East Coast Battle Royal Up Next For NeSmith Late Models At Golden Isles

CARTERSVILLE, GA – The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series returns to Golden Isles Speedway in Brunswick, GA this weekend for Rounds 4 and 5 of the 2015 season with a pair of 50-lap $2,500-to-win races this Saturday night and Sunday night as part of the East Coast Battle Royal.

Golden Isle Speedway is the site of the closest finish in NeSmith Late Model history which occurred last October when the defending and two-time NeSmith Late Model National Champion Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN edged Brent Barrett of Cleveland, MS at the checkered flag by just .007 seconds.

Johnson is off to a quiet, but effective start in his quest to make more NeSmith Late Model history in 2015. No driver has ever won three NeSmith Late Model National Championships, let alone three-in-a-row. Johnson will arrive at Golden Isles Speedway this weekend fourth in the NeSmith Late Model point standings, just 32 points out of first-place.

A driver that would like history to just repeat itself is NeSmith Late Model point leader Walker Arthur of Forest, VA. Just as he did last season, Arthur finds himself on top of the points list with Johnson not far behind. Arthur picked up his only NeSmith Late Model win last February in the third race of the season at Golden Isles Speedway.

In the first three races of the 2015 season last month at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, FL, Arthur was the only driver to turn in three top five finishes with a fourth and two third-place finishes. Arthur is fresh off the biggest win of his career when he pocketed $10,000 by winning the non-points 10th Annual Chevrolet World Championship Race at Bubba Raceway Park on January 31.

Max Blair of Centerville, PA and a regular with the NeSmith Late Model sister series, the Northern States RUSH Series, has been red hot over the past couple of weeks, having won the second race of the 2015 NeSmith Late Model season at Bubba Raceway Park. Blair will pull through the pit gate at Golden Isles Speedway this weekend fifth in the point standings, just 34 points out of first-place.

Ryan King of Seymour, TN will be the leading Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Year Candidate entered for the East Coast Battle Royal, and is seventh in the NeSmith Late Model point standings. King is on the road for the first time in his career after finishing third on two occasions in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series National point standings.

Veterans Jake Knowles of Rome, GA and Justin McRee of Woodstock, AL currently occupy the eighth and ninth spots respectively on the points list. There are several drivers outside the Top 10 in the NeSmith Late Model point standings that are planning to make the trip this weekend to Brunswick, GA to try and race their way into the Top 10 and collect some Winner’s Circle bonus money.

Chase Edge of LaFayette, AL will be one of those drivers, and he is anxious to return to Golden Isles Speedway where he posted a NeSmith Late Model win last October. Other NeSmith Late Model Touring drivers expected are Joe Mike of Mayfield, KY, Beyea Headers Hard Charger point leader Ryan Crane of Panama City, FL, Marcus Minga of Shannon, MS, Brian Connor of Augusta, GA and Cla Knight of North Augusta, SC.

Along with Johnson and King, the Volunteer State of Tennessee will be well represented with Cody Martin of Christiana, TN, Bronson Berry of Huntingdon, TN, Adam Beeler of Knoxville, TN, David Earl Gentry of Murfreesboro, TN, and Matt Henderson of Loudon, TN. Joining King as Rookie of the Year Candidates will be Crane, Martin, Beeler, Henderson and Knight.

A tough local contingent of drivers will be represented by several South Georgia racing families that include Hunter and Ryan Carter of Blackshear, GA, Stacey Roberts of Sylvester, GA and Steven Roberts of Jesup, GA, along with Ben and Jeremy Faircloth of Swainsboro, GA. Other local favorites include Cecil Eunice of Blackshear, GA, Mallory Harvey of Baxley, GA, Damon Flowers of Hortense, GA, and Paul Jorgensen of Blackshear, GA.

In addition to the NeSmith Late Models, race fans will get a rare opportunity to see Winged Outlaw Sprint Cars and the Big Block DIRT Modifieds on the same card on both Saturday and Sunday nights during the East Coast Battle Royal at Golden Isles Speedway.

On both Saturday and Sunday, the Pit Gate will open at 12 Noon with NeSmith Late Model Pre-Race Registration and Technical Inspection from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Drivers Meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. with Hot Laps and Racing to follow.

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. Renegade Race and Performance Fuels are a series Associate Sponsor and fuel supplier. Schaeffer’s Oil Presented By Chad Wallace and Heather Newsome is the Official Oil of the NeSmith Late Models. AR Bodies is an Associate Sponsor of the NeSmith Late Models. NeSmith Late Model Contingency Sponsors for 2015 are Dominator Race Products, Stealth Racing Carburetors, Modern Images, Mike Custom Tanks, Schoenfeld Headers, Kinser Air Filters, Performance Rod & Custom, and David Smith Carburetors. 2015 Chassis Sponsors are Trak-Star Race Cars, Warrior Race Cars, Rocket Chassis, GRT Race Cars, TNT Race Cars, and CVR Race Cars.