TAMPA, FL – Dennis “Rambo” Franklin of Gaffney, SC drove the AES Racing Special to his second straight win on Saturday night in the 50-lap main event for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Tour at East Bay Raceway Park. After a race-long duel with Doug Watson of Plant City, FL, Franklin took the lead on lap 47 and then cruised to a 2.401 second victory.

The 36th Annual Winternationals was a good one for Franklin, as he finished second on Thursday night and followed that up with wins on Friday and Saturday night. Franklin leads the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series point standings with 296 points and holds a 24-point advantage over Jack Nosbisch Jr. of Riverview, FL.

“I kept working the inside on Watson and he finally made a bobble in turn two where we got by him at the end of the race,” Franklin said. “I’ve got to thank Steve Cooke and the AES Racing Team for letting drive this car here. It was a great race car all week.”

Watson held off a late-race charge from Doug Horton of Bruceton Mills, WV to finish second in the Brandon Auto Services Rocket. Horton overcame fuel problems early in the night to take the third spot in the Mainland Transport Warrior. Horton won the first 15-lap B-Main race, started 16th in the main event and earned the Hedman Husler of the Race Award.

Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA was fourth in the Hedman Husler Special and William Thomas of Phenix City, AL finished fifth in the Harrod Logging Special. Dave Schmauss of Dover, FL drove the Cardinal Paint and Body Warrior to a sixth-place finish and Mark Tice of Avon, MS was seventh in the Precision Marine Trak-Star.

Walker Arthur of Forest, VA finished eighth in the Cecil B. Arthur Beef Farms Rocket and Nosbisch took the ninth spot in the Buddy’s Home Furnishings Rocket. Phillip Cobb of Apollo Beach, FL rounded out the top ten in the Mathis Farms Special and was the VP Racing Fuels Rookie of the Race.

The four 12-lap heat races were won by Franklin, Watson, Austin Hubbard of Sanford, DE in the AES Racing Special and Steve Cooke of Mt. Airy, NC in the AES Racing Special. The 15-lap B-Main races were won by Horton and Nosbisch. Franklin made it a clean sweep of the program by setting fast time honors among the 45 entrants with a lap around the 1/3-mile clay oval in 15.708 seconds.

Franklin took the lead at the start of the race when Watson jumped the cushion in turn two. That enabled Hubbard to move up to second, but when the field got to turn four, several cars got tangled up midway in the pack, and Chris Cantrell of Chester, SC flipped the CANCO Rocket and collect several other cars to bring out the red flag.

Cantrell was uninjured, but his race car was done for the evening. His misfortune earned Cantrell the Dominator Race Products Hard Luck Award. The field lined back up for a complete restart, and Watson took the lead followed by Franklin, Hubbard, Cooke, and Devin Dixon of Apollo Beach, FL in the Mathis Farms Special.

Horton was working through the field, and charged from 16th to tenth by lap four. Lap seven saw Franklin looking inside to challenge Watson for the lead. Dixon and Turner got by Cooke on lap nine to take over the fourth and fifth spots respectively.

The second of seven caution flags came out on lap ten when Shannon Lee of Lumberton, MS spun the Billy Riels Racing Trak-Star. Watson led the doubled-up field down for the restart followed by Franklin, Hubbard, Dixon, Turner, Cooke, Chase Edge of Lafayette, AL in the Edge’s Gas Company Special, Tice, Horton and Thomas.

Dixon spun on the restart in turn two and collected ten other cars for the third caution flag. After the restart, Hubbard spun out of the third spot with a spin in turn two on lap 11 for the fourth caution flag. Watson led for the restart with Franklin, Turner, Cooke, Edge, Tice, Horton, Thomas, Arthur and Blount doubled up behind him.

Horton passed Tice for the sixth spot on the restart, and Schmauss moved into the top ten on lap 12. Horton closed in on Edge to battle for the fifth spot on lap 18, while up front, Franklin worked to the inside of Watson to challenge for the lead. For the next five laps, Watson and Franklin raced side-by-side for the lead while Edge and Horton raced side-by-side for fifth.

Lap 23 saw Horton made the pass on Edge for the fifth spot. Up front, Watson and Franklin continued their battle for the lead as they approached lapped traffic at the halfway point in the race. Edge slammed the backstretch wall on lap 27 to light up the caution bulb for the fifth time. The 2011 VP Racing Fuels Rookie of the Year was uninjured, but his car was done for the night.

After the field went back to green flag racing, Franklin again camped out on the inside of Watson. Franklin could gain on Watson entering the corners, but Watson was faster getting off the turns to keep the lead. Thomas passed Tice for the sixth spot on lap 28.

Franklin got a good run on Watson in turn one on lap 36, and stayed alongside the leader down the backstretch. Watson used the “sweet spot” he found on the high side of turn four to keep Franklin behind him. The race was slowed by the sixth caution flag on lap 38 when Blount spun in turn two.

Two-time NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Champion David Earl Gentry of Murfreesboro, TN stalled in turn four on lap 41 with an overheating problem for the seventh caution flag. Watson lined up for the single-file restart followed by Franklin, Horton, Turner, Thomas, Cooke, Tice, Schmauss, Arthur and Nosbisch.

Franklin put the inside pressure on Watson for the next five laps, as the lead pair raced side-by-side. Watson slipped slightly on the high side of turn two on lap 47, which opened the door for Franklin, who made the best of his opportunity to take the lead going down the backstretch. Once he cleared Watson, Franklin opened up a 2.401 second lead at the checkered flag.

The next event for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series will be on April 6-7 with a $5,000-to-win two-day show at Greenville Speedway in Greenville, MS highlighted with a 75-lap main event.

For more information 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.

OFFICIAL RESULTS OF ROUND 3 AT EAST BAY RACEWAY PARK IN TAMPA, FL ON 2/4/12:

POS STRT CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN LAPS $ WON
1. 1 27c Dennis Franklin Gaffney, SC 50 $3,000
2. 2 07 Doug Watson Plant City, FL 50 $1,250
3. 16 11 Doug Horton Bruceton Mills, WV 50 $950
4. 6 10 Matthew Turner Dawsonville, GA 50 $700
5. 9 22 William Thomas Phenix City, AL 50 $650
6. 18 105 Dave Schmauss Dover, FL 50 $550
7. 12 24 Mark Tice Avon, MS 50 $500
8. 15 87 Walker Arthur Forest, VA 50 $450
9. 17 01 Jack Nosbisch Jr. Riverview, FL 50 $400
10. 19 32 Phillip Cobb (R) Apollo Beach, FL 50 $375
11. 24 41 Travis Varnadore Dover, FL 50 $350
12. 8 121 Michael Blount Sumrall, MS 50 $300
13. 4 17c Steve Cooke Mt. Airy, NC 49 $280
14. 22 56 David Earl Gentry Murfreesboro, TN 40 $260
15. 14 2* Shane Hitt Buckhannon, WV 39 $250
16. 3 37c Austin Hubbard Sanford, DE 37 $240
17. 20 99w Shan Smith Dade City, FL 26 $220
18. 7 18 Chase Edge Lafayette, AL 26 $200
19. 5 95 Devin Dixon Apollo Beach, FL 9 $200
20. 21 17x Anthony White Clinton, TN 9 $200
21. 23 47 Shannon Lee Lumberton, MS 8 $200
22. 25 95jr Maverick Varnadore Dover, FL 7 $200
23. 10 114 Chris Cantrell Chester, SC 0 $200
24. 11 51 Mack McCarter Sevierville, TN 0 $200
25. 13 T1 Todd Morrow East Ridge, TN 0 $200

ENTRIES: 45
FAST QUALIFIER: Franklin, 15.708 Seconds
PROVISIONALS: Gentry and Lee
LEAD CHANGES: 1
LAP LEADERS: Watson, 1-46; Franklin, 47-50
LAPS LED: Watson, 46; Franklin, 4
VP RACING FUELS ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Cobb
HEDMAN HUSLER OF THE RACE: Horton (started 16th and finished 3rd)
DOMINATOR RACE PRODUCTS HARD LUCK AWARD: Cantrell
INTEGRA RACING SHOCKS JUST MISSED IT AWARD: Kyle Weatherman
RACE CAR ENGINEERING 5TH-PLACE AWARD: Thomas
KRC 6TH-PLACE AWARD: Schmauss
QA1 RACE PRODUCTS 7TH-PLACE AWARD: Tice
RACE CAR ENGINEERING 8TH-PLACE AWARD: Arthur
MODERN IMAGES 9TH-PLACE AWARD: Nosbisch
KRC 10TH-PLACE AWARD: Cobb
MIKE’S CUSTOM TANKS 11TH-PLACE AWARD: T. Varnadore
SHORTY’S SHOCK SERVICE 12TH-PLACE AWARD: Blount
SCHOENFELD HEADERS 13TH-PLACE AWARD: Cooke
J.T. KERR RACING EQUIPMENT 14TH-PLACE AWARD: Gentry
KINSER AIR FILTERS 15TH-PLACE AWARD: Hitt
CAUTIONS: 7
MARGIN OF VICTORY: 2.401 Seconds
TIME OF THE RACE: 51 Minutes and 48.948 Seconds

GROUP QUALIFYING:
1ST GROUP:
POS CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN CHASSIS LAP 1 LAP 2 TIME
1 27c Dennis Franklin Gaffney, SC Barry Wright 15.922 15.708 15.708
2 22 William Thomas Phenix City, AL Scorpion 16.254 16.261 16.254
3 27 Larry Harrod Plains, GA Scorpion 16.475 16.255 16.255
4 95 Devin Dixon Apollo Beach, FL Barry Wright 16.577 16.309 16.309
5 21r Shannon Reed Bloomington, IN Rayburn 16.427 17.341 16.427
6 69 Tony Lawson Laurel, MS Scorpion 16.480 16.885 16.480
7 14 Mavrick Varnadore Dover, FL Rayburn 16.994 16.512 16.512
8 56 David Earl Gentry Murfreesboro, TN Warrior 16.590 17.889 16.590
9 105 Dave Schmauss Dover, FL Warrior 16.851 16.685 16.685
10 8s Steve Miller Tampa, FL Rocket 17.107 16.852 16.852
11 10c Ronnie Cooper McKenzie, TN GRT 17.129 17.177 17.129
12 46m Kyle Musselman Lutz, FL Warrior 20.736 17.597 17.597

2ND GROUP:
POS CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN CHASSIS LAP 1 LAP 2 TIME
1 18 Chase Edge Lafayette, AL Mastersbilt 16.110 16.510 16.110
2 37c Austin Hubbard Sanford, DE Barry Wright 16.505 16.214 16.214
3 51 Mack McCarter Sevierville, TN CVR 16.529 16.330 16.330
4 2* Shane Hitt Buckhannon, WV Warrior 16.331 16.385 16.331
5 1 Johnny Stokes Columbus, MS GRT 16.644 16.349 16.349
6 32 Phillip Cobb – R Apollo Beach, FL Barry Wright 55.016 16.370 16.370
7 117 Jake Teague – R Oliver Springs, TN Bloomquist 16.662 16.449 16.449
8 01 Jack Nosbisch Jr. Riverview, FL Rocket 16.540 16.449 16.449
9 72 Frank Wilson Harold, FL Rocket 16.726 16.636 16.636
10 17x Anthony White Clinton, TN Stinger 16.674 17.477 16.674
11 J1 Johnny Phillips Lenoir City, TN Warrior 17.373 17.116 17.116

3RD GROUP:
POS CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN CHASSIS LAP 1 LAP 2 TIME
1 114 Chris Cantrell – R Chester, SC Rocket 15.948 16.602 15.948
2 07 Doug Watson Plant City, FL Rocket 16.361 16.067 16.067
3 1g Pierce McCarter – R Sevierville, TN Warrior 16.229 16.304 16.229
4 10 Matthew Turner Dawsonville, GA DWB 16.373 17.129 16.373
5 T1 Todd Morrow East Ridge, TN TNT 16.969 16.489 16.489
6 99w Shan Smith Dade City, FL TNT 16.568 16.661 16.568
7 51p John Polasini – R Leland, MS Mastersbilt 16.785 16.703 16.703
8 17 Kyle Weatherman Wentzville, MO Rocket 16.869 16.711 16.711
9 40 Justin Summers – R Greenback, TN Stinger 17.136 17.402 17.136
10 10s Elmer Stevenson Trenton, ONT Can Lazer 17.836 18.104 17.836
11 11 Doug Horton Bruceton Mills, WV Warrior 18.725 NT 18.725

4TH GROUP:
POS CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN CHASSIS LAP 1 LAP 2 TIME
1 17c Steve Cooke Mt. Airy, NC Barry Wright 16.410 16.116 16.116
2 24 Mark Tice Avon, MS Trak-Star 16.204 16.866 16.204
3 116 Greg Robertson Waynesboro, VA Rocket 16.851 16.369 16.369
4 121 Michael Blount Sumrall, MS Trak-Star 16.489 16.425 16.425
5 41 Travis Varnadore Dover, FL Rayburn 16.427 16.498 16.427
6 87 Walker Arthur Forest, VA Rocket 16.789 16.441 16.441
7 47 Shannon Lee Lumberton, MS Trak-Star 16.442 16.588 16.442
8 19 Marcus Minga Shannon, MS Rocket 16.764 16.708 16.708
9 18a Jared Allison Cocoa, FL Trak-Star 16.829 16.721 16.721
10 95jr Steve Mathis Jr. Plant City, FL Rayburn 17.220 16.822 16.822
11 17k Cody Kierre – R Beebe, AR GRT 17.489 17.450 17.450

HEAT RACES (12 Laps – Top 4 Transfer To Main Event):

1ST HEAT: 1. Franklin; 2. Dixon; 3. Thomas; 4. M. Varnadore; 5. Schmauss; 6. Lawson; 7. Gentry; 8. Cooper; 9. Reed; 10. Harrod; 11. Miller; 12. Musselman.

2ND HEAT: 1. Watson; 2. Turner; 3. Cantrell (R); 4. Morrow; 5. Smith; 6. Horton; 7. Weatherman; 8. Stevenson; 9. P. McCarter (R); 10. Polasini (R); 11. Summers (R).

3RD HEAT: 1. Hubbard; 2. Edge; 3. M. McCarter; 4. Hitt; 5. Stokes; 6. Nosbisch; 7. Cobb (R); 8. White; 9. Teague (R); 10. Wilson; 11. Phillips.

4TH HEAT: 1. Cooke; 2. Blount; 3. Tice; 4. Arthur; 5. Lee; 6. Robertson; 7. T. Varnadore; 8. Allison; 9. Minga; 10. Kierre (R); 11. Mathis.

B-MAINS (15 Laps – Top 3 Transfer To Main Event):

1ST B-MAIN: 1. Horton; 2. Schmauss; 3. Smith; 4. Weatherman; 5. Cooper; 6. Reed; 7. Harrod; 8. Miller; 9. Stevenson; 10. Lawson; 11. Gentry; 12. P. McCarter (R) DNS; 13. Polasini (R) DNS; 14. Summers (R) DNS; 15. Musselman DNS.

2ND B-MAIN: 1. Nosbisch; 2. Cobb (R); 3. White; 4. Robertson; 5. Lee; 6. T. Varnadore; 7. Wilson; 8. Mathis; 9. Minga; 10. Stokes; 11. Allison; 12. Phillips; 13. Teague (R) DNS; 14. Kierre (R) DNS.

NeSMITH CHEVROLET DIRT LATE MODEL SERIES POINT STANDINGS THROUGH 2/4/12:

1. 27c Dennis Franklin – 296
2. 01 Jack Nosbisch Jr. – 272
3. 10 Matthew Turner – 262
4. 37c Austin Hubbard – 256
5. 11 Doug Horton – 252
6. 56 David Earl Gentry – 248
7. 07 Doug Watson – 242
8. 32 Phillip Cobb (R) – 234
9. 24 Mark Tice – 226
10. 114 Chris Cantrell (R) – 216
11. 22 William Thomas – 210
12. 1 Johnny Stokes – 206
12. 18 Chase Edge – 206
14. 47 Shannon Lee – 204
14. 95 Devin Dixon – 204
14. 105 Dave Schmauss – 204
17. 14 Maverick Varnadore – 194
18. 2* Shane Hitt – 190
19. 87 Walker Arthur – 178
20. 17x Anthony White – 172

R – Denotes VP Racing Fuels Rookie of the Year Candidate

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 Dealer four 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. VP Racing Fuel is the Official Racing Fuel of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. Hedman Hedders is the Official Hedder of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series and the Hedman Husler Award sponsor. RockAuto.com is an Official Sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Contingency Sponsors for 2012 are Dominator Race Products, Race Car Engineering, KRC, QA 1 Precision Products, Modern Images, Mike Custom Tanks, Shorty’s Shock Service, Schoenfeld Headers, Integra Racing Shocks, J.T. Kerr Racing Equipment, Kinser Air Filters, Trak-Star Race Cars, Warrior Race Cars, Rocket Chassis, GRT Race Cars, TNT Race Cars, and Stinger Race Cars.