Greenville, MS - The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series 2017 National Touring regular season will kick off with a big Double Header weekend on Friday April 7th and Saturday April 8th as part of the "Rumble on the Gumbo" Weekend at

Greenville Speedway in Greenville, MS. The weekend will serve as the opening point's weekend for the regular National Touring season where drivers will be competing for the coveted "NeSmith Cup" and the $10,000 check that goes to the National Champion.

Along with the quest for the NeSmith Cup, a talent laden class of Cruise with the Champions Rookie of the Year candidates will be on hand to take those honors along with their quest for the Championship as well. The Cruise with the Champions Rookie of the Year Class of 2017 will see the following drivers who have already expressed their intent to chase the RoY honors: Evans, GA's Ahnna Parkhurst; Katy, TX's Colton Horner; Rome, GA's TJ Brittain; Newnan, GA's Trey Wood(who will also be pursuing RoY title in the Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series; and Walton, KY's Grant Garrison. Those drivers, paired with others who will make their intentions known, makeup one of the strongest, most competitive Cruise with the Champions Rookie of the Year classes in the history of the series. 

2016 NeSmith Dirt Late Model Series National Champion Cory Hedgecock will return to the tour in 2017 to defend his Championship. After a stellar run to the National Championship in 2016, the pilot of the Eagle Racing Engines sponsored Rocket Chassis will have a "bullseye" on him as the driver to unseat from the throne. That will be a tall task as Hedgecock and his family operated team turned heads with their consistency in 2016 and served notice that they are prepared to not only defend but be repeat guests at the Champions table in 2017.

But as Hedgecock well knows, he cannot let his guard down and must be prepared for the battle to the finish. The "Vossburg Vandal" Scott Dedwylder gave Hedgecock a run to the finish in 2016 and will be back for revenge in 2017 to take home the NeSmith Cup. Shannon, MS Marcus Minga has his new B&M Auto Salvage sponsored Rocket XR1 Chassis up to speed, and after some great runs on Greenville's gumbo will be a driver to watch as he will be out to get his 2017 season off to a solid start. Those drivers are just a few of many of the best Dirt Late Model drivers from across the country that will be on hand to "rumble" on the gumbo.

The 2016 edition of the "Rumble on the Gumbo" for the NeSmith National Touring drivers saw eventual 2016 NeSmith Dirt Late Model Series National Champion Cory Hegecock of Loudon, TN pick up the Friday night portion of the show in his first outing on the gumbo-clay surface.  2016 NeSmith Weekly Racing Series National Champion Michael Arnold of Hattiesburg, MS made a last minute decision to stay in the pits at Greenville during Saturday night's program in 2016, and was rewarded with his first ever National Touring victory and coveted "Golden Helmet" trophy. Those being the most recent National Touring winners at Greenville, they return with hopes of capturing the Sunoco Race Fuels checkered flag again in 2017.

The weekend will kick off with Open Practice on Thursday, April 6. Then, on Friday April 7th NeSmith Dirt Late Model Series competitors will compete for a $2,000 to win, 40 lap feature as well along with the Mississippi State Championship Challenge Series (MSCCS) Super Late Models battling for $2,000-to-win.Other action for Friday night includes the All-Star Modified Series qualifying and heat races for their $2,000-to-finale, which will be held on Saturday night. In addition, NeSmith Street Stocks, Outlaw Hobbies, and Pure Streets will contest a complete program.
On Saturday, April 8th the NeSmith Dirt Late Model Series competitors will see a complete $2,500 to win, 50 lap main event along with the MSCCS Super Late Models who will contest another complete program with the winner's ante increasing to $2,500. Saturday's action also will include B-mains and finale for the All-Star Modified Series and a complete program for NeSmith Street Stocks, Outlaw Hobbies, and Pure Streets.
Admission for the Rumble on the Gumbo is:
Friday Night Admission 
Grandstands 
Adults: $15
Ages 6 to 14: $ 5 
Under 5 free
Pits
Adults: $30 adults 
Kids 6 to 14: $10 
Under 5 free
Saturday night admission: 
Grandstands 
Adults: $20 
Kids 6 to 14: $5 
Under 5 free
Pits 
Adults: $35 
Kids 6 to 14: $10 
Under 5 free.
Racing starts at 8 p.m. on Friday and 7 p.m. Saturday.
If you can't make the big Season Opener weekend at Greenville Speedway, you can catch all the action with LIVE Pay-Per-View coverage at www.FloRacing.com.
For more info on Greenville Speedway visit their official website at www.GreenvilleSpeedway.net. You can also find them on Facebook at Greenville Speedway.

For more information about the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series, visit the series website at www.nesmithracing.com. You can also follow the series by Liking the Facebook page at NeSmith Racing; following on Twitter @NeSmithRacing; and Instagram @nesmithracing.

NeSmith Chevrolet, Buick, GMC is the Official Title Sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. Chevrolet Performance is an Official Sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series.
Hoosier Racing Tire is the Official Tire of the NeSmith Dirt Late Model Series. Sunoco Race Fuels is the Official Race Fuel of the Series. Knowles Race Parts and Bodies is the Official Parts Supplier of the Series. Cruise with the Champions is the Official Vacation and Rookie of the Year Sponsor for the Series.
RockAuto.com is an Associate Sponsor of the Series and Official Sponsor of the RockAuto.com Winter Shootout Series. David Smith Carburetors is the Official Carburetor of NeSmith Racing.

Contingency Sponsors Include: Out-Pace Performance, AR Bodies, Crate Insider.com, Gresham Racing Parts, Knowles Racing Parts and Bodies, and FreeStyle Graphix.

Chassis Sponsors are Trak-Star Race Cars, Warrior Race Cars, Rocket Chassis, GRT Race Cars, and CVR Race Cars.