CARTERSVILLE, GA – The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model
Series will be coming to Flomaton Speedway in Flomaton, AL this
Friday and Saturday night for Round 4 of the 2008 season highlighted
by a 75-lap $5,000-to-win main event. The competition will not
only be among the drivers, but chassis makes as well.
There are six different makes of chassis holding down the first
six positions in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series
point standings. The “Battle of the Brands” is significant
in the series in that every car is powered by the same type of
GM Performance Crate Engine that is built and sealed at the factory
to prevent any expensive modifications.
With the engines being on a level playing field, chassis set
up and driver skill play more important roles in determining success
for a competitor in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series.
A Mastersbilt chassis is under the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National
point leader Jeff Fields of Aragon, GA. Joining Fields in the
Mastersbilt camp among the top 15 in National points is Johnny
Stokes of Columbus, MS, who is 14th. Mastersbilt chassis is the
defending NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Chassis Manufacturers
National Champion.
Just two points behind Fields in the points chase is the 2007
NeSmith Chevrolet Rookie of the Year Chip Brindle of Chatsworth,
GA. GRT Race Cars has the largest representation among the top
ten in the NeSmith Chevrolet point standings with four.
The GRT of Carlton Freeman of Eastaboga, AL is among a three-way
tie for sixth, top Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year candidate
Jason Hiett of Lincoln, AL is ninth, and Scott Knowles of Lanett,
AL is tenth in points. GRT Race Cars is the defending NeSmith
Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Chassis Manufacturers Champion.
Chris Tays of Corinth, MS is third in points driving a Rocket
Chassis. Another driver expected to climb through the point standings
in a Rocket chassis is Frank Ingram of Woodstock, GA, who teamed
up with the Dixon Hauling and Grading team for Round 3 in Tampa,
FL. Ingram was among the challengers for last year’s series
title.
A Rocket chassis also won the last time out in Round 3 with Keith
Nosbisch of Valrico, FL taking the win last month at East Bay
Raceway Park in Tampa, FL.
The Warrior chassis of Ted Lackey of Munford, AL is fourth in
the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National points. Warrior chassis also
has Jeff Smith of Rocky Face, GA sitting in the three-way tie
for the sixth spot in points.
Warrior chassis also leads the win column with two victories
in the first three events for Royce Bray of Hull, GA in the season
opener in January at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL and
National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame Inductee Ronnie Johnson
of Chattanooga, TN last month at Columbus Speedway in Columbus,
MS.
The 2007 NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National Championship Runner-Up
Jay Blair of Angie, LA leads the Trak-Star Race Cars contingent
in the fifth spot of the National points chase. Joining Blair
in the top 15 of National points is the builder of the Trak-Star
chassis, Mike Boland of Cuba, AL.
The TNT chassis of Larry Boutwell of Baker, FL is among the three-way
tie for the sixth spot in the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National
points. Boutwell will be looking to move up the standings, as
he competes at his home track, Flomaton Speedway, this Friday
and Saturday night.
C.J. Rayburn chassis is also among the competitors in the Battle
of the Brands with two Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year candidates
just outside the top ten of the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National
points with Steve Godsey of Bedford, IN and Josh Morrow of Murphy,
NC.
The Chassis manufactures enrolled in the 2008 NeSmith Chevrolet
Dirt Late Model Series Chassis Manufactures Challenge earn point
at each NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National Touring event. The Chassis
Manufactures Challenge points can be seen on the series web site
at www.nesmithracing.com by clicking the Points page, and then
clicking Stats at the top of the page.
Flomaton Speedway will host an open practice on Thursday night,
as drivers will begin to dial in their race cars in the NeSmith
Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series’ first visit to Flomaton
Speedway. On Friday night, the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS competitors
will Qualify for starting spots in heat races that will determine
the first 16 to 18 starting spots in feature race.
The top finishers in Friday night’s heat races will transfer
into the 75-lap $5,000-to-win main event on Saturday night. Drivers
that fail to transfer out of the Friday night heat races will
have another opportunity to try and make the tail of the 24-car
main event starting field through a pair of B-main events on Saturday
night.
For more information call Flomaton Speedway at 251-296-DIRT (3478),
or visit the track web site at www.flomatonspeedway.com. Flomaton
Speedway is located one-mile west of U.S. Highway 31 on State
Road 113.