Winter Shootout Championship To Be Decidied In Daytime Duels At Cochran, GA

CARTERSVILLE, GA – The Daytime Duels for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series this Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon at Cochran Motor Speedway in Cochran, GA will decide 2016 RockAuto.com Winter Shootout Champion. Chase Edge of LaFayette, AL leads the point standings, but Cale Conley of Vienna, WV and Ryan King of Seymour, TN are still in the hunt.

The RockAuto.com Winter Shootout is a new eight-race mini-series for the NeSmith Late Models that will be contested during January and February in Florida and South Georgia. It all began on January 10 when William Thomas of Phenix City, AL won the 25th Annual Icebowl at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL.

Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, FL was the next stop for the RockAuto.com Winter Shootout for three races on January 28-30 to open the 2016 Bubba’s Army Winternationals. Round 2 on January 28 was rained out, but Rounds 3 and 4 went on as scheduled.

“Kid Rocket” Josh Richards of Shinnston, WV won on January 29 to begin what would be a successful Florida Speedweeks for him. The 2013 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Championship Runner-Up and Rookie of the Year Kyle Bronson of Brandon, FL took the victory on Saturday afternoon, January 30.

Dennis “Rambo” Franklin of Gaffney, SC took the $10,000 top prize in the 100-lap 11th Annual Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race, which was rescheduled from November 20, 2015 and run as a non-points race on Saturday evening, January 30. The 12th Annual $10,000-to-win 100-lap Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race will be a points race as a part of the Winter Shootout at Bubba Raceway Park in January of 2017.

Rounds 5 and 6 took place at Golden Isles Speedway in Brunswick, GA as a part of their Super Bowl of Racing on February 5-7. Edge was the Round 5 Class of the Field by picking up the win on February 5. With the field set for the main event on February 6, rain washed out the show that was rescheduled for Sunday afternoon, February 7. David Smith of Inman, SC dueled with Conley throughout the race, but hung on to take Round 6.

Edge leads the RockAuto.com Winter Shootout standings with 450 points after one win, three top five finishes and five top ten finishes in five races. Conley, the former NASCAR Xfinity Series regular, is second with 356 points after two top five finishes in his last two starts in five races.

King, the 2015 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Championship Runner-Up and Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Year is third in the RockAuto.com Winter Shootout standings with 348 points after one top five finish and two top ten finishes in five races. King should be looking forward to returning to Cochran Motor Speedway, the site of one of his two NeSmith Late Model wins last season.

Ryan Carter of Blackshear, GA is fourth in the RockAuto.com Winter Shootout standings. The 16-year-old Sunoco Young Gun Challenge Series driver has 252 points in four races with top ten finishes in his last two starts. Second generation driver Trent Ivey of Union, SC is fifth in the standings with 242 points.

Will Herrington of Cochran, GA will roll onto his home track sixth in the RockAuto.com Winter Shootout standings with 238 points in three races and a pair of top ten finishes in his last two starts. P.L. Williams of Dublin, GA is a new face to the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series, but he has made a fast impression with two third-place finishes in his first two starts.

A long list of NeSmith Late Model drivers that have said they will be at Cochran Motor Speedway this Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon for the Daytime Duels include Rodgerick Dykes of Smith Station, AL, Robert Diekemper of Bloomingdale, GA, Nevin Gainey of Fort White, FL, Mallory Harvey of Baxley, GA, Ryan Crane of Panama, City, FL, Jeremy Faircloth of Swainsboro, GA, Marcus Minga of Shannon, MS and Terry Lumley of Swainsboro, GA.

Other drivers that have said they would be making the trip to Cochran, GA to compete with the NeSmith Late Models this weekend include Jordy Nipper of Gray, GA, Larry Harrod of Plains, GA, Jimmy Thomas of Phenix City, AL, Ben Faircloth of Swainsboro, GA, Terrance Nowell of Phenix City, AL, Blake Spencer of St. Augustine, FL, Mark Carter of Blackshear, GA, Donnie Bazemore of Brooklet, GA, and Dillon Brown of Gaffney, SC.

The on track action for the Daytime Duels at Cochran Motor Speedway will begin with an Open Practice Session on Friday night. Gates open at 2 p.m., with practice from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. On both Saturday and Sunday, the pit gate opens at 10 a.m. with NeSmith Late Model Pre-Race Registration and Technical Inspection from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Drivers Meeting is set for 2 p.m., with Hot Laps at 2:30 p.m.

Cochran Motor Speedway is located at 241 Jim Wimberly Road, Cochran, GA 31014. For more information call 478-456-4036, or visit the Cochran Motor Speedway web site at www.cochranspeedway.com. You can also like their Facebook page at Cochran Motor Speedway.

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. 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, and CVR Race Cars.