NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series News Release:
Contact – ROBY HELM – (865) 207-4157
May 11, 2011

NeSMITH CHEVROLET DLMS RELEASES DETAILS OF ILLEGAL ENGINE INQUIRY

CARTERSVILLE, GA – NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series officials have released details concerning the illegal camshaft in the engine of the dirt late model driven by Cliff Williams and owned by Walter Ware that was found during the post-race technical inspection on May 7 after the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series event at Jackson Motor Speedway in Jackson, MS.

NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Technical Director Tim Sims measured the camshaft that was removed from the GM Performance Crate Engine and found it not meeting the required GM Performance Parts specifications for the GM Performance 604 Crate Engine. Sims disqualified the Williams/Ware car from the event.

The engine in question was rebuilt and resealed with Crate Racin’ USA seals by Jody P Racing Engines, a NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Authorized Rebuilder. The rebuilders can only get these seals from Crate Racin’ USA, the sanctioning body of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series.

After much rumor and innuendo on the internet message boards, Walter Ware contacted NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Founder and Director Mike Vaughn on Wednesday morning, and admitted that he sent the engine to Jody P Racing Engines to be rebuilt and resealed knowing that the camshaft was illegal. The Crate Racin’ USA seals on the Williams/Ware engine were not tampered with.

As a result of these infractions, in accordance with the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Rulebook, driver Cliff Williams has been suspended from NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series and NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series competition for 365 days and fined $1,000. Car owner Walter Ware has been suspended indefinitely from NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series and NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series competition.

Jody P Racing Engines, who is responsible for making sure a rebuilt GM Performance Crate Engine meets the GM Performance Specifications before resealing the engine with Crate Racin’ USA seals, has had their privileges revoked as an authorized NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Engine Rebuilder and are no longer a part of that program.

“It is the authorized rebuilder’s responsibility to check and double check every part and piece of an engine he is signing his name to, when he obtains and installs a set of Crate Racin, USA seals,” NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Technical Director Tim Sims said.

NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series officials also addressed a false statement on the internet that blank blue seals, like those used by the series, could be purchased with sequenced serial numbers from the manufacturer, American Casting Company, in an effort to counterfeit the Crate Racin’ USA seals.

American Casting Company has confirmed to the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series that they will sell no seals with sequenced serial numbers to anyone without a company name or logo on them.

American Casting Company confirmed to the series they have not and will not sell a blank blue seal to anyone. They also confirmed to the series that no blue seals with a company name or logo have recently been sold to anyone other than the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series in the Southeastern United States.

If any competitor in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series and/or NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series with a rebuilt/resealed engine that has any question regarding its legality should take it to an authorized NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series rebuilder, which are listed on the series web site at www.nesmithracing.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.