TALLADEGA NASCAR WEEKEND DOUBLE-HEADER NEXT FOR DURRENCE LAYNE DLMS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

              CARTERSVILLE, GA – The stretch drive for the 2018 Durrence Layne Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Championship will begin this weekend at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL with a double racing weekend. The spotlight of NASCAR Weekend will feature Rounds 12 and 13 of the 2018 season.

              This Friday night, the Durrence Layne Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series will feature a $2,000-to-win 40-lap main event, and Saturday night will have a $2,500-to-win 50-lap race. This weekend’s races will be the fourth and fifth races of the season for America’s Leader In Racing at TST, as past winners have included the top drivers in the series that include multi-time champions.

              The defending and two-time Durrence Layne Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion Cory Hedgecock of Loudon, TN took his second win of the season on April 27 and the three-time Durrence Layne Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN was the Talladega Short Track winner on April 28.

              Hedgecock is trying to equal the feat that only Johnson has done, and that is to win three straight Durrence Layne Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Championships.  The Durrence Layne Cup has been awarded to only two drivers since 2012 and that’s Johnson and Hedgecock. Johnson won the big prize in 2013, 2014, and 2015, and Hedgecock won it in 2016 and 2017.

              Along with his two wins this season, Hedgecock has nine top five finishes, 11 top ten finishes, and he has led 83 laps in 11 races. His worse finish this season is a pair of sixth-place efforts. Hedgecock has finished either second or third in his last seven starts. One of the sixth-place finishes came at Talladega Short Track on April 28, and he finished second at TST on July 3.

            With 1,038 points, Hedgecock has a 58-point lead over the second-place driver in the standings, 18-year-old Ashton Winger of Senoia, GA. Winger also has two wins this season and he leads the Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Year point standings. 
           
            Winger has 980 points with two wins, seven top five finishes and eight top ten finishes. Winger has also led the most laps of Durrence Layne Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series competition in first 11 races of the 2018 season, having paced the field for a total of 94 laps. TST has not been kind to Winger, as his two worst finishes of the season have been at the Hornet’s Nest.
           
            Jake Knowles of Rome, GA is third in the Durrence Layne Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series standings with 934 points. Knowles tops the win column in 2018 with three victories, including a win on July 3 at Talladega Short Track. His first two trips to TST offered up finishes outside the top ten. In 11 races, Knowles has three wins, six top five finishes, eight top ten finishes and he has led 61 laps.
           
            The quartet of Hedgecock, Winger, Knowles and Johnson has won eight of the first 11 races of the season. Johnson has run a limited Durrence Layne Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series schedule in 2018, and in five races this season, Johnson has a win and three top five finishes.
           
            Over 40 Durrence Layne Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series competitors are expected for the double racing weekend. Along with Hedgecock, Winger, and Knowles, also expected are the fourth through tenth-place drivers in the point standings, and they are Andy Picklesimer of Ooltewah, TN, Jamey Boland of Cuba, AL, T.J. Brittain of Centre, AL, Bryant Marsh of Corinth, MS, Marcus Minga of Shannon, MS, Tyler Wood of Hohenwald, TN and Oakley Johns of Hohenwald, TN.
           
            Other top drivers expected include Johnson, Donald Johns of Summertown, TN, Jimmy Elliott of Cleveland, TN, Michael Page of Douglasville, GA, Sam Seawright of Fort Payne, AL, Greg Martin of Oliver Springs, TN, Heath Hindman of Signal Mountain, TN, Rodgerick Dykes of Smith Station, AL, Chip Brindle of Chatsworth, GA and Ahnna Parkhurst of Evans, GA.
           
            Cruz Skinner of Oxford, AL will lead a strong contingent of local competitors that compete in Durrence Layne Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Late Model Division action at Talladega Short Track. The former VP Racing Fuels Young Guns Challenge Series Champion has a Durrence Layne Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Touring win this season.
           
            Other local favorites expected include David Kay of Munford, AL, Heath Carr of Ashland, AL, the ageless Red Farmer of Hueytown, AL, Mike Combs of Odenville, AL, Brad Berry of Attalla, AL, Adam Gauldin of Talladega, AL, and Lee Burdette of Bessemer, AL.
           
            On both Friday and Saturday, the Talladega Short Track Pit Gate opens at 3 p.m., with Durrence Layne Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Pre-Race Registration and Technical Inspection from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Drivers Meeting each night is set for 6:30 p.m., with Hot Laps at 7 p.m. and Racing to follow.
           
            Talladega Short Track is located at 4343 Speedway Blvd., Eastaboga, AL 36260. For more information call 256-831-1413, or visit the track web site at www.talladegashorttrack.com. You can also like them on Facebook at Talladega Short Track. 
           
            With it being NASCAR Weekend, both fans and competitors are encouraged to arrive at Talladega Short Track from the east, and travel westbound on Speedway Boulevard for the easiest access to the track.

            For more information and rules about the Durrence Layne Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series, visit the series web site at www.durrencelayneracing.com, or visit the series on Facebook at Durrence Layne Racing. You can follow us on Twitter @DurrenceLayneRacing.

 

Durrence Layne Chevrolet, Buick, GMC of Claxton, GA is the Title Sponsor of the Durrence Layne Chevrolet Late Models and the Pacesetter Award Sponsor at Durrence Layne Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series events. Durrence Layne Chevrolet, Buick, GMC is one of the nation’s top GM Powertrain and Performance Dealers, with free delivery anywhere in the Southeast. Chevrolet Performance Parts is an Official Sponsor of the Durrence Layne Chevrolet Late Models. Hoosier Racing Tire is the Official Tire Sponsor of the Durrence Layne Chevrolet Late Models. VP Racing Fuels and Lubricants is the Official Race Fuel and Lubricant of the Durrence Layne Late Models, sponsor of the VP Lubricants Starting Box, and the VP Lubricants Smooth Move of the Race Award at Durrence Layne Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series events. RockAuto.com is an Associate Sponsor of the Durrence Layne Chevrolet Late Models. Beyea Headers the Durrence Layne Chevrolet Late Model Hard Charger Sponsor. Knowles Race Parts and Bodies is the Official Parts Supplier for the Durrence Layne Chevrolet Late Models and the Fast Qualifier Sponsor at National Touring events. Cruise With The Champions is the Official Vacation and Rookie of the Year Sponsor for the Durrence Layne Chevrolet Late Models. David Smith Carburetors is the Official Carburetor of Durrence Layne Racing. Freestyle Graphix is the Official Wrap, Banner, and Sign Company of Durrence Layne Racing. Durrence Layne Chevrolet Late Model Contingency Sponsors for 2017 are Out-Pace Performance, CrateInsider.Com, Knowles Racing Parts and Bodies, and FreeStyle Graphix. 2018 Chassis Sponsors are Trak-Star Race Cars, Warrior Race Cars, Rocket Chassis, GRT Race Cars, and CVR Race Cars.

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