Successful Weekend For GM Performance CT525 Spec Engines

jdearing

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CARTERSVILLE, GA – It was a successful weekend of competition for drivers using the new economical all-aluminum GM Performance CT525 Spec Engine in two super late model series against open all-aluminum engines costing three-times more. In two different events last Friday night and Saturday night, the CT525 powered drivers to one win, two fives, and four top ten finishes.

Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN drove his Miller Brothers Coal Mastersbilt powered by the CT525 Spec Engine to a win against a star-studded field on Friday night in a Southern All-Star Series event on Friday night at Boyd’s Speedway in Ringgold, GA. The National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame Inductee set fast time and led all 40 laps for the win.

“It’s rare for me to qualify on the pole with any kind of engine, and I’m usually trying to prepare myself to pass cars and race through the field,” Johnson said. “Then to lead all of the laps was something I wasn’t used to. I’ve run the CT525 engine now about seven times, and I’ve learned that I usually have to wait for the track to come to the engine, but the track was just right for the engine at Boyd’s.”

Johnson followed that effort up with a fourth-place finish on Saturday night in the 40-lap NeSmith Super Dirt Car Series/Promoters Racing Organization (PRO) event on Saturday night at North Alabama Speedway in Tuscumbia, AL. “The Chattanooga Flash” started eighth, and quickly raced into the top five against the top drivers in Southeastern super late model racing.

“The track at North Alabama was what I usually except in that it was wet and tacky early, but as the night went on, the track got slicker and we had to use a harder compound of tire,” Johnson said. “The track came to the engine, but we didn’t have the car balanced right to take advantage of that enough to get to the front. The engine was capable of winning the race, but the car wasn’t.”

The defending NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion Eric Cooley of Fulton, MS and the current NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National Touring point leader Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA moved over to the NeSmith Super Dirt Car Series at North Alabama Speedway to compete with the CT525 engine with successful results.

Cooley started 16th and finished sixth to earn the Hard Charger of the Race Award in the 78 Towing and Recovery Victory Circle. Turner started 19th in the Turner Excavating DWB and worked his way through the pack to finish tenth.

The all-aluminum GM Performance CT525 Spec Engine has proven that it can be competitive with the 700-800 horsepower all-aluminum open super late model engines for one-third of the cost under track conditions that are prevalent in the Southeast. Johnson said this makes the CT525 a good choice for super late model competition for that reason, plus he says it is easy on the rest of the race car.

“The CT525 Spec Engine is a good concept because it has less horsepower, which works better with harder compound tires,” Johnson said. “A wet and tacky track with a lot of traction will take 700 to 800 horsepower, but as the track dries out, takes rubber and slows down, it won’t take that much horsepower. That’s generally what the tracks in the Southeast do, especially during the summer months. The CT525 also puts less ware and tear on the drive train tires and brakes because it puts less stain on transmissions, drive shafts, and axles. That saves the racer money in the long run.”

Johnson said running an engine with less horsepower motivates him because he feels like he’s the underdog, and to be competitive with the CT525 gives him more feeling of accomplishment.

“This is a work in progress because there is more to learn about the CT525 Engine and how to make it better in working with the race car,” Johnson said. “I like being the underdog and with the CT525 engine and I can work more with the tires and the handling aspect of the race car to make it faster.”

Johnson has had five top ten finishes in his last five races using the GM Performance CT525 Spec Engine. On March 13, Johnson started 20th and finished seventh in the NeSmith Super Dirt Car Series/PRO Dirt Car Series 40-lap main event at Columbus Speedway in Columbus, MS. After the first two NeSmith SDCS/PRO races of the season, Johnson is currently third in the point standings, ten points out of first place.

The next night, Johnson traveled to Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL and competed in the season opener for their Super Late Model Division with the CT525. Johnson finished second, coming within a half car-length of taking the win.

The Southern All-Star Dirt Late Model Series is the latest super late model sanctioning body to approve the GM Performance CT525 Spec Engine for competition with open engines and other specially-built spec engines.

Several dirt tracks that include Talladega Short Track, Columbus Speedway, Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, MS Mountain Raceway Park in Maryville, TN, and Cleveland Speedway in Cleveland, TN have also approved the CT525 for competition in their weekly Super Late Model Division.

“I think all super late model series and tracks should take a good look at this engine and consider approving it for competition,” NeSmith Chevrolet Super Dirt Car Series Founder and Director Mike Vaughn said. “The CT525 is a good option for everyone, especially the weekly racer operating on a tight budget that wants to run an affordable engine and be competitive.”

The GM Performance CT525 Spec Engine is in stock and readily available at NeSmith Chevrolet in Claxton, GA with free next day delivery anywhere in the Southeast for $7,195, and race-ready with all of the needed accessories except carburetor for $10,100. An open super late model engine can cost in excess of $30,000 with a waiting period of at least several weeks to have it built.

NeSmith Chevrolet in Claxton, GA has all but two of the GM Performance CT525 Spec Engines available in the United States in their warehouse. To place an order, call Tim Bland at 1-877-497-3624.


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, and is also the nation’s number one volume dealer of Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC cars, trucks, SUVs and vans with free delivery anywhere in the Southeast. Hoosier Race 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. NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Contingency Sponsors for 2010 are Dominator Race Products, Race Car Engineering, KRC, Joe Gibbs Driven, Maximum Signs and Graphics, Mike Custom Tanks, Shorty’s Shock Service, Warrior Race Cars, Trak-Star Race Cars, Mastersbilt Race Cars, GRT Race Cars, TNT Race Cars.
 




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