crusapr
07-27-2013, 04:28 AM
HOHENWALD, TN – Ronny Lee Hollingsworth of Northport, AL led wire-to-wire in a borrowed race car to win the 40-lap NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series race on Friday night at Tennessee National Raceway. The point leader borrowed the Ellis Welding Special from Evan Ellis to pick up his fifth win of the season.
“I want to thank Evan Ellis for letting me borrow this car for the weekend, as I’m getting my car ready to run next weekend in Wisconsin,” Hollingsworth said. “The car was fast right out of the trailer and it really helped us in the Championship battle.”
Hollingsworth took the checkered flag with a three second advantage over the second-place finisher Josh Adkins of Talladega, AL in the Yellow Hammer Construction Special. Adkins was also the Rookie of the Race. National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame Inductee Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN finished third in the NeSmith Chevrolet Special.
Hollingsworth now leads Johnson in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series point standings by eight points in the battle for the $20,000 National Championship.
Todd Morrow of East Ridge, TN took the fourth spot in the A Plus Collision Center GRT and Shane Stephens of Arlington, TN was fifth in the FSR Racing Products Special. Justin McRee of Cottondale, AL finished sixth in the High Roller Race Cars Special and moved up to the third spot in the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS point standings.
Ashley Newman of Ripley, TN came back from a cut tire on lap 29 to claim the seventh spot in the Greg’s Sawmill Special, and A.J. Ferguson of Leona, TN was eighth in the Ferguson Racing Special. Billy Tedford of Thaxton, MS started 19th in the Billy’s Auto Repair Trak-Star and finished ninth to earn the Hedman Husler of the Race Award.
The defending NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA rounded out the top ten in the J.T. Kerr Racing Equipment Stinger. Turner extended his Ironman streak of consecutive series events to 158, which represents every race the series has held since its inception in 2005.
Hollingsworth took the lead at the drop of the green flag to start the race, but the yellow flag came out before the first lap could be completed when Jonathan Rowan of Jackson, TN spun the Rowan Racing Rocket in turn two.
The complete restart saw Hollingsworth again grab the point from pole sitter Johnny Stokes of Columbus, MS in the Bassett Hound Motorsport GRT. Adkins drove under Stokes for the second spot on lap one. Behind Stokes in fourth was Johnson, and Tait Davenport of Benton, KY was fifth in the Murtco, Inc. Special.
The field was slowed by a lap three caution flag when Chris Tays of Corinth, MS spun the Tays Construction Trak-Star in turn two. When the field went back to green flag action, Hollingsworth led Adkins, Stokes and Davenport, but a three-wide battle for fifth was being waged by Johnson, Morrow and Riley Hickman of Cleveland, TN in the Hickman Manufacturing Special.
The third caution flag of the race came out on lap five when Ronnie Cooper of McKenzie, TN gave up the eighth spot when he slowed with a cut down left-rear tire. When racing action resumed, Stokes got by Adkins to take the second spot on lap six after a two-lap side-by-side battle for the position.
While Stokes and Adkins contested the second spot, Hollingsworth opened up a half-straightaway lead by lap seven, and the leader began to encounter the cars on the tail of the lead lap by lap 12. Stokes was unable to close on Hollingsworth in lapped traffic, but a lap 21 caution flag would evaporate Hollingsworth’s lead when Marcus Minga of Shannon, MS stalled the B&M Salvage Rocket in turn two.
The restart at the halfway point of the race saw Hollingsworth leading Stokes, Adkins, Davenport, Johnson, Hickman, Morrow, Stephens, Newman, and McRee. On the restart, Adkins got into the back of Stokes and cut down his left-rear tire. Hickman got sideways in turn one causing a multi-car tangle behind him.
That brought out the fourth caution flag of the race and Stokes went to the pits to change his tire. On the restart, Davenport stepped to the outside and passed Adkins for the second spot coming off the second turn. Newman lit up the caution bulb for the fifth time on lap 29 with a cut down right-rear tire while running seventh.
The top ten for the restart was Hollingsworth leading Davenport, Adkins, Johnson, Morrow, Stephens, McRee, Ferguson, Kyle Bronson of Brandon, FL in the Brandon Ford Warrior, and Tedford. On the restart, Bronson slid through the infield in turn three, and stacked up a multi-car tangle behind him.
Stokes got tangled up with two other cars and was forced into the light pole on the inside of turn four. Once again, Stokes was forced to the pits for repairs which earned him the Dominator Race Products Hard Luck Award.
Bronson’s handling problems continued after the restart, as he spun in turn two to bring out the eighth caution flag on lap 31 while running ninth. Davenport brought out the ninth and final caution flag on the restart when he spun in turn two while running second.
Hollingsworth led the field down for the restart. Right Foot Ronny Lee packed his bags, turned in the key, and checked out on the field. By lap 35, Hollingsworth had a half straightaway lead.
In preliminary action, Stokes out-timed the 27-car field with a lap around the ¼-mile clay oval in 14.573 seconds. The two 12-lap B-Main Races were won by Stephens and Bronson. The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring Division now moves to Clayhill Motorsports in Atwood, TN for a $2,500-to-win 50-lap race on Saturday night.
For more information about the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series visit the series all-new 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.
“I want to thank Evan Ellis for letting me borrow this car for the weekend, as I’m getting my car ready to run next weekend in Wisconsin,” Hollingsworth said. “The car was fast right out of the trailer and it really helped us in the Championship battle.”
Hollingsworth took the checkered flag with a three second advantage over the second-place finisher Josh Adkins of Talladega, AL in the Yellow Hammer Construction Special. Adkins was also the Rookie of the Race. National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame Inductee Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN finished third in the NeSmith Chevrolet Special.
Hollingsworth now leads Johnson in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series point standings by eight points in the battle for the $20,000 National Championship.
Todd Morrow of East Ridge, TN took the fourth spot in the A Plus Collision Center GRT and Shane Stephens of Arlington, TN was fifth in the FSR Racing Products Special. Justin McRee of Cottondale, AL finished sixth in the High Roller Race Cars Special and moved up to the third spot in the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS point standings.
Ashley Newman of Ripley, TN came back from a cut tire on lap 29 to claim the seventh spot in the Greg’s Sawmill Special, and A.J. Ferguson of Leona, TN was eighth in the Ferguson Racing Special. Billy Tedford of Thaxton, MS started 19th in the Billy’s Auto Repair Trak-Star and finished ninth to earn the Hedman Husler of the Race Award.
The defending NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA rounded out the top ten in the J.T. Kerr Racing Equipment Stinger. Turner extended his Ironman streak of consecutive series events to 158, which represents every race the series has held since its inception in 2005.
Hollingsworth took the lead at the drop of the green flag to start the race, but the yellow flag came out before the first lap could be completed when Jonathan Rowan of Jackson, TN spun the Rowan Racing Rocket in turn two.
The complete restart saw Hollingsworth again grab the point from pole sitter Johnny Stokes of Columbus, MS in the Bassett Hound Motorsport GRT. Adkins drove under Stokes for the second spot on lap one. Behind Stokes in fourth was Johnson, and Tait Davenport of Benton, KY was fifth in the Murtco, Inc. Special.
The field was slowed by a lap three caution flag when Chris Tays of Corinth, MS spun the Tays Construction Trak-Star in turn two. When the field went back to green flag action, Hollingsworth led Adkins, Stokes and Davenport, but a three-wide battle for fifth was being waged by Johnson, Morrow and Riley Hickman of Cleveland, TN in the Hickman Manufacturing Special.
The third caution flag of the race came out on lap five when Ronnie Cooper of McKenzie, TN gave up the eighth spot when he slowed with a cut down left-rear tire. When racing action resumed, Stokes got by Adkins to take the second spot on lap six after a two-lap side-by-side battle for the position.
While Stokes and Adkins contested the second spot, Hollingsworth opened up a half-straightaway lead by lap seven, and the leader began to encounter the cars on the tail of the lead lap by lap 12. Stokes was unable to close on Hollingsworth in lapped traffic, but a lap 21 caution flag would evaporate Hollingsworth’s lead when Marcus Minga of Shannon, MS stalled the B&M Salvage Rocket in turn two.
The restart at the halfway point of the race saw Hollingsworth leading Stokes, Adkins, Davenport, Johnson, Hickman, Morrow, Stephens, Newman, and McRee. On the restart, Adkins got into the back of Stokes and cut down his left-rear tire. Hickman got sideways in turn one causing a multi-car tangle behind him.
That brought out the fourth caution flag of the race and Stokes went to the pits to change his tire. On the restart, Davenport stepped to the outside and passed Adkins for the second spot coming off the second turn. Newman lit up the caution bulb for the fifth time on lap 29 with a cut down right-rear tire while running seventh.
The top ten for the restart was Hollingsworth leading Davenport, Adkins, Johnson, Morrow, Stephens, McRee, Ferguson, Kyle Bronson of Brandon, FL in the Brandon Ford Warrior, and Tedford. On the restart, Bronson slid through the infield in turn three, and stacked up a multi-car tangle behind him.
Stokes got tangled up with two other cars and was forced into the light pole on the inside of turn four. Once again, Stokes was forced to the pits for repairs which earned him the Dominator Race Products Hard Luck Award.
Bronson’s handling problems continued after the restart, as he spun in turn two to bring out the eighth caution flag on lap 31 while running ninth. Davenport brought out the ninth and final caution flag on the restart when he spun in turn two while running second.
Hollingsworth led the field down for the restart. Right Foot Ronny Lee packed his bags, turned in the key, and checked out on the field. By lap 35, Hollingsworth had a half straightaway lead.
In preliminary action, Stokes out-timed the 27-car field with a lap around the ¼-mile clay oval in 14.573 seconds. The two 12-lap B-Main Races were won by Stephens and Bronson. The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring Division now moves to Clayhill Motorsports in Atwood, TN for a $2,500-to-win 50-lap race on Saturday night.
For more information about the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series visit the series all-new 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.