NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series
Golden Isles Speedway
February 14, 2015
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Henderson Pays Tribute To Hommel By Putting The H2 Back In Victory Lane



by Roby Helm
BRUNSWICK, GA (February 14) – Matt Henderson of Loudon, TN drove the #H2 “Tough As Nails” Duane Hommel Tribute car, the Mighty Muffler and Brakes Rocket to a clean sweep Saturday night with his first career NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series win during night one of East Coast Battle Royal at Golden Isles Speedway.

Henderson started off the evening by setting fast time among the 30 entrants with a lap around the 4/10-mile clay oval in 16.701 seconds to earn the pole position for the main event. Henderson then took the lead at the start of the race and never looked back, leading all 50 laps of the race.

“This win is so special because we put Duane Hommel’s H2 back in victory lane,” Henderson said. “Duane was always an idol of mine, and one day he told me that he started racing with number 17 like I did, but he really started going places when he switched to the H2. He told me maybe I should start running the H2 and see if it would be as good to us as it was for him.”

Hommel was just coming into his own on the National stage of dirt late model racing when it was cut short by a highway accident several years ago that ended his driving career.

“I’ll text Duane when we get back to the pits tonight, but I’ll wait to call him next week because I know that will get pretty emotional,” Henderson said. “I can’t wait for our races in East Tennessee this year where Duane can come in person and be a part of this.”

Henderson said the victory was also important in getting his team back on track in competing for the 2015 NeSmith Late Model National Championship and the Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Year Award.

“We got behind in the first two races of the season with electrical issues, but once we got that taken care of, the race car was good for the third race,” Henderson said. “We knew when we came here we would have to turn it up to kill to get back in the points race. We made some changes this past week, and they worked out well for us. We can’t wait to do it again tomorrow night!”

NeSmith Late Model point leader Walker Arthur of Forest, VA battled his way through the pack to finish second in the Cecil B. Arthur Beef Farms Special after winning the second ten-lap B-Main Race and starting the Big Show in the 12th starting spot. Walker now has a 68-point lead in the NeSmith Late Model point standings.

William Thomas of Phenix City, AL returned to NeSmith Late Model action after taking off most of last season off with a third-place showing in the Save More Special. Corey Gordon of Charlotte, NC drove the RGS Products Special to a fourth-place finish in his first ever start with the NeSmith Late Models.

Jeremy Faircloth of Swainsboro, GA took the fifth spot in the LJR Forestry Warrior and Ches Chester of Twin City, GA started 23rd and finished sixth to earn the Beyea Headers Hard Charger of the Race Award in the Josh Tucker Law/Randy’s Wrecker Special. Chase Edge of LaFayette, AL drove the Edge’s Gas Company Special to a seventh-place finish.

Ryan Crane of Panama City, FL finished eighth in the Panama City Cycles Special and Jimmy Schiltz of Hickory, NC was ninth in the NeSmith Chevrolet Special. Joey Coulter of Concord, NC rounded out the top ten in the Wolfpack Racing Rocket.

Henderson took the lead at the start of the race from the pole position followed by Thomas, Faircloth, Chesley Dixon of Swainsboro, GA in the Central Fence Company Special and Gordon. Edge hustled up from his eighth starting spot to move up to fifth on lap three, and then grabbed the fourth spot on lap five.

The first of five caution flags slowed the pace on lap nine when Jordy Nipper of Gray, GA stalled the Scotty’s Muffler Special in turn four. Henderson had Thomas, Edge, Faircloth, Dixon, Gordon, Cody Martin of Christiana, TN in the Martin Racing Warrior, Schiltz, Ryan King of Seymour, TN in the Brian King Roofing Stinger, and Arthur doubled up behind him for the “Dixie Style” double-file restart.

Two-time and defending NeSmith Late Model National Champion Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN had just worked his way into the top ten, when the second ten-lap B-Main winner slowed in turn four on lap 17 to light the caution bulb for the second time.

The top ten for the double-file restart had Henderson leading Thomas, Edge, Faircloth, Dixon, Martin, Arthur, King, Schiltz, and Gordon. Dixon was the man on the move when the green flag came out as he charged from fifth to third, and brought Walker with him up to the fourth spot.

Walker’s march to the front continued on lap 30 when he made an inside move on Dixon in turn one to move up to the third spot. Caution flag three came out on lap 32 when Charlie Flowers of Hortense, GA spun the C&M Timber Special in turn four.

When the green flag came out, Walker performed a cross over move on Thomas down the backstretch, and began to look inside to challenge for the second spot. While Thomas and Arthur battled side-by-side for the second spot, Henderson began to pull away in the lead.

The two second-place combatants would wage a door-to-door war for the next 12 laps with Arthur on the inside and Thomas on the outside. The only thing that would interrupt Henderson’s big lead and the fight for second between Thomas and Arthur were two caution flags.

Debris in turn two brought out a caution flag on lap 40, and Robert Diekemper of Bloomingdale, GA cut down a left-rear tire on his Chatham Classic Homes Special in turn three on lap 41. The race went green the rest of the way, and Arthur got under and clear of Thomas in turn two on lap 44. By that time, Henderson had a half straightaway lead and took a 3.067 second margin of victory under the checkered flag.

The NeSmith Late Models return to Golden Isles Speedway on Sunday for the second $2,500-to-win 50-lap East Coast Battle Royal race. Gates open at 12 noon with racing at 2:30 p.m. Golden Isles Speedway is located 12 miles west of I-95 at Exit 29 on U.S. Highway 82. The physical address for Golden Isles Speedway is 101 Speedway Drive, Waynesville, GA 31566.

For more information and rules about the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series, visit the series web site at www.nesmithracing.com

OFFICIAL RESULTS OF ROUND 4 AT GOLDEN ISLES SPEEDWAY IN BRUNSWICK, GA ON 2/14/15:

POS STRT CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN LAPS $ WON
1. 1 H2 Matt Henderson (R) Loudon, TN 50 $2.625
2. 12 87 Walker Arthur Forest, VA 50 $1,375
3. 3 19 William Thomas Phenix City, AL 50 $850
4. 4 23 Corey Gordon Charlotte, NC 50 $700
5. 2 4 Jeremy Faircloth Swainsboro, GA 50 $650
6. 23 9 Ches Chester Twin City, GA 50 $550
7. 8 18 Chase Edge LaFayette, AL 50 $625
8. 19 10 Ryan Crane (R) Panama City, FL 50 $575
9. 10 24 Jimmy Schiltz Hickory, NC 50 $400
10. 14 2c Joey Coulter Concord, NC 50 $375
11. 6 3 Chesley Dixon Swainsboro, GA 50 $350
12. 18 5d Rodgerick Dykes Smith Station, AL 49 $300
13. 20 77 Charlie Flowers Hortense, GA 48 $280
14. 21 K3 Jamey Smith Purvis, MS 47 $260
15. 22 29 Mallory Harvey Baxley, GA 40 $250
16. 13 48 Robert Diekemper Bloomingdale, GA 40 $240
17. 5 21m Cody Martin (R) Christiana, TN 31 $220
18. 9 55 Montana Dudley Phenix City, AL 31 $200
19. 24 07 Gib Gibbons Manning, SC 26 $200
20. 11 5 Ronnie Johnson Chattanooga, TN 24 $325
21. 7 30 Ryan King (R) Seymour, TN 19 $325
22. 16 14 Cale Conley Vienna, WV 12 $325
23. 15 16 Mitchell Coble Mt. Airy, NC 8 $200
24. 17 1n Jordy Nipper Gray, GA 8 $200

ENTRIES: 30
FAST QUALIFIER: Henderson, 16.701 Seconds
PROVISIONALS: None
LEAD CHANGES: None
LAP LEADERS: Henderson, 1-50
BEYEA HEADERS HARD CHARGER: Chester (started 23rd and finished 6th)
CRUISE WITH THE CHAMPIONS ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Henderson
CAUTIONS: 5
MARGIN OF VICTORY: 3.067 Seconds
TIME OF THE RACE: 42 Minutes and 4.948 Seconds

QUALIFYING (Top 10 Transfer To Main Event):

POS CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN CHASSIS LAP 1 LAP 2 TIME
1 H2 Matt Henderson - R Loudon, TN Rocket 16.802 16.701 16.701
2 4 Jeremy Faircloth Swainsboro, GA Warrior 17.369 16.735 16.735
3 19 William Thomas Phenix City, AL Longhorn 17.388 16.749 16.749
4 23 Corey Gordon Charlotte, NC Barry Wright 17.735 16.808 16.808
5 21m Cody Martin - R Christiana, TN Warrior 16.808 19.349 16.808
6 3 Chesley Dixon Swainsboro, GA Barry Wright 17.229 16.810 16.810
7 30 Ryan King - R Seymour, TN Stinger 17.036 16.825 16.825
8 18 Chase Edge LaFayette, AL Mastersbilt 16.916 16.836 16.836
9 55 Montana Dudley Phenix City, AL Rocket 16.850 16.886 16.850
10 24 Jimmy Schiltz Hickory, NC DWB 17.295 16.896 16.896
11 22 Cecil Eunice Blackshear, GA Mastersbilt 17.090 16.903 16.903
12 5 Ronnie Johnson Chattanooga, TN Mastersbilt 16.921 17.557 16.921
13 5 Rodgerick Dykes Smith Station, AL Warrior 16.943 17.768 16.943
14 16 Mitchell Coble Mt. Airy, NC CVR 17.285 16.979 16.979
15 07 Gib Gibbons Manning, SC Rocket 17.623 17.025 17.025
16 48 Robert Diekemper Bloomingdale, GA Barry Wright 17.427 17.050 17.050
17 29 Mallory Harvey Baxley, GA Rocket 17.139 17.055 17.055
18 87 Walker Arthur Forest, VA Mastersbilt 17.337 17.087 17.087
19 1n Jordy Nipper Gray, GA Newman 17.339 17.137 17.137
20 2c Joey Coulter Concord, NC Rocket 17.204 17.232 17.204
21 10 Ryan Crane - R Panama City, FL Crane 17.687 17.253 17.253
22 14c Cale Conley Vienna, WV Pierce 17.397 17.274 17.274
23 J1 Joshua Bishop Statesboro, GA Newman 17.927 17.336 17.336
24 45 Damon Flowers Hortense, GA Barry Wright 17.517 17.353 17.353
25 19 Trey Wood - Y Newnan, GA Warrior 17.385 17.763 17.385
26 77 Charlie Flowers Hortense, GA Barry Wright 17.503 17.447 17.447
27 9 Ches Chester Twin City, GA Barry Wright 17.875 17.533 17.533
28 52 Ryan Carter Blackshear, GA Larry Shaw 17.590 17.740 17.590
29 K3 Jamey Smith Purvis, MS Mastersbilt 17.831 17.662 17.662
30 15 Jason Britton - R Alexander City, AL Pierce 18.620 18.475 18.475

B-MAINS (Top 6 Transfer To Main Event):

1ST B-MAIN: 1. Johnson; 2. Diekemper; 3. Coble; 4. Nipper; 5. Crane (R); 6. Smith; 7. Chester; 8. Eunice; 9. Wood (Y); 10. Bishop.

2ND B-MAIN: 1. Arthur; 2. Coulter; 3. Conley; 4. Dykes; 5. C. Flowers; 6. Harvey; 7. Gibbons; 8. D. Flowers; 9. Britton (R); 10. Carter.

NeSMITH LATE MODEL POINT STANDINGS THROUGH 2/14/15:
1. 87 Walker Arthur – 376
2. 5 Ronnie Johnson – 308
3. 30 Ryan King (R) – 296
4. 18 Chase Edge – 270
5. 58 Mark Whitener – 268
6. 10 Ryan Crane (R) – 264
6. 14c Tyler Clem (R/Y) – 264
8. 14 Cale Conley – 262
9. H2 Matt Henderson (R) – 250
9. 111 Max Blair – 250
11. 1 Johnny Stokes – 244
12. 21m Cody Martin (R) – 232
13. 66k Jake Knowles (R) – 228
14. 25 Justin McRee – 216
15. 27 Michael Lake (Y) – 208
16. 4 Joe Mike – 186
16. RJ1 Jacob Hawkins – 186
18. 19 Marcus Minga – 170
19. 00 Bronson Berry – 158
20. 66 Adam Beeler (R) - 156

R – CRUISE WITH THE CHAMPIONS ROOKIE OF THE YEAR CANDIDATE
Y – YOUNG GUN CHALLENGE SERIES CANDIDATE