Fulton, MS (12/08/09) – Fresh off a $2,000 victory in the NeSmith Weekly Racing Series Invitational at Columbus, Speedway (Columbus, MS) over the Thanksgiving weekend, Eric Cooley is set to invade East Bay Raceway Park in Gibsonton, Florida this weekend for the finale of the 2009 NeSmith Late Model tour.
Over the course of the Thanksgiving weekend, Eric was busy as he pulled double duty in the Super Late Model and NeSmith Late Model division at Columbus Speedway in Columbus, Mississippi for the 9th Annual Southern Belle Possum Town Grand Prix.
On Friday, November 27th, Eric entered the NeSmith Crate Late Model Invitational. With 32 Crate Late Models on hand, Cooley qualified 5th fastest overall, which resulted in him starting outside front row of the second heat race. He would take the win in the heat race to earn the outside front row starting spot for the 30 lap main event. At the drop of the green flag, Cooley fell behind Mathew Turner as the pair battled on an extremely slick surface. Eric would chase Turner for the first 19 laps before using lapped traffic to slip by as he went on to lead the last 11 laps en route to the $2,000 win!
In the Super Late Model division, Eric competed against a field of 30 competitors in the $2,000 to win event. He would lay down an impressive qualifing lap, which resulted in him being third fastest in his group. As a result, he locked into the eighth starting spot for the 30 lap feature. However, bad luck would strike Cooley on the pace lap when his right front suspension broke, bringing his night to an end before it ever got underway.
On Saturday, November 28th, Cooley was back in action with the NeSmith National Late Model Series as 38 Late Models entered the event. He would qualify second fastest in time trials behind only Ronnie Johnson. Via his qualifying effort he started on the pole for the 40 lap, $2,500 to win event. Johnson took the lead at the outset of the event with Cooley in pursuit. Johnson would build as large as a straightaway advantage before Cooley caught him in traffic late in the race but was unable to make the winning pass. At the finish line Cooley was credited with a solid second place finish. Eric also claimed the win in the NeSmith Late Model Series Race of Regions, which pitted the top four drivers from each region against one another in a ten lap dash.
Eric also competed in the Super Late Model division for the second straight night. In group qualifications, he fell just short of locking into the feature as he qualified 5th fastest. As a result, he started second in a b-main event. He would lead flag to flag in the b-main to take the win and the transfer to the feature event. Eric would start 13th in the feature, but early in the event front end suspension woes would trouble him, sending him pitside for the night.
This weekend, Eric will head to the “Sunshine State” as he prepares to be crowned the 2009 NeSmith Late Model Series National Champion on Wednesday night at the series’ banquet. With his title, Cooley will become the youngest champion (18 years old) in the tour’s history, and he will receive $20,000 in cash and prizes for his efforts.
Cooley will get back to business on Friday and Saturday, December 11th-12th at East Bay Raceway Park for the $10,000 to win, 100 lap NeSmith National Championship Race. Eric will take his #33c Victory Circle M1 Chassis By Moyer entry into battle against many of the nation’s competitors during the course of the weekend. On Friday night time trials and heat race action will be held, while b-mains and the 100 lap main event will be held on Saturday night. For more informationon the event, please visit www.NeSmithRacing.com and www.EastBayRacewayPark.com .
Eric and everyone at Cooley Motorsports would like to thank all of their sponsors, which include 78 Towing & Recovery Inc., Cooley Transport Inc., D.J. Transportation (Blue Springs, MS), Twisted Designs (Fayette, AL), GW Performance, MSRMafia.com, and Simpson Race Products.
Cooley Motorsports is currently looking for new sponsors and marketing partners. For more information on joining the team, please visit www.EricCooleyRacing.com .
For more information on Cooley Motorsports, visit the official team website at www.EricCooleyRacing.com .
Over the course of the Thanksgiving weekend, Eric was busy as he pulled double duty in the Super Late Model and NeSmith Late Model division at Columbus Speedway in Columbus, Mississippi for the 9th Annual Southern Belle Possum Town Grand Prix.
On Friday, November 27th, Eric entered the NeSmith Crate Late Model Invitational. With 32 Crate Late Models on hand, Cooley qualified 5th fastest overall, which resulted in him starting outside front row of the second heat race. He would take the win in the heat race to earn the outside front row starting spot for the 30 lap main event. At the drop of the green flag, Cooley fell behind Mathew Turner as the pair battled on an extremely slick surface. Eric would chase Turner for the first 19 laps before using lapped traffic to slip by as he went on to lead the last 11 laps en route to the $2,000 win!
In the Super Late Model division, Eric competed against a field of 30 competitors in the $2,000 to win event. He would lay down an impressive qualifing lap, which resulted in him being third fastest in his group. As a result, he locked into the eighth starting spot for the 30 lap feature. However, bad luck would strike Cooley on the pace lap when his right front suspension broke, bringing his night to an end before it ever got underway.
On Saturday, November 28th, Cooley was back in action with the NeSmith National Late Model Series as 38 Late Models entered the event. He would qualify second fastest in time trials behind only Ronnie Johnson. Via his qualifying effort he started on the pole for the 40 lap, $2,500 to win event. Johnson took the lead at the outset of the event with Cooley in pursuit. Johnson would build as large as a straightaway advantage before Cooley caught him in traffic late in the race but was unable to make the winning pass. At the finish line Cooley was credited with a solid second place finish. Eric also claimed the win in the NeSmith Late Model Series Race of Regions, which pitted the top four drivers from each region against one another in a ten lap dash.
Eric also competed in the Super Late Model division for the second straight night. In group qualifications, he fell just short of locking into the feature as he qualified 5th fastest. As a result, he started second in a b-main event. He would lead flag to flag in the b-main to take the win and the transfer to the feature event. Eric would start 13th in the feature, but early in the event front end suspension woes would trouble him, sending him pitside for the night.
This weekend, Eric will head to the “Sunshine State” as he prepares to be crowned the 2009 NeSmith Late Model Series National Champion on Wednesday night at the series’ banquet. With his title, Cooley will become the youngest champion (18 years old) in the tour’s history, and he will receive $20,000 in cash and prizes for his efforts.
Cooley will get back to business on Friday and Saturday, December 11th-12th at East Bay Raceway Park for the $10,000 to win, 100 lap NeSmith National Championship Race. Eric will take his #33c Victory Circle M1 Chassis By Moyer entry into battle against many of the nation’s competitors during the course of the weekend. On Friday night time trials and heat race action will be held, while b-mains and the 100 lap main event will be held on Saturday night. For more informationon the event, please visit www.NeSmithRacing.com and www.EastBayRacewayPark.com .
Eric and everyone at Cooley Motorsports would like to thank all of their sponsors, which include 78 Towing & Recovery Inc., Cooley Transport Inc., D.J. Transportation (Blue Springs, MS), Twisted Designs (Fayette, AL), GW Performance, MSRMafia.com, and Simpson Race Products.
Cooley Motorsports is currently looking for new sponsors and marketing partners. For more information on joining the team, please visit www.EricCooleyRacing.com .
For more information on Cooley Motorsports, visit the official team website at www.EricCooleyRacing.com .
