FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 27, 2010

NeSMITH CHEVROLET WEEKLY RACING SERIES ROUND UP FOR JULY 26

CARTERSVILLE, GA – NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region point leader Johnny Stokes of Columbus, MS drove the TJC Mortgage/Maximum Signs and Graphics Mastersbilt to his series-leading ninth and tenth victories of the season during Week 17 competition. “Dr. Dirt” now has 911 points based on his best 16 finishes in 20 starts.

Stokes picked wins on Friday night at North Alabama Speedway in Tuscumbia, AL and at Columbus Speedway in Columbus, MS on Saturday night, and has won half of the races he has competed in. Stokes now has ten wins and 18 top five finishes, and his point total also includes 125 bonus points for competing in five NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Touring events.

With three NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National Touring events this weekend at Greenville Speedway in Greenville, MS on Friday and Saturday nights, and at Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, MS on Sunday night, Stokes can pick up another 25 bonus points to reach the maximum of 150 bonus points. Several other drivers can earn 25 bonus points at each National race.

Tony Lawson of Laurel, MS had two top ten finishes in Week 17 competition, and moved up to the second spot in the West Region standings with 826 points based on his best 16 finishes, including 125 bonus points. Lawson has four top fives and 13 top ten finishes in 17 starts driving the Lawson Construction Rocket. Lawson can still earn another 25 bonus points.

The defending and three-time NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region Champion Lucky Keeton of Toomsuba, MS finished second on Friday night at Hattiesburg Motorsports Park in Hattiesburg, MS and is third in the West Region standings with 824 points based on his best 16 finishes, including 50 bonus points.
Keeton has five wins, 15 top fives and 17 top tens in 20 starts driving the Boland Performance Trak-Star. Keeton can still earn another 100 bonus points, and can grab 75 of those bonus points this weekend.

Shay Knight of Ethelsville, MS is fourth with 824 points in 15 starts with three wins, ten top fives and 13 top tens driving the Dunn’s Autos Mastersbilt. The “Knight Rider” has earned 100 bonus points and can earn another 50 bonus points. Knight still has one more Weekly Racing Series West Region event to earn full points before he starts netting points in his best 16 finishes.

Chad McCool of Millport, AL reached the 16-race mark over the weekend, and is fifth in the West Region standings with 758 point based on his best 16 finishes that includes 75 bonus points. McCool has one top five and nine top tens in 17 starts driving the M&M Logging Mastersbilt. McCool can max out his bonus points by competing in the three National events this weekend.

Mark Tice of Avon, MS moved up to the sixth spot in the West Region standings with his fourth win of the season on Saturday night at Greenville Speedway driving the Precision Marine Trak-Star. Tice has 667 points, including 25 bonus points, after four wins, ten top fives and 11 top tens in 14 starts.

Jason Michau of Kilmichael, MS is seventh in the West Region standings with 664 points, including 50 bonus points, after three top fives and nine top tens in 15 starts driving the Michau Logging Warrior.

Cliff Williams of Star, MS grabbed his fourth win of the season on Friday night at Hattiesburg Motorsports Park driving the Ware Construction Trak-Star. Williams is eighth in the West Region standings with 658 points, including 100 bonus points, based on four wins and ten top fives in 12 starts. Williams still has four more races to earn full points, and can earn 50 more bonus points.

Mike Palasini Jr. of Leland, MS is ninth with 647 points, including 50 bonus points, after three wins, nine top fives and 10 top tens in 13 starts driving the Medicaid Planning Specialists Trak-Star.

Jamie Flannagan of Tuscumbia, AL rounds out the top ten in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region standings with 606 points based on eight top fives and 12 top tens in 14 starts driving the Seven Springs Lodge Rayburn. Flannagan is the only driver in the top ten of the West Region standings without any bonus points.

NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region Saturday night events at Whynot Motorsports Park in Meridian, MS and Jackson Motor Speedway in Jackson, MS were rained out.

NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region point leader Chase Edge of Lafayette, AL had a pair of top three finishes over the weekend to net five points, and bring his total to 874 points based on his best 16 finishes, which includes 100 bonus points. Edge has three wins, 21 top five finishes and 22 top ten finishes in 23 starts driving the Edge’s Gas Company Mastersbilt.

Richie Stephens of Phenix City, Al is second in the East Region standings with 788 points based on his best 16 finishes, including 25 bonus points. The “Rocketman” has driven the Bennett Logging RMRC to seven wins, 13 top fives and 17 top tens in 18 starts. “Flyin’ Ryan” King of Anniston, AL is third with 763 points, including 100 bonus points, after four top fives and 13 top tens in 15 starts in the True Bond Masonry TSR.

Dana Eiland of Salem, AL drove the Andy’s Auto Parts GRT to his first win of the season on Friday night at Penton Raceway in Penton, AL. Eiland is fourth in the East Region standings with 731 points based on his best 16 finishes, including 25 bonus points, after one win and 13 top fives in 18 starts.

Kevin Maher of McDavid, FL grabbed his fourth win of the season on Saturday night at Flomaton Speedway in Flomaton, AL in the United Bank GRT. Maher is fifth with 710 points, including 50 bonus points. Maher has four wins, 12 top fives and 13 top tens in 14 starts.

Josh Huss of Flomaton, AL is sixth with 703 points, including 50 bonus points, after driving the Charco, Inc. TNT to two wins, 12 top fives and 14 top tens in 14 starts. Paul Walters of Valley, AL is seventh with 680 points, including 25 bonus points, after one win, seven top fives and 13 top tens in 14 starts in the Gary Davis Construction Warrior.

Terrance Nowell of Phenix City, AL took his fourth win of the season on Saturday night at East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City, AL driving the Clarence’s Truck Repair GRT. The “Phenix City Assassin” is eighth in the East Region standings with 676 points, including 50 bonus points, based on four wins, 12 top fives and 13 top tens in 13 starts.

Larry Harrod of Plains, GA opened Week 17 East Region competition with his third win of the season on July 20 at Eat Alabama Motor Speedway driving the Harrod Logging Scorpion. “The Big Tree” is ninth in the East Region standings with 654 points, including 150 bonus points, after three wins and nine top five finishes in 11 starts.

Chris Griffin of Flomaton, AL rounds out the top ten in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region standings with 638 points based on one win, ten top fives and 14 top tens in 14 starts driving the Wallace Paint and Body Wallace. Griffin is the only driver in the top ten of the East Region standings that has not earned any bonus points.

There were a pair of first time winners over the weekend in NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Week 17 East Region competition. Brian Owenby of Maryville, TN drove the Orr and Orr Developers Trak-Star to victory in Friday night at Mountain Raceway Park in Maryville, TN. Jason Hiett of Lincoln, AL was the winner on Saturday night at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL driving the Hiett Racing GRT.

Defending NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Chassis Manufacturers Champion Trak-Star Race Cars built by Boland Performance of Cuba, AL picked up three wins in Week 17 competition from Williams, Tice, and Owenby to bring its 2010 leading win total to 41.

Three-time NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Chassis Manufacturers Champion GRT Race Cars of Greenbrier, AR closed to within nine wins of the point lead, as wins by Eiland, Nowell, Maher, and Hiett brought the GRT win total to 32 in the 2010 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Chassis Manufacturers Challenge.

Rocket Chassis of Shinnston, WV is third in the 2010 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Chassis Manufacturers Challenge with 19 wins, followed by TNT Race Cars of Piney Flats, TN with five wins and Warrior Race Cars built by Goddard Performance of Knoxville, TN with two wins this season.

For a complete rundown of the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series point standings in both the East and West Regions, 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.