FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 29, 2011

NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series News Release:
Contact – ROBY HELM – (865) 207-4157
March 29, 2011

ROUND 4 OF THE NeSMITH CHEVROLET DLMS TOUR THIS SATURDAY AT SMOKY MOUNTAIN SPEEDWAY

CARTERSVILLE, GA – Round 4 of the 2011 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Tour will be this Saturday night at Smoky Mountain Speedway in Maryville, TN with a 50-lap $2,500-to-win race for drivers from seven states. The touring drivers of the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS will be taking on a strong local contingent of drivers on the refurbished historic 3/8-mile clay oval.

The Smoky Mountain Speedway race will reshape the 2011 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series point standings after the first three races that were held last month at East Bay Raceway in Tampa, FL. Drivers will be battling for spots in the point standings that pays $20,000 to the series champion at the end of the season.

Brothers Jack Nosbisch Jr. of Riverview, FL and Keith Nosbisch of Valrico, FL are one-two respectively in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series point standings, but they have chosen not to travel away from their home track, so that opens the door for several drivers to move up into the top spots.

Dan Breuer of Troutman, NC is third in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series point standings after a pair of top five finishes and three top ten finishes in the first three races of the season. Breuer will travel to Smoky Mountain Speedway with 272 points, and can take over the point lead with a good finish, as he is only 16 points out of first place.

Three other drivers that are fifth, sixth, and seventh in the point standings are separated by four points, and are only 38 points out of the point lead. Two-time NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Champion David Earl Gentry of Lewisburg, TN is fifth in the standings with 254 points. Gentry had a top five and two top ten finishes at East Bay Raceway Park.

The 2008 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Champion and 2007 VP Racing Fuels Rookie of the Year Chip Brindle of Chatsworth, GA is sixth in the standings with 252 points after three top ten finishes and one fast time award in the first three races of the season. Brindle is trying to join Gentry and Eric Cooley of Fulton, MS as a two-time series champion.

The Ironman of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series, Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA, will be looking to compete in his 111th consecutive series event. Turner has competed in every series race held since its inception on 2005.

Turner, the 2010 NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National Championship Runner-Up, is seventh in the 2011 standings with 250 points after a pair of East Bay top ten finishes. Shan Smith of Dade City, FL is expected Saturday night at Smoky Mountain Speedway. Smith is ninth in the standings with 240 points after two top ten finishes in the first three races.

Cooley is the defending and two-time NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring Champion. The 20-year-old driver is looking for his third straight title in 2011, and is currently just outside the top ten in the standings with 230 points. A good finish at Smoky Mountain Speedway can put Cooley right back into the championship hunt.

Another driver looking to climb into the 2011 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series championship battle is the 2010 VP Racing Fuels Rookie of the Year Larry Harrod of Plains, GA. Harrod, who finished fourth in the 2010 standings, is currently 13th with 198 points. A good showing at Smoky Mountain Speedway puts him right back into championship contention.

Several drivers will travel to Smoky Mountain Speedway this Saturday night to not only compete for NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring points, but also for VP Racing Fuels Rookie of the Year Points. At the end of the season, VP Racing Fuels will pay $5,000 to the highest VP Racing Fuels Rookie of the Year candidate in the point standings.

Frank Wilson of Milton, FL leads the VP Racing Fuels Rookie of the Year point standings with 172 points followed by Mark Tice of Avon, MS with 160 points, Chase Edge of Lafayette, AL with 148 points, Tootie Arnold of Bude, MS with 90 points, Jake Knight of Georgetown, MS with 90 points, Josh Peacock of Dover, FL with 90 points, and Tony Lawson of Laurel, MS with 90 points.

Edge was the 2010 Old Man’s Garage (OMG) NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region Champion. The 17-year-old high school senior has also been rewarded for his efforts in the classroom with a two-year Presidential Scholarship from Southern Union State Community College. Edge has the highest GPA in his senior class at 95.79. In order to race, Edge’s parents require him to keep his grades up.

Other top NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series travelers expected this Saturday night at Smoky Mountain Speedway include Shannon Lee of Lumberton, MS, Steve Cooke of Mt. Airy, NC, and Chase Washington of Houlka, MS.

The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series regulars will be taking on a strong local contingent of local drivers who will be competing in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Old Man’s Garage (OMG) East Region in 2011 at Smoky Mountain Speedway.

Brad Coffey of Maryville, TN set a new track record last Sunday on the newly reclayed Smoky Mountain Speedway and went on to win the feature event. Another winner from last Sunday at the Mountain was David Crabtree of Maryville, TN, and Jason Trammell of Knoxville, TN picked up the dirt late model win in the season opener two weeks ago.

Mark Rosner of Maryville, TN will be another local favorite to watch, as he has three top five finishes driving the Stinger Race Cars “house car.” Other top local favorites include the defending NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Late Model Champion at Smoky Mountain Speedway, Hunter Best of Maryville, TN, former track champions Bobby Giffin of Maryville, TN and Jason Welshan of Maryville, TN, and Chris Wilson of Crossville, TN.

The Luxbury Inn & Suites at the intersection of U.S. Highways 321 and 129 in Maryville, TN is the Official Host Hotel for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring event this Saturday night at Smoky Mountain Speedway in Maryville, TN. The Luxbury Inn & Suites is offing a special discount rate for NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS fans and competitors.

The Luxbury Inn & Suites has Studio Suites with one queen size bed for $70 per night, and a one bedroom Suite with two queen beds for $80 per night. The Luxbury Inn & Suites is located at 805 Foothills Drive behind the McDonalds at the intersection of U.S. Highways 321 and 129 just 15 minutes from Smoky Mountain Speedway.

There are many restaurants and shopping areas within walking distance of the hotel, and truck parking is available in an adjacent lot. To make reservations call 865-983-9839 and ask for the special Smoky Mountain Speedway discount rate.

Smoky Mountain Speedway has announced a detour to the historic track for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring event on Saturday night. The road to the speedway, Brickmill Road, is closed for bridge work between the track and U.S. Highway 411. The track advises NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series fans and competitors to use the following route to reach the track:
Take U.S. Highway 411 to U.S. Highway 129. Turn right on U.S. Highway 129 coming from the south, or left traveling from the north, and go 5.3 miles to Bingham Lane. Turn right on Bingham Lane and go one mile to Brickmill Road. Turn right on Brickmill Road and go 1/10-mile to Cyre Road and turn left for the pit entrance, or proceed on up Brickmill Road for the tier parking and grandstand entrances on the left.

On Saturday, the pit gates open at 2 p.m. with NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Registration and Pre-Race Technical Inspection beginning at 3 p.m. The Grandstand Gates open at 3 p.m. For more information about Smoky Mountain Speedway call 865-856-8989, or visit the track web site at www.smokymountainspeedway.com.

For more information 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.