$10K-To-Win NeSmith Chevrolet Southeastern Classic Up Next At Golden Isles Speedway

CARTERSVILLE, GA – The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series returns to action this weekend with the second jewel of their three $10,000-to-win Triple Crown events this season. This Friday and Saturday night it’s the $10,000-to-win NeSmith Chevrolet Southeastern Classic at Golden Isles Speedway in Brunswick, GA.

Along with the big money up for grabs, the season-long point battle is still being waged for the National Championship and the Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Year Award. Two-time and defending NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN leads the point standings going into the NeSmith Chevrolet Southeastern Classic.

Johnson has a 98-point lead over Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Year point leader Ryan King of Seymour, TN in quest of his third straight title. King has been red hot in his last three starts with two wins and a fourth-place finish. Chase Edge of LaFayette, AL is third in the points chase.

Matt Henderson of Loudon, TN is fourth in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series point standings, and is second in the Rookie of the Year points. Henderson has one win on the season, and that came in February at the site of the $10,000-to-win NeSmith Southeastern Classic, Golden Isles Speedway. Henderson has also led the most laps of competition this season at 106.

Ryan Crane of Panama City, FL is fifth in the point standings and is third in the Rookie points. Crane is getting his program together after coming off a pair of top five finishes. Crane also leads the Beyea Headers Hard Charger points, which means he has passed the most cars in competition this season.

Cody Martin of Christiana, TN is currently sixth in the NeSmith Late Model National points and fourth in the Rookie points, but he will be missing in action this weekend at the NeSmith Chevrolet Southeastern Classic. In what has to be the hard luck story of the season, Martin has been told by his doctor that he needs to stay out of the race car and have back surgery that will sideline him for the rest of the season.

Marcus Minga of Shannon, MS is seventh in the standings, and Rodgerick Dykes of Smith Station, AL is eighth. Dykes will be looking forward to making the trip to Golden Isles Speedway for the $10,000-to-win 60-lap NeSmith Chevrolet Southeastern Classic because he has one win this season, and it came at GIS.

Many of the top drivers in the Southeastern United States will be making their way to Golden Isles Speedway to race for the big money. They include John Ownbey of Cleveland, TN, who along with King, is a two-time winner on the NeSmith National Tour this season, Larry Harrod of Plains, GA, Jimmy Thomas of Phenix City, AL, and Cory Hedge(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word) of Lenoir City, TN.

The winner of the last NeSmith National race, Montana Dudley of Phenix City, AL is planning to compete in the NeSmith Chevrolet Southeastern Classic, plus 13-year-old Will Roland of Jasper, GA, who is a Sunoco Young Guns Challenge Series driver.

With an All-Star cast of characters battling for 24 starting positions for the 60-lap $10,000-to-win main event on Saturday night, some of the most intense racing of the weekend will take place on Friday night for Qualifying and the preliminary Heat Races that will fill the front half of the starting field. The B-Main races to fill the back half of the field will be contested on Saturday night.

The 60-lap $10,000-to-win NeSmith Chevrolet Southeastern Classic is the second of three $10,000-to-win races this season for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. Walker Arthur of Forest, VA won the 10th Annual Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race on January 31 at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, FL that was rescheduled from 2014 due to rain.

The third jewel of the NeSmith Late Model Triple Crown of $10,000-to-win races will be the 11th Annual Chevrolet Performance World Championship 100-lap Race on November 19-21 at Bubba Raceway Park.

The on track activities at Golden Isles Speedway for the $10,000-to-win NeSmith Chevrolet Southeastern Classic begin on Thursday night with an Open Practice Session from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The gates open at 5 p.m. on Thursday.

On both Friday and Saturday, the Pit Gate will open at 2 p.m. with NeSmith Late Model Pre-Race Registration and Technical Inspection from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday The Drivers Meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Hot Laps are scheduled for 6 p.m. with Racing at 7 p.m.

Golden Isles Speedway is located 12 miles west of I-95 at Exit 29 on U.S. Highway 82. The physical address for Golden Isles Speedway is 101 Speedway Drive, Waynesville, GA 31566. For more information call 912-778-3767, or visit the track web site at www.goldenislesspeedway.com. You can also like their Facebook Page at Golden Isles Speedway Park.

For more information and rules 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 Late Models. NeSmith Chevrolet, Buick, GMC is the nation’s number one GM Powertrain and Performance Dealer six years running, with free delivery anywhere in the Southeast. Chevrolet Performance Parts is an Official Sponsor of the NeSmith Late Models. Hoosier Racing Tire is the Official Tire Sponsor of the NeSmith Late Models. RockAuto.com is an Official Sponsor of the NeSmith Late Models. Racecar Engineering is the Official Parts Supplier of the NeSmith Late Models. Beyea Headers is the NeSmith Late Model Hard Charger Sponsor. Sunoco Race Fuels is the Official Race Fuel of the NeSmith Late Models. Panama City Cycles is the Official ATV Provider of the NeSmith Late Models. AR Bodies is an Associate Sponsor of the NeSmith Late Models. NeSmith Late Model Contingency Sponsors for 2015 are CrateInsider.Com, Integra Racing Shocks, Image Screen Printing, and Gresham Race Parts. 2015 Chassis Sponsors are Trak-Star Race Cars, Warrior Race Cars, Rocket Chassis, GRT Race Cars, TNT Race Cars, and CVR Race Cars.