Johnson wins J.T. Kerr Memorial 40 NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS Race

SEYMOUR, TN – Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN won the 2nd Annual J.T. Kerr Memorial 40 on Saturday night at 411 Motor Speedway for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. Of all of the races the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame Inductee has won in his long career, Johnson said this one was very special.

The race honored East Tennessee legendary racer and businessman the late J.T. Kerr, who set the standard for high-volume racing parts businesses since he first opened up his shop in 1968. Mr. Kerr’s legacy was the way he took care of racers through the years, including Johnson.

“This is a very special win for me because J.T. Kerr and I go back many years, and he was a person that has helped me and a lot of racers through the years,” Johnson said. “Even when I wasn’t buying a lot of parts from him, every year right around Christmas, the UPS man would deliver a package to my shop, and it would be a case of brake fluid, a pack of tear offs, or a little something from J.T. Kerr with a note just to say thank you. That always meant a lot to me.”

In a race that took 86 days to complete after the first 14 laps were run on June 1 before rain forced postponement until Saturday night, Johnson restarted the race in the third spot, took the lead from Adam Beeler of Knoxville, TN on lap 22, and then went on to take his second NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series win of the season in the NeSmith Chevrolet Special.

Cory Hedge(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word) of Loudon, TN challenged Johnson late in the race, but had to settle for second in the Eagle Racing Engines Rocket. Johnny Stokes of Columbus, MS finished third in the Bassett Hound Motorsports GRT, and Todd Morrow of East Ridge, TN was fourth in the A-Plus Collision Center GRT.

Kyle Bronson of Brandon, FL drove the Brandon Ford Warrior to a fifth-place finish and was the Rookie of the Race. Ronny Lee Hollingsworth of Northport, AL took the sixth spot in the Sparks Motorsports Special and Matt Henderson of Loudon, TN started 22nd, came back from a lap 20 spin, and finished seventh in the Performance Machine CVR to earn the Hedman Hustler of the Race Award.

Beeler led the first 21 laps of the race in the HVH CVR and finished eighth. Tait Davenport of Benton, KY also came back from a spin to take the ninth spot in the Murtco, Inc. Special and Hunter Best of Maryville, TN drove the race with an injured back and was able to complete enough laps to round out the Top 10 in the Young Motorsports Warrior.

Best had a fast car, but his physical condition would not permit him to drive it to its full potential. He was scheduled to restart the race in the sixth spot on Saturday night, but fell to the back of the pack to ride it out. This misfortune earned Best the Dominator Race Products Hard Luck Award.

The race began on June 1 with John Cobb of Loudon, TN setting fast time among the 30 entrants with a lap around 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval in 13.903 seconds driving the Cobb’s Auto Parts CVR. Beeler took the lead at the completion of lap one from the outside front row starting spot after racing Cobb side-by-side on the opening tour.

The first of eight caution flags came out on lap two when Brett Wyatt of Crossville, TN spun the Wyatt Builders Special in turn two. Beeler led the “Dixie Style” double-file restart with Cobb, Johnson, Bronson, Morrow, Justin McRee of Cottondale, AL, Hedge(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word), Best, Stokes and Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, GA doubled up behind the leader.

Bronson jumped the cushion at the top of the track in turn two on the restart and fell back to the ninth spot. Davenport hit the fourth turn wall in the AES Racing Special on lap four to light up the caution bulb for the second time. McRee dropped out of the fifth spot when he slowed on lap 11 in the High Roller Race Cars Special.

Dennis Franklin of Gaffney, SC stalled the AES Racing Special in turn two on lap 13 to bring out the third caution flag. The field raced for another lap before the skies opened up and forced postponement of the event until Saturday night.

The field lined up for a double-file restart on Saturday night with 14 laps in the books and 14 of the 24 cars returning. Beeler led the field to green, with Cobb, Johnson, Morrow, Hedge(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word), Stokes, Bronson, Chris Wilson of Crossville, TN, Mack McCarter of Gatlinburg, TN, and Henderson in tow.

Johnson wasted no time to take the second spot by diving under Cobb in turn two. On lap 16, Morrow dove under Cobb for the third spot. McCarter was also on the move, as he climbed up from the ninth spot and up to fourth by lap 18 in the McCarter Lumber Company Special.

Henderson spun on lap 20, but didn’t lose a spot, as he was the last car on the lead lap. Beeler led Johnson, Morrow, McCarter, Hedge(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word), Cobb, Hollingsworth, Bronson, Stokes, and Henderson down for the restart. Johnson got an inside run on Beeler, and two leaders raced side-by-side for a lap until Johnson cleared Beeler coming off the second turn on lap 22.

A caution flag for debris in turn four slowed the field on lap 23. That set up a restart with Johnson leading Beeler, Hedge(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word), Morrow, McCarter, Stokes, Hollingsworth, Bronson, Henderson and Tait Davenport. Hedge(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word) and Stokes moved up to the second and third spots respectively on the restart.

Tait Davenport spun in turn one on lap 25 to bring out the final caution flag of the race. While the field was under caution, McCarter gave up the fifth spot and went to the pit area. Johnson led Hedge(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word), Stokes, Beeler, Morrow, Bronson, Hollingsworth and Henderson down for the restart.

The final 16 laps of the race were clean and green, as Hedge(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word) kept the pressure on Johnson. The youngster was able to get inside the veteran on a couple of occasions, but Johnson was up to the challenge and raced on to a .663 second margin of victory and the $4,000 top prize when the checkered flag fell at sunset.

The completion of the 2nd Annual J.T. Kerr Memorial 40 was the first of two races on Saturday for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series at 411 Motor Speedway. The Old Smoky Moonshine 50 was still to come.

When Johnson was asked how the track would change as daylight gave way to darkness, Johnson smiled and said, “The track was good for this race, and it will be even better for the next race.”

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