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NeSMITH LATE MODEL TOUR HEADS TO TALLADEGA SHORT TRACK FOR NASCAR WEEKEND

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CARTERSVILLE, GA – Youth will be served in the 2018 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Tour and the run for the Durrence Layne Chevrolet Cup. With the first two races of the season in the books, the action moves to Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL for Friday night and Saturday night events during NASCAR Weekend.

The top ten drivers in the NeSmith Late Model Touring Series point standings going into Rounds 3 and 4 of the 2018 season show seven under the age of 30. Four of those drivers are teenagers.

Friday night’s action will feature the NeSmith Late Model National Tour competing in a $2,000-to-win 40-lap race, and on Saturday night, it will be a $2,500-to-win 50-lap event. Also on each night, the NeSmith Weekly Racing Series NeSmith Performance Parts Street Stock Division, the NeSmith Chevrolet Late Model Sportsman Division, and the Durrence Layne Chevrolet Modified Sportsman Division will be competing.

The 2017 NeSmith Late Model National Championship Runner-Up and Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Year, 20-year-old Grant Garrison of Walton, KY, leads the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National standings with 194 points. In his first two starts, Garrison finished third in the season opener on April 20 at Camden Speedway in Camden, TN, and he won the second race of the season on April 21 at North Alabama Speedway in Tuscumbia, AL.

A pair of fourth-place finishes in the first two races has put 18-year-old Ashton Winger of Senoia, GA second in the NeSmith Late Model National standings with 184 points. Winger is also the Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Year point leader.

The defending and two-time NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion Cory Hedgecock of Loudon, TN is third in the National standings with 182. At age 27, Hedgecock is trying to keep up with the kids after the first two races. Hedgecock finished second at Camden Speedway, and after going to the back of the pack early in the race for a caution flag, he rallied back to finish seventh at North Alabama Speedway.

Second-generation driver Jake Knowles of Rome, GA is tied for fourth in the NeSmith Late Model National standings with 172 points based on a pair of top ten finishes. Knowles finished eighth at Camden Speedway, and after starting 24th, he rallied for a sixth-place finish at North Alabama Speedway where Knowles was the Beyea Headers Hard Charger of the Race.

Chad Stapleton of Edinburgh, IN, with 172 points, shares the fourth spot in the NeSmith Late Model standings with Knowles. Stapleton finished ninth at Camden Speedway, and took the fifth spot at North Alabama Speedway.

            Colton Horner of Katy, TX is sixth in the standings with 164 points after a pair of top ten finishes. The 15-year-old driver finished tenth at Camden Speedway, and finished eighth in Round 2 at North Alabama Speedway. Brandon Williams, a third-generation driver from Crossville, TN is seventh in the NeSmith Late Model National standings with 158 points.

            Jamey Boland of Cuba, AL is a 27-year-old second-generation driver that is tied for the eighth spot in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series standings with 16-year-old Bryant Marsh of Corinth, MS, who was the 2016 VP Race Fuels Young Gun Challenge Series Champion for drivers 18 years of age and younger. Both drivers have 150 points and are also tied for second in the Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Year standings.

            Logan Brown of White Bluff, TN rounds out the top ten in NeSmith Late Model National Touring standings after the first two races of the 2018 season. The 18-year-old driver has 146 points. Joining Winger, Horner, Marsh and Brown as VP Racing Fuels Young Guns Challenger Series drivers in 2018 is 14-year-old Parker Martin of Milledgeville, GA and 15-year-old Tyler Clem of St. Petersburg, FL.

            Clem will be racing this weekend at Talladega Short Track, the site where he led several laps of NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series competition two years ago. As a 13-year-old, Clem won the hearts and respect of the fans, many of whom were well-known motorsports personalities that roam the NASCAR Garage Area at the big track across the road, after memorable duel with three-time NeSmith Late Model National Champion and National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame Inductee Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN.

            Joining Winger, Boland and Marsh as 2018 Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Year Candidates are Austin Burns of Georgetown, IN, who is 13th in the NeSmith Late Model National point standings, Jerry Green of Cartersville, GA, who is 19th in the point standings, and Martin, who is 30th point standings.

            On both Friday and Saturday, the Talladega Short Track Pit Gate opens at 3 p.m., with NeSmith 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 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series, visit the series web site at www.nesmithracing.com, or visit the series on Facebook at NeSmith Racing. Becoming a fan of the NeSmith Racing Facebook page will make you eligible for special prizes that will be given away each month. You can follow us on Twitter @NeSmithRacing.

Durrence Layne Chevrolet, Buick, GMC of Claxton, GA is the Title Sponsor of the NeSmith Late Models. 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 NeSmith Late Models. Hoosier Racing Tire is the Official Tire Sponsor of the NeSmith Late Models. VP Racing Fuels and Lubricants is the Official Race Fuel and Lubricant of the NeSmith Late Models. RockAuto.com is an Associate Sponsor of the NeSmith Late Models. Beyea Headers the NeSmith Late Model Hard Charger Sponsor. Knowles Race Parts and Bodies is the Official Parts Supplier for the NeSmith Late Models. Cruise With The Champions is the Official Vacation and Rookie of the Year Sponsor for the NeSmith Late Models. David Smith Carburetors is the Official Carburetor of NeSmith Racing. Freestyle Graphix is the Official Wrap, Banner, and Sign Company of NeSmith Racing. NeSmith 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.