

Columbus, Mississippi (03/20/10) – Josh “Pedal To The Metal” Putnam battled past an overheating engine and a stout field of competitors to claim the $2,500 prize on Saturday night at North Alabama Speedway in Tuscumbia, Alabama, in an event that was co-sanctioned by the P.R.O. Dirt Car Super Late Model Series and the NeSmith Super Dirt Car Super Late Model Series.

Twenty-six entries converged on the ¼ mile oval, which is appropriately tabbed “Alabama’s Action Track”.  In Southern Belle qualifying, Josh Putnam of Killen, Alabama blazed to fast time with a lap of 13.393 seconds around the clay oval in his #212 Pierce Race Car/Competition Engine Super Late Model, which was over ten tenths of a second faster than his nearest competitor.  He was joined on the front row for the 40 lap feature by Brian Rickman of Columbus, Mississippi in his #WFO Mastersbilt.

As the event got underway Putnam and Rickman battled side by side for the lead with Rickman narrowly leading the first lap over Putnam, Rick Rickman, Kyle Beard, and David Breazeale.

As the field battled two and three wide around the clay oval, the caution flag would wave on the second circuit for debris on the track.  On the ensuing restart, Rick Rickman drove past Putnam for the second position.  The field would only complete one lap before the caution flag flew again for a spinning Jeremy Glasgow, who had a tire going flat.

At the time of the caution the top five running order consisted of Brian Rickman, Rick Rickman, Josh Putnam, David Breazeale, and Kyle Beard.

Over the next few laps the field would endure a few cautions for various spins before finally hitting a long green flag run that included Josh Putnam using the high groove to rocket past the Rickman brothers to move from the third spot to the lead on the seventh circuit.  Things would not be coming easy for Putnam though as his car began to show evidence of smoke with an overheating engine by lap 10. 

With Putnam out front, Brian and Rick Rickman battled side by side for the second position for a few laps before David Breazeale joined the fray on lap 12, and ultimately moved past Brian Rickman for the third spot a few laps later.  As the field approached the midway point, the leaders were closing in on lapped traffic, as several drivers had begun to work their way to the front, which included 16th starting Eric Cooley, who was up to the 9th position at lap 20.

Caution flew again on lap 23, and near-disaster struck for the leader, Putnam, as his over-heating car stalled on the front straightaway during the caution period.  Putnam was finally able to get his car back rolling again as he assumed the lead ahead of Rick Rickman, Breazeale, Brian Rickman, and Ronnie Johnson.

As the race went green for the final time, Breazeale raced past Rick Rickman for second and set his sights on the leader.  Breazeale would chase Putnam through the cushion and lapped traffic for the remainder of the race, but was unable to catch the leader. 

Putnam claimed his first win of the season over Breazeale, Rick Rickman, Ronnie Johnson, and Anthony Burroughs.

In victory lane an emotional Putnam thanked his crew, sponsors, and fans, who have supported his career.  He went on to say that “with the direction that his program is headed now that he feels that there will be more wins to come in 2010!”

Eric Cooley powered his #33c Victory Circle M1 Chassis By Moyer/525 Spec Motor Super Late Model to the American Race Tires Hard Charger Award after advancing from his 16th starting position to a 6th place finish. 

Josh Putnam was the recipient of the Hoosier Race Tires Top Performer Award for his win. 

The P.R.O. Dirt Car Series will return to action with the tour’s third event at Central Mississippi Speedway in Winona, Mississippi on Saturday, April 3rd with a $2,000 to win event. For more information on Central Mississippi Speedway, please visit www.CMSDirt.com.

The P.R.O. Dirt Car Super Late Model Series is sponsored by NeSmith Chevrolet, MRC Racing Collectibles, Southern Belle, Maximum Signs & Graphics, Hoosier Race Tires, American Race Tires, MidSouthRacing.com, GRT Race Cars, DBR Starters, and MSRMafia.com

For more information on the P.R.O. Dirt Car Series, please visit www.ProDirtCarSeries.com and for more information on the NeSmith Super Dirt Car Series, please visit www.NeSmithRacing.com .

P.R.O. Dirt Car Super Late Model Series
NeSmith Super Dirt Car Super Late Model Series
North Alabama Speedway (Tuscumbia, AL)
March 20th, 2010

Feature Results
1. Josh Putnam (Killen, Alabama)
2. David Breazeale (Four Corners, Mississippi)
3. Rick Rickman (Columbus, Mississippi)
4. Ronnie Johnson (Chattanooga, Tennessee)
5. Anthony Burroughs (Muscle Shoals, Alabama)
6. Eric Cooley (Fulton, Mississippi)
7. Kyle Beard (Trumann, Arkansas)
8. Brian Rickman (Columbus, Mississippi)
9. Jay Burchfield (Columbus, Mississppi)
10. Mathew Turner (Dawsonville, Georgia)
11. Mark Dodson (Caledonia, Mississippi)
12. Dean Carpenter (Coldwater, Mississippi)
13. Bradley Price (Hamilton, Alabama)
14. Clay Fisher (Dewitt, Arkansas)
15. Leon Henderson (Laurel, Mississippi)
16. Klint Byars (Carrolton, Mississippi)
17. Jeremy Glasgow (Caledonia, Mississippi)
18. Michael McKleroy (Muscle Shoals, Alabama)
19. Ray Mauldin (Fulton, Mississippi)
20. Chad Winkles (Falkville, Mississippi)
21. Ross Camponovo (Clarksdale, Mississippi)
22. Neil Baggett (Shannon, Mississippi)
23. Jason Milam (Guntown, Mississippi)
24. Jerry Owens (Florence, Alabama)

DNS: Bryan Sugg, Stacey Caldwell

Entries: 26 Representing Six States (TX, AL, MS, TN, AR, GA)
Cautions: 6
Red Flags: 0
Leaders: Brian Rickman (Lap 1-7), Josh Putnam (8-40)
Southern Belle Pole Qualifier: Josh Putnam
MRC Racing Collectibles Smooth Move Award: Josh Putnam
MSRMafia.com Qualifier #1 Winner: Neil Baggett
MidSouthRacing.com Qualifier #2 Winner: Ronnie Johnson
American Race Tires Hard Charger: Eric Cooley (16th to 6th)
GRT Race Cars Hard Luck Award: Bryan Sugg
DBR Starters 10th Place Award: Mathew Turner
Hoosier Race Tires Top Performer Award: Josh Putnam
Provisional Starters: Leon Henderson, Jason Milam, Chad Winkles

P.R.O. Dirt Car Series Point Standings (As of 3/21/10)
1. David Breazeale – 188
2. Anthony Burroughs – 184
3. Ronnie Johnson – 178
4. Rick Rickman – 170
5. Kyle Beard – 168
6. Dean Carpenter – 154
7. Bradley Price – 148
8. Neil Baggett – 140
8. Mathew Turner – 140
10. Ray Mauldin – 130
11. Klint Byars - 126
12. Brian Rickman – 114
13. Jay Burchfield - 112
14. Ross Camponovo – 110
15.  Mark Dodson – 108