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EASTABOGA, AL – Riley Hickman of Cleveland, TN drove the Hickman Manufacturing CVR to a wire-to-wire win Friday night in the 40-lap main event for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series at Talladega Short Track. Hickman started on the pole after setting a new track record, and took the lead at the start of the race, leading all 40 laps.
“The first of the year was pretty rocky for us, as we wrecked some cars, had a lot of bad luck, and got behind,†Hickman said. “We kept working hard and we’ve turned it around here in the last three months. It’s awesome to win at Talladega Short Track on NASCAR weekend. The track cleaned up well and it was fun to race on.â€
Three-time NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN finished second in the Austin Trucking Capital, and local favorite Cruz Skinner of Oxford, AL took the third spot in the Skinner’s Body Shop CVR.
The defending NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion and the current point leader Cory Hedge(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word) of Loudon, TN started eighth and finished fourth to earn the Beyea Headers Hard Charger of the Race Award in the Eagle Racing Engines Rocket. John Ownby of Cleveland, TN was fifth in the Ownby Racing Mastersbilt.
T.J. Brittain of Centre, AL was the Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Race with a sixth-place effort in the Josh Roberts Trucking Warrior, and seventh went to Jake Knowles of Rome, GA in the Knowles Race Parts and Bodies Rocket. Jimmy Elliott of Cleveland, TN drove the Mighty Muffler and Brake Center Longhorn to an eighth-place finish.
Marcus Minga of Shannon, MS finished ninth in the B&M Salvage Rocket, and Cla Knight of North Augusta, GA rounded out the top ten in the Augusta Aquatics Longhorn. In preliminary action, Hickman set a new track record in Sunoco/Knowles Race Parts Qualifying with a lap around “The Hornet’s Nest†in 13.821 seconds. Elliott won the 15-lap Hoosier Race Tire first B-Main, and Brittain won the Chevrolet Performance 15-lap second B-Main.
Hickman took the lead at the drop of the green flag on the 13th race of the season on Friday the 13th followed by Knight and Johnson battling side-by-side for the second spot. The only caution flag of the race came out on lap three when Brad Berry of Attalla, AL spun the Berry Racing GRT in turn four.
Doubled up behind Hickman for the Dixie-Style Double-File Restart was Knight, Johnson, Skinner, Ownby, Minga, Brittain, Elliott, Grant Garrison of Walton, KY in the Darrell Lanigan Racing Club 29, and Knowles.
Johnson drove around the outside of Knight down the backstretch on the restart to take over the second spot. Hickman reached the cars on the tail end of the lead lap on lap 11, and Skinner got by Knight to move up to the third spot.
Hickman methodically worked his way through lapped traffic, and Johnson was unable to mount a challenge for the lead. It only took 13 minutes and change to complete the 40 lap distance, and 23 of the 24 cars that started the race were still running at the drop of the checkered flag.
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.
OFFICIAL RESULTS OF ROUND 13 AT TALLADEGA SHORT TRACK IN EASTABOGA, AL ON 10/13/17:
POS STRT CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN LAPS $ WON
1. 1 R1 Riley Hickman Cleveland, TN 40 $2,000
2. 3 85 Ronnie Johnson Chattanooga, TN 40 $1,000
3. 4 11 Cruz Skinner Oxford, AL 40 $700
4. 8 23 Cory Hedge(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word) Loudon, TN 40 $550
5. 6 J0 John Ownby Cleveland, TN 40 $500
6. 10 05 T.J. Brittain Centre, AL 40 $425
7. 11 66 Jake Knowles Rome, GA 40 $375
8. 9 J39 Jimmy Elliott Cleveland, TN 40 $350
9. 5 19 Marcus Minga Shannon, MS 40 $325
10. 2 42 Cla Knight North Augusta, SC 40 $300
11. 7 1g Grant Garrison Walton, KY 40 $275
12. 12 66k Dylan Knowles Lanett, AL 39 $250
13. 14 56jr Colton Horner Katy, TX 39 $225
14. 15 67 Kyle Clifton Ranburne, AL 39 $200
15. 16 1p Andy Picklesimer Ooltewah, TN 39 $175
16. 13 T31 Shane Tankersley Morganton, GA 39 $150
17. 21 27 Brad Berry Attalla, AL 39 $140
18. 22 1cvr Danny Lasoski Dover, MO 39 $125
19. 17 5 Mike Combs Odenville, AL 39 $125
20. 20 17 Travis Smith Decatur, AL 39 $125
21. 19 17g Adam Gauldin Talladega, AL 39 $125
22. 23 23p Ahnna Parkhurst Evans, GA 38 $125
23. 24 C6 Oakley Johns Hohenwald, TN 37 $125
24. 18 97 Luke Hoffner Tuberville, PA 29 $125
ENTRIES: 42
FAST TIME: Hickman, 13.821 Seconds (New Track Record)
PROVISIONALS: Parkhurst and Johns
LEAD CHANGES: None
LAP LEADER: Hickman, 1-40
BEYEA HEADERS HARD CHARGER OF THE RACE: Hedge(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word) (started 8th and finished 4th)
CRUISE WITH THE CHAMPIONS ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Brittan
CAUTIONS: 1
MARGIN OF VICTORY: 2.475 Seconds
TIME OF THE RACE: 13 Minutes and 12.698 Seconds
SUNOCO/KNOWLES RACE PARTS AND BODIES QUICK TIME GROUP QUALIFYING (Top 4 In Each Group Transfer To Main Event):
GROUP 1:
POS CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN CHASSIS TIME
1 R1 Riley Hickman Cleveland, TN CVR 13.821
2 85 Ronnie Johnson Chattanooga, TN Capital 13.991
3 19 Marcus Minga Shannon, MS Rocket 14.082
4 1 Grant Garrison Walton, KY Club 29 14.106
5 J39 Jimmy Elliott Cleveland, TN Longhorn 14.158
6 5C Mike Combs Odenville, AL Rocket 14.181
7 66 Jake Knowles Rome, GA Rocket 14.208
8 T31 Shane Tankersley Morganton, GA Rocket 14.212
9 17 Adam Gauldin Talladega, AL Rocket 14.336
10 67 Kyle Clifton Ranbune, AL Barry Wright 14.352
11 23 Ahnna Parkhurst Evans, GA Warrior 14.422
12 C6 Oakley Johns Hohenwald, TN Pierce 14.436
13 16 Sam Seawright Fort Payne, AL Kryptonite 14.459
14 3 Heath Carr Ashland, AL Mastersbilt 14.475
15 14 Shane Smith Fruithurst, AL Rocket 14.504
16 27 Brad Berry Attalla, AL GRT 14.534
17 10H Jeff Helms Centre, AL GRT 14.611
18 5 Mark Heatherly Rossville, GA Longhorn 14.672
19 45 Austin Freeman Pell City, AL Mastersbilt 14.696
20 M2 Lee Burdett Hueytown, AL GRT 14.745
21 8 Daniel Casteel NT
GROUP 2:
POS CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN CHASSIS TIME
1 42 Cla Knight North Augusta, SC Longhorn 14.088
2 11 Cruz Skinner Oxford, AL CVR 14.161
3 J0 John Owenby Cleveland, TN Mastersbilt 14.281
4 23 Cory Hedge(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word) Loudon, TN Rocket 14.284
5 05 T J Brittain Centre, AL Warrior 14.289
6 66K Dylan Knowles Lanett, AL Rocket 14.307
7 56JR Colton Horner Katy, TX Black Diamond 14.349
8 P1 Andy Picklesimer Ooltewah, TN Rocket 14.352
9 17w Tyler Wood Linden, TN GRT 14.610
10 15 Brandon Thomas Waco, GA Stinger 14.670
11 97 Luke Hoffner Tuberville, PA Rocket 14.682
12 81 Adam Cummings Odenville, AL GRT 14.701
13 71 Dustin Knighten 14.750
14 1cvr Danny Lasoski Dover, MO CVR 14.766
15 14 Logan Palmer 14.770
16 147 Hunter Carroll Columbus, MS Trak-Star 14.869
17 40 David Culver Bessemer, AL GRT 14.921
18 C4 Cole Smartt 14.965
19 D2 David Duplissey Chattanooga, TN Warrior 14.984
20 F97 Red Farmer Hueytown, AL GRT 15.066
21 17 Travis Cole Smith Decatur, AL Rayburn 15.263
B-MAINS (15 Laps – Top 7 Transfer To Main Events):
HOOSIER RACE TIRE 1ST B-MAIN: 1. Elliott; 2. J. Knowles; 3. Tankersley; 4. Clifton; 5. Combs; 6. Gauldin; 7. Berry; 8. Johns; 9. Carr; 10. Parkhurst; 11. Heatherly; 12. Freeman; 13. Burdett; 14. Seawright; 15. S. Smith; 16. Helms DNS; 17. Casteel DNS.
CHEVROLET PERFORMANCE 2ND B-MAIN: 1. Brittain; 2. D. Knowles; 3. Horner; 4. Picklesimer; 5. Hoffner; 6. T. Smith; 7. Lasoski; 8. Carroll; 9. Wood; 10. Duplissey; 11. Cummings; 12. Smartt; 13. Farmer; 14. Culver; 15. Palmer; 16. Thomas; 17. Knighten.
“The first of the year was pretty rocky for us, as we wrecked some cars, had a lot of bad luck, and got behind,†Hickman said. “We kept working hard and we’ve turned it around here in the last three months. It’s awesome to win at Talladega Short Track on NASCAR weekend. The track cleaned up well and it was fun to race on.â€
Three-time NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN finished second in the Austin Trucking Capital, and local favorite Cruz Skinner of Oxford, AL took the third spot in the Skinner’s Body Shop CVR.
The defending NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion and the current point leader Cory Hedge(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word) of Loudon, TN started eighth and finished fourth to earn the Beyea Headers Hard Charger of the Race Award in the Eagle Racing Engines Rocket. John Ownby of Cleveland, TN was fifth in the Ownby Racing Mastersbilt.
T.J. Brittain of Centre, AL was the Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Race with a sixth-place effort in the Josh Roberts Trucking Warrior, and seventh went to Jake Knowles of Rome, GA in the Knowles Race Parts and Bodies Rocket. Jimmy Elliott of Cleveland, TN drove the Mighty Muffler and Brake Center Longhorn to an eighth-place finish.
Marcus Minga of Shannon, MS finished ninth in the B&M Salvage Rocket, and Cla Knight of North Augusta, GA rounded out the top ten in the Augusta Aquatics Longhorn. In preliminary action, Hickman set a new track record in Sunoco/Knowles Race Parts Qualifying with a lap around “The Hornet’s Nest†in 13.821 seconds. Elliott won the 15-lap Hoosier Race Tire first B-Main, and Brittain won the Chevrolet Performance 15-lap second B-Main.
Hickman took the lead at the drop of the green flag on the 13th race of the season on Friday the 13th followed by Knight and Johnson battling side-by-side for the second spot. The only caution flag of the race came out on lap three when Brad Berry of Attalla, AL spun the Berry Racing GRT in turn four.
Doubled up behind Hickman for the Dixie-Style Double-File Restart was Knight, Johnson, Skinner, Ownby, Minga, Brittain, Elliott, Grant Garrison of Walton, KY in the Darrell Lanigan Racing Club 29, and Knowles.
Johnson drove around the outside of Knight down the backstretch on the restart to take over the second spot. Hickman reached the cars on the tail end of the lead lap on lap 11, and Skinner got by Knight to move up to the third spot.
Hickman methodically worked his way through lapped traffic, and Johnson was unable to mount a challenge for the lead. It only took 13 minutes and change to complete the 40 lap distance, and 23 of the 24 cars that started the race were still running at the drop of the checkered flag.
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.
OFFICIAL RESULTS OF ROUND 13 AT TALLADEGA SHORT TRACK IN EASTABOGA, AL ON 10/13/17:
POS STRT CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN LAPS $ WON
1. 1 R1 Riley Hickman Cleveland, TN 40 $2,000
2. 3 85 Ronnie Johnson Chattanooga, TN 40 $1,000
3. 4 11 Cruz Skinner Oxford, AL 40 $700
4. 8 23 Cory Hedge(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word) Loudon, TN 40 $550
5. 6 J0 John Ownby Cleveland, TN 40 $500
6. 10 05 T.J. Brittain Centre, AL 40 $425
7. 11 66 Jake Knowles Rome, GA 40 $375
8. 9 J39 Jimmy Elliott Cleveland, TN 40 $350
9. 5 19 Marcus Minga Shannon, MS 40 $325
10. 2 42 Cla Knight North Augusta, SC 40 $300
11. 7 1g Grant Garrison Walton, KY 40 $275
12. 12 66k Dylan Knowles Lanett, AL 39 $250
13. 14 56jr Colton Horner Katy, TX 39 $225
14. 15 67 Kyle Clifton Ranburne, AL 39 $200
15. 16 1p Andy Picklesimer Ooltewah, TN 39 $175
16. 13 T31 Shane Tankersley Morganton, GA 39 $150
17. 21 27 Brad Berry Attalla, AL 39 $140
18. 22 1cvr Danny Lasoski Dover, MO 39 $125
19. 17 5 Mike Combs Odenville, AL 39 $125
20. 20 17 Travis Smith Decatur, AL 39 $125
21. 19 17g Adam Gauldin Talladega, AL 39 $125
22. 23 23p Ahnna Parkhurst Evans, GA 38 $125
23. 24 C6 Oakley Johns Hohenwald, TN 37 $125
24. 18 97 Luke Hoffner Tuberville, PA 29 $125
ENTRIES: 42
FAST TIME: Hickman, 13.821 Seconds (New Track Record)
PROVISIONALS: Parkhurst and Johns
LEAD CHANGES: None
LAP LEADER: Hickman, 1-40
BEYEA HEADERS HARD CHARGER OF THE RACE: Hedge(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word) (started 8th and finished 4th)
CRUISE WITH THE CHAMPIONS ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Brittan
CAUTIONS: 1
MARGIN OF VICTORY: 2.475 Seconds
TIME OF THE RACE: 13 Minutes and 12.698 Seconds
SUNOCO/KNOWLES RACE PARTS AND BODIES QUICK TIME GROUP QUALIFYING (Top 4 In Each Group Transfer To Main Event):
GROUP 1:
POS CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN CHASSIS TIME
1 R1 Riley Hickman Cleveland, TN CVR 13.821
2 85 Ronnie Johnson Chattanooga, TN Capital 13.991
3 19 Marcus Minga Shannon, MS Rocket 14.082
4 1 Grant Garrison Walton, KY Club 29 14.106
5 J39 Jimmy Elliott Cleveland, TN Longhorn 14.158
6 5C Mike Combs Odenville, AL Rocket 14.181
7 66 Jake Knowles Rome, GA Rocket 14.208
8 T31 Shane Tankersley Morganton, GA Rocket 14.212
9 17 Adam Gauldin Talladega, AL Rocket 14.336
10 67 Kyle Clifton Ranbune, AL Barry Wright 14.352
11 23 Ahnna Parkhurst Evans, GA Warrior 14.422
12 C6 Oakley Johns Hohenwald, TN Pierce 14.436
13 16 Sam Seawright Fort Payne, AL Kryptonite 14.459
14 3 Heath Carr Ashland, AL Mastersbilt 14.475
15 14 Shane Smith Fruithurst, AL Rocket 14.504
16 27 Brad Berry Attalla, AL GRT 14.534
17 10H Jeff Helms Centre, AL GRT 14.611
18 5 Mark Heatherly Rossville, GA Longhorn 14.672
19 45 Austin Freeman Pell City, AL Mastersbilt 14.696
20 M2 Lee Burdett Hueytown, AL GRT 14.745
21 8 Daniel Casteel NT
GROUP 2:
POS CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN CHASSIS TIME
1 42 Cla Knight North Augusta, SC Longhorn 14.088
2 11 Cruz Skinner Oxford, AL CVR 14.161
3 J0 John Owenby Cleveland, TN Mastersbilt 14.281
4 23 Cory Hedge(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word) Loudon, TN Rocket 14.284
5 05 T J Brittain Centre, AL Warrior 14.289
6 66K Dylan Knowles Lanett, AL Rocket 14.307
7 56JR Colton Horner Katy, TX Black Diamond 14.349
8 P1 Andy Picklesimer Ooltewah, TN Rocket 14.352
9 17w Tyler Wood Linden, TN GRT 14.610
10 15 Brandon Thomas Waco, GA Stinger 14.670
11 97 Luke Hoffner Tuberville, PA Rocket 14.682
12 81 Adam Cummings Odenville, AL GRT 14.701
13 71 Dustin Knighten 14.750
14 1cvr Danny Lasoski Dover, MO CVR 14.766
15 14 Logan Palmer 14.770
16 147 Hunter Carroll Columbus, MS Trak-Star 14.869
17 40 David Culver Bessemer, AL GRT 14.921
18 C4 Cole Smartt 14.965
19 D2 David Duplissey Chattanooga, TN Warrior 14.984
20 F97 Red Farmer Hueytown, AL GRT 15.066
21 17 Travis Cole Smith Decatur, AL Rayburn 15.263
B-MAINS (15 Laps – Top 7 Transfer To Main Events):
HOOSIER RACE TIRE 1ST B-MAIN: 1. Elliott; 2. J. Knowles; 3. Tankersley; 4. Clifton; 5. Combs; 6. Gauldin; 7. Berry; 8. Johns; 9. Carr; 10. Parkhurst; 11. Heatherly; 12. Freeman; 13. Burdett; 14. Seawright; 15. S. Smith; 16. Helms DNS; 17. Casteel DNS.
CHEVROLET PERFORMANCE 2ND B-MAIN: 1. Brittain; 2. D. Knowles; 3. Horner; 4. Picklesimer; 5. Hoffner; 6. T. Smith; 7. Lasoski; 8. Carroll; 9. Wood; 10. Duplissey; 11. Cummings; 12. Smartt; 13. Farmer; 14. Culver; 15. Palmer; 16. Thomas; 17. Knighten.