MERIDIAN, MS – Todd Morrow of East Ridge, TN won the rain-shortened NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series event at Whynot Motorsports Park on Saturday night driving the T.J. Hunt Trucking Mastersbilt. Rain began to fall on the 3/8-mile clay oval during a lap 28 caution period ending the race that was scheduled to run 50 laps.
Morrow was the McLeod Construction Fast Qualifier, out-timing the 30-car field with a lap in 13.647 seconds to earn the pole position for the main event. Morrow took the lead at the start of the race, and then beat the rain and Friday night’s winner, Justin McRee of Woodstock, AL in the Century Carriers, Inc. Trak-Star to the end of the race, three laps past the halfway point.
Both drivers had a good weekend at Whynot Motorsports Park, as Morrow and McRee reversed their Friday night finish in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series 40-lap event.
The defending NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region Champion Jim McDuffie of Meridian, MS took the third spot in the H.E. Mosley, Inc Trak-Star, and Mike Boland of Cuba, AL was fourth in The Strength Center Trak-Star. NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National point leader Eric Cooley of Fulton, MS finished fifth in the 78 Towing and Recovery Victory Circle.
Cooley, who took the Race Car Engineering Fifth-Place Award, has now opened up an 88-point lead over Larry Boutwell of Baker, FL in the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National point standings. Boutwell finished 13th in the McLeod Construction Rocket.
Bub McCool of Vicksburg, MS started the Usry Architects Trak-Star in the 16th starting spot, and finished sixth to earn the GM Performance Parts Hard Charger of the Race Award. Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA drove the Turner Excavating DWB to a seventh-place finish.
Stephen Brantley of Monroeville, AL was eighth in the Airport Sports Center Mastersbilt to earn the Race Car Engineering Eighth-Place Award, and Chris McElhenney of Lake, MS took the ninth spot in the G&M Trucking GRT and the Maximum Signs Ninth-Place Award.
Wesley Greene of Winona, MS rounded out the top ten in the Transport Service Center Trak-Star. There were still 16 cars on the lead lap when the race was checkered flagged in the rain on lap 28.
Chase Washington of Houlka, MS finished 14th and earned the Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Race Award driving the Jerry Inmon Race Cars GRT. Shannon Lee of Lumberton, MS finished 24th after completing only 17 laps and earned the Dominator Race Products Hard Luck Award.
Morrow got the hole shot at the start of the race over outside front row starter Brantley to take the lead in turn one. Brantley, McRee, McDuffie, and Turner trailed Morrow at the end of the first lap. McRee drove outside Brantley down the backstretch on lap two to claim the second spot. Morrow began to work lapped traffic by the eighth lap.
Boland moved into the top five on lap nine when he got around Turner. Lap ten saw McRee begin to close the gap between himself and Morrow, who was busy negotiating lapped traffic. The first of two caution flags came out on lap 19 when Washington spun in turn three. Morrow led McRee, Brantley, McDuffie, Boland, Cooley, Turner, McElhenney, McCool and Greene down for the double-file restart.
Brantley began to backslide after the restart, as McDuffie, Boland, and Cooley dropped him to the sixth spot. Turner then passed Brantley on lap 21 for the sixth spot, and McCool moved up to seventh on lap 22. McCool then threw a slider on Turner on lap 23 to take over the sixth spot.
By lap 25, Morrow had pulled out to a ½-straightaway lead over McRee, but the leader caught lapped traffic on lap 27, and McRee began to close the gap. Michael Blount of Sumrall, MS in the Lamar Auto Salvage Mastersbilt hit the third turn wall on lap 29 to bring out the second caution flag.
As the field rolled around the track under caution, frequent lightning and a steady rain began to fall. When the track became too wet to compete on, officials checkered flagged the race to make it official three laps past the halfway point with 28 laps complete.
The next three stops for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series will be the Mississippi Labor Day Triple Crown on September 4-6. Greenville Speedway in Greenville, MS will host the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National Tour for the first time with a 40-lap $2,000-to-win race on Friday night, September 4.
The series moves to Columbus Speedway in Columbus, MS on Saturday night, September 5 for a 50-lap $2,500-to-win race. The final jewel of the Mississippi Labor Day Triple Crown will be held at Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, MS on Sunday night, September 6 with a 40-lap $2,000-to-win main event.
OFFICIAL RESULTS OF ROUND 17 AT WHYNOT MOTORSPORTS PARK IN MERIDIAN, MS ON 8/29/09:
POS STRT CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN LAPS $ WON
1. 1 T16 Todd Morrow East Ridge, TN 28 $2,600
2. 3 25 Justin McRee Woodstock, AL 28 $1,250
3. 5 760 Jim McDuffie Meridian, MS 28 $850
4. 6 222 Mike Boland Cuba, AL 28 $700
5. 10 33c Eric Cooley Fulton, MS 28 $650
6. 16 27 Bub McCool Vicksburg, MS 28 $550
7. 4 10 Matthew Turner Dawsonville, GA 28 $500
8. 2 02 Stephen Brantley Monroeville, AL 28 $450
9. 9 28 Chris McElhenney Lake, MS 28 $400
10. 7 95c Wesley Greene Winona, MS 28 $375
11. 11 5 Klint Byars Carrollton, MS 28 $350
12. 12 9m Tom Maddox Centre, AL 28 $300
13. 22 58 Larry Boutwell Baker, FL 28 $280
14. 8 38 Chase Washington (R) Houlka, MS 28 $260
15. 14 21 Ben McCreary (R) Baldwyn, MS 28 $250
16. 18 1 Jason Hiett Lincoln, AL 28 $240
17. 19 16 Jeff Fields Aragon, GA 27 $220
18. 21 19 Marcus Minga Shannon, MS 27 $200
19. 17 4w Wiley Williams Stonewall, MS 27 $200
20. 23 48 Derrick Rainey Powder Springs, GA 27 $200
21. 20 77 Michael Santangelo St. Rose, LA 26 $200
22. 24 121 Michael Blount Sumrall, MS 26 $200
23. 13 118 Randy Boyd Marion, MS 22 $200
24. 15 47 Shannon Lee Lumberton, MS 17 $200
ENTRIES: 30
McLEOD CONSTRUCTION FAST QUALIFIER: Morrow, 13.647 Seconds
PROVISIONALS: Rainey
LEAD CHANGES: None
LAPS LED: Morrow, 1-28
SUNOCO RACE FUELS ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Washington
GM PERFORMANCE PARTS HARD CHARGER: McCool (started 16th and finished 6th)
DOMINATOR RACE PRODUCTS HARD LUCK AWARD: Lee
RACE CAR ENGINEERING FIFTH-PLACE AWARD: Cooley
RACE CAR ENGINEERING EIGHTH-PLACE AWARD: Brantley
MAXIMUM SIGNS NINTH-PLACE AWARD: McElhenney
CAUTIONS: 2
TIME OF THE RACE: 19 Minutes and 32.472 Seconds
McLEOD CONSTRUCTION QUALIFYING (Top 4 Transfer To Main Event):
POS CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN CHASSIS LAP 1 LAP 2 TIME
1 T16 Todd Morrow East Ridge, TN Mastersbilt 13.647 13.670 13.647
2 02 Steven Brantley Monroeville, AL Mastersbilt 13.794 13.713 13.713
3 25 Justin McRee Woodstock, AL Trak Star 13.739 13.762 13.739
4 10 Matthew Turner Dawsonville, GA DWB 13.895 13.748 13.748
5 760 Jim McDuffie Meridian, MS Trak Star 13.750 13.944 13.750
6 222 Mike Boland Cuba, AL Trak Star 13.802 13.754 13.754
7 95c Wesley Greene Winona, MS Trak Star 13.922 13.762 13.762
8 38 Chase Washington - R Houlka, MS GRT 13.913 13.814 13.814
9 5 Klint Byars Carrollton, MS GRT 14.091 13.834 13.834
10 9m Tom Maddox Centre, AL Mastersbilt 13.876 13.836 13.836
11 28 Chris McElhenney Lake, MS GRT 13.972 13.858 13.858
12 20 Kelly Lovorn Calhoun City, MS GRT 13.927 13.900 13.900
13 118 Randy Boyd Marion, MS Trak Star 14.010 13.904 13.904
14 18 Chris Jimerson Gilbertown, AL GRT 14.029 13.906 13.906
15 4w Wiley Williams Stonewall, MS GRT 13.974 13.922 13.922
16 33c Eric Cooley Fulton, MS Victory Circle 13.981 13.958 13.958
17 1 Jason Hiett Lincoln, AL GRT 13.972 14.007 13.972
18 21m Ben McCreary – R Baldwyn, MS Mastersbilt 13.990 NT 13.990
19 47 Shannon Lee Lumberton, MS GRT 14.017 14.025 14.017
20 77 Michael Santangelo St. Rose, LA Trak Star 14.084 14.019 14.019
21 88 Charlie Henderson Cottondale, AL Mastersbilt 14.033 14.087 14.033
22 27 Bub McCool Vicksburg, MS Trak Star 14.162 14.131 14.131
23 16 Jeff Fields Aragon, GA Mastersbilt 14.591 14.144 14.144
24 R7 Rodney Barber Saucier, MS Mastersbilt 14.162 14.384 14.162
25 9 Michael Arnold Hattiesburg, MS Trak Star 14.177 14.198 14.177
26 19 Marcus Minga Shannon, MS Mastersbilt 14.209 14.224 14.209
27 48 Derrick Rainey Powder Springs, GA Trak Star 14.246 14.275 14.246
28 19x Gathan Burns Piedmont, AL Warrior 14.275 14.391 14.275
29 58 Larry Boutwell Baker, FL Rocket 14.704 14.294 14.294
30 121 Michael Blount Sumrall, MS Mastersbilt 14.830 14.806 14.806
HEAT RACES: (10 Laps – Top 6 Transfer To Main Event):
1ST HEAT: 1. McDuffie; 2. Greene; 3. McElhenney; 4. Byars; 5. Boyd; 6. Lee; 7. Fields; 8. Hiett; 9. Williams; 10. Rainey; 11. Boutwell; 12. Henderson; 13. Arnold.
2ND HEAT: 1. Boland; 2. Washington (R); 3. Cooley; 4. Maddox; 5. McCreary (R); 6. McCool; 7. Lovorn; 8. Minga; 9. Santangelo; 10. Burns; 11. Jimerson; 12. Blount; 13. Barber.
B-MAIN (12 Laps – Top 6 Transfer To Main Event): 1. Williams; 2. Hiett; 3. Fields; 4. Santangelo; 5. Minga; 6. Boutwell; 7. Rainey; 8. Blount; 9. Arnold; 10. Burns; 11. Jimerson; 12. Barber; 13. Henderson; 14. Lovorn DQ-LT.
NeSMITH CHEVROLET DIRT LATE MODEL SERIES NATIONAL POINT STANDINGS THROUGH 8/29/09:
1. 33c Eric Cooley – 1,436
2. 58 Larry Boutwell – 1,348
3. 87 Derrick Rainey – 1,286
4. 56 David Gentry – 1,272
5. 10 Matthew Turner – 1,262
6. 38 Chase Washington (R) – 1,120
7. 21 Ben McCreary (R) – 1,094
8. 19 Marcus Minga – 822
9. 2x Jay Blair – 774
10. 22 Jason Wilson – 654
11. 38c Chip Brindle – 600
12. 16 Jeff Fields – 548
13. 81 Aaron Ridley – 520
14. 47 Brad Hall – 506
15. 4 Cliff Williams – 470
16. 86 Rick Rickman – 466
17. 222 Mike Boland – 448
18. 66k Scott Knowles – 406
18. F9 Frank Ingram – 406
18. 28 Chris McElhenney - 406
R – Denotes Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year Candidate
Morrow was the McLeod Construction Fast Qualifier, out-timing the 30-car field with a lap in 13.647 seconds to earn the pole position for the main event. Morrow took the lead at the start of the race, and then beat the rain and Friday night’s winner, Justin McRee of Woodstock, AL in the Century Carriers, Inc. Trak-Star to the end of the race, three laps past the halfway point.
Both drivers had a good weekend at Whynot Motorsports Park, as Morrow and McRee reversed their Friday night finish in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series 40-lap event.
The defending NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region Champion Jim McDuffie of Meridian, MS took the third spot in the H.E. Mosley, Inc Trak-Star, and Mike Boland of Cuba, AL was fourth in The Strength Center Trak-Star. NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National point leader Eric Cooley of Fulton, MS finished fifth in the 78 Towing and Recovery Victory Circle.
Cooley, who took the Race Car Engineering Fifth-Place Award, has now opened up an 88-point lead over Larry Boutwell of Baker, FL in the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National point standings. Boutwell finished 13th in the McLeod Construction Rocket.
Bub McCool of Vicksburg, MS started the Usry Architects Trak-Star in the 16th starting spot, and finished sixth to earn the GM Performance Parts Hard Charger of the Race Award. Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA drove the Turner Excavating DWB to a seventh-place finish.
Stephen Brantley of Monroeville, AL was eighth in the Airport Sports Center Mastersbilt to earn the Race Car Engineering Eighth-Place Award, and Chris McElhenney of Lake, MS took the ninth spot in the G&M Trucking GRT and the Maximum Signs Ninth-Place Award.
Wesley Greene of Winona, MS rounded out the top ten in the Transport Service Center Trak-Star. There were still 16 cars on the lead lap when the race was checkered flagged in the rain on lap 28.
Chase Washington of Houlka, MS finished 14th and earned the Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Race Award driving the Jerry Inmon Race Cars GRT. Shannon Lee of Lumberton, MS finished 24th after completing only 17 laps and earned the Dominator Race Products Hard Luck Award.
Morrow got the hole shot at the start of the race over outside front row starter Brantley to take the lead in turn one. Brantley, McRee, McDuffie, and Turner trailed Morrow at the end of the first lap. McRee drove outside Brantley down the backstretch on lap two to claim the second spot. Morrow began to work lapped traffic by the eighth lap.
Boland moved into the top five on lap nine when he got around Turner. Lap ten saw McRee begin to close the gap between himself and Morrow, who was busy negotiating lapped traffic. The first of two caution flags came out on lap 19 when Washington spun in turn three. Morrow led McRee, Brantley, McDuffie, Boland, Cooley, Turner, McElhenney, McCool and Greene down for the double-file restart.
Brantley began to backslide after the restart, as McDuffie, Boland, and Cooley dropped him to the sixth spot. Turner then passed Brantley on lap 21 for the sixth spot, and McCool moved up to seventh on lap 22. McCool then threw a slider on Turner on lap 23 to take over the sixth spot.
By lap 25, Morrow had pulled out to a ½-straightaway lead over McRee, but the leader caught lapped traffic on lap 27, and McRee began to close the gap. Michael Blount of Sumrall, MS in the Lamar Auto Salvage Mastersbilt hit the third turn wall on lap 29 to bring out the second caution flag.
As the field rolled around the track under caution, frequent lightning and a steady rain began to fall. When the track became too wet to compete on, officials checkered flagged the race to make it official three laps past the halfway point with 28 laps complete.
The next three stops for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series will be the Mississippi Labor Day Triple Crown on September 4-6. Greenville Speedway in Greenville, MS will host the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National Tour for the first time with a 40-lap $2,000-to-win race on Friday night, September 4.
The series moves to Columbus Speedway in Columbus, MS on Saturday night, September 5 for a 50-lap $2,500-to-win race. The final jewel of the Mississippi Labor Day Triple Crown will be held at Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, MS on Sunday night, September 6 with a 40-lap $2,000-to-win main event.
OFFICIAL RESULTS OF ROUND 17 AT WHYNOT MOTORSPORTS PARK IN MERIDIAN, MS ON 8/29/09:
POS STRT CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN LAPS $ WON
1. 1 T16 Todd Morrow East Ridge, TN 28 $2,600
2. 3 25 Justin McRee Woodstock, AL 28 $1,250
3. 5 760 Jim McDuffie Meridian, MS 28 $850
4. 6 222 Mike Boland Cuba, AL 28 $700
5. 10 33c Eric Cooley Fulton, MS 28 $650
6. 16 27 Bub McCool Vicksburg, MS 28 $550
7. 4 10 Matthew Turner Dawsonville, GA 28 $500
8. 2 02 Stephen Brantley Monroeville, AL 28 $450
9. 9 28 Chris McElhenney Lake, MS 28 $400
10. 7 95c Wesley Greene Winona, MS 28 $375
11. 11 5 Klint Byars Carrollton, MS 28 $350
12. 12 9m Tom Maddox Centre, AL 28 $300
13. 22 58 Larry Boutwell Baker, FL 28 $280
14. 8 38 Chase Washington (R) Houlka, MS 28 $260
15. 14 21 Ben McCreary (R) Baldwyn, MS 28 $250
16. 18 1 Jason Hiett Lincoln, AL 28 $240
17. 19 16 Jeff Fields Aragon, GA 27 $220
18. 21 19 Marcus Minga Shannon, MS 27 $200
19. 17 4w Wiley Williams Stonewall, MS 27 $200
20. 23 48 Derrick Rainey Powder Springs, GA 27 $200
21. 20 77 Michael Santangelo St. Rose, LA 26 $200
22. 24 121 Michael Blount Sumrall, MS 26 $200
23. 13 118 Randy Boyd Marion, MS 22 $200
24. 15 47 Shannon Lee Lumberton, MS 17 $200
ENTRIES: 30
McLEOD CONSTRUCTION FAST QUALIFIER: Morrow, 13.647 Seconds
PROVISIONALS: Rainey
LEAD CHANGES: None
LAPS LED: Morrow, 1-28
SUNOCO RACE FUELS ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Washington
GM PERFORMANCE PARTS HARD CHARGER: McCool (started 16th and finished 6th)
DOMINATOR RACE PRODUCTS HARD LUCK AWARD: Lee
RACE CAR ENGINEERING FIFTH-PLACE AWARD: Cooley
RACE CAR ENGINEERING EIGHTH-PLACE AWARD: Brantley
MAXIMUM SIGNS NINTH-PLACE AWARD: McElhenney
CAUTIONS: 2
TIME OF THE RACE: 19 Minutes and 32.472 Seconds
McLEOD CONSTRUCTION QUALIFYING (Top 4 Transfer To Main Event):
POS CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN CHASSIS LAP 1 LAP 2 TIME
1 T16 Todd Morrow East Ridge, TN Mastersbilt 13.647 13.670 13.647
2 02 Steven Brantley Monroeville, AL Mastersbilt 13.794 13.713 13.713
3 25 Justin McRee Woodstock, AL Trak Star 13.739 13.762 13.739
4 10 Matthew Turner Dawsonville, GA DWB 13.895 13.748 13.748
5 760 Jim McDuffie Meridian, MS Trak Star 13.750 13.944 13.750
6 222 Mike Boland Cuba, AL Trak Star 13.802 13.754 13.754
7 95c Wesley Greene Winona, MS Trak Star 13.922 13.762 13.762
8 38 Chase Washington - R Houlka, MS GRT 13.913 13.814 13.814
9 5 Klint Byars Carrollton, MS GRT 14.091 13.834 13.834
10 9m Tom Maddox Centre, AL Mastersbilt 13.876 13.836 13.836
11 28 Chris McElhenney Lake, MS GRT 13.972 13.858 13.858
12 20 Kelly Lovorn Calhoun City, MS GRT 13.927 13.900 13.900
13 118 Randy Boyd Marion, MS Trak Star 14.010 13.904 13.904
14 18 Chris Jimerson Gilbertown, AL GRT 14.029 13.906 13.906
15 4w Wiley Williams Stonewall, MS GRT 13.974 13.922 13.922
16 33c Eric Cooley Fulton, MS Victory Circle 13.981 13.958 13.958
17 1 Jason Hiett Lincoln, AL GRT 13.972 14.007 13.972
18 21m Ben McCreary – R Baldwyn, MS Mastersbilt 13.990 NT 13.990
19 47 Shannon Lee Lumberton, MS GRT 14.017 14.025 14.017
20 77 Michael Santangelo St. Rose, LA Trak Star 14.084 14.019 14.019
21 88 Charlie Henderson Cottondale, AL Mastersbilt 14.033 14.087 14.033
22 27 Bub McCool Vicksburg, MS Trak Star 14.162 14.131 14.131
23 16 Jeff Fields Aragon, GA Mastersbilt 14.591 14.144 14.144
24 R7 Rodney Barber Saucier, MS Mastersbilt 14.162 14.384 14.162
25 9 Michael Arnold Hattiesburg, MS Trak Star 14.177 14.198 14.177
26 19 Marcus Minga Shannon, MS Mastersbilt 14.209 14.224 14.209
27 48 Derrick Rainey Powder Springs, GA Trak Star 14.246 14.275 14.246
28 19x Gathan Burns Piedmont, AL Warrior 14.275 14.391 14.275
29 58 Larry Boutwell Baker, FL Rocket 14.704 14.294 14.294
30 121 Michael Blount Sumrall, MS Mastersbilt 14.830 14.806 14.806
HEAT RACES: (10 Laps – Top 6 Transfer To Main Event):
1ST HEAT: 1. McDuffie; 2. Greene; 3. McElhenney; 4. Byars; 5. Boyd; 6. Lee; 7. Fields; 8. Hiett; 9. Williams; 10. Rainey; 11. Boutwell; 12. Henderson; 13. Arnold.
2ND HEAT: 1. Boland; 2. Washington (R); 3. Cooley; 4. Maddox; 5. McCreary (R); 6. McCool; 7. Lovorn; 8. Minga; 9. Santangelo; 10. Burns; 11. Jimerson; 12. Blount; 13. Barber.
B-MAIN (12 Laps – Top 6 Transfer To Main Event): 1. Williams; 2. Hiett; 3. Fields; 4. Santangelo; 5. Minga; 6. Boutwell; 7. Rainey; 8. Blount; 9. Arnold; 10. Burns; 11. Jimerson; 12. Barber; 13. Henderson; 14. Lovorn DQ-LT.
NeSMITH CHEVROLET DIRT LATE MODEL SERIES NATIONAL POINT STANDINGS THROUGH 8/29/09:
1. 33c Eric Cooley – 1,436
2. 58 Larry Boutwell – 1,348
3. 87 Derrick Rainey – 1,286
4. 56 David Gentry – 1,272
5. 10 Matthew Turner – 1,262
6. 38 Chase Washington (R) – 1,120
7. 21 Ben McCreary (R) – 1,094
8. 19 Marcus Minga – 822
9. 2x Jay Blair – 774
10. 22 Jason Wilson – 654
11. 38c Chip Brindle – 600
12. 16 Jeff Fields – 548
13. 81 Aaron Ridley – 520
14. 47 Brad Hall – 506
15. 4 Cliff Williams – 470
16. 86 Rick Rickman – 466
17. 222 Mike Boland – 448
18. 66k Scott Knowles – 406
18. F9 Frank Ingram – 406
18. 28 Chris McElhenney - 406
R – Denotes Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year Candidate
