FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 25, 2015
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NeSmith Panhandle Challenge Series Set For Southern Raceway Season Opener

by Roby Helm
MILTON, FL (March 25) – The NeSmith Panhandle Challenge Series for the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Late Models is set for its 2015 season opener this Saturday night at Southern Raceway. The top dirt late model drivers in the Florida Panhandle and Southern Alabama are expected for this $800-to-win show.

The NeSmith Panhandle Challenge Series involves three tracks, Southern Raceway, Flomaton Speedway in Flomaton, AL, and Northwest Florida Speedway in Baker, FL. The three tracks will sanction the series with the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series, which will oversee the series with Technical and Public Relations support.

Top drivers expected for the NeSmith Panhandle Challenge Series season opener Saturday night at Southern Raceway include Cody Smith of Holt, FL, Ryan Crane of Panama City, FL, Shep Lucas of McKenzie, AL, Stephen Brantley of Monroeville, AL, Frank Wilson of Milton, FL, Josh Huss of Flomaton, FL, Todd Neiheiser of Panama City, FL, and Joseph Joiner of Milton, FL.

Competitors in the NeSmith Panhandle Challenge Series will not only compete for points and a point fund in that series, but they will also be competing against drivers from across the country through a points system for NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series points and a piece of the $20,000 National point fund. A driver’s best 14 weekly finishes will count towards their NeSmith National season total.

The NeSmith Panhandle Challenge Series season opener at Southern Raceway will coincide with Week 1 of the 2015 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series season. At the end of the 27-week season, the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series National Champion will earn $10,000 and the point fund will pay back to the top ten drivers in the point standings.

“Southern Raceway, Flomaton Speedway and Northwest Florida Speedway are all proud and delighted to be affiliated with the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series for the second straight year, and this year with the NeSmith Panhandle Challenge Series,” Southern Raceway Co-Owner Tom Lowery said. “When the three tracks got together to form this series, it was unanimous for us to be affiliated with the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series.”

Lowery said the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series gives a lot more to both weekly tracks and their competitors that no other sanctioning body in the country has to offer. The three tracks are also sanctioned by the NeSmith/AR Bodies Street Stock Division.

“It’s good thing for the tracks because NeSmith handles the Tech and the Administrative work, and it’s good for the competitors because they can race for two separate point funds,” Lowery said. “All three of tracks in this part of the country should be well represented in the National Top 10 of the Weekly Racing Series point standings in both Late Models and Street Stocks.”

Southern Raceway is located south of I-10 at Exit 31 off State Road 87. The physical address is 9359 Nichols Lake Road, Milton, FL 32583. For more information call 850-623-2333, or visit the track web site at www.southernraceway.com. You can also like their Facebook page at Southern Raceway.

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