crusapr
02-14-2012, 08:28 PM
CARTERSVILLE, GA – Officials with the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series and 411 Motor Speedway in Seymour, TN announced today that the series Touring Division event at the track on June 2 will be the J.T. Kerr Memorial 40 paying $2,500-to-win. The race will be in memory of Tennessee racing legend J.T. Kerr, who passed away last year at age 81.
The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring events that pay $2,500-to-win are usually 50 laps in length, but the $2,500-to-win June 2 race at 411 Motor Speedway will be 40 laps to honor J.T. Kerr, who carried the number 40 on his race cars during his racing career.
The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series is excited about sanctioning the J.T. Kerr Memorial 40, and is hopeful the race will become an annual tradition on the series’ Touring schedule.
“We appreciate that 411 Motor Speedway Owner Mitch McCarter is honoring the memory of J.T. Kerr with this race and we’re proud that the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series has been chosen to sanction it,” NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Founder and Director Mike Vaughn said. “J.T. Kerr was a respected friend to many racers through the years, and we’re looking forward to helping Mitch and 411 Motor Speedway make this event an annual tradition.”
J.T. Kerr spent over 40 years in the motorsports industry as a driver and the proprietor of J.T. Kerr Racing Equipment in Rockford, TN. As a driver, Kerr won over 200 main events and is an inductee in the Atomic Speedway, Smoky Mountain Speedway, Volunteer Speedway and 411 Motor Speedway Halls of Fame. Kerr was the 1969 NASCAR Tennessee State Champion.
At the age of 63, Kerr won 18 races at 411 Motor Speedway on his way to winning the 1993 Track Championship and was the runner-up in the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Mid-Atlantic Region point standings. Kerr led the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series National points for most of the season, but an injury from a late-season crash knocked him out of contention.
As a businessman, Kerr opened J.T. Kerr Racing Equipment in 1968 and built it into one of the highest volume short track racing equipment businesses in the country. Many of the today’s competitors in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series have been customers, and continue to conduct business there; as it has been handed down to Kerr’s granddaughter Lacretia and her husband Travis Holbert.
411 Motor Speedway Owner Mitch McCarter said they scheduled a J.T. Kerr Memorial Race at 411 Motor Speedway late last year, but we had to postpone it until this year because of bad weather.
“When we set our schedule for this season, I asked Travis and Lacretia Holbert to pick whatever date they wanted to have the race, and they picked the NeSmith race,” McCarter said. “They made a good choice because we can all work together for everyone’s benefit and make this a race that J.T. Kerr would be proud of. I think we’re going to see a lot of racers that may not normally run a NeSmith late model borrow or buy a GM Performance Crate Engine just to have an opportunity to win this race held in memory of a man that helped a lot of racers through the years.”
J.T. Racing Equipment is a part of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series both on and off the track. They sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series and they also build Stinger Race Cars, which is a part of the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS Chassis Manufacturers Challenge.
“We want to thank Mitch McCarter, 411 Motor Speedway and the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series for putting on this race in honor of J.T.,” Travis Holbert said. “411 Motor Speedway is our home track, and the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Tour is our home away from home. Both the track and the series have been good for our business, and we’ve made a lot of new friend on the NeSmith Tour.”
On the track, the Holberts have announced that Anthony White of Clinton, TN will compete for the 2012 NeSmith Cup and $20,000 Championship driving the #2x Stinger House Car. Known as “The Dirty White Boy,” White has closed the doors on his DWB race car building business to compete on the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Tour in the Stinger House Car.
White’s DWB Race Cars have been prevalent in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series, as Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA has driven a DWB to two career wins, and is a consistent front runner in the series. White said he will still service and repair the existing chassis he has in the market, but the bad economy has forced him to quit building new chassis.
After winning a Tennessee Thunder Late Model Series and Southern Nationals Championships in the past, White said he is ready to put race car building behind him, and look to furthering his driving career.
“I want to thank Travis and Lacretia Holbert for giving me this opportunity to run for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Championship,” White said. “Building cars has taken away from my own racing the last few years, and now I’m ready to race for a National series championship. I’ve been life-long friends with the Kerr Family, and Travis and I decided to join forces to see if we can make this championship happen.”
Mark Rosner of Maryville, TN will drive the #17 Stinger House Car in the J.T. Kerr Memorial 40, and he will campaign in selected series Touring events, as well as NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series races at 411 Motor Speedway and Smoky Mountain Speedway in Maryville, TN. Rosner finished 11th in the 2011 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring points.
The Holberts also said there will be a third Stinger House Car at the J.T. Kerr Memorial 40. The third car will be a #40 J.T. Kerr Tribute Car with a driver to be announced at a later date. Plans are for this car to be wrapped in the colors of J.T. Kerr’s 1993 411 Motor Speedway Championship car.
J.T. Kerr Racing Equipment will also field a car for J.T. Kerr’s 15-year-old Grandson Justin Kerr, who will begin his racing career in 2012 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series competition at 411 Motor Speedway and Smoky Mountain Speedway.
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, 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.
The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring events that pay $2,500-to-win are usually 50 laps in length, but the $2,500-to-win June 2 race at 411 Motor Speedway will be 40 laps to honor J.T. Kerr, who carried the number 40 on his race cars during his racing career.
The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series is excited about sanctioning the J.T. Kerr Memorial 40, and is hopeful the race will become an annual tradition on the series’ Touring schedule.
“We appreciate that 411 Motor Speedway Owner Mitch McCarter is honoring the memory of J.T. Kerr with this race and we’re proud that the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series has been chosen to sanction it,” NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Founder and Director Mike Vaughn said. “J.T. Kerr was a respected friend to many racers through the years, and we’re looking forward to helping Mitch and 411 Motor Speedway make this event an annual tradition.”
J.T. Kerr spent over 40 years in the motorsports industry as a driver and the proprietor of J.T. Kerr Racing Equipment in Rockford, TN. As a driver, Kerr won over 200 main events and is an inductee in the Atomic Speedway, Smoky Mountain Speedway, Volunteer Speedway and 411 Motor Speedway Halls of Fame. Kerr was the 1969 NASCAR Tennessee State Champion.
At the age of 63, Kerr won 18 races at 411 Motor Speedway on his way to winning the 1993 Track Championship and was the runner-up in the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Mid-Atlantic Region point standings. Kerr led the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series National points for most of the season, but an injury from a late-season crash knocked him out of contention.
As a businessman, Kerr opened J.T. Kerr Racing Equipment in 1968 and built it into one of the highest volume short track racing equipment businesses in the country. Many of the today’s competitors in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series have been customers, and continue to conduct business there; as it has been handed down to Kerr’s granddaughter Lacretia and her husband Travis Holbert.
411 Motor Speedway Owner Mitch McCarter said they scheduled a J.T. Kerr Memorial Race at 411 Motor Speedway late last year, but we had to postpone it until this year because of bad weather.
“When we set our schedule for this season, I asked Travis and Lacretia Holbert to pick whatever date they wanted to have the race, and they picked the NeSmith race,” McCarter said. “They made a good choice because we can all work together for everyone’s benefit and make this a race that J.T. Kerr would be proud of. I think we’re going to see a lot of racers that may not normally run a NeSmith late model borrow or buy a GM Performance Crate Engine just to have an opportunity to win this race held in memory of a man that helped a lot of racers through the years.”
J.T. Racing Equipment is a part of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series both on and off the track. They sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series and they also build Stinger Race Cars, which is a part of the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS Chassis Manufacturers Challenge.
“We want to thank Mitch McCarter, 411 Motor Speedway and the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series for putting on this race in honor of J.T.,” Travis Holbert said. “411 Motor Speedway is our home track, and the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Tour is our home away from home. Both the track and the series have been good for our business, and we’ve made a lot of new friend on the NeSmith Tour.”
On the track, the Holberts have announced that Anthony White of Clinton, TN will compete for the 2012 NeSmith Cup and $20,000 Championship driving the #2x Stinger House Car. Known as “The Dirty White Boy,” White has closed the doors on his DWB race car building business to compete on the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Tour in the Stinger House Car.
White’s DWB Race Cars have been prevalent in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series, as Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA has driven a DWB to two career wins, and is a consistent front runner in the series. White said he will still service and repair the existing chassis he has in the market, but the bad economy has forced him to quit building new chassis.
After winning a Tennessee Thunder Late Model Series and Southern Nationals Championships in the past, White said he is ready to put race car building behind him, and look to furthering his driving career.
“I want to thank Travis and Lacretia Holbert for giving me this opportunity to run for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Championship,” White said. “Building cars has taken away from my own racing the last few years, and now I’m ready to race for a National series championship. I’ve been life-long friends with the Kerr Family, and Travis and I decided to join forces to see if we can make this championship happen.”
Mark Rosner of Maryville, TN will drive the #17 Stinger House Car in the J.T. Kerr Memorial 40, and he will campaign in selected series Touring events, as well as NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series races at 411 Motor Speedway and Smoky Mountain Speedway in Maryville, TN. Rosner finished 11th in the 2011 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring points.
The Holberts also said there will be a third Stinger House Car at the J.T. Kerr Memorial 40. The third car will be a #40 J.T. Kerr Tribute Car with a driver to be announced at a later date. Plans are for this car to be wrapped in the colors of J.T. Kerr’s 1993 411 Motor Speedway Championship car.
J.T. Kerr Racing Equipment will also field a car for J.T. Kerr’s 15-year-old Grandson Justin Kerr, who will begin his racing career in 2012 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series competition at 411 Motor Speedway and Smoky Mountain Speedway.
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, 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.