Hickman Wins Talladega Short Track Friday NeSmith DLMS Race

EASTABOGA, AL - Riley Hickman of Cleveland, TN drove the Hickman Manufacturing CVR to a wire-to-wire win Friday night in the 40-lap main event for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series at Talladega Short Track.  Hickman started on the pole after setting a new track record, and took the lead at the start of the race, leading all 40 laps.

                "The first of the year was pretty rocky for us, as we wrecked some cars, had a lot of bad luck, and got behind," Hickman said.  "We kept working hard and we've turned it around here in the last three months.  It's awesome to win at Talladega Short Track on NASCAR weekend.  The track cleaned up well and it was fun to race on."

                Three-time NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN finished second in the Austin Trucking Capital, and local favorite Cruz Skinner of Oxford, AL took the third spot in the Skinner's Body Shop CVR. 

                The defending NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion and the current point leader Cory Hedgecock of Loudon, TN started eighth and finished fourth to earn the Beyea Headers Hard Charger of the Race Award in the Eagle Racing Engines Rocket.  John Ownby of Cleveland, TN was fifth in the Ownby Racing Mastersbilt.

                T.J. Brittain of Centre, AL was the Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Race with a sixth-place effort in the Josh Roberts Trucking Warrior, and seventh went to Jake Knowles of Rome, GA in the Knowles Race Parts and Bodies Rocket.  Jimmy Elliott of Cleveland, TN drove the Mighty Muffler and Brake Center Longhorn to an eighth-place finish.

                Marcus Minga of Shannon, MS finished ninth in the B&M Salvage Rocket, and Cla Knight of North Augusta, GA rounded out the top ten in the Augusta Aquatics Longhorn.  In preliminary action, Hickman set a new track record in Sunoco/Knowles Race Parts Qualifying with a lap around "The Hornet's Nest" in 13.821 seconds.  Elliott won the 15-lap Hoosier Race Tire first B-Main, and Brittain won the Chevrolet Performance 15-lap second B-Main.

                Hickman took the lead at the drop of the green flag on the 13th race of the season on Friday the 13th followed by Knight and Johnson battling side-by-side for the second spot.  The only caution flag of the race came out on lap three when Brad Berry of Attalla, AL spun the Berry Racing GRT in turn four. 

Doubled up behind Hickman for the Dixie-Style Double-File Restart was Knight, Johnson, Skinner, Ownby, Minga, Brittain, Elliott, Grant Garrison of Walton, KY in the Darrell Lanigan Racing Club 29, and Knowles.

                Johnson drove around the outside of Knight down the backstretch on the restart to take over the second spot.  Hickman reached the cars on the tail end of the lead lap on lap 11, and Skinner got by Knight to move up to the third spot.

                Hickman methodically worked his way through lapped traffic, and Johnson was unable to mount a challenge for the lead.  It only took 13 minutes and change to complete the 40 lap distance, and 23 of the 24 cars that started the race were still running at the drop of the checkered flag.

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.

OFFICIAL RESULTS OF ROUND 13 AT TALLADEGA SHORT TRACK IN EASTABOGA, AL ON 10/13/17:

ENTRIES:  42
FAST TIME:  Hickman, 13.821 Seconds (New Track Record)
PROVISIONALS:  Parkhurst and Johns
LEAD CHANGES:  None
LAP LEADER:  Hickman, 1-40
BEYEA HEADERS HARD CHARGER OF THE RACE:  Hedgecock (started 8th and finished 4th)
CRUISE WITH THE CHAMPIONS ROOKIE OF THE RACE:  Brittan
CAUTIONS:  1
MARGIN OF VICTORY:  2.475 Seconds
TIME OF THE RACE:  13 Minutes and 12.698 Seconds

SUNOCO/KNOWLES RACE PARTS AND BODIES QUICK TIME GROUP QUALIFYING (Top 4 In Each Group Transfer To Main Event):  

B-MAINS (15 Laps - Top 7 Transfer To Main Events):

                HOOSIER RACE TIRE 1ST B-MAIN:  1. Elliott; 2. J. Knowles; 3. Tankersley; 4. Clifton; 5. Combs; 6. Gauldin; 7. Berry; 8. Johns; 9. Carr; 10. Parkhurst; 11. Heatherly; 12. Freeman; 13. Burdett; 14. Seawright; 15. S. Smith; 16. Helms DNS; 17. Casteel DNS.

                CHEVROLET PERFORMANCE 2ND B-MAIN:  1. Brittain; 2. D. Knowles; 3. Horner; 4. Picklesimer; 5. Hoffner; 6. T. Smith; 7. Lasoski; 8. Carroll; 9. Wood; 10. Duplissey; 11. Cummings; 12. Smartt; 13. Farmer; 14. Culver; 15. Palmer; 16. Thomas; 17. Knighten.

EASTABOGA, AL – Riley Hickman of Cleveland, TN drove his Hickman Manufacturing CVR to his second straight NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series win at Talladega Short Track on Saturday night in the 50-lap Main Event. Hickman was the dominant force during NASCAR Weekend at The Hornet’s Nest.

In two nights of NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series competition, Hickman was the Sunoco/Knowles Race Parts and Bodies Fast Qualifier, setting a new track record of 13.821 seconds on Friday night, led all 90 laps of Main event competition, and pocketed $4,500 of first-place prize money.

“This win tonight feels better than last night because I had my doubts that we could win two in a row here,” Hickman said. “Our success this weekend was a team effort because with all of this youth in the NeSmith series, I’m feeling old, so I need my crew to help us step up our program to keep up with these kids.”

Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Year point leader Grant Garrison of Walton, KY finished second in the Darrell Lanigan Racing Club 29, .653 seconds behind Hickman, and was the Rookie of the Race. Jake Knowles of Rome, GA took the third spot in the Knowles Race Parts and Bodies Rocket, and three-time NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN was fourth in the Austin Trucking Capital.

Cruz Skinner of Oxford, AL drove the Skinner’s Body Shop CVR to a fifth-place finish and the sixth spot went to T.J. Brittain of Centre, AL in the Brittain Hauling Warrior. Brittain started 14th and finished sixth to earn the Beyea Headers Hard Charger of the Race Award.

Cla Knight of North Augusta, SC finished seventh in the Augusta Aquatics Longhorn, and the defending NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion and current point leader Cory Hedge(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word) of Loudon, TN took the eighth spot.

Colton Horner of Katy, TX was ninth in the Houston Specialty Products Black Diamond, and Jimmy Elliott of Cleveland, TN rounded out the top ten in the Mighty Muffler and Brakes Longhorn. In preliminary action, Hickman out-timed the 41-car field in Sunoco/Knowles Race Parts and Bodies Qualifying with a lap around TST in 14.526 seconds.

The Hoosier Race Tires first 15-lap B-Main Race was won by Brad Berry of Attalla, AL in the Berry Racing GRT. The Chevrolet Performance second 15-lap B-Main Race was won by Hedge(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word).

Hickman was quick to pick things up where he left off on Friday night by taking the lead at the start of Saturday night’s 50-lap main event followed by Garrison, Johnson, Skinner and Knowles. Hickman lived up to his nickname of “The Hustler” by catching the cars on the tail of the lead lap by the tenth tour.

By lap 14, Hickman put several lapped cars between himself and Garrison, who was a half a straightaway behind the leader. The first of four caution flags came out on lap 20 when John Ownby of Cleveland, TN in the Ownby Racing Mastersbilt and Sam Seawright of Fort Payne, AL in the Center Stage Kryptonite tangled on the front straightaway while battling for the tenth spot.

The restart saw Hickman leading with Garrison, Johnson, Skinner, Knowles, Hedge(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word), Horner, Berry, Brittain and Minga doubled up behind him for the Dixie-Style Double-File Restart. Berry spun in turn one and collected Tyler Wood of Linden, TN in the Wood Racing GRT and Andy Picklesimer of Ooltewah, TN in the Hyma Motorsports CVR on the restart to relight the yellow caution bulb.

The next restart saw Knowles get by Skinner to take over the fourth spot, and the field stayed green until lap 24 when Mark Heatherly of Rossville, GA stalled the Powell Motorsports Longhorn. The top ten for the restart had Hickman leading Garrison, Johnson, Knowles, Skinner, Hedge(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word), Brittain, Horner, Ownby and Knight.

While Hickman and Garrison set sail when the green flag brought the field back up to speed, Knowles was able to get by Johnson to take over the third position. Ownby stalled while running ninth on lap 31 to bring out the final caution flag of the race.

The race went green for the final 19 laps of the event and Hickman was untouchable. Garrison could get close in lapped traffic, but Hickman always seemed to be able to keep lapped cars between himself and the second place driver.

The next event for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series will be Round 15 on the 2017 season with the $10,000-to-win Southern 100 at Southern Raceway in Milton, FL on November 3 and 4.

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.

OFFICIAL RESULTS OF ROUND 14 AT TALLADEGA SHORT TRACK IN EASTABOGA, AL ON 10/14/17:

POS STRT CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN LAPS $ WON
1. 1 R1 Riley Hickman Cleveland, TN 50 $2,500
2. 2 G1 Grant Garrison Walton, KY 50 $1,250
3. 6 66 Jake Knowles Rome, GA 50 $850
4. 3 85 Ronnie Johnson Chattanooga, TN 50 $700
5. 4 11 Cruz Skinner Oxford, AL 50 $650
6. 14 05 T.J. Brittain Centre, AL 50 $550
7. 13 42 Cla Knight North Augusta, GA 50 $500
8. 10 23 Cory Hedge(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word) Loudon, TN 50 $450
9. 8 56jr Colton Horner Katy, TX 50 $400
10. 15 J39 Jimmy Elliott Cleveland, TN 50 $375
11. 12 19 Marcus Minga Shannon, MS 50 $350
12. 20 17w Tyler Wood Linden, TN 50 $300
13. 9 27 Brad Berry Attalla, AL 50 $280
14. 21 T31 Shane Tankersley Morganton, GA 50 $260
15. 22 14 Shane Smith Fruithurst, AL 49 $250
16. 17 3 Heath Carr Ashland, AL 49 $240
17. 25 1cvr Danny Lasoski Dover, MO 49 $220
18. 24 23p Ahnna Parkhurst Evans, GA 48 $200
19. 19 147 Hunter Carroll Columbus, MS 48 $200
20. 5 J0 John Ownby Cleveland, TN 30 $200
21. 16 C6 Oakley Johns Hohenwald, TN 23 $200
22. 11 H5 Mark Heatherly Rossville, GA 23 $200
23. 18 67 Kyle Clifton Ranbune, AL 22 $200
24. 7 16 Sam Seawright Fort Payne, AL 19 $200
25. 23 P1 Andy Picklesimer Ooltewah, TN 18 $200

ENTRIES: 41
SUNOCO/KNOWLES RACE PARTS FAST QUALIFYING: Hickman, 14.526 Seconds
PROVISIONALS: Picklesimer and Parkhurst
LEAD CHANGES: None
LAP LEADER: Hickman, 1-50
BEYEA HEADERS HARD CHARGER OF THE RACE: Brittain (started 14th and finished 6th)
CRUISE WITH THE CHAMPIONS ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Garrison
CAUTIONS: 4
MARGIN OF VICTORY: .653 Seconds
TIME OF THE RACE: 24 Minutes and 50.619 Seconds
NEXT EVENT: November 3 and 4, Southern Raceway, Milton, FL $10,000-To-Win Southern 100

SUNOCO/KNOWLES RACE PARTS GROUP QUALIFYING (Top 4 From Each Group Transfer To Main Event):

GROUP 1:
POS CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN CHASSIS TIME
1 R1 Riley Hickman Cleveland, TN CVR 14.526
2 85 Ronnie Johnson Chattanooga, TN 14.717
3 J0 John Owenby Cleveland, TN Mastersbilt 14.731
4 16 Sam Seawright Fort Payne, AL Kryptonite 14.754
5 42 Cla Knight North Augusta, SC Longhorn 14.780
6 27 Brad Berry Attalla, AL GRT 14.865
7 5 Mark Heatherly Rossville, GA Longhorn 14.986
8 J39 Jimmy Elliott Cleveland, TN Longhorn 14.996
9 3 Heath Carr Ashland, AL Mastersbilt 15.042
10 T31 Shane Tankersley Morganton, GA Rocket 15.066
11 147 Hunter Carroll Columbus, MS Trak-Star 15.073
12 18 Chase Edge Lafayette, AL Mastersbilt 15.075
13 P1 Andy Picklesimer Ooltewah, TN CVR 15.128
14 5C Mike Combs Odenville, AL TSR 15.163
15 23 Ahnna Parkhurst Evans, GA Warrior 15.165
16 15 Brandon Thomas Waco, GA Stinger 15.210
17 97 Luke Hoffner Tuberville, PA Rocket 15.214
18 M2 Lee Burdett Hueytown, AL GRT 15.339
19 5d Rodgerick Dykes Smith Station, AL 15.407
20 81 Adam Cummings Odenville, AL GRT 15.468
21 40 David Culver Bessemer, AL GRT 15.737

GROUP 2:
POS CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN CHASSIS TIME
1 1 Grant Garrison Walton, KY Club 29 14.616
2 11 Cruz Skinner Oxford, AL CVR 14.702
3 66 Jake Knowles Rome, GA Rocket 14.725
4 56JR Colton Horner Katy, TX Black Diamond 14.799
5 05 T J Brittain Centre, AL Warrior 14.809
6 23 Cory Hedgecock Loudon, TN Rocket 14.816
7 C6 Oakley Johns Hohenwald, TN 14.922
8 19 Marcus Minga Shannon, MS Rocket 15.047
9 17w Tyler Wood Linden, TN GRT 15.070
10 67 Kyle Clifton Ranbune, AL Barry Wright 15.083
11 17 Adam Gauldin Talladega, AL Rocket 15.112
12 14 Shane Smith Fruithurst, AL Rocket 15.116
13 1cvr Danny Lasoski Dover, MO CVR 15.118
14 17 Travis Cole Smith Decatur, AL Rayburn 15.161
15 D2 David Duplissey Chattanooga, TN Warrior 15.275
16 C4 Cole Smartt 15.382
17 45 Austin Freeman Pell City, AL Mastersbilt 15.468
18 F97 Red Farmer Hueytown, AL GRT 15.529
19 92 Rodney Martin Cartersville, GA 15.544
20 42k Steve Kirk Pell City, AL 15.648

B-MAINS (15 Laps – Top 7 Transfer To Main Event):

HOOSIER RACE TIRE 1ST B-MAIN: 1. Berry; 2. Heatherly; 3. Knight; 4. Elliott; 5. Carr; 6. Carroll; 7. Tankersley; 8. Edge; 9. Hoffner; 10. Dykes; 11. Cummings; 12. Culver; 13. Picklesimer; 14. Combs; 15. Parkhurst; 16. Burdett; 17. Thomas.

CHEVROLET PERFORMANCE 2ND B-MAIN: 1. Hedge(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word); 2. Minga; 3. Brittain; 4. Johns; 5. Clifton; 6. Wood; 7. S. Smith; 8. T. Smith; 9. Duplissey; 10. Gauldin; 11. Lasoski; 12. Martin; 13. Farmer; 14. Freeman; 15. Smartt; 16. Kirk.