Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC celebrates his win on Friday afternoon in the Super Bowl of Racing Presented By Rock Auto.com 2014 season opener for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series at Golden Isles Speedway in Brunswick, GA. (Heath Lawson Photo)
BRUNSWICK, GA – Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC took the lead with five laps to go and drove the Tri-County Race Track Special to victory in the 2014 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series season opener on Friday afternoon in the Super Bowl of Racing Presented By Rock Auto.com at Golden Isles Speedway.
Cook started ninth and moved up to the second spot by lap eight. When early race leader Walker Arthur of Forest, VA began to encounter lapped traffic with ten laps to go, Cook closed in and made up a half straightaway deficit. Arthur pushed up the banking in turn one on lap 26, and Cook dove underneath to take the lead.
“I couldn’t catch Arthur until he got into that lapped traffic because until then, it seemed like we were running the same speed,” Cook said. “He tried to lap a car on the outside and the lapped car moved up in front of him. That opened the door for me to take the lead.”
The victory was the second straight NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series win for Cook, who won the 2013 season finale in November in the Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race. That win was in a different car, but Cook had some valuable pieces from that winning mount on his car Friday afternoon.
“We won the race in November with another car, but we took the shocks off that car and put them on my car that I drove today,” Cook said. “We put the same set up under it, and it worked again for us this afternoon.”
Jak Kicklighter of Savannah, GA drove the Kicklighter Construction Special to a second place finish and was the Rookie of the Race. NASCAR star Joey Coulter of Concord, NC took the third spot in the Wolfpack Racing Rocket, and Mack McCarter of Gatlinburg, TN was fourth in the CVR Race Cars Special.
Scott Lagasse Jr. of St. Augustine, FL drove the Boy Scout of America Special to a fifth-place finish, and Mark Whitener of Middleburg, FL finished sixth in the Dave’s Towing Special. Josh Adkins of Talladega, AL was seventh in the Yellow Hammer Construction Special, and Chris Noah of Rainbow City, AL grabbed the eighth spot in the Old Man’s Garage Special.
Tait Davenport of Benton, KY started 24th and finished ninth in the Murtco, Inc., Special, and Robert Diekemper of Bloomingdale, GA rounded out the top ten in the Baird Transport Special. In preliminary action, the four ten-lap B-Main Races were won by Noah, Whitener, Cook, and Chase Edge of LaFayette, AL in the Edge’s Gas Company Special.
Justin McRee of Woodstock, AL set fast time honors among the 45 entrants with a lap around the 4/10-mile clay oval in 16.435 seconds in the Madsen Machine/High Roller Race Cars Special, and earned the pole position for the 30-lap main event. McRee led the first lap of the race before Arthur took over the lead on lap two after starting fourth.
The first of seven caution flags came out on lap six when Chase Washington of Houlka, MS hit the first turn guard rail in the Jerry Inmon Racing Special. Arthur had McRee, Steve Cook of Mt. Airy, NC, Kicklighter, McCarter, Cook, Mallory Harvey of Baxley, GA in the Rentz Farms Rocket, Whitener, Noah, and Kelly Walker of Moultrie, GA doubled up behind him for the “Dixie Style” double-file restart.
On the restart, Cook and Harvey moved up through the field and into the third and fourth spots respectively. The caution came out for the second time on lap seven when Walker cut down the left-rear tire on his Lassiter Tractor Company Special. The top ten for restart was Arthur, McRee, Cook, Harvey, Kicklighter, Whitener, Coulter, Diekemper and Edge.
The yellow caution bulb got a workout, as Cooke spun the AES Special on the restart, Stacey Robert of Sylvester, GA spun the Park Built Body Company Special in turn three on lap eight, and then McRee spun out of the fourth spot in turn three on lap nine. The next restart saw Arthur leading Cook, McCarter, Kicklighter, Whitener, Coulter, Diekemper, Lagesse, Adkins, and Montana Dudley of Phenix City, AL in the Eiland Pools Rocket down for the restart.
When the field went back to green, Kicklighter got by McCarter for third, but the field was slowed to stop on lap 14 when Roberts flipped in turn two, and his race car came to rest on its roof. Roberts was O.K., but was done for the day. On the restart, Coulter moved up to the fourth spot.
Arthur held a half-straightaway lead over Cook on lap 20, but then the leader began to encounter heavy lapped traffic. The temperature gauge on Arthur’s Cecil B. Arthur Beef Farms Special was pegged and steam began to wisp from underneath the car.
After Arthur had his miscue with the lapped car and Cook took the lead on lap 26, Arthur’s race car gave up the ghost on lap 27 to bring out the last caution flag. Cook breezed home to take the win in the last five laps of the race, as he pulled away from Kicklighter and Coulter.
For more information and rules about the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series, visit the series all-new 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.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS PENDING TIRE TEST OF ROUND 1 AT GOLDEN ISLES SPEEDWAY IN BRUNSWICK, GA ON 2/7/14:
POS STRT CAR # DRIVER
1. 9 53 Ray Cook
2. 5 7k Jak Kicklighter (R) Savannah, GA 30 $1,250
3. 12 2c Joey Coulter Concord, NC 30 $850
4. 6 51 Mack McCarter Gatlinburg, TN 30 $700
5. 15 8 Scott Lagasse Jr. St. Augustine, FL 30 $650
6. 8 58 Mark Whitener Middleburg, FL 30 $550
7. 19 19m Josh Adkins Talladega, AL 30 $500
8. 7 56n Chris Noah (R) Rainbow City, AL 30 $450
9. 24 18 Tait Davenport Benton, KY 30 $500
10. 14 5d Robert Diekemper Bloomingdale, GA 30 $375
11. 16 55 Montana Dudley (R) Phenix City, AL 30 $350
12. 11 29 Mallory Harvey Baxley, GA 30 $300
13. 21 56 David Earl Gentry Murfreesboro, TN 30 $280
14. 20 4 Jeremy Faircloth Swainsboro, GA 30 $260
15. 23 5 Ronnie Johnson Chattanooga, TN 30 $250
16. 10 18e Chase Edge LaFayette, AL 30 $240
17. 3 17c Steve Cooke Mt. Airy, NC 30 $220
18. 22 121 Michael Blount Sumrall, MS 29 $200
19. 4 87 Walker Arthur Forest, VA 26 $200
20. 17 11 Stacey Roberts Sylvester, AG 12 $200
21. 1 03 Justin McRee Woodstock, AL 8 $200
22. 2 21k Kelly Walker Moultrie, GA 7 $200
23. 18 27 Ben Faircloth Swainsboro, GA 6 $200
24. 13 38 Chase Washington Houlka, MS 5 $200
ENTRIES: 45
FAST QUALIFIER: McRee, 16.435 Seconds
PROVISIONALS: Johnson and Davenport
LEAD CHANGES: 2
LAP LEADERS: McRee, 1; Arthur, 2-25; Cook, 26-30
LAPS LED: Arthur, 24; Cook, 5; McRee, 1
ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Kicklighter
DOMINATOR RACE PRODUCTS HARD LUCK AWARD: Arthur
PRC JUST MISSED IT AWARD: Todd Neiheiser
STEALTH RACING CARBURETORS 7TH-PLACE AWARD: Adkins
VELOCITA RACEWEAR 8TH-PLACE AWARD: Noah
MODERN IMAGES 9TH-PLACE AWARD: Davenport
AR BODIES 10TH-PLACE AWARD: Diekemper
MIKE CUSTOM TANKS 11TH-PLACE AWARD: Dudley
SHORTY’S SHOCK SERVICE 12TH-PLACE AWARD: Harvey
SCHOENFELD HEADERS 13TH-PLACE AWARD: Gentry
J.T. KERR RACING EQUIPMENT 14TH-PLACE AWARD: J. Faircloth
KINSER AIR FILTERS 15TH-PLACE AWARD: Johnson
CAUTIONS: 7
MARGIN OF VICTORY: .960 Seconds
TIME OF THE RACE: 38 Minutes and 18.004 Seconds
QUALIFYING (Top 6 Transfer To Main Event):
| POS | CAR # | DRIVER | HOMETOWN | CHASSIS | LAP 1 | LAP 2 | TIME |
|
1 |
03 | Justin McRee | Woodstock, AL | HRRC |
16.485 |
16.435 |
16.435 |
|
2 |
21k | Kelly Walker | Moultrie, GA | Capital |
16.513 |
16.627 |
16.513 |
|
3 |
17c | Steve Cooke | Mt. Airy, NC | Barry Wright |
16.575 |
17.932 |
16.575 |
|
4 |
87 | Walker Arthur | Forest, VA | Mastersbilt |
16.846 |
16.632 |
16.632 |
|
5 |
7k | Jak Kicklighter – R | Savannah, GA | Barry Wright |
16.913 |
16.650 |
16.650 |
|
6 |
51 | Mack McCarter | Gatlinburg, TN | CVR |
16.663 |
17.226 |
16.663 |
|
7 |
8 | Scott Lagasse Jr. | St. Augustine, FL | Bloomquist |
17.204 |
16.708 |
16.708 |
|
8 |
58 | Mark Whitener | Middleburg, FL | Barry Wright |
17.245 |
16.719 |
16.719 |
|
9 |
53 | Ray Cook | Brasstown, NC | Mastersbilt |
16.806 |
16.752 |
16.752 |
|
10 |
18 | Chase Edge | LaFayette, AL | Mastersbilt |
16.851 |
16.780 |
16.780 |
|
11 |
56n | Chris Noah – R | Rainbow City, AL | Mastersbilt |
17.049 |
16.782 |
16.782 |
|
12 |
2c | Joey Coulter | Concord, NC | Rocket |
17.287 |
16.785 |
16.785 |
|
13 |
33 | Carter Stokes | New Smyrna Bch, FL | Rocket |
17.227 |
16.902 |
16.902 |
|
14 |
5 | Robert Diekemper | Bloomingdale, GA | Barry Wright |
16.980 |
16.921 |
16.921 |
|
15 |
19m | Josh Adkins | Talladega, AL | Barry Wright |
17.236 |
16.938 |
16.938 |
|
16 |
55 | Montana Dudley – R | Phenix City, AL | Rocket |
17.066 |
16.965 |
16.965 |
|
17 |
38 | Chase Washington | Houlka, MS | Barry Wright |
17.003 |
17.340 |
17.003 |
|
18 |
27 | Ben Faircloth | Swainsboro, GA | Rocket |
17.653 |
17.029 |
17.029 |
|
19 |
7 | Jason Fitzgerald | Middleburg, FL | GRT | NT |
17.034 |
17.034 |
|
20 |
4 | Jeremy Faircloth | Swainsboro, GA | Warrior |
17.052 |
17.477 |
17.052 |
|
21 |
21m | Cody Martin | Christiana, TN | Warrior |
17.108 |
17.056 |
17.056 |
|
22 |
121 | Michael Blount | Sumrall, MS | Trak-Star |
17.459 |
17.063 |
17.063 |
|
23 |
5 | Ronnie Johnson | Chattanooga, TN | Mastersbilt |
17.287 |
17.129 |
17.129 |
|
24 |
18 | Tait Davenport | Benton, KY | Longhorn |
17.362 |
17.143 |
17.143 |
|
25 |
56 | David Earl Gentry | Murfreesboro, TN | Mastersbilt |
17.593 |
17.161 |
17.161 |
|
26 |
15 | Evan Becton | Valdosta, GA | Brown |
17.188 |
17.192 |
17.188 |
|
27 |
29 | Mallory Harvey | Baxley, GA | Rocket |
17.279 |
17.194 |
17.194 |
|
28 |
14 | Wil Herrington – R | Cochran, GA | Rocket |
17.230 |
17.878 |
17.230 |
|
29 |
11 | Stacey Roberts | Sylvester, GA | Bloomquist |
17.253 |
17.613 |
17.253 |
|
30 |
110 | Brent Barrett | Cleveland, MS | GRT |
17.494 |
17.274 |
17.274 |
|
31 |
72n | Todd Neiheiser | Panama City, FL | Trak-Star |
18.546 |
17.296 |
17.296 |
|
32 |
25 | Hunter Carter | Blackshear, GA | Mastersbilt |
17.331 |
17.310 |
17.310 |
|
33 |
111 | Steven Roberts | Jesup, GA | Barry Wright |
17.781 |
17.314 |
17.314 |
|
34 |
27 | Michael Brown | Pageland, SC | Barry Wright |
17.501 |
17.335 |
17.335 |
|
35 |
22 | Cecil Eunice | Blackshear, GA | Mastersbilt |
17.597 |
17.345 |
17.345 |
|
36 |
64 | Jacob Anderson | Murphy, NC | Mastersbilt |
17.432 |
17.369 |
17.369 |
|
37 |
19 | Marcus Minga | Shannon, MS | Rocket |
17.372 |
17.596 |
17.372 |
|
38 |
64 | Braden Mitchell – R | Russellville, AL | Mastersbilt |
18.189 |
17.393 |
17.393 |
|
39 |
35 | Kitt Sealy | Moultrie, GA | Barry Wright |
17.424 |
17.534 |
17.424 |
|
40 |
93 | Donald Brasher | Burlington, NC | Rocket |
17.557 |
17.510 |
17.510 |
|
41 |
17 | Ronald Dunn | Corinth, MS | Barry Wright |
18.133 |
17.718 |
17.718 |
|
42 |
114 | Chris Cantrell | Chester, SC | Rocket |
18.187 |
NT |
18.187 |
|
43 |
41 | Edgar Godsey | Bedford, IN | Mastersbilt |
19.125 |
18.335 |
18.335 |
|
44 |
J3 | Paul Jorgensen – R | Blackshear, GA | Warrior |
18.827 |
18.341 |
18.341 |
|
45 |
5e | Tom Egner | Hinesville, GA | Warrior |
19.155 |
18.522 |
18.522 |
B-MAINS (12 Laps – Top 4 Transfer To Main Event):
1ST B-MAIN: 1. Noah (R); 2. Harvey; 3. Lagasse; 4. Adkins; 5. Neiheiser; 6. Fitzgerald; 7. Johnson; 8. Godsey; 9. Sealy; 10. Eunice.
2ND B-MAIN: 1. Whitener; 2. Coulter; 3. Dudley (R); 4. J. Faircloth; 5. Davenport; 6. Anderson; 7. Carter; 8. Herrington (R); 9. Jorgensen (R); 10. Brasher DNS.
3RD B-MAIN: 1. Cook; 2. Washington; 3. Sta. Roberts; 4. Gentry; 5. Martin; 6. Dunn; 7. Ste. Roberts; 8. Minga; 9. Egner; 10. Stokes.
4TH B-MAIN: 1. Edge; 2. Diekemper; 3. B. Faircloth; 4. Blount; 5. Mitchell (R); 6. Becton; 7. Barrett; 8. Brown; 9. Cantrell DNS.
R – Denotes Rookie of the Year Candidate
NeSmith Chevrolet, Buick, GMC of Claxton, GA is the Title Sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. 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 Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. Hoosier Racing Tire is the Official Tire Sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. RockAuto.com is an Official Sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. Racecar Engineering is the Official Parts Supplier of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. Renegade Race and Performance Fuels are a series Associate Sponsor and fuel supplier. AR Bodies is an Associate Sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Contingency Sponsors for 2013 are Dominator Race Products, Stealth Racing Carburetors, Modern Images, Mike Custom Tanks, Shorty’s Shock Service, Schoenfeld Headers, J.T. Kerr Racing Equipment, Kinser Air Filters, Velocita Racewear, and Performance Rod & Custom. 2013 Chassis Sponsors are Trak-Star Race Cars, Warrior Race Cars, Rocket Chassis, GRT Race Cars, TNT Race Cars, Stinger Race Cars, and CVR Race Cars.