CARTERSVILLE, GA – The year was 2012. It was the year of the “Ironman.” The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series honored its 2012 at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame in Dawsonville, GA at its Annual Awards Banquet. For the 2012 Champion, the season went full circle as it ended where it started.
Dawsonville, GA is the birthplace of American Stock Car Racing. In modern history, Bill Elliott put his hometown on the motorsports map, but one can look further back before a group of men met at the Streamline Hotel in Daytona Beach, FL to form NASCAR in 1949 to see where see where another group of men developed a sport that NASCAR drew its base from.
A tour through the Thunder Road Museum in the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame brings the pre-NASCAR days of American Stock Car Racing back into focus. The history runs deep. In 2012, Dawsonville, GA’s Matthew Turner brought the little town Northeast of Atlanta another championship race car driver and another reason to hit the siren at the Dawsonville Pool Hall.
In his hometown, rich in racing tradition, Turner took the stage before his family, friends and neighbors to receive the $20,000 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series $20,000 National Championship.
The road back to Dawsonville was a long one for Turner, as he was the only driver that had competed in all 146 races to date that the NeSmith Late Models had run since the series inception in 2005. Turner became known as the Ironman of the NeSmith Late Models, but now that moniker would have to step aside and make way for a new title, that of Champion.
Turner had to overcome a tough competitor to hoist the NeSmith Cup at the end of the season. For the second straight season, two-time NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion David Earl Gentry of Murfreesboro, TN was a player for the title. Turner and Gentry battled for the championship right now to the last race of the season.
The NeSmith Late Models moved into a new home for their season finale, as Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, FL would host the $10,000-to-win 100-lap 8th Annual Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race on December 1, 2012.
This race had become “the race” for dirt late models powered by the economical Chevrolet Performance Circle Track Engines. Each year, the Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race had drawn the best drivers from across the country and 2012 was no exception. For 2012, the race took on the extra drama of deciding the NeSmith Late Model National Champion.
Turner held a 16-point lead over Gentry coming into the weekend. Gentry had a mechanical problem during the Thursday night practice session and had to change engines on Friday morning. Turner was the fastest qualifier in his group, and started the fourth ten-lap heat race from the pole position. Turner dropped back in the race, finished sixth and failed to transfer to the main event.
Gentry started eighth in the first heat race, but rallied to finish fourth and transfer into the main event, earning the 13th starting spot. Turner started fourth in the first 20-lap B-Main race on Saturday night, and failed to finish in one of the top three transfer spots. Turner took a Provisional and started the main event from the 23rd starting spot.
Gentry started the race with four-point lead over Turner in the Championship battle. As the race unfolded, Gentry had charged his way up to third spot, but things changed dramatically on lap 45. After restarting in third spot after a lap 42 caution flag, Gentry fell off the pace and dropped back to the sixth spot, and Turner moved up to 12th and took over the point lead from Gentry.
Lap 45 saw Gentry stop on the track with a cut down left-front tire, and the caution flag came out. Gentry went to the pits, changed the tire, and restarted in the 18th spot. Gentry charged back through the field and ended up finishing seventh, but Turner claimed the 12th spot at the finish to win the Championship by ten points. Gentry would be the Championship Runner-Up for the second straight year.
“After 146 consecutive races and eight years of trying, we finally got this championship, and it was really nerve racking to get it,” Turner said. “David Earl is a tough competitor, and we have traded having bad luck all season. I hated to see him cut down that tire because I really wanted to win the championship racing with him right down the end.”
Larry Harrod of Plains, GA finished third in the 2012 NeSmith Late Model point standings and Chase Edge of LaFayette, AL took the fourth spot. “Dr. Dirt” Johnny Stokes of Columbus, MS was fifth in the standings, and Chris Cantrell of Chester, SC was the 2012 NeSmith Late Model Rookie of the Year with a sixth-place effort in the point standings.
Michael Blount of Sumrall, MS finished seventh in the 2012 NeSmith Late Model point standings and Cody Kierre of Beebe, AR was eighth and finished second in the Rookie of the Year point standings. Anthony White of Clinton, TN took the ninth spot, and William Thomas of Phenix City, AL rounded out the Top 10 in the 2012 NeSmith Late Model point standings.
There were 22 races on the 2012 NeSmith Late Model schedule at 13 different tracks in six different states with 13 different winners. Gentry, Thomas, and Justin McRee of Woodstock, AL each had three wins. Harrod, Dennis “Rambo” Franklin of Gaffney, SC and Jeremy Shaw of Millport, AL each had two wins.
Single race wins during the 2012 NeSmith Late Model season were earned by Turner, Edge, Jack Nosbisch Jr. of Riverview, FL, Chris Wilson of Crossville, TN, Jeff Smith of Chatsworth, GA, and Greg Fore of Greenville, MS.
The NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series would have a new format for 2012, as the Regional concept was replaced by a single point format for the 27-week season that would pay the National Champion $10,000. A total of 445 drivers would earn points at 17 different tracks in five different states.
Two young drivers, Chase Washington of Houlka, MS and Mickey Trosclair of Luling, LA, battled each other and followed each other up and down the roads to several NeSmith Weekly tracks from as far East as Knoxville, TN and as far West as West Plains, MO for the 2012 NeSmith Weekly $10,000 Championship. At the end of the 27-week season, they would race to a tie in the point standings.
Washington would be crowned the 2012 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series National Champion and collect the $10,000 top prize by winning the tie-breaker with one more 50-point win than Trosclair.
In what had already been an exciting season for the NeSmith Late Models in both the Touring and Weekly Divisions, there was room for just a little bit more excitement at the season finale at Bubba Raceway Park with the 8th Annual $10,000-to-win Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race.
It was final points race of the season, and the battle for the $20,000 NeSmith Late Model Championship has been documented. In addition to that drama, super late model drivers “The Real Deal” Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN, defending race champion Doug Horton of Bruceton Mills, WV, the hometown hero Ivedent Lloyd Jr. of Ocala, FL, Jason Fitzgerald of Middleburg, FL, and NASCAR star Joey Coulter of Charlotte, NC were on site looking for the big money.
There was also a strong contingent of local favorites that included Bubba Raceway Park Late Model Champion Mark Whitener of Middleburg, FL, Shan Smith of Dade City, FL, Keith Nosbisch of Valrico, FL, Kyle Bronson of Tampa, FL, and Jeff Mathews of Valrico, FL looking to defend their home turf.
Whitener set fast time and won the first Heat Race to earn the pole position for the World Championship Race. That put Whitener in a position to go for a clean sweep of the event. Whitener took the lead at the start of the race followed by Bronson, Lloyd and Horton.
O’Neal was in a hurry, as he came from the tenth starting spot to fifth in the opening lap of the race. O’Neal was up to second spot by lap 12, and in the middle of a three-way battle for the lead in heavy lapped traffic with Whitener and Lloyd.
Whitener and O’Neal would swap the lead eight times over the next 57 laps. The battle for the lead heated up and rose to the boiling point on lap 69. With O’Neal leading the race, Whitener threw a slide job on the leader in turn one. The move came up a little short as Whitener and O’Neal came together in turn two.
O’Neal’s car got sideways and he hit the guardrail to bring out the caution flag. Under caution, O’Neil rammed Whitener’s car twice, and O’Neil was sent to the pit area by NeSmith Late Model officials and parked for the rest of the evening.
Whitener led the field for the restart followed by Horton, Smith, who charged into the third spot from the 21st starting spot, and Nosbisch. Lloyd got busy after the green flag came out, coming from sixth to third by lap 81. Lloyd made what would be a very important pass on lap 85 when he got by Smith for the second spot.
Whitener took the checkered flag with a three-second margin over Lloyd. Whitener posed with the $10,000 check and the Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race Trophy in Victory Lane, but he would not get to take it home. After the victory celebration, the cars went to the post-race technical inspection where engines would be disassembled and scrutinized.
The engine in Whitener’s car was disqualified by NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series officials for a piston violation. Lloyd’s engine was also torn down and inspected by NeSmith Late Model officials, and it passed inspection. Lloyd was declared the winner of the 8th Annual Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race at 5:24 a.m. on December 2, 2012.
Smith finished second and Horton was third. Nosbisch took the fourth spot and Franklin was fifth. Mack McCarter of Gatlinburg, TN took the sixth spot and Gentry finished seventh. Edge was eighth, and Walker Arthur of Forest, VA finished ninth.
Shannon Lee of Lumberton, MS won the Bubba’s Army Last Chance Race to earn the 28th and last spot in the starting line-up for the main event, and charged his way through the field to round out the Top 10. In preliminary action, the four Heat Races were won by Whitener, Bronson, Lloyd and Horton. The two B-Main races were won by Arthur and Coulter.
OFFICIAL RESULTS OF THE 8TH ANNUAL CHEVROLET PERFORMANCE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RACE AT BUBBA RACEWAY PARK IN OCALA, FL ON 12/1/12:
POS STRT CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN LAPS $ WON 1. 3 21 Ivedent Lloyd Jr. Ocala, FL 100 $10,000
2. 21 17ss Shan Smith Dade City, FL 100 $5,000
3. 4 11 Doug Horton Bruceton Mills, WV 100 $3,000
4. 9 5n Keith Nosbisch Valrico, FL 100 $2,000
5. 7 27c Dennis Franklin Gaffney, SC 100 $1,750
6. 8 71 Mack McCarter Sevierville, TN 100 $1,500
7. 13 56 David Earl Gentry Murfreesboro, TN 99 $1,300
8. 25 18 Chase Edge Lafayette, AL 99 $1,200
9. 17 87 Walker Arthur Forest, VA 99 $1,100
10. 28 47 Shannon Lee Lumberton, MS 99 $1,000
11. 11 B17 Justin McRee Cottondale, AL 97 $800
12. 23 10 Matthew Turner Dawsonville, GA 97 $700
13. 26 1 Johnny Stokes Columbus, MS 97 $600
14. 24 27 Larry Harrod Plains, GA 97 $500
15. 22 19 Josh Adkins Talladega, AL 95 $450
16. 27 121 Michael Blount Sumrall, MS 95 $440
17. 6 7 Jason Fitzgerald Middleburg, FL 71 $430
18. 10 7b Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN 68 $420
19. 2 40 Kyle Bronson Tampa, FL 54 $400
20. 14 114 Chris Cantrell (R) Chester, SC 50 $400
21. 15 10w Chris Wilson Crossville, TN 49 $400
22. 12 12 Ryan Montgomery Fairmont, WV 48 $400
23. 18 2 Joey Coulter Charlotte, NC 42 $400
24. 19 5 Ronnie Johnson Chattanooga, TN 37 $400
25. 5 24 Greg Martin Oliver Springs, TN 22 $400
26. 14 11s David Smith Inman, SC 20 $400
27. 20 33 Jeff Mathews Valrico, FL 14 $400
28, 1 58 Mark Whitener Middleburg, FL 100 $0 - DQ
ENTRIES: 45
FAST QUALIFIER: Whitener, 15.477 Seconds
PROVISIONALS: Turner, Harrod, Edge, Stokes, Blount
LEAD CHANGES: 8 Between 2 Drivers
LAP LEADERS: Whitener, 1-25; O’Neal, 26-31; Whitener, 32-33; O’Neal, 34-44; Whitener, 45; O’Neal, 46-50; Whitener, 51-65; O’Neal, 66-68; Whitener, 69-100
LAPS LED: Whitener, 75; O’Neal, 25
VP RACING FUELS ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Cantrell
HEDMAN HUSLER OF THE RACE AWARD: Shan Smith (started 21st and finished 2nd)
DOMINATOR RACE PRODUCTS HARD LUCK AWARD: Gentry
INTEGRA RACING SHOCKS JUST MISSED IT AWARD: Austin Kirkpatrick
RACE CAR ENGINEERING 5TH-PLACE AWARD: Franklin
KRC 6TH-PLACE AWARD: McCarter
QA 1 RACE PRODUCTS 7TH-PLACE AWARD: Gentry
RACE CAR ENGINEERING 8TH-PLACE AWARD” Edge
MODERN IMAGES 9TH-PLACE AWARD: Arthur
KRC 10TH-PLACE AWARD: Lee
MIKE’S CUSTOM TANKS 11TH-PLACE AWARD: McRee
SHORTY’S SHOCK SERVICE 12TH-PLACE AWARD: Turner
SCHOENFELD HEADERS 13TH-PLACE AWARD: Stokes
J.T. RACING EQUIPMENT 14TH-PLACE AWARD: Harrod
KINSER AIR FILTERS 15TH-PLACE AWARD: Adkins
CAUTIONS: 12
MARGIN OF VICTORY: 3.558 Seconds
TIME OF THE RACE: 1 Hour, 46 Minutes, and 25.094 Seconds
GROUP QUALIFYING:
1ST GROUP:
POS
CAR #
DRIVER
HOMETOWN
CHASSIS
LAP 1
LAP 2
TIME
1
10
Matthew Turner
Dawsonville, GA
DWB
15.938
15.746
15.746
2
J4
John Garvin Jr.
Sarver, PA
Rocket
16.409
15.787
15.787
3
11
Doug Horton
Bruceton Mills, WV
Warrior
16.226
15.823
15.823
4
71
Mack McCarter
Sevierville, TN
CVR
15.856
15.874
15.856
5
12
Ryan Montgomery
Fairmont, WV
Warrior
15.975
15.880
15.880
6
18
Chase Edge
Lafayette, AL
Mastersbilt
16.203
15.962
15.962
7
111
Steven Roberts
Jesup, GA
Barry Wright
16.390
16.039
16.039
8
11s
David Smith
Inman, SC
TNT
16.366
16.191
16.191
9
2
Joey Coulter
Charlotte, NC
Rocket
16.424
16.409
16.409
10
19
Josh Adkins
Talladega, AL
Barry Wright
16.499
17.046
16.499
11
4g
Bob Gardner
Germantown Hills, IL
Rayburn
16.858
16.611
16.611
12
17k
Cody Kierre - R
Beebe, AR
GRT
17.032
17.356
17.032
2ND GROUP:
POS
CAR #
DRIVER
HOMETOWN
CHASSIS
LAP 1
LAP 2
TIME
1
58
Mark Whitener
Middleburg, FL
Barry Wright
15.712
15.477
15.477
2
5n
Keith Nosbisch
Valrico, FL
Warrior
15.744
15.734
15.734
3
11k
Austin Kirkpatrick
Ocala, FL
Barry Wright
16.396
16.052
16.052
4
24
Greg Martin
Oliver Springs, TN
Bloomquist
16.528
16.140
16.140
5
5
Ronnie Johnson
Chattanooga, TN
Mastersbilt
16.288
16.146
16.146
6
33
Carter Stokes
New Smyrna, FL
Rocket
16.346
17.091
16.346
7
17ss
Shan Smith
Dade City, FL
GRT
16.358
16.589
16.358
8
56
David Earl Gentry
Murfreesboro, TN
Warrior
16.543
16.728
16.543
9
25
Dalton Myers
Riverview, FL
Barry Wright
16.551
16.877
16.551
10
10w
Rodney Wing
Meridian, MS
Rocket
16.584
17.038
16.584
11
11r
Stacey Roberts
Sylvester, GA
Rocket
17.010
16.716
16.716
3RD GROUP:
POS
CAR #
DRIVER
HOMETOWN
CHASSIS
LAP 1
LAP 2
TIME
1
21
Ivedent Lloyd Jr.
Ocala, FL
Snow Bros.
15.814
15.721
15.721
2
B17
Justin McRee
Cottondale, AL
HRRC
15.842
15.981
15.842
3
27c
Dennis Franklin
Gaffney, SC
Barry Wright
16.436
16.005
16.005
4
23
Chris Ferguson
Mt. Holly, NC
Longhorn
16.034
16.176
16.034
5
10cw
Chris Wilson
Crossville, TN
GRT
16.304
16.382
16.304
6
27
Larry Harrod
Plains, GA
Scorpion
16.801
16.588
16.588
7
87
Walker Arthur
Forest, VA
Rocket
17.005
16.739
16.739
8
38c
John Gardner Jr.
Creve Coeur, IL
Rayburn
16.953
16.976
16.953
9
5d
Rodgerick Dykes
Smith Station, AL
Warrior
17.201
16.995
16.995
10
47
Shannon Lee
Lumberton, MS
GRT
17.076
17.148
17.076
11
8a
Todd Morrow
East Ridge, TN
GRT
17.265
17.511
17.265
4TH GROUP:
POS
CAR #
DRIVER
HOMETOWN
CHASSIS
LAP 1
LAP 2
TIME
1
40b
Kyle Bronson
Tampa, FL
Warrior
15.744
15.597
15.597
2
7f
Jason Fitzgerald
Middleburg, FL
GRT
16.177
16.803
16.177
3
7
Don O'Neal
Martinsville, IN
Mastersbilt
16.187
16.360
16.187
4
54
Brandon Overton
Appling, GA
Mastersbilt
16.243
16.881
16.243
5
33
Jeff Mathews
Valrico, FL
Rocket
16.408
16.579
16.408
6
69
Tony Lawson
Laurel, MS
Scorpion
16.866
16.523
16.523
7
110
Brent Barrett
Cleveland, MS
GRT
16.600
16.705
16.600
8
114
Chris Cantrell - R
Chester, SC
Rocket
16.640
16.657
16.640
9
121
Michael Blount
Sumrall, MS
GRT
17.001
16.718
16.718
10
10c
Ronnie Cooper
McKenzie, TN
GRT
17.252
16.781
16.781
11
1
Johnny Stokes
Columbus, MS
GRT
16.826
17.013
16.826
HEAT RACES (15 Laps – Top 4 Transfer To Main Event):
1ST HEAT: 1. Whitener; 2. Martin; 3. Nosbisch; 4. Gentry; 5. Johnson; 6. Kirkpatrick; 7. Sta. Roberts; 8. C. Stokes; 9. Myers; 10. S. Smith; 11. Wing.
2ND HEAT: 1. Bronson; 2. Fitzgerald; 3. O’Neal; 4. Cantrell (R); 5. Blount; 6. Mathews; 7. Cooper; 8. Barrett; 9. Lawson; 10. J. Stokes; 11. Overton.
3RD HEAT: 1. Lloyd; 2. Franklin; 3. McRee; 4. Wilson; 5. Arthur; 6. Dykes; 7. Harrod; 8. Lee; 9. Ferguson; 10. Morrow; 11. J. Gardner.
4TH HEAT: 1. Horton; 2. McCarter; 3. Montgomery; 4. D. Smith; 5. Coulter; 6. Turner; 7. B. Gardner; 8. Adkins; 9. Ste. Roberts; 10. Edge; 11. 17k Kierre (R); 12. Garvin.
B-MAINS (20 Laps – Top 3 Transfer To Main Event):
1ST B-MAIN: 1. Arthur; 2. Johnson; 3. S. Smith; 4. Kirkpatrick; 5. Sta. Roberts; 6. Harrod; 7. Ferguson; 8. Lee; 9. Myers; 10. Morrow; 11. C. Stokes; 12. J. Gardner; 13. Dykes; 14. Wing DNS.
2ND B-MAIN: 1. Coulter; 2. Mathews; 3. Adkins; 4. Blount; 5. B. Gardner; 6. Edge; 7. Turner; 8. J. Stokes; 9. Cooper; 10. Barrett; 11. Kierre (R); 12. Lawson; 13. Ste. Roberts; 14. Garvin DQ; 15. Overton DNS.
BUBBA ARMY LAST CHANCE RACE (10 Laps – Winner Transfers To Main Event): 1. Lee; 2. B. Gardner; 3. Kirkpatrick; 4. Barrett; 5. Sta. Roberts; 6. Lawson; 7. Myers; 8. J. Gardner; 9. Cooper; 10. Dykes.
NeSmith Chevrolet, Buick, GMC of Claxton, GA is the Title Sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. NeSmith Chevrolet, Buick, GMC is the nation’s number one GM Powertrain and Performance Dealer six years running, with free delivery anywhere in the Southeast. Chevrolet Performance Parts is an Official Sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. Hoosier Racing Tire is the Official Tire Sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. RockAuto.com is an Official Sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. Racecar Engineering is the Official Parts Supplier of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. Renegade Race and Performance Fuels are a series Associate Sponsor and fuel supplier. Schaeffer’s Oil Presented By Chad Wallace and Heather Newsome is the Official Oil of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. AR Bodies is an Associate Sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Contingency Sponsors for 2014 are Dominator Race Products, Stealth Racing Carburetors, Modern Images, Mike Custom Tanks, Schoenfeld Headers, Kinser Air Filters, Performance Rod & Custom, and David Smith Carburetors. 2014 Chassis Sponsors are Trak-Star Race Cars, Warrior Race Cars, Rocket Chassis, GRT Race Cars, TNT Race Cars, and CVR Race Cars.
Dawsonville, GA is the birthplace of American Stock Car Racing. In modern history, Bill Elliott put his hometown on the motorsports map, but one can look further back before a group of men met at the Streamline Hotel in Daytona Beach, FL to form NASCAR in 1949 to see where see where another group of men developed a sport that NASCAR drew its base from.
A tour through the Thunder Road Museum in the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame brings the pre-NASCAR days of American Stock Car Racing back into focus. The history runs deep. In 2012, Dawsonville, GA’s Matthew Turner brought the little town Northeast of Atlanta another championship race car driver and another reason to hit the siren at the Dawsonville Pool Hall.
In his hometown, rich in racing tradition, Turner took the stage before his family, friends and neighbors to receive the $20,000 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series $20,000 National Championship.
The road back to Dawsonville was a long one for Turner, as he was the only driver that had competed in all 146 races to date that the NeSmith Late Models had run since the series inception in 2005. Turner became known as the Ironman of the NeSmith Late Models, but now that moniker would have to step aside and make way for a new title, that of Champion.
Turner had to overcome a tough competitor to hoist the NeSmith Cup at the end of the season. For the second straight season, two-time NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion David Earl Gentry of Murfreesboro, TN was a player for the title. Turner and Gentry battled for the championship right now to the last race of the season.
The NeSmith Late Models moved into a new home for their season finale, as Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, FL would host the $10,000-to-win 100-lap 8th Annual Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race on December 1, 2012.
This race had become “the race” for dirt late models powered by the economical Chevrolet Performance Circle Track Engines. Each year, the Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race had drawn the best drivers from across the country and 2012 was no exception. For 2012, the race took on the extra drama of deciding the NeSmith Late Model National Champion.
Turner held a 16-point lead over Gentry coming into the weekend. Gentry had a mechanical problem during the Thursday night practice session and had to change engines on Friday morning. Turner was the fastest qualifier in his group, and started the fourth ten-lap heat race from the pole position. Turner dropped back in the race, finished sixth and failed to transfer to the main event.
Gentry started eighth in the first heat race, but rallied to finish fourth and transfer into the main event, earning the 13th starting spot. Turner started fourth in the first 20-lap B-Main race on Saturday night, and failed to finish in one of the top three transfer spots. Turner took a Provisional and started the main event from the 23rd starting spot.
Gentry started the race with four-point lead over Turner in the Championship battle. As the race unfolded, Gentry had charged his way up to third spot, but things changed dramatically on lap 45. After restarting in third spot after a lap 42 caution flag, Gentry fell off the pace and dropped back to the sixth spot, and Turner moved up to 12th and took over the point lead from Gentry.
Lap 45 saw Gentry stop on the track with a cut down left-front tire, and the caution flag came out. Gentry went to the pits, changed the tire, and restarted in the 18th spot. Gentry charged back through the field and ended up finishing seventh, but Turner claimed the 12th spot at the finish to win the Championship by ten points. Gentry would be the Championship Runner-Up for the second straight year.
“After 146 consecutive races and eight years of trying, we finally got this championship, and it was really nerve racking to get it,” Turner said. “David Earl is a tough competitor, and we have traded having bad luck all season. I hated to see him cut down that tire because I really wanted to win the championship racing with him right down the end.”
Larry Harrod of Plains, GA finished third in the 2012 NeSmith Late Model point standings and Chase Edge of LaFayette, AL took the fourth spot. “Dr. Dirt” Johnny Stokes of Columbus, MS was fifth in the standings, and Chris Cantrell of Chester, SC was the 2012 NeSmith Late Model Rookie of the Year with a sixth-place effort in the point standings.
Michael Blount of Sumrall, MS finished seventh in the 2012 NeSmith Late Model point standings and Cody Kierre of Beebe, AR was eighth and finished second in the Rookie of the Year point standings. Anthony White of Clinton, TN took the ninth spot, and William Thomas of Phenix City, AL rounded out the Top 10 in the 2012 NeSmith Late Model point standings.
There were 22 races on the 2012 NeSmith Late Model schedule at 13 different tracks in six different states with 13 different winners. Gentry, Thomas, and Justin McRee of Woodstock, AL each had three wins. Harrod, Dennis “Rambo” Franklin of Gaffney, SC and Jeremy Shaw of Millport, AL each had two wins.
Single race wins during the 2012 NeSmith Late Model season were earned by Turner, Edge, Jack Nosbisch Jr. of Riverview, FL, Chris Wilson of Crossville, TN, Jeff Smith of Chatsworth, GA, and Greg Fore of Greenville, MS.
The NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series would have a new format for 2012, as the Regional concept was replaced by a single point format for the 27-week season that would pay the National Champion $10,000. A total of 445 drivers would earn points at 17 different tracks in five different states.
Two young drivers, Chase Washington of Houlka, MS and Mickey Trosclair of Luling, LA, battled each other and followed each other up and down the roads to several NeSmith Weekly tracks from as far East as Knoxville, TN and as far West as West Plains, MO for the 2012 NeSmith Weekly $10,000 Championship. At the end of the 27-week season, they would race to a tie in the point standings.
Washington would be crowned the 2012 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series National Champion and collect the $10,000 top prize by winning the tie-breaker with one more 50-point win than Trosclair.
In what had already been an exciting season for the NeSmith Late Models in both the Touring and Weekly Divisions, there was room for just a little bit more excitement at the season finale at Bubba Raceway Park with the 8th Annual $10,000-to-win Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race.
It was final points race of the season, and the battle for the $20,000 NeSmith Late Model Championship has been documented. In addition to that drama, super late model drivers “The Real Deal” Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN, defending race champion Doug Horton of Bruceton Mills, WV, the hometown hero Ivedent Lloyd Jr. of Ocala, FL, Jason Fitzgerald of Middleburg, FL, and NASCAR star Joey Coulter of Charlotte, NC were on site looking for the big money.
There was also a strong contingent of local favorites that included Bubba Raceway Park Late Model Champion Mark Whitener of Middleburg, FL, Shan Smith of Dade City, FL, Keith Nosbisch of Valrico, FL, Kyle Bronson of Tampa, FL, and Jeff Mathews of Valrico, FL looking to defend their home turf.
Whitener set fast time and won the first Heat Race to earn the pole position for the World Championship Race. That put Whitener in a position to go for a clean sweep of the event. Whitener took the lead at the start of the race followed by Bronson, Lloyd and Horton.
O’Neal was in a hurry, as he came from the tenth starting spot to fifth in the opening lap of the race. O’Neal was up to second spot by lap 12, and in the middle of a three-way battle for the lead in heavy lapped traffic with Whitener and Lloyd.
Whitener and O’Neal would swap the lead eight times over the next 57 laps. The battle for the lead heated up and rose to the boiling point on lap 69. With O’Neal leading the race, Whitener threw a slide job on the leader in turn one. The move came up a little short as Whitener and O’Neal came together in turn two.
O’Neal’s car got sideways and he hit the guardrail to bring out the caution flag. Under caution, O’Neil rammed Whitener’s car twice, and O’Neil was sent to the pit area by NeSmith Late Model officials and parked for the rest of the evening.
Whitener led the field for the restart followed by Horton, Smith, who charged into the third spot from the 21st starting spot, and Nosbisch. Lloyd got busy after the green flag came out, coming from sixth to third by lap 81. Lloyd made what would be a very important pass on lap 85 when he got by Smith for the second spot.
Whitener took the checkered flag with a three-second margin over Lloyd. Whitener posed with the $10,000 check and the Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race Trophy in Victory Lane, but he would not get to take it home. After the victory celebration, the cars went to the post-race technical inspection where engines would be disassembled and scrutinized.
The engine in Whitener’s car was disqualified by NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series officials for a piston violation. Lloyd’s engine was also torn down and inspected by NeSmith Late Model officials, and it passed inspection. Lloyd was declared the winner of the 8th Annual Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race at 5:24 a.m. on December 2, 2012.
Smith finished second and Horton was third. Nosbisch took the fourth spot and Franklin was fifth. Mack McCarter of Gatlinburg, TN took the sixth spot and Gentry finished seventh. Edge was eighth, and Walker Arthur of Forest, VA finished ninth.
Shannon Lee of Lumberton, MS won the Bubba’s Army Last Chance Race to earn the 28th and last spot in the starting line-up for the main event, and charged his way through the field to round out the Top 10. In preliminary action, the four Heat Races were won by Whitener, Bronson, Lloyd and Horton. The two B-Main races were won by Arthur and Coulter.
OFFICIAL RESULTS OF THE 8TH ANNUAL CHEVROLET PERFORMANCE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RACE AT BUBBA RACEWAY PARK IN OCALA, FL ON 12/1/12:
POS STRT CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN LAPS $ WON 1. 3 21 Ivedent Lloyd Jr. Ocala, FL 100 $10,000
2. 21 17ss Shan Smith Dade City, FL 100 $5,000
3. 4 11 Doug Horton Bruceton Mills, WV 100 $3,000
4. 9 5n Keith Nosbisch Valrico, FL 100 $2,000
5. 7 27c Dennis Franklin Gaffney, SC 100 $1,750
6. 8 71 Mack McCarter Sevierville, TN 100 $1,500
7. 13 56 David Earl Gentry Murfreesboro, TN 99 $1,300
8. 25 18 Chase Edge Lafayette, AL 99 $1,200
9. 17 87 Walker Arthur Forest, VA 99 $1,100
10. 28 47 Shannon Lee Lumberton, MS 99 $1,000
11. 11 B17 Justin McRee Cottondale, AL 97 $800
12. 23 10 Matthew Turner Dawsonville, GA 97 $700
13. 26 1 Johnny Stokes Columbus, MS 97 $600
14. 24 27 Larry Harrod Plains, GA 97 $500
15. 22 19 Josh Adkins Talladega, AL 95 $450
16. 27 121 Michael Blount Sumrall, MS 95 $440
17. 6 7 Jason Fitzgerald Middleburg, FL 71 $430
18. 10 7b Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN 68 $420
19. 2 40 Kyle Bronson Tampa, FL 54 $400
20. 14 114 Chris Cantrell (R) Chester, SC 50 $400
21. 15 10w Chris Wilson Crossville, TN 49 $400
22. 12 12 Ryan Montgomery Fairmont, WV 48 $400
23. 18 2 Joey Coulter Charlotte, NC 42 $400
24. 19 5 Ronnie Johnson Chattanooga, TN 37 $400
25. 5 24 Greg Martin Oliver Springs, TN 22 $400
26. 14 11s David Smith Inman, SC 20 $400
27. 20 33 Jeff Mathews Valrico, FL 14 $400
28, 1 58 Mark Whitener Middleburg, FL 100 $0 - DQ
ENTRIES: 45
FAST QUALIFIER: Whitener, 15.477 Seconds
PROVISIONALS: Turner, Harrod, Edge, Stokes, Blount
LEAD CHANGES: 8 Between 2 Drivers
LAP LEADERS: Whitener, 1-25; O’Neal, 26-31; Whitener, 32-33; O’Neal, 34-44; Whitener, 45; O’Neal, 46-50; Whitener, 51-65; O’Neal, 66-68; Whitener, 69-100
LAPS LED: Whitener, 75; O’Neal, 25
VP RACING FUELS ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Cantrell
HEDMAN HUSLER OF THE RACE AWARD: Shan Smith (started 21st and finished 2nd)
DOMINATOR RACE PRODUCTS HARD LUCK AWARD: Gentry
INTEGRA RACING SHOCKS JUST MISSED IT AWARD: Austin Kirkpatrick
RACE CAR ENGINEERING 5TH-PLACE AWARD: Franklin
KRC 6TH-PLACE AWARD: McCarter
QA 1 RACE PRODUCTS 7TH-PLACE AWARD: Gentry
RACE CAR ENGINEERING 8TH-PLACE AWARD” Edge
MODERN IMAGES 9TH-PLACE AWARD: Arthur
KRC 10TH-PLACE AWARD: Lee
MIKE’S CUSTOM TANKS 11TH-PLACE AWARD: McRee
SHORTY’S SHOCK SERVICE 12TH-PLACE AWARD: Turner
SCHOENFELD HEADERS 13TH-PLACE AWARD: Stokes
J.T. RACING EQUIPMENT 14TH-PLACE AWARD: Harrod
KINSER AIR FILTERS 15TH-PLACE AWARD: Adkins
CAUTIONS: 12
MARGIN OF VICTORY: 3.558 Seconds
TIME OF THE RACE: 1 Hour, 46 Minutes, and 25.094 Seconds
GROUP QUALIFYING:
1ST GROUP:
POS
CAR #
DRIVER
HOMETOWN
CHASSIS
LAP 1
LAP 2
TIME
1
10
Matthew Turner
Dawsonville, GA
DWB
15.938
15.746
15.746
2
J4
John Garvin Jr.
Sarver, PA
Rocket
16.409
15.787
15.787
3
11
Doug Horton
Bruceton Mills, WV
Warrior
16.226
15.823
15.823
4
71
Mack McCarter
Sevierville, TN
CVR
15.856
15.874
15.856
5
12
Ryan Montgomery
Fairmont, WV
Warrior
15.975
15.880
15.880
6
18
Chase Edge
Lafayette, AL
Mastersbilt
16.203
15.962
15.962
7
111
Steven Roberts
Jesup, GA
Barry Wright
16.390
16.039
16.039
8
11s
David Smith
Inman, SC
TNT
16.366
16.191
16.191
9
2
Joey Coulter
Charlotte, NC
Rocket
16.424
16.409
16.409
10
19
Josh Adkins
Talladega, AL
Barry Wright
16.499
17.046
16.499
11
4g
Bob Gardner
Germantown Hills, IL
Rayburn
16.858
16.611
16.611
12
17k
Cody Kierre - R
Beebe, AR
GRT
17.032
17.356
17.032
2ND GROUP:
POS
CAR #
DRIVER
HOMETOWN
CHASSIS
LAP 1
LAP 2
TIME
1
58
Mark Whitener
Middleburg, FL
Barry Wright
15.712
15.477
15.477
2
5n
Keith Nosbisch
Valrico, FL
Warrior
15.744
15.734
15.734
3
11k
Austin Kirkpatrick
Ocala, FL
Barry Wright
16.396
16.052
16.052
4
24
Greg Martin
Oliver Springs, TN
Bloomquist
16.528
16.140
16.140
5
5
Ronnie Johnson
Chattanooga, TN
Mastersbilt
16.288
16.146
16.146
6
33
Carter Stokes
New Smyrna, FL
Rocket
16.346
17.091
16.346
7
17ss
Shan Smith
Dade City, FL
GRT
16.358
16.589
16.358
8
56
David Earl Gentry
Murfreesboro, TN
Warrior
16.543
16.728
16.543
9
25
Dalton Myers
Riverview, FL
Barry Wright
16.551
16.877
16.551
10
10w
Rodney Wing
Meridian, MS
Rocket
16.584
17.038
16.584
11
11r
Stacey Roberts
Sylvester, GA
Rocket
17.010
16.716
16.716
3RD GROUP:
POS
CAR #
DRIVER
HOMETOWN
CHASSIS
LAP 1
LAP 2
TIME
1
21
Ivedent Lloyd Jr.
Ocala, FL
Snow Bros.
15.814
15.721
15.721
2
B17
Justin McRee
Cottondale, AL
HRRC
15.842
15.981
15.842
3
27c
Dennis Franklin
Gaffney, SC
Barry Wright
16.436
16.005
16.005
4
23
Chris Ferguson
Mt. Holly, NC
Longhorn
16.034
16.176
16.034
5
10cw
Chris Wilson
Crossville, TN
GRT
16.304
16.382
16.304
6
27
Larry Harrod
Plains, GA
Scorpion
16.801
16.588
16.588
7
87
Walker Arthur
Forest, VA
Rocket
17.005
16.739
16.739
8
38c
John Gardner Jr.
Creve Coeur, IL
Rayburn
16.953
16.976
16.953
9
5d
Rodgerick Dykes
Smith Station, AL
Warrior
17.201
16.995
16.995
10
47
Shannon Lee
Lumberton, MS
GRT
17.076
17.148
17.076
11
8a
Todd Morrow
East Ridge, TN
GRT
17.265
17.511
17.265
4TH GROUP:
POS
CAR #
DRIVER
HOMETOWN
CHASSIS
LAP 1
LAP 2
TIME
1
40b
Kyle Bronson
Tampa, FL
Warrior
15.744
15.597
15.597
2
7f
Jason Fitzgerald
Middleburg, FL
GRT
16.177
16.803
16.177
3
7
Don O'Neal
Martinsville, IN
Mastersbilt
16.187
16.360
16.187
4
54
Brandon Overton
Appling, GA
Mastersbilt
16.243
16.881
16.243
5
33
Jeff Mathews
Valrico, FL
Rocket
16.408
16.579
16.408
6
69
Tony Lawson
Laurel, MS
Scorpion
16.866
16.523
16.523
7
110
Brent Barrett
Cleveland, MS
GRT
16.600
16.705
16.600
8
114
Chris Cantrell - R
Chester, SC
Rocket
16.640
16.657
16.640
9
121
Michael Blount
Sumrall, MS
GRT
17.001
16.718
16.718
10
10c
Ronnie Cooper
McKenzie, TN
GRT
17.252
16.781
16.781
11
1
Johnny Stokes
Columbus, MS
GRT
16.826
17.013
16.826
HEAT RACES (15 Laps – Top 4 Transfer To Main Event):
1ST HEAT: 1. Whitener; 2. Martin; 3. Nosbisch; 4. Gentry; 5. Johnson; 6. Kirkpatrick; 7. Sta. Roberts; 8. C. Stokes; 9. Myers; 10. S. Smith; 11. Wing.
2ND HEAT: 1. Bronson; 2. Fitzgerald; 3. O’Neal; 4. Cantrell (R); 5. Blount; 6. Mathews; 7. Cooper; 8. Barrett; 9. Lawson; 10. J. Stokes; 11. Overton.
3RD HEAT: 1. Lloyd; 2. Franklin; 3. McRee; 4. Wilson; 5. Arthur; 6. Dykes; 7. Harrod; 8. Lee; 9. Ferguson; 10. Morrow; 11. J. Gardner.
4TH HEAT: 1. Horton; 2. McCarter; 3. Montgomery; 4. D. Smith; 5. Coulter; 6. Turner; 7. B. Gardner; 8. Adkins; 9. Ste. Roberts; 10. Edge; 11. 17k Kierre (R); 12. Garvin.
B-MAINS (20 Laps – Top 3 Transfer To Main Event):
1ST B-MAIN: 1. Arthur; 2. Johnson; 3. S. Smith; 4. Kirkpatrick; 5. Sta. Roberts; 6. Harrod; 7. Ferguson; 8. Lee; 9. Myers; 10. Morrow; 11. C. Stokes; 12. J. Gardner; 13. Dykes; 14. Wing DNS.
2ND B-MAIN: 1. Coulter; 2. Mathews; 3. Adkins; 4. Blount; 5. B. Gardner; 6. Edge; 7. Turner; 8. J. Stokes; 9. Cooper; 10. Barrett; 11. Kierre (R); 12. Lawson; 13. Ste. Roberts; 14. Garvin DQ; 15. Overton DNS.
BUBBA ARMY LAST CHANCE RACE (10 Laps – Winner Transfers To Main Event): 1. Lee; 2. B. Gardner; 3. Kirkpatrick; 4. Barrett; 5. Sta. Roberts; 6. Lawson; 7. Myers; 8. J. Gardner; 9. Cooper; 10. Dykes.
NeSmith Chevrolet, Buick, GMC of Claxton, GA is the Title Sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. NeSmith Chevrolet, Buick, GMC is the nation’s number one GM Powertrain and Performance Dealer six years running, with free delivery anywhere in the Southeast. Chevrolet Performance Parts is an Official Sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. Hoosier Racing Tire is the Official Tire Sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. RockAuto.com is an Official Sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. Racecar Engineering is the Official Parts Supplier of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. Renegade Race and Performance Fuels are a series Associate Sponsor and fuel supplier. Schaeffer’s Oil Presented By Chad Wallace and Heather Newsome is the Official Oil of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. AR Bodies is an Associate Sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Contingency Sponsors for 2014 are Dominator Race Products, Stealth Racing Carburetors, Modern Images, Mike Custom Tanks, Schoenfeld Headers, Kinser Air Filters, Performance Rod & Custom, and David Smith Carburetors. 2014 Chassis Sponsors are Trak-Star Race Cars, Warrior Race Cars, Rocket Chassis, GRT Race Cars, TNT Race Cars, and CVR Race Cars.
