The “Mohawk Warrior” Jimmy Elliott of Cleveland, TN celebrates his $2,000 win on Saturday night after driving the Car Smart Auto Sales CVR to victory in the Ole Smoky Moonshine 40 for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series at 411 Motor Speedway in Seymour, TN (Chad Wells Photo)
SEYMOUR, TN – The “Mohawk Warrior” Jimmy Elliott of Cleveland, TN only led 200 feet of the Ole Smoky Moonshine 40 for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring Division on Friday night at 411 Motor Speedway, but it was the most important distance, as it led to the checkered flag and the $2,000 top prize.
Elliott drove his Car Smart Auto Sales CVR under Brian King of Seymour, TN coming off the fourth turn on the final lap to post his second career NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring Division victory.
“Ryan was leaving just enough of the bottom groove open for me to get my nose in there going into turn three,” Elliott said. “I got into him, and I didn’t mean to, but it’s the last lap, and it’s for the win. That’s racing.”
King hung on to finish second in the Brian King Roofing Stinger, a race car adorned with a graphics package to honor his mentor, the late great Scott Sexton. Polesitter and new track record holder Cory Hedgecock of Loudon, TN took the third spot in the Eagle Racing Engines Rocket. Hedgecock out-timed the 31-car field with a lap around the 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval in 13.826 seconds.
Walker Arthur of Forest, VA started 12th in the Cecil B. Arthur Beef Farms Special and made some big moves on restarts to finish fourth. Josh Adkins of Talladega, AL was fifth in the Yellow Hammer Construction Special. Arthur took over the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series point lead with a 16-point advantage over Adkins.
The defending 411 Motor Speedway Late Model Champion Rusty Ballinger of Sevierville, TN finished sixth in the Rehel Diesel/East Tennessee Metal Special and Todd Coffman of Parksville, KY drove the Coffman Photography Rocket to a seventh-place finish. Brad Coffey of Maryville, TN was eighth in the CDE Electric Warrior.
Tait Davenport of Benton, KY finished ninth in the Murtco, Inc. Special, and Adam Beeler of Knoxville, TN rounded out the Top 10 in the Mighty Muffler and Brakes CVR. In preliminary action, the two 12-lap B-Main races were won by Coffey and Jensen Ford of Piney Flats, TN in the Vic Davis Construction TNT.
Hedgecock grabbed the lead from the pole position at the drop of the initial green flag followed by Elliott, King, Adkins, and Coffman. The first of three caution flags came out on lap two when Tanner Works of Cleveland, TN spun the D&K Auto CVR in turn two. On the restart, King drove around the outside of Elliott coming off the second turn to take over the second spot.
The yellow caution bulb was lit a second time on lap three when Todd Morrow of East Ridge, TN slowed the A Plus Collision Center GRT in turn four. Hedgecock had King, Elliott, Adkins, Coffman, Ballinger, and Coffey in the seventh spot doubled up behind him for the “Dixie Style” double file restart.
Chris Noah of Rainbow City, AL in the Old Man’s Garage Special restarted in the eighth spot with defending NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Champion Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN up from the 13th starting spot to restart in ninth driving the NeSmith Chevrolet Special, and Arthur was tenth when the field went back to green flag action.
Arthur made a big move on the restart, coming from tenth to seventh. King began to put pressure on Hedgecock to challenge for the point, and made an inside move on lap five to take the lead. King began to encounter lapped traffic on lap 11, and by lap 15, had stretched his advantage over to Hedgecock to a half-straightaway advantage.
Elliott dodged a bullet on lap 24 when he tangled with a lapped car on the front straightaway and spun to the infield. That brought out the yellow flag, and Elliott was put back in the third spot for the restart, as the lapped car was ticketed for the caution. Elliott took advantage of his good fortune, as he passed Hedgecock for the second spot on the restart, while Arthur vaulted from seventh to fourth.
Once Elliott got around Hedgecock for second, King was unable to shake the second-place car, as Elliott stayed within two to three car lengths of the leader. King was running the middle groove of the speedway, leaving the inside open. Elliott was chomping at the bit to fill the opening.
With five laps to go, lapped traffic loomed ahead of the lead duo, and after they took the white flag, they were entangled in the traffic on the final lap. Going into turn three, King maintained his line, but Elliott pulled the trigger and dove for the bottom of the race track.
The two cars made contact, but on the smooth, hammer-down race track, it was Elliott powering off the bottom the fourth turn to take the lead with the checkered flag waving in front of him.
The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring Division returns to 411 Motor Speedway on Saturday night for night two of the Ole Smoky Moonshine Nationals with the $3,000-to-win Ole Smoky Moonshine 50, Round 5 of the 2014 season.
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.
OFFICIAL RESULTS OF ROUND 4 AT 411 MOTOR SPEEDWAY IN SEYMOUR, TN ON 4/4/14:
POS STRT CAR # DRIVER
1. 2 J39 Jimmy Elliott Cleveland, TN 40 $2,000
2. 3 52 Ryan King
3. 1 23 Cory Hedgecock Loudon, TN 40 $700
4. 12 87 Walker Arthur Forest, VA 40 $550
5. 5 19m Josh Adkins Talladega, AL 40 $500
6. 7 29 Rusty Ballinger Sevierville, TN 40 $425
7. 4 35 Todd Coffman Parksville, KY 40 $375
8. 9 88 Brad Coffey Maryville, TN 40 $350
9. 15 18 Tait Davenport Benton, KY 40 $325
10. 8 66 Adam Beeler Knoxville, TN 40 $300
11. 13 5 Ronnie Johnson Chattanooga, TN 40 $275
12. 14 007 Roger Best Maryville, TN 40 $250
13. 19 51 Mack McCarter Gatlinburg, TN 40 $225
14. 6 56 Chris Noah Rainbow City, AL 40 $200
15. 21 B00 Josh Henry Newport, TN 40 $175
16. 16 17w Brett Wyatt Crossville, TN 40 $150
17. 20 71 Brian Courtney Knoxville, TN 40 $140
18. 17 RJ1 Jared Hawkins Fairmont, WV 24 $125
19, 11 8a Todd Morrow East Ridge, TN 22 $125
20. 23 121 Michael Blount Sumrall, MS 21 $125
21. 10 24 Jensen Ford Piney Flats, TN 16 $125
22. 24 33 Warren McMahan White Pine, TN 16 $125
23. 18 T35 Tanner Works Cleveland, TN 1 $125
24. 22 73 Ashley Newman Ripley, TN 0 $125
ENTRIES: 31
FAST QUALIFIER: Hedgecock, 13.826 Seconds (New Track Record)
PROVISIONAL: Blount
LEAD CHANGES: 2
LAP LEADERS: Hedgecock, 1-4; King, 5-39; Elliott, 40
LAPS LED: King, 35; Hedgecock, 4; Elliott, 1
ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Noah
DOMINATOR RACE PRODUCTS HARD LUCK AWARD: Newman
PRC JUST MISSED IT AWARD: Evan Taylor
STEALTH RACING CARBURETORS 7TH-PLACE AWARD: Coffman
SCHAEFFER’S OIL 8TH-PLACE AWARD PRESENTED BY CHAD WALLACE AND HEATHER NEWSOME: Coffey
MODERN IMAGES 9TH-PLACE AWARD: Davenport
AR BODIES 10TH-PLACE AWARD: Beeler
MIKE CUSTOM TANKS 11TH-PLACE AWARD: Johnson
SCHOENFELD HEADERS 12TH-PLACE AWARD: Best
KINSER AIR FILTERS 13TH-PLACE AWARD: McCarter
CAUTIONS: 3
MARGIN OF VICTORY: .424 Seconds
TIME OF THE RACE: 27 Minutes and 18.570 Seconds
QUALIFYING (Top 8 Transfer To Main Event):
| POS | CAR # | DRIVER | HOMETOWN | CHASSIS | LAP 1 | LAP 2 | TIME |
|
1 |
23 | Cory Hedgecock | Loudon, TN | Rocket |
14.038 |
13.826 |
13.826 |
|
2 |
J39 | Jimmy Elliott | Cleveland, TN | CVR |
14.585 |
14.087 |
14.087 |
|
3 |
52 | Ryan King | Seymour, TN | Stinger |
14.167 |
14.114 |
14.114 |
|
4 |
35 | Todd Coffman | Parksville, KY | Rocket |
14.292 |
14.137 |
14.137 |
|
5 |
19m | Josh Adkins | Talladega, AL | Barry Wright |
14.317 |
14.177 |
14.177 |
|
6 |
56n | Chris Noah – R | Rainbow City, AL | Mastersbilt |
14.949 |
14.211 |
14.211 |
|
7 |
29 | Rusty Ballinger | Sevierville, TN | Mastersbilt |
14.476 |
14.225 |
14.225 |
|
8 |
66 | Adam Beeler | Knoxville, TN | CVR |
14.413 |
14.275 |
14.275 |
|
9 |
88 | Brad Coffey | Maryville, TN | Warrior |
14.971 |
14.335 |
14.335 |
|
10 |
24 | Jensen Ford | Piney Flats, TN | TNT |
14.461 |
14.384 |
14.384 |
|
11 |
5 | Ronnie Johnson | Chattanooga, TN | Mastersbilt |
14.554 |
14.385 |
14.385 |
|
12 |
007 | Roger Best | Maryville, TN | Warrior |
14.620 |
14.393 |
14.393 |
|
13 |
8a | Todd Morrow | East Ridge, TN | GRT |
14.509 |
14.399 |
14.399 |
|
14 |
T35 | Tanner Works | Cleveland, TN | CVR |
14.662 |
14.406 |
14.406 |
|
15 |
18 | Tait Davenport | Benton, KY | Longhorn |
14.663 |
14.471 |
14.471 |
|
16 |
87 | Walker Arthur | Forest, VA | Mastersbilt |
14.815 |
14.493 |
14.493 |
|
17 |
33 | Warren McMahan | White Pine, TN | Warrior |
14.494 |
14.631 |
14.494 |
|
18 |
17w | Brett Wyatt | Crossville, TN | Mastersbilt |
14.931 |
14.523 |
14.523 |
|
19 |
RJ1 | Jared Hawkins | Fairmont, WV | Rocket |
14.961 |
14.635 |
14.635 |
|
20 |
A1 | Rick Hixson | Soddy Daisy, TN | CVR |
14.789 |
14.708 |
14.708 |
|
21 |
51 | Mack McCarter | Gatlinburg, TN | CVR |
14.752 |
14.893 |
14.752 |
|
22 |
73 | Ashley Newman | Ripley, TN | Pierce |
15.520 |
14.831 |
14.831 |
|
23 |
121 | Michael Blount | Sumrall, MS | Trak-Star |
15.092 |
14.902 |
14.902 |
|
24 |
71 | Brian Courtney | Knoxville, TN | CVR | NT |
15.027 |
15.027 |
|
25 |
17 | Ronald Dunn | Corinth, MS | Barry Wright |
15.429 |
15.071 |
15.071 |
|
26 |
36 | Evan Taylor | Clarksville, TN | PPM |
15.437 |
15.412 |
15.412 |
|
27 |
B00 | Josh Henry | Newport, TN | Stinger |
15.821 |
15.615 |
15.615 |
|
28 |
7 | William Overbey | Norris, TN | Rayburn |
16.438 |
15.735 |
15.735 |
|
29 |
97 | Evan Bell | Buford, GA | Rocket |
16.079 |
15.836 |
15.836 |
|
30 |
56r | Jonathan Rowan | Whiteville, TN | Rocket | NT | NT | NT |
|
31 |
17 | Matt Henderson | Loudon, TN | CVR | NT | NT | NT |
B-MAINS (12 Laps – Top 7 Transfer To Main Event):
1ST B-MAIN: 1. Coffey; 2. Morrow; 3. Johnson; 4. Davenport; 5. Hawkins; 6. McCarter; 7. Henry; 8. McMahan; 9. Dunn; 10. Blount; 11. Bell; 12. Henderson DNS.
2ND B-MAIN: 1. Ford; 2. Arthur; 3. Best; 4. Wyatt; 5. Works; 6. Courtney; 7. Newman; 8. Taylor; 9. Overbey; 10. Rowan; 11. Hixson.
NeSMITH CHEVROLET DIRT LATE MODEL SERIES POINT STANDINGS THROUGH 4/4/14:
1. 87 Walker Arthur – 284
2. 19m Josh Adkins – 268
3. 51 Mack McCarter – 264
4. 56n Chris Noah (R) – 248
5. 5 Ronnie Johnson – 240
6. 18 Tait Davenport – 236
7. 121 Michael Blount – 198
8. 53 Ray Cook – 194
9. 58 Mark Whitener – 182
10. 5d Robert Diekemper – 174
11. 2c Joey Coulter – 172
12. 4 Jeremy Faircloth – 170
13. 18e Chase Edge – 164
14. 7 Jason Fitzgerald – 158
15. 93 Donald Bradsher – 156
16. 8 Scott Lagesse Jr. – 148
17. 27 Ben Faircloth – 144
18. 110 Brent Barrett – 142
19. 56 David Earl Gentry – 138
20. 17c Steve Cooke – 132
R – 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. Schaeffer’s Oil Presented By Chad Wallace and Heather Newsome is the Official Oil of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. AR Bodies is an Associate Sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Contingency Sponsors for 2014 are Dominator Race Products, Stealth Racing Carburetors, Modern Images, Mike Custom Tanks, Schoenfeld Headers, Kinser Air Filters, Performance Rod & Custom, and David Smith Carburetors. 2014 Chassis Sponsors are Trak-Star Race Cars, Warrior Race Cars, Rocket Chassis, GRT Race Cars, TNT Race Cars, and CVR Race Cars.