NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series News Release:  
Contact – ROBY HELM – (865) 207-4157
May 24, 2010

NeSMITH CHEVROLET WEEKLY RACING SERIES ROUND UP FOR MAY 24

CARTERSVILLE, GA – Richie Stephens of Phenix City, AL took his sixth NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region win of the season on Saturday night at East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City, AL to stay in title contention driving the Bennett Logging RMRC. Chase Edge of Lafayette, AL finished fourth to remain on top of the East Region point standings.

The defending and three-time NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region Champion Lucky Keeton of Toomsuba, MS finished second on Saturday night at Jackson Motor Speedway in Jackson, MS to remain on top of the West Region point standings driving the Boland Performance Trak-Star.

Edge appeared in his series-leading 12th race of the season on Saturday night in the Edge’s Gas Mastersbilt, and the 17-year-old driver has now accumulated 561 points with three wins and 12 top five finishes. Edge has an Event Point Average (EPA) of 46.75 points. Stephens is second in the East Region standings with 419 points after a series-leading six wins, and eight top fives in nine starts for an EPA of 46.56.

Ryan King of Anniston, AL is third in the NeSmith Chevrolet WRS East Region standings with 359 points after three top fives and seven top tens in eight starts with an EPA of 44.86 driving the True Bond Masonry TSR. Dana Eiland of Salem, AL is fourth with 351 points after driving the Andy’s Auto Parts GRT to seven top fives in eight starts for an EPA of 43.86.

Craig Scott of Newnan, GA holds down the fifth spot in the East Region standings with 341 points with one win, four top fives and seven top tens in nine starts driving the Base Fuel GRT to an EPA of 37.89. The sixth through ninth-place drivers in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region standings are in championship contention due to their high EPAs.

Adam Gauldin of Talladega, AL is sixth in the East Region standings with 339 points after two wins, six top fives and seven top tens in seven starts in the D&K Truck Service GRT for a Region-leading EPA of 48.43.

The 2008 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region Champion Adam Martin of Talladega, AL and Tim Staples of Pell City, AL are tied for the seventh spot in the East Region standings with 332 points and EPAs of 47.43. Martin has one win, and seven top fives in seven starts driving the Martin Racing Barry Wright.

Staples has driven the Family Nissan Rocket to two wins, six top fives and seven top tens in seven starts. Kevin Maher of McDavid, FL is ninth in the East Region standings with 331 points after driving the United Bank GRT to three wins, and seven top fives in seven starts for an EPA of 47.29.

Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA rounds out the top ten in the East Region standings with 327 points, but that includes 100 bonus points he has received for competing in four NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Touring events since the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series season opened on April 3. Turner has three wins and five top five finishes in five starts driving the Turner Excavating DWB. Minus the 100 bonus points, Turner has an EPA of 45.40.

In other NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region action during Week 8 of the 2010 season, Shep Lucas of McKenzie, AL drove the Lucas Farms Trak-Star to his second win of the season on Saturday night at Flomaton Speedway in Flomaton, AL. Carlton Freeman of Eastaboga, AL picked up his first win of the season on Saturday night at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL driving the Shan Recycling GRT.

Justin McRee of Cuba, AL took his first NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region win of the season on Saturday night at New Senoia Raceway in Senoia, GA driving the Century Dedicated Trak-Star. McRee also has three wins this season in NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region competition. Racing on Friday night at Penton Raceway in Penton, AL was rained out.

McRee used the trip to New Senoia Raceway to tune up for a NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National Touring Triple-Header this weekend with the Stars and Stripes 40 paying $2,00-to-win this Friday night at Penton Raceway, the Salute To The Armed Forces 50 paying $2,500-to-win on Saturday night at East Alabama Motor Speedway, and the American Freedom 40 paying $2,000-to-win on Sunday night at New Senoia Raceway.

Keeton leads the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region standings with 475 points after three wins, eight top five finishes and ten top ten finishes in ten starts for an EPA of 47.5. Shay Knight of Ethelsville, MS is second in the West Region standings with 381 points, including 75 bonus points.

Knight has five top fives, and six top tens in seven starts for an EPA of 43.71 minus the bonus points driving the Dunn’s Autos Mastersbilt. The drivers holding down the third and fourth spots in the West Region point standings have the top two EPAs of the top ten drivers in the West Region standings.

“Dr. Dirt” Johnny Stokes of Columbus, MS is third in the West Region standings with 346 points, including 100 bonus points. Stokes has driven the TJC Mortgage/Maximum Signs and Graphics Mastersbilt to three wins, and five top fives in five starts for an EPA of 49.2, minus the bonus points.

Cliff Williams of Star, MS has accumulated 344 points, including 50 bonus points, driving the Ware Construction Trak-Star to the fourth spot in the West Region standings with two wins, and six top five finishes in six starts for an EPA of 49.

McRee is fifth in the West Region standings with 337 points, including 100 bonus points after three wins, and four top fives in five starts for an EPA of 47.4, minus the bonus points. Tony Lawson of Laurel, MS is sixth with 329 points after one top five and six top tens in eight starts driving the Lawson Construction Rocket to an EPA of 41.13.

Jamey Smith of Purvis, MS is seventh in the West Region standings with 295 points driving the 4th Street Tattoo GRT to two top fives, and five top tens in seven starts for an EPA of 42.14. Jay Burchfield of Columbus, MS is eighth with 288 points, including 100 bonus points, driving the Burchfield’s Body Shop Mastersbilt to three top fives and four top tens in four starts for an EPA of 47, minus the bonus points.

Shannon Lee of Lumberton, MS is ninth in the West Region standings with 284 points, including 100 bonus points, with three top fives for an EPA of 46, minus the bonus points, driving the Billy Riels Racing GRT. Randy Boyd of Marion, MS rounds out the top ten of the NeSmith Chevrolet WRS West Region standings with 274 points with four top fives and six top tens for an EPA of 45.67.

In NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region Week 8 action, Brooks Strength of Jackson, MS took Round 2 of the I-20 Challenge on Saturday night at Jackson Motor Speedway driving the Duncan Motorsports Rocket. The victory was the second of the season for Strength.

Mark Tice of Avon, MS topped a 23-car field on Saturday night at Greenville Speedway in Greenville, MS driving the Precision Marine Trak-Star for his first win of the season. Friday night action scheduled for Hattiesburg Motorsports Park in Hattiesburg, MS and North Alabama Speedway in Tuscumbia, AL was rained out. Central Mississippi Speedway in Winona, MS did not report their Friday night results.

Trak-Star Race Cars continues to lead the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Chassis Manufacturers Challenge, as McRee, Lucas and Tice brought Trak-Star’s win total up to 21 for the season. Trak-Star Race Cars build by Boland Performance of Cuba, AL is the defending NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Chassis Manufacturers Challenge Champion.

Three-time NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Chassis Manufacturers Challenge Champion GRT Race Cars of Greenbrier, AR is second in the points chase, as Freeman posted the 14th win of the season for GRT Race Cars. Strength gave Rocket Chassis of Shinnston, WV their 13th win of the season and third spot in the Chassis Manufactures Challenge standings.

TNT Race Cars of Piney Flats, TN is in the fourth position of the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Chassis Manufacturers Challenge with three wins on the season, and Warrior Race Cars built by Goddard Performance of Knoxville, TN is still looking for their first win of the season in 2010 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series competition.

For a complete rundown of the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series point standings in the East and West Regions, visit the NeSmith Racing web site at www.nesmithracing.com and click on the Points Page.