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NeSMITH CHEVROLET DLMS OPENS 2012 SEASON AT EAST BAY ON FEBRUARY 1-4
CARTERSVILLE, GA – The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series
Tour opens the 2012 season on February 1 through 4 at East Bay Raceway
Park in Tampa, FL to begin the 36th Annual Winternationals.
The NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS will present three complete shows over
four days.
The first wheels will turn on Wednesday night, February 1 with an
open practice session. There
will be 40-lap $2,000-to-win events on Thursday night, February 2 and
Friday night, February 3. The
Saturday night, February 4 event will be 50 laps paying $3,000-to-win.
Over 50 drivers from at least 12 different states are expected for
the three races, as the drivers traveling with the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt
Late Model Series take on the local favorites at East Bay Raceway Park.
The Top 10 point drivers from last season, plus several new faces
looking to follow the Tour this season will be on hand at “The Clay By
The Bay.”
The 2011 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring Champion
Dan Breuer of Troutman, NC will arrive at East Bay Raceway Park looking to
begin his quest of a second straight title.
Two-time NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS Champion David Earl Gentry of
Murfreesboro, TN will start the 2012 season looking for his third title
after finishing second last season.
Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA finished third in the points
chase last season, and will be looking to compete in his 125th
126th and 127th consecutive NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt
Late Model Series events next week at East Bay Raceway Park.
Turner is known as the “Ironman” of the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS
as the only driver to compete in every series event held since its
inception in 2005.
Chase Edge of Lafayette, AL will begin his sophomore season with
the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS at East Bay after finishing fourth in the point
standings last season and earning the VP Racing Fuels Rookie of the Year
Award. Shannon Lee of
Lumberton, MS will be looking for his third straight top five points
finish in 2012.
Mark Tice of Avon, MS, Steve Cooke of Mt. Airy, NC, Frank Wilson of
Harold, FL, Tootie Arnold of Bude, MS and Johnny Stokes of Columbus, MS
finished sixth through tenth respectively in the 2011 NeSmith Chevrolet
Dirt Late Model Series standings and are expected to return for the 2012
run for the $20,000 NeSmith Cup.
Several new drivers are expected to join last year’s regulars for
the 2012 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series season, including seven
drivers making a run for the $5,000 VP Racing Fuels Rookie of the Year
Award.
Drivers that have already thrown their hats in the ring as a 2012
VP Racing Fuels Rookie of the Year candidate are Pierce McCarter of
Sevierville, TN, John Polasini of Leland, MS, Joseph Joiner of Milton, FL,
Chris Cantrell of Chester, SC, Mark Rosner of Maryville, TN, Justin
Summers of Greenback, TN, and Jake Teague of Oliver Springs, TN.
Randy Weaver of Crossville, TN, who has a pair of 2010 NeSmith
Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Winternationals victories at East Bay
Raceway Park, is expected to be among the 2012 entrants, and a Top 10
points driver from the 2010 NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS season, Michael Blount
of Sumrall, MS will return to the tour this season.
The local dirt late model driver contingent at East Bay Raceway
Park will be looking to repeat last year’s Winternationals performance,
as they swept all three shows. Doug
Horton of Bruceton Mills, WV drove a local car owned by Ken Nosbisch to
victory in the first race, while Jack Nosbisch Jr. of Riverview, FL and
Phillip Cobb of Apollo Beach, FL won the other two events.
Other local favorites include defending East Bay Raceway Park Late
Model Champion Bryan Bernhardt of Clearwater, FL, along with former Track
Champions Dave Schmauss of Tampa, FL, Keith Nosbisch of Valrico, FL, and
Josh Peacock of Dover, FL. Also
look for Travis and Maverick Varnadore of Dover, FL, Jeff Mathews of
Tampa, FL, Devin Dixon of Apollo Beach, FL, and Shan Smith of Dade City,
FL.
Competitors are reminded that mufflers are required for all race
cars at East Bay Raceway Park. Mufflers
must be securely fastened and have some type of internal noise dampening
characteristics that include baffles, extruded holes, screen chambered,
etc. Any questions should be
directed to NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Competition/Technical
Director Tim Sims at 334-864-0805, or 256-794-4047.
East Bay Raceway Park officials have also issued a Winternationals
Travel Advisory for fans and competitors in that they must enter the track
from the north on Old Highway 41 and turn left on Burts Road to proceed to
the track parking lot and pit gate. Old
Highway 41 is closed south of the race track for bridge work.
For each of the three days of racing at
East Bay Raceway Park, the pits will be open all day with Pre-Race
Registration and Technical Inspection from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The Drivers Meeting will be at 5 p.m. with Hot Laps set for 5:30
p.m. The NeSmith Chevrolet
Dirt Late Model Series will compete in Qualifying, Heat Races, B-Mains,
and a Main Event each night.
East Bay Raceway Park is located five
miles south of I-4 off U.S. Highway 41.
For more information call 813-677-7223 or visit the track web site
at www.eastbayracewaypark.com.
The Best Western Business and Conference Center Hotel in Brandon,
FL is the Official Host Hotel for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model
Series events at East Bay Raceway Park on February 1-4.
The Best Western will be offering NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS fans and
competitors a special discount rate of $55.00 per night.
The Best Western Business and Conference
Center Hotel is located one mile west of Exit 257 on I-75 on State Road
60, just minutes from East Bay Raceway Park with a plethora of restaurants
surrounding the facility. There
is a Beef O’Brady’s Restaurant and Sports Bar, and an American Pie
Pizza Restaurant right on the property.
To make reservations call the Best
Western Business and Conference Center Hotel at 813-621-5555 and be sure
to ask for the special East
Bay Raceway Park special discount rate of $55.00 per night.
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.
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,
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