CARTERSVILLE, GA – The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series will return to the site of one of its most memorable events last season, Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL, for two races this weekend under the spotlight of NASCAR Talladega Weekend. There will be a 40-lap $2,000-to-win race on Friday night, and a 50-lap $2,500-to-win race on Saturday night.
Last year’s race featured a classic battle between a legendary National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame driver and a then, 13-year-old Sunoco Young Gun Challenge Series driver. With fans in the stands that may have not been that familiar with dirt late model racing, became fans at the end of the night.
Those fans that are students of the sport, needed no introduction to Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN, as the two-time NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion was focused for his unprecedented third title at the age of 59. A few fans may have heard of 13-year-old Tyler Clem of St. Petersburg, FL, but most weren’t that familiar with him.
That all changed by the time the checkered flag fell. The crowd came to their feet because they knew they were witnessing something special. The youngster Clem took the dirt late model master Johnson to task, and raced with him, for the lead, side-by-side for 30 laps. Clem led laps four through 22, and Johnson edged out front to lead lap 23.
Clem brought the crowd to their feet by retaking the lead on lap 24, while Johnson reached deep into his helmet bag trying to find a way to not only pass Clem, but to win the race. Johnson found what he needed on lap 32, and he went on to lead the remaining 18 laps of the race. Clem faded in the closing laps and finished fourth.
In 40-plus years of winning races, Johnson has always been one to climb from his race car in Victory Lane, flash a big smile and receive the cheers of the crowd with a big wave of his hand. This scene was a little bit different at Talladega Short Track last year. Johnson got out, big smile, big wave, but no cheers, and no fans.
All of the fans were 50 feet down the fence where Clem parked his race car for the post-event interviews. When the eighth grader climbed out of his race car, the roar of the crowd rattled the garages across the street at the big track. Tyler Clem’s racing career had arrived and his name was heard a lot the next morning in the Talladega Super Speedway garage area.
The fans saw not one, but two legends of the sport, because in addition to Johnson, 82-year-old Red Farmer of Hueytown, AL was also in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series race. The fans saw the future of the sport, not only with Clem, but another 13-year-old, Cruz Skinner of Oxford, AL, who won six NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series events last season at Talladega Short Track.
In addition, to all of that, the fans also saw some great three and four-wide racing that the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series brings to Talladega Short Track. They’re all back this weekend for two big nights of racing with Rounds 3 and 4 of the 2016 NeSmith Late Model season.
Cory Hedgecock of Loudon, TN won the first two races at his home track, I-75 Raceway in Sweetwater, TN. Hedgecock will be making a decision this weekend as to whether or not he will run the rest of the tour and run for the National Championship and the Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Year Award.
Chase Edge of LaFayette, AL and Scott Dedwylder of Vossburg, MS are tied for the second spot in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series point standings, 16 points behind Hedgecock. John Ownbey of Cleveland, TN is fourth, and Brandon Williams of Crossville, TN is fifth and also leads the Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Year point standings.
Matt Henderson of Loudon, TN is sixth, and Richie Stephens of Smith Station, AL is seventh and is second in the Rookie points. Marcus Minga of Shannon, MS is eighth and Riley Hickman of Cleveland, TN is ninth. Jason Britton of Alexander City, AL is third in the Rookie points and rounds out the top ten of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National point standings.
Other top competitors expected include Adam Gauldin of Talladega, AL, Michael Blount of Sumrall, MS, Justin McRee of Woodstock, AL, Ryan King of Seymour, TN, Cale Conley of Vienna, WV, Sunoco Young Guns Challenge Series 14-year-old drivers Skinner and Will Roland of Jasper, GA, and many more of the top dirt late model drivers in the Southeast.
They’re all considered Young Guns to Famer, even Johnson, who at age 60 is looking for his fourth straight NeSmith Late Model title. Farmer tuned up for this event with a fifth-place finish in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series race at Talladega Short Track last Saturday night. It’s a freak of nature to see an 83-year-old man climb into a race car, let alone drive it at competitive speed!
On both Friday night and Saturday night, the pit gate opens at 3 p.m., with NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Pre-Race Registration and Technical Inspection from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Drivers Meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. with Hot Laps and Racing to follow.
Talladega Short Track is located at 4343 Speedway Blvd., Eastaboga, AL 36260. Fans and competitors are encouraged to approach Talladega Short Track from the East on Speedway Blvd. off the Eastaboga Exit #173 off I-20 to avoid any congestion around Talladega Super Speedway. For more information call 256-831-1413, visit the track web site at www.talladegashorttrack.com, or like their Facebook page at Talladega Short Track.
For more information and rules 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. You can follow us on Twitter @NeSmithRacing.
NeSmith Chevrolet, Buick, GMC of Claxton, GA is the Title Sponsor of the NeSmith Late Models. 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 Late Models. Hoosier Racing Tire is the Official Tire Sponsor of the NeSmith Late Models. RockAuto.com is an Official Sponsor of the NeSmith Late Models. Beyea Headers is the NeSmith Late Model Hard Charger Sponsor. Sunoco Race Fuels is the Official Race Fuel of the NeSmith Late Models. Panama City Cycles is the Official ATV Provider of the NeSmith Late Models. AR Bodies is an Associate Sponsor of the NeSmith Late Models. NeSmith Late Model Contingency Sponsors for 2016 are CrateInsider.Com, Integra Racing Shocks, Image Screen Printing, and Gresham Race Parts. 201 Chassis Sponsors are Trak-Star Race Cars, Warrior Race Cars, Rocket Chassis, GRT Race Cars, and CVR Race Cars.
Last year’s race featured a classic battle between a legendary National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame driver and a then, 13-year-old Sunoco Young Gun Challenge Series driver. With fans in the stands that may have not been that familiar with dirt late model racing, became fans at the end of the night.
Those fans that are students of the sport, needed no introduction to Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN, as the two-time NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion was focused for his unprecedented third title at the age of 59. A few fans may have heard of 13-year-old Tyler Clem of St. Petersburg, FL, but most weren’t that familiar with him.
That all changed by the time the checkered flag fell. The crowd came to their feet because they knew they were witnessing something special. The youngster Clem took the dirt late model master Johnson to task, and raced with him, for the lead, side-by-side for 30 laps. Clem led laps four through 22, and Johnson edged out front to lead lap 23.
Clem brought the crowd to their feet by retaking the lead on lap 24, while Johnson reached deep into his helmet bag trying to find a way to not only pass Clem, but to win the race. Johnson found what he needed on lap 32, and he went on to lead the remaining 18 laps of the race. Clem faded in the closing laps and finished fourth.
In 40-plus years of winning races, Johnson has always been one to climb from his race car in Victory Lane, flash a big smile and receive the cheers of the crowd with a big wave of his hand. This scene was a little bit different at Talladega Short Track last year. Johnson got out, big smile, big wave, but no cheers, and no fans.
All of the fans were 50 feet down the fence where Clem parked his race car for the post-event interviews. When the eighth grader climbed out of his race car, the roar of the crowd rattled the garages across the street at the big track. Tyler Clem’s racing career had arrived and his name was heard a lot the next morning in the Talladega Super Speedway garage area.
The fans saw not one, but two legends of the sport, because in addition to Johnson, 82-year-old Red Farmer of Hueytown, AL was also in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series race. The fans saw the future of the sport, not only with Clem, but another 13-year-old, Cruz Skinner of Oxford, AL, who won six NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series events last season at Talladega Short Track.
In addition, to all of that, the fans also saw some great three and four-wide racing that the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series brings to Talladega Short Track. They’re all back this weekend for two big nights of racing with Rounds 3 and 4 of the 2016 NeSmith Late Model season.
Cory Hedgecock of Loudon, TN won the first two races at his home track, I-75 Raceway in Sweetwater, TN. Hedgecock will be making a decision this weekend as to whether or not he will run the rest of the tour and run for the National Championship and the Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Year Award.
Chase Edge of LaFayette, AL and Scott Dedwylder of Vossburg, MS are tied for the second spot in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series point standings, 16 points behind Hedgecock. John Ownbey of Cleveland, TN is fourth, and Brandon Williams of Crossville, TN is fifth and also leads the Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Year point standings.
Matt Henderson of Loudon, TN is sixth, and Richie Stephens of Smith Station, AL is seventh and is second in the Rookie points. Marcus Minga of Shannon, MS is eighth and Riley Hickman of Cleveland, TN is ninth. Jason Britton of Alexander City, AL is third in the Rookie points and rounds out the top ten of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National point standings.
Other top competitors expected include Adam Gauldin of Talladega, AL, Michael Blount of Sumrall, MS, Justin McRee of Woodstock, AL, Ryan King of Seymour, TN, Cale Conley of Vienna, WV, Sunoco Young Guns Challenge Series 14-year-old drivers Skinner and Will Roland of Jasper, GA, and many more of the top dirt late model drivers in the Southeast.
They’re all considered Young Guns to Famer, even Johnson, who at age 60 is looking for his fourth straight NeSmith Late Model title. Farmer tuned up for this event with a fifth-place finish in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series race at Talladega Short Track last Saturday night. It’s a freak of nature to see an 83-year-old man climb into a race car, let alone drive it at competitive speed!
On both Friday night and Saturday night, the pit gate opens at 3 p.m., with NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Pre-Race Registration and Technical Inspection from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Drivers Meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. with Hot Laps and Racing to follow.
Talladega Short Track is located at 4343 Speedway Blvd., Eastaboga, AL 36260. Fans and competitors are encouraged to approach Talladega Short Track from the East on Speedway Blvd. off the Eastaboga Exit #173 off I-20 to avoid any congestion around Talladega Super Speedway. For more information call 256-831-1413, visit the track web site at www.talladegashorttrack.com, or like their Facebook page at Talladega Short Track.
For more information and rules 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. You can follow us on Twitter @NeSmithRacing.
NeSmith Chevrolet, Buick, GMC of Claxton, GA is the Title Sponsor of the NeSmith Late Models. 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 Late Models. Hoosier Racing Tire is the Official Tire Sponsor of the NeSmith Late Models. RockAuto.com is an Official Sponsor of the NeSmith Late Models. Beyea Headers is the NeSmith Late Model Hard Charger Sponsor. Sunoco Race Fuels is the Official Race Fuel of the NeSmith Late Models. Panama City Cycles is the Official ATV Provider of the NeSmith Late Models. AR Bodies is an Associate Sponsor of the NeSmith Late Models. NeSmith Late Model Contingency Sponsors for 2016 are CrateInsider.Com, Integra Racing Shocks, Image Screen Printing, and Gresham Race Parts. 201 Chassis Sponsors are Trak-Star Race Cars, Warrior Race Cars, Rocket Chassis, GRT Race Cars, and CVR Race Cars.
