NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series News Release: Contact – ROBY HELM – (865) 207-4157

TAMPA, FL –February 26, 2011-  Phillip Cobb of Apollo Beach was in the right place at the right time to take the lead with ten laps to go and win the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series 50-lap main event on Saturday night at East Bay Raceway Park driving the Wells Brothers Farms Special.

For the second straight night, Doug Horton of Bruceton Mills, WV dropped out while leading the race when he suffered a mechanical problem with his Mainland Transport Warrior on lap 40. Cobb was running second at the time and inherited the lead. Cobb led the last ten laps for his first career NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series win.

“Doug had it won, but we were in the right place at the right time when he dropped out,” Cobb said. “Everything just went our way tonight, and we had a good race. Everyone raced us clean and the track was in great shape.”

Dan Breuer of Troutman, NC finished second in the AES Racing Special, and Keith Nosbisch of Valrico, FL took the third spot in the Image Skin Care Rocket. Jack Nosbisch Jr. of Riverview, FL was fourth in the Buddy’s Home Furnishings Rocket, and Jeff Mathews of Tampa, FL grabbed the fifth spot in the Night Hawk Towing Rocket.

Shan Smith of Dade City, FL finished sixth in the Outlaw Race Parts TNT and 2008 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Champion Chip Brindle of Chatsworth, GA was seventh in the Bryson Motorsports Special.

Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA started 19th and finished eighth in the Hedman Husler Special to pick up the Hedman Husler of the Race Award. Greg Robertson of Waynesboro, VA drove the Wyn Bridge Industrial Fabricators Rocket to a ninth-place finish, and the defending and two-time NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Champion Eric Cooley of Fulton, MS rounded out the top ten in the 78 Towing and Recovery Special.

Frank Wilson of Harold, FL finished 14th in the Wilson Lumber Trak-Star to pick up the VP Racing Fuels Rookie of the Race Award. Chase Edge of Lafayette, AL did not transfer to the main event by finishing fourth in the first 12-lap B-Main race to earn the Integra Racing Shocks Just Missed It Award.

Brindle was the fast qualifier among the 45 entrants with a lap around the 1/3-mile clay oval in 15.866 seconds. The four ten-lap heat races were won by Brindle, Horton, Jack Nosbisch Jr., and Cobb. The two 12-lap B-Main races were won by Mark Tice of Avon, MS in the Precision Marine Trak-Star and Doug Watson of Plant City, FL in the Brandon Auto Services Rocket.

Horton took the lead at the drop of the green flag to start the race followed by Brindle, Cobb, Jack Nosbisch Jr. and Keith Nosbisch. The Nosbisch brothers swapped positions on lap two with Keith passing Jack Jr. for the fourth spot. The first caution flag of the race came out on lap four when Chase Washington of Houlka, MS stalled the Greg’s Sawmill GRT in turn four.

The top ten for the restart had Horton leading Brindle, Cobb, K. Nosbisch, J. Nosbisch, Breuer, Mathews, Smith, two-time NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model series Champion David Earl Gentry of Lewisburg, TN, and Steve Cook of Mt. Airy, NC. Gentry spun his Eads Farms/Dixon Plumbing Special in turn two on the restart.

When the field went back to green flag racing, Cobb passed Brindle for the second spot, bringing J. Nosbisch with him into the third position. K. Nosbisch got around Brindle for the fourth spot on lap five. Cobb and J. Nosbisch began swapping the second spot on lap six. J. Nosbisch was second on lap six, Cobb was second on lap seven, and by lap eight, K. Nosbisch began mount another challenge on his brother for the third spot.

While all of the dicing for position was going on behind him, Horton had stretched out to a full straightaway lead by lap ten. That advantage was erased on lap 11 when Shannon Lee stalled the Billy Riels Racing GRT in turn two to bring out the third caution flag of the race.

The caution flag came out for the fourth time on lap 12 when Steve Miller of Tampa, FL hit the turn four wall with the L. Miller and Associates Rocket. That was followed by the fifth caution flag on the restart when Dave Schmauss of Dover, FL spun the Cardinal Paint and Body Warrior.

Cobb and J. Nosbisch picked up their battle for the second on the next restart with J. Nosbisch passing Cobb when the green flag came out, and Cobb reclaimed the spot on lap 13. Horton maintained a comfortable lead when he began to encounter lapped traffic on lap 20. Business was picking up behind the leader, as J. Nosbisch, K. Nosbisch and Brindle began to battle for the third spot.

The trio went into the first turn three-wide on lap 26 with Brindle the meat in the Nosbisch sandwich. K. Nosbisch was on the inside, Brindle was in the middle, and J. Nosbisch was on the outside. All three cars went for the same piece of real estate, and the squeeze play cut down Brindle’s left-front tire. Brindle spun to bring out the sixth caution flag of the race.

Horton led Cobb, J. Nosbisch, K. Nosbisch, Breuer, Mathews, Smith, Robertson, Bryan Bernhardt of Clearwater, FL in the Terry Eaglin Motorsports Rocket, and Cooke down for the restart at the halfway point of the race. Breuer passed K. Nosbisch for the fourth spot, while Turner powered from the 11th spot to move up to seventh.

Smith and Bernhardt got together in turn one on lap 33, and Bernhardt spun in turn two collecting Schmauss to bring out the seventh caution flag. Turner got by Mathews for the sixth spot on the restart, and then passed K. Nosbisch for the fifth spot on lap 35. K. Nosbisch reclaimed the spot on lap 37.

Breuer got around J. Nosbisch on lap 38 to take the third spot just before the eighth caution flag of the race came out on lap 40 when Cooke spun his AES Special in turn four while running ninth. When the field went back to green flag racing, K. Nosbisch passed J. Nosbisch for the fourth spot in turn four on lap 40.

Running with yet another comfortable lead, Horton suddenly slowed in turn three on lap 41 and came to a stop at the head of the front straightaway to bring out the ninth and final caution flag of the race. Horton was pushed to the pits and was done for the night. That misfortune earned Horton the Dominator Race Products Hard Luck Award.

Cobb now inherited the lead followed by Breuer, K. Nosbisch, J. Nosbisch, Turner, Mathews, Brindle, Smith, Cooley, and Robertson. When the field took the green flag, Brindle, who had come from the back of the pack, got busy and passed both Mathews and Turner to move up to the fifth spot.

Mathews was able to pass Brindle for the fifth spot on lap 43, and Smith also passed Brindle for the sixth spot on lap 44. Cobb was able to keep Breuer behind him in the closing laps to take the win with a .455 second margin of victory.

The next scheduled event for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series will be a 50-lap $2,500-to-win event at Smoky Mountain Speedway in Maryville, TN on April 2.

For more information 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.

OFFICIAL RESULTS OF ROUND 3 AT EAST BAY RACEWAY PARK IN TAMPA, FL ON 2/26/11:

POS STRT CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN LAPS $ WON
1. 4 32 Phillip Cobb Apollo Beach, FL 50 $3,000
2. 6 B7 Dan Breuer Troutman, NC 50 $1,250
3. 5 02 Keith Nosbisch Valrico, FL 50 $850
4. 3 12 Jack Nosbisch Jr. Riverview, FL 50 $700
5. 9 33 Jeff Mathews Tampa, FL 50 $650
6. 7 99 Shan Smith Dade City, FL 50 $550
7. 1 21b Chip Brindle Chatsworth, GA 50 $500
8. 19 10 Matthew Turner Dawsonville, GA 50 $550
9. 13 116 Greg Robertson Waynesboro, VA 50 $400
10. 14 33c Eric Cooley Fulton, MS 50 $375
11. 8 56 David Earl Gentry Lewisburg, TN 50 $350
12. 12 105 Dave Schmauss Dover, FL 50 $300
13. 20 27 Larry Harrod Plains, GA 50 $280
14. 22 72 Frank Wilson (R) Harold, FL 50 $260
15. 11 31 Bryan Force Indiana, PA 50 $250
16. 10 17c Steve Cooke Mt. Airy, NC 50 $240
17. 21 8s Steve Miller Tampa, FL 49 $220
18. 2 11 Doug Horton Bruceton Mills, WV 40 $200
19. 15 19 Chase Washington Houlka, MS 39 $200
20. 16 B69 Bryan Bernhardt Clearwater, FL 32 $200
21. 17 24 Mark Tice (R) Avon, MS 32 $200
22. 21 121 Michael Blount Sumrall, MS 30 $200
23. 23 47 Shannon Lee Lumberton, MS 16 $200
24. 18 07 Doug Watson Plant City, FL 10 $200

ENTRIES: 45
FAST QUALIFIER: Brindle, 15.866 Seconds
PROVISIONALS: Lee and Blount
LEAD CHANGES: 1
LAP LEADERS: Horton, 1-40; Cobb, 41-50
LAPS LED: Horton, 40; Cobb, 10
VP RACING FUELS ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Wilson
HEDMAN HUSLER AWARD: Turner (started 19th and finished 8th)
DOMINATOR RACE PRODUCTS HARD LUCK AWARD: Horton
INTEGRA RACING SHOCKS JUST MISSED IT AWARD: Chase Edge
RACECAR ENGINEERING 5TH-PLACE AWARD: Mathews
KRC 6TH-PLACE AWARD: Smith
JOE GIBBS DRIVEN 7TH-PLACE AWARD: Brindle
RACECAR ENGINEERING 8TH-PLACE AWARD: Turner
MAXIMUM SIGNS AND GRAPHICS 9TH-PLACE AWARD: Robertson
KRC 10TH-PLACE AWARD: Cooley
MIKE’S CUSTOM TANKS 11TH-PLACE AWARD: Gentry
SHORTY’S SHOCK SERVICE 12TH-PLACE AWARD: Schmauss
SCHOENFELD SHOCKS 13TH-PLACE AWARD: Harrod
J.T. KERR RACING EQUIPMENT 14TH-PLACE AWARD: Wilson
COFIELD RACING STARTERS 15TH-PLACE AWARD: Force
KINSER AIR FILTERS 16TH-PLACE AWARD: Cooke
CAUTIONS: 9
MARGIN OF VICTORY: .455 Seconds
TIME OF THE RACE: 51 Minutes and 37.480 Seconds

TAMPA, FL –February 25, 2011-  Jack Nosbisch Jr. of Riverview, FL packed his bags, turned in the key, and checked out on the field Friday night to win the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series 40-lap feature race at East Bay Raceway Park driving the Buddy’s Home Furnishings Rocket. Nosbisch led the final 17 laps of the race to win with a half a lap margin over Bryan Bernhardt of Clearwater, FL.

Nosbisch inherited the lead on lap 24 after early race leader Doug Horton of Bruceton Mills, WV cut down a right-front tire on his Mainland Transport Warrior during a caution period and he was forced to pit, ending his chance to repeat Thursday night’s win.

“It looked like Doug had a tire going down before the caution came out because he was starting to push a little in the turns,” Nosbisch said. “I had no idea I had as big a lead as I had at the end of the race. I thought I could hear everyone around me, so I just drove as hard as I could, like I did when I was chasing Doug before he went to the pits.”

The last 16 laps of the race went caution-free, and Nosbisch checked out on Bernhardt in the Terry Eaglin Motorsports Rocket with a 9.401 second margin of victory. Keith Nosbisch of Valrico, FL finished third in the Image Skin Care Rocket, and Danny Breuer of Troutman, NC took the fourth spot in the AES Racing Special.

Phillip Cobb of Apollo Beach, FL started 17th and finished fifth in the Wells Brothers Farms Special to earn the Hedman Husler Award. Chase Edge of Lafayette, AL was the VP Racing Fuels Rookie of the Race with a sixth-place effort in the Edge’s Gas Company Special after out-qualifying the 46 entrants during time trials with a lap around the 1/3-mile clay oval in 16.323 seconds.

Shan Smith of Dade City, FL was seventh in the Outlaw Race Parts TNT, and two-time NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Champion David Earl Gentry of Lewisburg, TN took the eighth spot in the Eads Plumbing/Dixon Plumbing Special. Dave Schmauss of Dover, FL finished ninth in the Cardinal Paint and Body Warrior, and 2008 NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS Champion Chip Brindle of Chatsworth, GA rounded out the top ten in the Bryson Motorsports Special.

Jack Nosbisch Jr. earned the pole position after winning the first 10-lap heat race and led the field down for the green flag to start the race. Second heat race winner Horton took the lead from his outside front row starting position followed by J. Nosbisch, Bernhardt, and Keith Nosbisch.

The green flag action was short-lived because the caution flag came out on the first lap when a multi-car pile-up on the backstretch stacked up the majority of the back half of the 24-car field. When everything was untangled, Larry Harrod of Plains, GA in the Harrod Logging Special, Doug Watson of Plant City, FL in the Brandon Auto Services Rocket, and Michael Blount of Sumrall, MS in the Lamar Auto Salvage/Petro Nissan Trak-Star were done for the night.

On the complete restart, Horton again grabbed the point with J. Nosbisch, Bernhardt, K. Nosbisch and Credence Mott of Vienna, IL in the Odum Car Brokers Special following. A short caution for debris on lap three closed up the field, and the third caution flag came out on lap five when Mott spun in turn two.

Mott would retire from the event a lap later when he spun in turn three to bring out the fourth caution flag of the race. The restart saw Edge inherited the fifth spot, but Breuer grabbed that position on the restart.

Smith climbed up to the seventh spot on lap eight, and the fifth caution flag came out on lap nine when Shannon Lee of Lumberton, MS spun the Lawson Construction Rocket in turn three. Horton led J. Nosbisch, Bernhardt, K. Nosbisch, Breuer, Edge, Smith, Mark Tice of Avon, MS in the Precision Marine Trak-Star, Cobb, and Travis Varnadore of Dover, FL in the Sunstate International Trucks Special down for the restart.

Smith dropped Edge back to the seventh spot on lap 10. K. Nosbisch lost the fourth spot to Breuer on lap 18 when he tangled with the lapped car of Greg Robertson of Waynesboro, VA in the Wyn Bridge Industrial Fabricators Rocket. The green flag stayed out as K. Nosbisch held on to the fifth spot.

Horton began to encounter heavy lapped traffic by lap 20, and J. Nosbisch began to close the half straightaway lead Horton had built up. Tice spun in turn four on lap 24 to bring out the sixth caution flag of the race. During the caution period, Horton gave up the lead and went to the pits with his right-front tire going flat.

Horton returned to the track, but had to restart in the 18th position. His misfortune earned Horton the Dominator Race Products Hard Luck Award. The final caution flag of the race came out on lap 25 when Steve Mathis of Plant City, FL in the Mathis Farms Special spun in turn four and collected Johnny Stokes of Columbus, MS in the TJC Mortgage/Maximum Signs and Graphics GRT.

J. Nosbisch led Bernhardt, Breuer, K. Nosbisch, Smith, Cobb, Edge, Brindle, Gentry, and Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA in the Hedman Husler Special down for the restart. Schmauss moved up to tenth on the restart, and Nosbisch got by Breuer for the third spot on lap 28. J. Nosbisch had opened up a full straightaway lead on Bernhardt by lap 33.

K. Nosbisch moved up to battle Bernhardt for the second spot with five laps to go working the inside. With two laps to go, J. Nosbisch had a half-lap lead on the Bernhardt and K. Nosbisch battle for second. J. Nosbisch would cruise on home for the win, and Bernhardt would hold off K. Nosbisch to take the second spot.

In preliminary action, the four 10-lap heat races were won by J. Nosbisch, Horton, K. Nosbisch and Bernhardt. The two 12-lap B-Main races were won by Cobb and Frank Wilson of Harold, FL in the Wilson Lumber Trak-Star. Robert Cossell IV of Connellsville, PA in the Sprouts Pick-A-Part Warrior failed to make the main event after finishing fourth in the first B-Main to earn the Integra Racing Shocks Just Missed It Award.

The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series returns to East Bay Raceway Park on Saturday night for a 50-lap $3,000-to-win main event.

For more information 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.

OFFICIAL RESULTS OF ROUND 2 AT EAST BAY RACEWAY PARK IN TAMPA, FL ON 2/25/11:

POS STRT CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN LAPS $ WON
1. 1 12 Jack Nosbisch Jr. Riverview, FL 40 $2,000
2. 4 B69 Bryan Bernhardt Clearwater, FL 40 $1,000
3. 3 02 Keith Nosbisch Valrico, FL 40 $700
4. 8 B7 Dan Breuer Troutman, NC 40 $550
5. 17 32 Phillip Cobb Apollo Beach, FL 40 $600
6. 5 18 Chase Edge (R) Lafayette, AL 40 $425
7. 7 99 Shan Smith Dade City, FL 40 $375
8. 19 56 David Earl Gentry Lewisburg, TN 40 $350
9. 16 105 Dave Schmauss Dover, FL 40 $325
10. 10 21b Chip Brindle Chatsworth, GA 40 $300
11. 15 10 Matthew Turner Dawsonville, GA 40 $275
12. 9 41 Travis Varnadore Dover, FL 40 $250
13. 14 33c Eric Cooley Fulton, MS 40 $225
14. 13 24 Mark Tice (R) Avon, MS 40 $200
15. 18 72 Frank Wilson (R) Harold, FL 39 $175
16. 2 11 Doug Horton Bruceton Mills, WV 39 $150
17. 18 1 Johnny Stokes Columbus, MS 24 $140
18. 12 95 Steve Mathis Plant City, FL 24 $125
19. 21 116 Greg Robertson Waynesboro, VA 17 $125
20. 23 69 Shannon Lee Lumberton, MS 7 $125
21. 6 89 Credence Mott Vienna, IL 5 $125
22. 11 27 Larry Harrod Plains, GA 0 $125
23. 20 07 Doug Watson Plant City, FL 0 $125
24. 24 121 Michael Blount Sumrall, MS 0 $125

ENTRIES: 46
FAST QUALIFIER: Edge, 16.323 Seconds
PROVISIONALS: Lee and Blount
LEAD CHANGES: 1
LAP LEADERS: Horton, 1-23; J. Nosbisch, 24-40
LAPS LED: Horton, 23; J. Nosbisch, 17
VP RACING FUELS ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Edge
HEDMAN HUSLER AWARD: Cobb (started 17th and finished 5th)
DOMINATOR RACE PRODUCTS HARD LUCK AWARD: Horton
INTEGRA RACING SHOCKS JUST MISSED IT AWARD: Robert Cossell IV
RACECAR ENGINEERING 5TH-PLACE AWARD: Cobb
KRC 6TH-PLACE AWARD: Edge
JOE GIBBS DRIVEN OIL 7TH-PLACE AWARD: Smith
RACECAR ENGINEERING 8TH-PLACE AWARD: Gentry
MAXIMUM SIGNS AND GRAPHICS 9TH-PLACE AWARD: Schmauss
KRC 10TH-PLACE AWARD: Brindle
MIKE’S CUSTOM TANKS 11TH-PLACE AWARD: Turner
SHORTY’S SHOCK SERVICE 12TH-PLACE AWARD: T. Varnadore
SCHOENFELD SHOCKS 13TH-PLACE AWARD: Cooley
J.T. KERR RACING EQUIPMENT 14TH-PLACE AWARD: Tice
COFIELD RACING STARTERS 15TH-PLACE AWARD: Wilson
KINSER AIR FILTERS 16TH-PLACE AWARD: Horton
CAUTIONS: 7
MARGIN OF VICTORY: 9.401 Seconds
TIME OF THE RACE: 43 Minutes and 22.985 Seconds

From Roby Helm

Tampa, FL -February 24, 2011- Doug Horton of Bruceton Mills, WV won the 40-lap season opener for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series on Thursday night at East Bay Raceway Park driving the Mainland Transport Warrior. Horton learned to like the tire choice car owner Ken Nosbisch made before the race at the halfway point when took the lead and never looked back.

Horton started fifth, and moved up to the second spot by lap 18. Horton then battled with early race leader Bryan Bernhardt of Clearwater, FL after a lap 19 restart, and took the lead with an inside move coming off the fourth turn on lap 20. Horton then kept the point and at one time pulled out to a full straightaway lead.

“I wasn’t sure about the tire choice Ken made at the start of the race, but as the race went on, the car got faster, and I knew he made the right choice,” Horton said. “I have to dedicate this win to my wife because on the way down here she asked me when she was going to get her picture made with me under the palm trees in victory lane. I’ve won a lot of races down here, but never when she was here. Hopefully there will be a couple more pictures with her after this one.”

Jack Nosbisch Jr. of Riverview, FL ran in the top three all race long and finished second in the Buddy’s Home Furnishings Rocket. Keith Nosbisch of Valrico, FL took the third spot in the Image Skin Care Rocket, and two-time NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Champion David Earl Gentry of Lewisburg, TN was fourth in the Eads Farms/Dixon Plumbing Special.

Bernhardt took the fifth spot in the Terry Eaglin Motorsports Rocket. Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA drove the Hedman Husler Special to a sixth-place finish in his 108th consecutive series event. The 2008 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Champion Chip Brindle of Chatsworth, GA was seventh in the Bryson Motorsports Special.

Dan Breuer of Troutman, NC finished eighth in the AES Racing Special, and John Over of Uniontown PA started 22nd and finished ninth in the K2 Motorsports Rocket to earn the Hedman Husler Award. Travis Varnadore of Dover, FL rounded out the top ten in the Sunstate International Trucks Special.

Bernhardt took the lead from polesitter Brindle at the start of the race followed by Jack Nosbisch Jr., Phillip Cobb of Apollo Beach, FL in the Wells Brothers Farms Special, and Turner. On lap two, Turner passed Cobb for the fourth spot, and on lap five, Jack Nosbisch Jr. made an outside move down the backstretch on Brindle to take the second spot.

Horton drove by Turner for the fourth spot on lap 10, and then began to chase down the leaders, who were working lapped traffic. On lap 12, Horton passed Brindle for the third spot with an inside move coming off the fourth turn. Horton caught Jack Nosbisch Jr. by lap 17 to challenge for second, and then got an inside run coming off the fourth turn on lap 18 to take the position.

The first of four caution flags came out on lap 19 for debris. Bernhardt led Horton, Jack Nosbisch Jr., Brindle, Turner, Keith Nosbisch, Gentry, Cobb, Steve Mathis of Plant City, FL in the Mathis Farms Special, and Breuer down for the double-file restart.

A tangle on the restart that spun Shannon Lee of Lumberton, MS in the Billy Riels Racing GRT on the front straightaway brought out caution flag number two. Lee was done for the night, and that earned him the Dominator Race Products Hard Luck of the Race Award.

On the next restart, Horton got to the inside of Bernhardt and the top two cars raced side-by-side for the entire lap. As the field took the crossed flags to signal the halfway point in the race, Horton took the lead, while Keith Nosbisch and Gentry climbed up to the fourth and fifth spots respectively.

Horton began to pull away from Bernhardt, but his advantage was erased on lap 27 when Steve Cooke of Mt. Airy, NC spun the AES Racing Special in turn four to bring out the third caution flag of the race. A multi-car tangle on the restart brought out the fourth and final caution flag of the race, and sent Cobb to the tail of the lead lap cars for the restart.

Horton picked up where he left off after the next restart, while Jack Nosbisch Jr. challenged Bernhardt for the second spot, and took the position from Bernhardt coming off the fourth turn. By lap 29, Over had charged from the 22nd starting spot to move up to the seventh position, and Varnadore, who started 20th, was riding in eighth.

By lap 33, Horton had stretched his advantage over Jack Nosbisch Jr. to a full straightaway lead. Horton encountered lapped traffic on lap 35, but no one could close the gap. Keith Nosbisch got by Bernhardt for third on lap 37, and Gentry dropped Bernhardt to fifth by moving up to the fourth spot on lap 38. Horton’s margin of victory was 4.184 seconds at the checkered flag.

Chase Edge of Lafayette, AL missed the main event in the Edge’s Gas Company Special, but took the VP Racing Fuels Rookie of the Race Award with the highest finishing position among the VP Racing Fuels Rookie of the Candidates in the B-Mains. Greg Robertson of Waynesboro, VA finished fourth in the first 12-lap B-Main Race in the Wyn Bridge Industrial Fabricators Rocket to earn the Integra Racing Shocks Just Missed It Award.

Horton was the fast qualifier among the 46 entrants with a lap around the 1/3-mile clay oval in 16.206 seconds. The four ten-lap heat races were won by Brindle, Bernhardt, Cobb, and Jack Nosbisch Jr.

The two 12-lap B-Mains were won by the defending and two-time NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Champion Eric Cooley of Fulton, MS in the 78 Towing and Recovery Special and Robert Cossell IV of Connellsville, PA in the Sprouts Pick-A-Part Warrior.

The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series returns to East Bay Raceway Park on Friday night for a 40-lap $2,000-to-win event, and again on Saturday night for a 50-lap $3,000-to-win event.

For more information 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.

OFFICIAL RESULTS OF ROUND 1 AT EAST BAY RACEWAY PARK IN TAMPA, FL ON 2/24/11:

POS STRT CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN LAPS $ WON
1. 5 11 Doug Horton Bruceton Mills, WV 40 $2,000
2. 4 12 Jack Nosbisch Jr. Riverview, FL 40 $1,000
3. 7 02 Keith Nosbisch Valrico, FL 40 $700
4. 10 56 David Earl Gentry Lewisburg, TN 40 $550
5. 2 B69 Bryan Bernhardt Clearwater, FL 40 $500
6. 6 10 Matthew Turner Dawsonville, GA 40 $425
7. 1 21b Chip Brindle Chatsworth, GA 40 $375
8. 9 B7 Dan Breuer Troutman, NC 40 $350
9. 22 K2 John Over Uniontown, PA 40 $425
10. 20 41 Travis Varnadore Dover, FL 40 $300
11. 3 32 Phillip Cobb Apollo Beach, FL 40 $275
12. 17 33c Eric Cooley Fulton, MS 40 $250
13. 16 07 Doug Watson Plant City, FL 40 $225
14. 12 2* Shane Hitt Buckhannon, WV 39 $200
15. 8 95 Steve Mathis Plant City, FL 39 $175
16. 23 27 Larry Harrod Plains, GA 39 $150
17. 14 99w Shan Smith Dade City, FL 38 $140
18. 19 1 Johnny Stokes Columbus, MS 38 $125
19. 13 14 Mavrick Varnadore Dover, FL 38 $125
20. 18 50c Robert Cossell IV Connellsville, PA 27 $125
21. 11 17c Steve Cooke Mt. Airy, NC 26 $125
22. 21 105 Dave Schmauss Dover, FL 24 $125
23. 15 47 Shannon Lee Lumberton, MS 17 $125
24. 24 121 Michael Blount Sumrall, MS 17 $125

ENTRIES: 46
FAST QUALIFIER: Horton, 16.206 Seconds
PROVISIONALS: Harrod and Blount
LEAD CHANGES: 1
LAP LEADERS: Bernhardt, 1-19; Horton, 20-40
LAPS LED: Horton, 21; Bernhardt, 19
VP RACING FUELS ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Chase Edge
HEDMAN HUSLER AWARD: Over (started 22nd and finished 9th)
DOMINATOR RACE PRODUCTS HARD LUCK AWARD: Lee
INTEGRA SHOCKS JUST MISSED IT AWARD: Greg Robertson
RACECAR ENGINEERING 5TH-PLACE AWARD: Bernhardt
KRC 6TH-PLACE AWARD: Turner
JOE GIBBS DRIVEN 7TH-PLACE AWARD: Brindle
RACECAR ENGINEERING 8TH-PLACE AWARD: Breuer
MAXIMUM SIGNS AND GRAPHICS 9TH-PLACE AWARD: Over
KRC 10TH-PLACE AWARD: T. Varnadore
MIKE’S CUSTOM TANKS 11TH-PLACE AWARD: Cobb
SHORTY’S SHOCK SERVICE 12TH-PLACE AWARD: Cooley
SCHOENFELD HEADERS 13TH-PLACE AWARD: Watson
J.T. KERR RACING EQUIPMENT 14TH-PLACE AWARD: Hitt
COLFIELD RACING STARTERS 15TH-PLACE AWARD: Mathis
KINSLER AIR FILTERS 16TH-PLACE AWARD: Harrod
CAUTIONS: 4
MARGIN OF VICTORY: 4.184 Seconds
TIME OF THE RACE: 34 Minutes and 44.130 Seconds

TAMPA, FL….2/19/11…..”The harder and higher I ran on the track, the better it was for me,” said a beaming Daryn Pittman, in his victory interview with Larry Jewett after winning a non-stop 40-lap race and becoming the 11th different winner of the 13th King of 360’s which climaxed with the 10th Annual $10,500 Ronald Laney Memorial Saturday night at East Bay Raceway Park.
Wearing his new crown, holding his daughter Taylor and his lighted scepter, Pittman posed beside his six-foot trophy and told the crowd, “My owner Mike Heffner never came to Florida, but he loves big trophies and I can’t wait until he sees this one.”
(more…)

By Larry Jewett

TAMPA, FL…..2/19/11 –  The final night of the Florida Mini Sprint competition in the 35th annual East Bay Winter Nationals saw the third winner in as many nights when 2010 Florida Mini Sprint Association champion Brett O’Donnell covered the field in the 25-lap feature.
O’Donnell, who has his championship ride for sale in hopes of pursuing a 360 Sprint career, moved into the lead on lap 6 and was never headed. In order to get the top spot, O’Donnell had to move past early race leader Luke Thomas. Thomas, the 2010 Florida Winter Nationals champion, had the series going into the night’s running. His second place finish behind O’Donnell was enough to make him a reigning two time champion.
The race started poorly for Thursday night winner Nick Sapp, who could not take the initial; green. On the start, Luke Thomas too the lead, pursued by O’Donnell, Friday night winner Tim Buckwalter, Gavin Thomas and Harold Matthews. The top five stayed in much the same order throughout the early stages. The only caution in the event waved on lap 5 when Rick Goss spun in the front straightaway. His car was collected by David Pleaugh and Billy Murphy and the three drivers spun to a stop. The track was cleared and the field resumed the action non-stop.
Buckwalter kept third with Matthews claiming fourth. Tyler Ross moved up to claim fifth.
Pleaugh and Chris Pacetti moved up to the A main after top finishes in the B main. Heat races were won by Matthews, Gavin Thomas, Sapp and O’Donnell.

By Larry Jewett

TAMPA, FL -2/18/11 – The Winternationals visit to East Bay Raceway Park didn’t get off to a great start for Tim Buckwalter. His season had started strong with Atlantic City, but the trip south went sour when the engine expired during his first heat race.
The fates came full circle on Friday night when Buckwalter put the back-up car in Victory Lane on the second night of the Florida Mini Sprint Association action.
Buckwalter took the lead from fellow Pennsylvania racer Jim Young in the first turn on the final lap. Buckwalter had been using the high line for most of his passes. “I knew exactly where he (Young) was and where I could get him,” Buckwalter said in Victory Lane. “I knew I had to keep him down low to get by him.”
Buckwalter made the A main in the back-up car on Thursday night, advancing as the runner-up in the B main. This victory on Friday night makes Buckwalter among the favorites for the Saturday night Winter Nationals finale.
Young was able to hold onto second in the 20-lap A main. Thursday night winner Nick Sapp grabbed third to claim the unofficial two-night point lead. Tyler DeVault had a strong showing to claim fourth with 2010 Winter Nationals Mini Sprints champion Luke Thomas in fifth.
Gavin Thomas started eighth and won the 10-lap B main with Chris Pacetti claiming second and a spot in the A main. Heat races were won by Harold Matthews, David Pleaugh, Buckwalter and DeVault.
The final night of Mini Sprint action comes on Saturday with a $1,000-to-win main event in conjunction with the Ronald Laney Memorial King of the 360s race. Action gets underway at 7 p.m.

TAMPA, FL……2/18/11….It was an up-front battle to the end of Friday night’s 25-lap feature. but Mark Smith, who started ninth in the 20-car field on the final preliminary night of the 13th Annual King of the 360’s at East Bay Raceway Park, finally joined those front runners on the last ten laps and gained momentum late in the race to make his winning pass onTerry McCarl on lap 22 and hold on for his first 360 victory here.
“I knew I had a good car in the heat when I started ninth and got up to fifth right away, but we never had a yellow. So, I couldn’t pick up a bunch of handicap points to start higher in the feature. I have been building my own cars for three years now and the company is called J & B Sprints, “ the winner explained to announcer Larry Jewett in victory lane.
Smith won a 410 race here last year with the same car owner, Brian Scandle, and the same mechanic, Tim Elwell, that were with him tonight working on his Mach 1 chassis. The crew usually has Paul at home in Pennsylvania but while in Florida, they have Ryan, Tommie and Mike as extra help. Tonight’s car was equipped with Penske Shocks, Art’s Radiator, and a Don Ott engine.
Sponsorship help came from Bricker’s French Fries from PA, and C&B Mushrooms in Florida. “Not many changes were needed during the night and we ran the same tires all night,” said Elwell. Confessing, “I knew we had a good shot at Daryn Pittman and when we passed him we got a good run on McCarl and used an inside move in turns one and two to pull off the pass for the lead on lap 22.”
McCarl and Pittman made up the front row after a redraw for the top six in passing points after the heat races. Sport Allen and Lou Kennedy made up row two with David Gravel and Cap Henry in row three. Last night’s winner Michael Dupuy and Ryan Grubaugh started ahead of Smith in the original line-up.
With McCarl leading the first two laps, the field was slowed for a spin by Davie Franek. McCarl had Kennedy on his tail from that point until Kennedy made a sweeping move high in between turns three and four to blast into the lead at the flagstand on lap seven.
Kennedy was clearly the fastest car on the track at that point and started lapping cars on lap ten with the running order behind him being McCarl, Pittman, Henry and now Mark Smith and David Gravel.
Lapped traffic spelled disaster for Kennedy and lap 14 as he went into turn one just as Michael Miller was trying to decide to go high or low and Kennedy went over Miller’s rear tire, launching him into several flips before hitting the turn one outside wall. Kennedy was OK, but his car suffered severe damage.
When the green replaced the red flag, McCarl had inherited the lead and was followed by Pittman, Smith, Henry, Dupuy, Gravel and Tim Shaffer up from 16th starting spot. However, on the long red, Shaffer’s left rear tire lost air and he had to make a pit stop for a replacement and rejoined the field at the tail without going down a lap.
The action was hot and heavy as McCarl led with five laps to go and Smith made an inside more on Pittman on lap 20. Smith then went inside in turns one and two on lap 22 to become the new leader on lap 22. Pittman squeeked by McCarl coming to the checkered with Henry fourth and Gravel nailing fifth.
Second place Pittman admitted, “I wanted to win this one, but we just go beat tonight. Shawn and Rhino, my two crew guys were great and our 360 performed well, but it’s the same one we had last year. We just save it for special 360 shows. Our schedule this year looks like we are just going to run races that make the most sense to us. As for tonight, we made very little changes and the car was great. Mike Heffner is the owner and we use Rider engines and our sponsor is www.Lelands.com.”
Danny Smith, Grubaugh, Russ Hall, Shaffer and Chad Layton rounded out the top ten. Dupuy, Henry, Gravel and McCarl won the heat races, while the first B-Main sent Layton, Greg Wilson, Jessica Zemken and Morgan Turpen to the A-Main. However, Turpen scratched and Pat Cannon advanced. The second B-Main allowed Michael Miller,Shaffer, Robbie Smith and Franek to go to the A-Main.
Thanks, Jean Lynch for East Bay Raceway Park

STATS – KING OF THE 360 SPRINTS – EAST BAY RACEWAY PARK – FRIDAY, 2/18/11

1st Heat – 1)Michael Dupuy 2)Ryan Grubaugh 3)Lou Kennedy 4)Michael Miller 5)Mark Smith 6)Tim Shaffer 7)Robbie Smith 8)Bronson Maeshen 9)Pat Cannon 10)T.J. Winegardner 11)Keith Butler DNS
2nd Heat – 1)Cap Henry 2)Ryan Moore 3)Daryn Pittman 4)Thomas Kennedy 5)Tony Agin 6)Greg Wilson 7)Jessica Zemken 8)Tony Norem 9)Timmy Thrash 10)Klint Angelette
3rd Heat – 1)David Gravel 2)Danny Smith 3)Brad Greer 4)Sam Hafertepe 5)Carl Zaniboni 6)RJ Johnson 7)Jim Porter 8)Lance Hester 9)Arbery Black 10)Terry Gray DNS
4th Heat – 1)Terry McCarl 2)Sport Allen 3)Russ Hall 4)Chad Layton 5)Dave Franck 6)Morgan Turpen 7)Shane Kreidler 8)Aaron Berryhill 9)Tyler Godwin 10)Danny Martin, Jr.

1st B – Main (Top 4 go to back of A inside row) – 1)Chad Layton 2)Greg Wilson 3)Jessica Zemken 4)Morgan Turpen 5)Pat Cannon 6)RJ Johnson 7)Bronson Maeshen 8)Tyler Godwin 9)Jim Porter 10)Klint Angelette 11)Sam Hafertepe 12)Thomas Kennedy 13)Lance Hester 14)Danny Martin, Jr. DNS 15)Terry Gray DNS

2nd B – Main (Top 4 go to back of A outside row) – 1)Michael Miller 2)Tim Shaffer 3)Robbie Smith 4)Dave Franck 5)Tony Agin 6)Arbery Black 7)Timmy Thrash 8)Aaron Berryhill 9)Brad Greer 10)Shane Kreidler 11)T.J. Winegardner 12)Tony Norem 13)Carl Zaniboni 14)Keith Butler DNS

A – Main (25 Laps) – 1)Mark Smith 2)Daryn Pittman 3)Terry McCarl 4)Cap Henry 5)David Gravel 6)Danny Smith 7)Ryan Grubaugh 8)Russ Hall 9)Tim Shaffer 10)Chad Layton 11)Michael Miller 12)Pat Cannon 13)Greg Wilson 14)Jessica Zemken 15)Michael Dupuy 16)Ryan Moore 17)Lou Kennedy 18)Robbie Smith 19)Dave Franck 20)Sport Allen