CARTERSVILLE, GA – Lucky Keeton of Toomsuba, MS has clinched his third NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region title with a win over a 20-car field on Saturday night at Jackson Motor Speedway in Jackson, MS driving the Boland Performance Trak-Star. Keeton netted eight points to bring his best 16 finish point total to 814.
Michael Arnold of Hattiesburg, MS, who was second to Keeton in the West Region standings, finished 20th at Jackson Motor Speedway on Saturday night driving the Reynolds Racing Trak-Star and did not net any points. Arnold’s best 16 finish point total is 788, and he can only net a possible 22 points that would bring his point total to 810, four short of Keeton’s current total.
After 32 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region starts in 2009, Keeton has turned in nine wins, 25 top five finishes, and 26 top ten finishes on the way to his third West Region Championship in the last four seasons.
Keeton was also the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region Champion in 2006 and 2007. Keeton finished second in the 2008 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region point standings. With the 2009 title in his pocket, Keeton is already looking towards 2010.
“I’ve been racing a long time, and after these past four seasons running with NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series, I feel I’m as good a driver as I’ve ever been,” Keeton said. “If I can find some sponsorship help, I’d like to run the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Tour next season.”
For winning the 2009 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region Championship, Keeton will receive a $1,500 cash prize, a new GM Performance 604 Engine, and a new race car chassis at the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Annual Awards Banquet in Tampa, FL on December 9.
There are still four point events on the 2009 NeSmith Chevrolet WRS West Region schedule, and the second and third point fund paying spots of $1,000 and $500 respectively are still up for grabs among five drivers.
There are also 15 drivers still competing for spots in the top ten of the West Region standings that would put them in the Race of Regions at the 4th Annual NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Fall Nationals at Columbus Speedway in Columbus, MS on November 27-28.
Eric Cooley of Fulton, MS finished second to Keeton on Saturday night at Jackson Motor Speedway, and moved into a tie for the third spot in the NeSmith Chevrolet WRS West Region standings with Shannon Lee of Lumberton, MS. Cooley and Lee each have 772 points, and can still challenge Arnold for the second spot in the West Region standings.
Kody Barber of Bogalusa, LA with 741 points and Cliff Williams of Star, MS with 738 points are fifth and sixth respectively in the NeSmith Chevrolet WRS West Region point standings, and can still net enough points to challenge for the third spot. Barber can earn a possible 785 points, and Williams can earn a possible 778 points.
In other NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region action over the weekend, Noah Daspit of Kiln, MS drove the Billy Riels Racing GRT to his second win of the season on Saturday night at South Mississippi Speedway in Gulfport, MS.
Kaleb Killens of Poplarville, MS won his first race of the season on Saturday night at Pike County Speedway in McComb, MS driving the St. John Enterprises Trak-Star. The Friday night event at Hattiesburg Motorsports Park in Hattiesburg, MS, and the Saturday night event at Whynot Motorsports Park in Meridian, MS were rained out.
Remaining events, according to West Region tracks’ web sites, on the 2009 NeSmith Chevrolet WRS West Region schedule during the next two weeks include this Friday night at Hattiesburg Motorsports Park, a double-points race this Saturday night at South Mississippi Speedway, and Saturday night events at Jackson Motor Speedway and Pike County Speedway.
The final week of West Region competition will be held on Saturday night, October 3 with events scheduled for Jackson Motor Speedway, South Mississippi Speedway and Whynot Motorsports Park.
Scott Knowles of Lanett, AL clinched the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region Championship last week, and Larry Harrod of Plains, GA has clinched the East Region Runner-Up spot. Three drivers are still in the running for the third and final points fund paying spot in the East Region.
According the East Region tracks’ web site sites, Mountain Raceway Park in Maryville, TN and Tri-County Race Track in Brasstown, NC will host the final points paying races of the 2009 season this Saturday night. Eligible Weekly Racing Series drivers can also earn ten bonus points by competing the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Touring event on October 3 at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL.
The 2008 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region Champion Adam Martin of Talladega, AL is currently third in the East Region standings with 760 points. Martin can earn a possible 776 points by season end by winning a race this weekend with a car count of 15 or more, and participating in the National event at TST.
Phenix City, AL drivers Montana Dudley with 758 points and Terrance Nowell with 756 points are fourth and fifth respectively in the East Region standings, and can challenge Martin for the third spot. Dudley can earn a possible 774 points, and Nowell can earn a possible 772 points.
Dana Eiland of Salem, AL, Chase Edge of Lafayette, AL, and Richie Stephens of Phenix City, AL have clinched top ten spots in the East Region and will be eligible to compete in the Race of Regions at the Fall Nationals. Four drivers are still battling for the remaining two spots in the East Region top ten.
Jerry Goodwin of Wilsonville, AL is currently ninth in the East Region standings with 690 points and can earn a possible 720 points. Jimmy Elkins Jr. of Talladega, AL is tenth with 686 points and can earn a possible 716 points. Two drivers that are currently just outside the top ten of the East Region standings can still race their way in.
Josh Henry of Newport, TN is 11th with 670 points, and can still earn a possible 695 points, as can the 12th-place driver, Marc Gooden of Lafayette, AL, who has 669 points and can also earn a possible 695 points.
The only event on the Week 25 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region schedule at Tri-County Race Track in Brasstown, NC was rained out on Saturday night.
Wins during Week 25 competition by Keeton and Killens brought Trak-Star Race Cars’ built by Boland Performance of Cuba, AL leading win total up to 48 in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Chassis Manufactures Challenge.
Daspit kept the defending and three-time NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Chassis Manufactures Challenge Champion GRT Race Cars of Greenbrier, AL in the championship hunt with its 42nd win of the season.
This championship could come right down to the wire over the final two weeks of competition. Trak-Star Race Cars needs a four-point lead after this weekend to clinch the title.
Mastersbilt Race Cars of Crothersville, IN is third in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Chassis Manufactures Challenge with 23 wins. Warrior Race Cars built by Goddard Performance of Knoxville, TN is fourth with 17 wins, TNT Race Cars of Piney Flats, TN is fifth with eight wins, and C.J. Rayburn Race Cars of Whiteland, IN is sixth with one win.
For a complete rundown of the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series point standings in both the West and East Regions, visit the series web site at www.nesmithracing.com.
NeSMITH CHEVROLET WEEKLY RACING SERIES POINT STANDINGS THROUGH 9/19/09:
WEST REGION:
POS CAR # DRIVER PTS RACES WINS TOP 5 TOP 10
1 22 Lucky Keeton * 814 31 9 25 26
2 9 Michael Arnold 788 35 9 26 32
3 47 Shannon Lee 772 36 6 27 31
4 33c Eric Cooley 772 19 7 16 18
5 21k Kody Barber 741 25 7 14 21
6 4 Cliff Williams 738 20 8 16 17
7 R14 Tracy Brown 707 26 2 19 23
8 38 Chase Washington 659 16 1 7 12
9 8 Owen Stockstill 651 25 10 21
10 84 Randall Beckwith 646 16 6 10 13
11 73 Evan Ellis 621 15 3 5 12
12 118 Randy Boyd 616 14 2 10 13
13 121 Michael Blount 605 16 5 14
14 K18 Kaleb Killens 602 20 1 9 15
15 33 Sid Scarbrough 597 20 1 5 11
16 21 Scott Ladner 587 21 3 18
17 R7 Rodney Barber 582 21 4 17
18 s12 Ashley Stockstill 570 20 3 10
19 7 Eric Carr 554 17 5 10
20 760 Jim McDuffie 551 12 3 10 12
* - Clinched Title
EAST REGION:
POS CAR # DRIVER PTS RACES WINS TOP 5 TOP 10
1 66k Scott Knowles * 816 24 8 20 22
2 27 Larry Harrod 796 21 8 18 19
3 47 Adam Martin 760 18 6 14 14
4 55 Montana Dudley 758 25 2 18 21
5 55 Terrance Nowell 756 19 2 17 18
6 K9 Dana Eiland 741 27 5 18 22
7 18 Chase Edge 719 35 1 12 23
8 50 Richie Stephens 697 18 4 12 14
9 38 Jerry Goodwin 690 16 4 10 13
10 07 Jimmy Elkins Jr. 686 20 11 14
11 B00 Josh Henry 670 17 7 15 16
12 52 Marc Gooden 669 20 1 9 17
13 5 Rodgerick Dykes 650 28 5 25
14 64 Jacob Anderson 648 22 6 20 21
15 007 Hunter Best 632 16 4 12 16
16 7 Jason Deal 630 24 4 22 23
17 08 Bobby Eiland 600 14 1 12 13
18 88 Matt Woodson 593 16 4 9
19 L28 Terry Ledford 567 16 10 15
20 17h Cameron Heath 556 19 3 9
* - Clinched Title
NeSMITH CHEVROLET WEEKLY RACING SERIES WEEK 25 RESULTS:
WEST REGION:
September 18:
HATTIESBURG MOTORSPORTS PARK – HATTIESBURG, MS:
Rained Out
September 19:
JACKSON MOTOR SPEEDWAY – JACKSON, MS:
1. 22 Lucky Keeton
2. 33c Eric Cooley
3. 118 Randy Boyd
4. 4 Cliff Williams
5. 121 Michael Blount
6. 73 Evan Ellis
7. 48 Tody Ratcliff
8. 08 Brett Delk
9. 33 Sid Scarbrough
10. 9 Mike Haralson
11. 8 Zack Owens
12. 00 J.D. Pass
13. 10 Matt Stockton
14. 66 Bubba Jones
15. 88 Charlie McWilliams
16. S21 Richie Steen
17. 24 Bryan Foreman
18. 82 Jason Sanderford
19. 711 Al Thomas
20. 9 Michael Arnold
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI SPEEDWAY – GULFPORT, MS:
1. 747 Noah Daspit
2. 47 Shannon Lee
3. R7 Rodney Barber
4. 86 Nick Curole
5. 21 Ricky Idom
6. 77 Michael Santangelo
7. 7 Bryan Foy
8. 39 Michael Sibley
9. 13 Jeremy Idom
PIKE COUNTY SPEEDWAY – McCOMB, MS:
1. K18 Kaleb Killens
2. 21 Kody Barber
3. 2T Tootie Arnold
4. 23 Shane Barbara
5. 13 Stan Ware
WHYNOT MOTORSPORTS PARK – MERIDIAN, MS:
Rained Out
EAST REGION:
September 19:
TRI-COUNTY RACE TRACK – BRASSTOWN, NC:
Rained Out
Michael Arnold of Hattiesburg, MS, who was second to Keeton in the West Region standings, finished 20th at Jackson Motor Speedway on Saturday night driving the Reynolds Racing Trak-Star and did not net any points. Arnold’s best 16 finish point total is 788, and he can only net a possible 22 points that would bring his point total to 810, four short of Keeton’s current total.
After 32 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region starts in 2009, Keeton has turned in nine wins, 25 top five finishes, and 26 top ten finishes on the way to his third West Region Championship in the last four seasons.
Keeton was also the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region Champion in 2006 and 2007. Keeton finished second in the 2008 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region point standings. With the 2009 title in his pocket, Keeton is already looking towards 2010.
“I’ve been racing a long time, and after these past four seasons running with NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series, I feel I’m as good a driver as I’ve ever been,” Keeton said. “If I can find some sponsorship help, I’d like to run the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Tour next season.”
For winning the 2009 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region Championship, Keeton will receive a $1,500 cash prize, a new GM Performance 604 Engine, and a new race car chassis at the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Annual Awards Banquet in Tampa, FL on December 9.
There are still four point events on the 2009 NeSmith Chevrolet WRS West Region schedule, and the second and third point fund paying spots of $1,000 and $500 respectively are still up for grabs among five drivers.
There are also 15 drivers still competing for spots in the top ten of the West Region standings that would put them in the Race of Regions at the 4th Annual NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Fall Nationals at Columbus Speedway in Columbus, MS on November 27-28.
Eric Cooley of Fulton, MS finished second to Keeton on Saturday night at Jackson Motor Speedway, and moved into a tie for the third spot in the NeSmith Chevrolet WRS West Region standings with Shannon Lee of Lumberton, MS. Cooley and Lee each have 772 points, and can still challenge Arnold for the second spot in the West Region standings.
Kody Barber of Bogalusa, LA with 741 points and Cliff Williams of Star, MS with 738 points are fifth and sixth respectively in the NeSmith Chevrolet WRS West Region point standings, and can still net enough points to challenge for the third spot. Barber can earn a possible 785 points, and Williams can earn a possible 778 points.
In other NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region action over the weekend, Noah Daspit of Kiln, MS drove the Billy Riels Racing GRT to his second win of the season on Saturday night at South Mississippi Speedway in Gulfport, MS.
Kaleb Killens of Poplarville, MS won his first race of the season on Saturday night at Pike County Speedway in McComb, MS driving the St. John Enterprises Trak-Star. The Friday night event at Hattiesburg Motorsports Park in Hattiesburg, MS, and the Saturday night event at Whynot Motorsports Park in Meridian, MS were rained out.
Remaining events, according to West Region tracks’ web sites, on the 2009 NeSmith Chevrolet WRS West Region schedule during the next two weeks include this Friday night at Hattiesburg Motorsports Park, a double-points race this Saturday night at South Mississippi Speedway, and Saturday night events at Jackson Motor Speedway and Pike County Speedway.
The final week of West Region competition will be held on Saturday night, October 3 with events scheduled for Jackson Motor Speedway, South Mississippi Speedway and Whynot Motorsports Park.
Scott Knowles of Lanett, AL clinched the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region Championship last week, and Larry Harrod of Plains, GA has clinched the East Region Runner-Up spot. Three drivers are still in the running for the third and final points fund paying spot in the East Region.
According the East Region tracks’ web site sites, Mountain Raceway Park in Maryville, TN and Tri-County Race Track in Brasstown, NC will host the final points paying races of the 2009 season this Saturday night. Eligible Weekly Racing Series drivers can also earn ten bonus points by competing the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Touring event on October 3 at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL.
The 2008 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region Champion Adam Martin of Talladega, AL is currently third in the East Region standings with 760 points. Martin can earn a possible 776 points by season end by winning a race this weekend with a car count of 15 or more, and participating in the National event at TST.
Phenix City, AL drivers Montana Dudley with 758 points and Terrance Nowell with 756 points are fourth and fifth respectively in the East Region standings, and can challenge Martin for the third spot. Dudley can earn a possible 774 points, and Nowell can earn a possible 772 points.
Dana Eiland of Salem, AL, Chase Edge of Lafayette, AL, and Richie Stephens of Phenix City, AL have clinched top ten spots in the East Region and will be eligible to compete in the Race of Regions at the Fall Nationals. Four drivers are still battling for the remaining two spots in the East Region top ten.
Jerry Goodwin of Wilsonville, AL is currently ninth in the East Region standings with 690 points and can earn a possible 720 points. Jimmy Elkins Jr. of Talladega, AL is tenth with 686 points and can earn a possible 716 points. Two drivers that are currently just outside the top ten of the East Region standings can still race their way in.
Josh Henry of Newport, TN is 11th with 670 points, and can still earn a possible 695 points, as can the 12th-place driver, Marc Gooden of Lafayette, AL, who has 669 points and can also earn a possible 695 points.
The only event on the Week 25 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region schedule at Tri-County Race Track in Brasstown, NC was rained out on Saturday night.
Wins during Week 25 competition by Keeton and Killens brought Trak-Star Race Cars’ built by Boland Performance of Cuba, AL leading win total up to 48 in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Chassis Manufactures Challenge.
Daspit kept the defending and three-time NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Chassis Manufactures Challenge Champion GRT Race Cars of Greenbrier, AL in the championship hunt with its 42nd win of the season.
This championship could come right down to the wire over the final two weeks of competition. Trak-Star Race Cars needs a four-point lead after this weekend to clinch the title.
Mastersbilt Race Cars of Crothersville, IN is third in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Chassis Manufactures Challenge with 23 wins. Warrior Race Cars built by Goddard Performance of Knoxville, TN is fourth with 17 wins, TNT Race Cars of Piney Flats, TN is fifth with eight wins, and C.J. Rayburn Race Cars of Whiteland, IN is sixth with one win.
For a complete rundown of the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series point standings in both the West and East Regions, visit the series web site at www.nesmithracing.com.
NeSMITH CHEVROLET WEEKLY RACING SERIES POINT STANDINGS THROUGH 9/19/09:
WEST REGION:
POS CAR # DRIVER PTS RACES WINS TOP 5 TOP 10
1 22 Lucky Keeton * 814 31 9 25 26
2 9 Michael Arnold 788 35 9 26 32
3 47 Shannon Lee 772 36 6 27 31
4 33c Eric Cooley 772 19 7 16 18
5 21k Kody Barber 741 25 7 14 21
6 4 Cliff Williams 738 20 8 16 17
7 R14 Tracy Brown 707 26 2 19 23
8 38 Chase Washington 659 16 1 7 12
9 8 Owen Stockstill 651 25 10 21
10 84 Randall Beckwith 646 16 6 10 13
11 73 Evan Ellis 621 15 3 5 12
12 118 Randy Boyd 616 14 2 10 13
13 121 Michael Blount 605 16 5 14
14 K18 Kaleb Killens 602 20 1 9 15
15 33 Sid Scarbrough 597 20 1 5 11
16 21 Scott Ladner 587 21 3 18
17 R7 Rodney Barber 582 21 4 17
18 s12 Ashley Stockstill 570 20 3 10
19 7 Eric Carr 554 17 5 10
20 760 Jim McDuffie 551 12 3 10 12
* - Clinched Title
EAST REGION:
POS CAR # DRIVER PTS RACES WINS TOP 5 TOP 10
1 66k Scott Knowles * 816 24 8 20 22
2 27 Larry Harrod 796 21 8 18 19
3 47 Adam Martin 760 18 6 14 14
4 55 Montana Dudley 758 25 2 18 21
5 55 Terrance Nowell 756 19 2 17 18
6 K9 Dana Eiland 741 27 5 18 22
7 18 Chase Edge 719 35 1 12 23
8 50 Richie Stephens 697 18 4 12 14
9 38 Jerry Goodwin 690 16 4 10 13
10 07 Jimmy Elkins Jr. 686 20 11 14
11 B00 Josh Henry 670 17 7 15 16
12 52 Marc Gooden 669 20 1 9 17
13 5 Rodgerick Dykes 650 28 5 25
14 64 Jacob Anderson 648 22 6 20 21
15 007 Hunter Best 632 16 4 12 16
16 7 Jason Deal 630 24 4 22 23
17 08 Bobby Eiland 600 14 1 12 13
18 88 Matt Woodson 593 16 4 9
19 L28 Terry Ledford 567 16 10 15
20 17h Cameron Heath 556 19 3 9
* - Clinched Title
NeSMITH CHEVROLET WEEKLY RACING SERIES WEEK 25 RESULTS:
WEST REGION:
September 18:
HATTIESBURG MOTORSPORTS PARK – HATTIESBURG, MS:
Rained Out
September 19:
JACKSON MOTOR SPEEDWAY – JACKSON, MS:
1. 22 Lucky Keeton
2. 33c Eric Cooley
3. 118 Randy Boyd
4. 4 Cliff Williams
5. 121 Michael Blount
6. 73 Evan Ellis
7. 48 Tody Ratcliff
8. 08 Brett Delk
9. 33 Sid Scarbrough
10. 9 Mike Haralson
11. 8 Zack Owens
12. 00 J.D. Pass
13. 10 Matt Stockton
14. 66 Bubba Jones
15. 88 Charlie McWilliams
16. S21 Richie Steen
17. 24 Bryan Foreman
18. 82 Jason Sanderford
19. 711 Al Thomas
20. 9 Michael Arnold
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI SPEEDWAY – GULFPORT, MS:
1. 747 Noah Daspit
2. 47 Shannon Lee
3. R7 Rodney Barber
4. 86 Nick Curole
5. 21 Ricky Idom
6. 77 Michael Santangelo
7. 7 Bryan Foy
8. 39 Michael Sibley
9. 13 Jeremy Idom
PIKE COUNTY SPEEDWAY – McCOMB, MS:
1. K18 Kaleb Killens
2. 21 Kody Barber
3. 2T Tootie Arnold
4. 23 Shane Barbara
5. 13 Stan Ware
WHYNOT MOTORSPORTS PARK – MERIDIAN, MS:
Rained Out
EAST REGION:
September 19:
TRI-COUNTY RACE TRACK – BRASSTOWN, NC:
Rained Out
