$10k-To-Win NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS World Championship At East Bay This Weekend

CARTERSVILLE, GA – The grand finale of the 2010 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Tour is this Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, FL with the $10,000-to-win 100-lap 6th Annual World Championship Race. Drivers from at least 15 states are expected to converge on the Sunshine State for this annual classic.

This race has become the biggest event of season for dirt late model race cars powered by GM Performance Crate Engines, and given a level playing field engine-wise has annually drawn the top weekly drivers in the country taking on some of the top super late model competitors.

Past winners include Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN (2005 and 2007), Randy Korte of Highland, IL (2006), Shanon Buckingham of Morristown, TN (2008), and the defending champion Tim McCreadie of Watertown N.Y.

The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series will be well represented with entrants that include the 2008 National Champion Chip Brindle of Chatsworth, GA, 2010 National Championship Runner-Up Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA, 2010 VP Racing Fuels Rookie of the Year Larry Harrod of Plains, GA, Justin McRee of Tuscaloosa, AL, Shannon Lee of Lumberton, MS, and “Chargin’ Charlie Henderson of Cottondale, AL.

Henderson knows his way around East Bay Raceway Park, as he posted two Fast Qualifier Awards at “The Clay By The Bay” in NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National Touring action in February during the Winternationals. Also expected is the 2010 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region Champion Chase Edge of Lafayette, AL.

The winningest driver in the history of the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS, National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame inductee Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN will be on hand, along with another East Tennessee favorite, Randy Weaver of Crossville, TN. Weaver picked up two wins in February NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS Winternationals action at East Bay.

Top Illinois drivers that have made the World Championship Race a December stop in the post include Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, IL, and Rodney Melvin of Benton, IL. Drivers from other states represented in the past include Steve Francis of Ashland, KY, Rodney Wing of Meridian, MS, Mike Pegher Jr. of Wexford, PA, Doug Horton of Bruceton Mills, WV, and Bryan Bernhardt of Versailles, IN.

East Bay Raceway Park will also present a tough local contingent of drivers led by Shan Smith of Dade City, FL. Smith picked up a NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National Touring February win on the 1/3-mile clay oval, and finished second in last year’s World Championship Race after setting fast time during qualifications.

Other top local favorites include Dover, FL drivers Jeff Mathews, Travis Varnadore, and Josh Pea(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word). Also look for David Pollen Jr. of Tampa, FL, Phillip Cobb of Riverview, FL, and Steve Mathis of Plant City, FL.

East Bay Raceway Park will host an open practice session on Thursday night from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Qualifying and Heat Races for the 6th Annual NeSmith Chevrolet World Championship Race will be held on Friday night.

The 6th Annual NeSmith Chevrolet World Championship Race B-Mains and the $10,000-to-win 100-lap main event will be held on Saturday night. For more information call East Bay Raceway Park at 813-677-7223 or visit the track web site at www.eastbayracewaypark.com. East Bay Raceway Park is located five miles south of I-4 on U.S. Highway 41.

The Red Roof Inn in Brandon, FL and the Red Roof Inn in Tampa, FL at the State Fairgrounds are the Official Host Hotels for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series $10,000-to-win 100-lap 6th Annual World Championship Race.

Both Red Roof Inns are offering NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series fans and competitors a special discount rate of $49.99 per night. Reservations can be made online at www.redroof.com for either hotel by using the VP Code #608781, or they can directly call either hotel and use the VP Code #608781.

The Red Roof Inn in Brandon, FL is located at 10121 Horace Avenue, and can be found by taking Exit 257 off I-75 and go west on State Road 60 to Falkenburg Road, turn right, and then take another immediate right on to Horace Avenue. The phone number to make reservations is 813-681-8484 and use the VP Code #608781.

The Red Roof Inn at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, FL is located at 5001 North U.S. Highway 301 and can be found by taking Exit 7 off I-4 and go south on U.S. Highway 301. The Red Roof Inn will be on the left. The phone number to make reservations is 813-623-5245 and use the VP Code #608781.

Both Red Roof Inns are located minutes from East Bay Raceway Park and have a plethora of restaurants and shopping close by.

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.


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, and is also the nation’s number one volume dealer of Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC cars, trucks, SUVs and vans with free delivery anywhere in the Southeast. GM Performance Parts is an Official Sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series and Hard Charger Award sponsor. Hoosier Race 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. NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Contingency Sponsors for 2010 are Dominator Race Products, Race Car Engineering, KRC, Joe Gibbs Driven, Maximum Signs and Graphics, Mike Custom Tanks, Shorty’s Shock Service, Warrior Race Cars, Trak-Star Race Cars, GRT Race Cars, TNT Race Cars, and Rocket Chassis.