173 DRIVERS INVITED TO NeSMITH CHEVROLET WRS FALL NATIONALS AT COLUMBUS SPEEDWAY

Posted under Press, Previews by admin on October 28th, 2009

CARTERSVILLE, GA – NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series officials will be mailing out invitations to 173 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series drivers representing ten different states to participate in the 4th Annual NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Fall Nationals at Columbus Speedway in Columbus, MS on November 27-28.

The 4th Annual NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Fall Nationals will be a 40-lap $2,000-to-win event that will be held on Friday night November 27. All 173 invitees will be eligible to compete in this post-season special event.

The Top 10 drivers in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region and East Region, as well as the Top Ten drivers in the NeSmith Chevrolet Northern Challenge Series will be eligible to compete in the Race of Regions at Columbus Speedway on Saturday, November 28.

The 15 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Track Champions will compete in the Race of Champions at Columbus Speedway in Saturday, November 28. The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series will also present a 40-lap $2,500-to-win non-points race that will be open to all drivers on Saturday night, November 28 at Columbus Speedway.

Seven invitees will be eligible for “Triple Duty” at the Fall Nationals by placing in the Top Ten of their Region, and winning a Track Championship. They will be eligible to compete in the Fall Nationals, the Race of Regions, and the Race of Champions.

Eric Cooley of Fulton, MS will be looking to pad his already impressive 2009 resume at the 4th Annual Fall Nationals. The 18-year-old has already captured the $20,000 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Championship, and the Columbus Speedway/Magnolia Motor Speedway NeSmith Chevrolet WRS Track Championship. Cooley finished fourth in the WRS West Region.

Michael Arnold of Hattiesburg, MS finished second in the NeSmith Chevrolet WRS West Region standings, and won the WRS Track Championship at Hattiesburg Motorsports Park in Hattiesburg, MS. Shannon Lee of Lumberton, MS won the Track Championship at South Mississippi Speedway in Gulfport, MS and placed third in the West Region points chase.

Randy Boyd of Marion, MS was the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Track Champion at Whynot Motorsports Park in Meridian, MS, and finished eighth in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region standings.

Larry Harrod of Plains, GA was the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Track Champion at East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City, AL and finished second in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region point standings.

The 2008 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region Champion Adam Martin of Talladega, AL won his second straight WRS Track Championship at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL, and finished third in the 2009 East Region standings. Rick Stout of Stanton, MI won the NeSmith Chevrolet Northern Challenge Series Championship.

There are 31 drivers eligible for “Double Duty” at the Fall Nationals by placing in the Top Ten of the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East or West Regions, the NeSmith Chevrolet Northern Challenge Series, or winning a Track Championship.

Three-time NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region Champion Lucky Keeton of Toomsuba, MS and the 2009 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region Champion Scott Knowles of Lanett, AL will compete in the Fall Nationals and the Race of Regions.

Other drivers from the West Region eligible to compete in the Fall Nationals and the Race of Regions are Kody Barber of Bogalusa, LA, Cliff Williams of Star, MS, Tracy Brown of Lumberton, MS, Evan Ellis of Plantersville, MS, and Chase Washington of Houlka, MS.

Other East Region Top Ten drivers eligible to compete in the Fall Nationals and the Race of Regions are Terrance Nowell of Phenix City, AL, Montana Dudley of Phenix City, AL, Dana Eiland of Salem, AL, Chase Edge of Lafayette, AL, Richie Stephens of Phenix City, AL, Jimmy Elkins Jr. of Talladega, AL, and Jerry Goodwin of Wilsonville, AL.

Joining Stout in the Fall Nationals and the Race of Regions from the Northern Challenge Series will be Roger Wing of Middleton, MI, Scott Ehlert of Crystal, MI, Trever Sloan of Saranac, MI, Mike Nugent of Belding, MI, John McClure of Clarksville, MI, Kris Patterson of St. Johns, MI, Bry Sloan of Lowell, MI, Billy Trueblood of Ionia, MI, and Gary Vandermark of Lowell, MI.

Eight drivers will be eligible to compete in two events: the Fall Nationals and the Race of Champions. Jacob Anderson of Murphy, NC was the Track Champion at Tri-County Race Track in Brasstown, NC, and Tootie Arnold of Meadville, MS was the Track Champion at Pike County Speedway in McComb, MS.

Randall Beckwith of Kilmichael, MS was the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Track Champion at Central Mississippi Speedway in Winona, MS, and Jason Deal of Copperhill, TN was the Track Champion at Sugar Creek Raceway in Blue Ridge, GA. Marc Gooden of Lafayette, AL was the Track Champion at Penton Raceway in Penton, AL.

Mike Haralson of Braxton, MS was the NeSmith Chevrolet WRS Track Champion at Jackson Motor Speedway in Jackson, MS, and Josh Henry of Newport, TN was the Track Champion at Mountain Raceway Park in Maryville, TN. Jason Wilkey of Batesville, AR was the Track Champion at Batesville Motor Speedway in Batesville, AR.

The 173 drivers eligible for the 4th Annual Fall Nationals are the Top Ten drivers in the NeSmith Chevrolet West and East Regions, the Top Ten drivers in the NeSmith Chevrolet Northern Challenge Series, the Top Ten drivers in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Tour, and the Top Ten drivers, excluding Regional Top Ten drivers, from each NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series track.

Columbus Speedway will be hosting an open practice session on Thursday, November 26 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Columbus Speedway is located seven miles east of Columbus, MS 1.5 miles north of U.S. Highway 82. Take Stokes Road, 1.5 miles north of U.S. Highway 82, then turn right on Lacy Road. The track will be ¾-mile on the left.

For more information call 662-241-5004, or visit the track web site at www.columbusspeedway.net. For more information about the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series, visit the series web site at www.nesmithracing.com.