Jason Fitzgerald of Middleburg, FL drove the M&M Transport Refrigeration GRT to victory on Friday night in the Super Bowl of Racing Presented By Rock Auto.com for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series at Golden Isles Speedway in Brunswick, GA. (Heath Lawson Photo)
BRUNSWICK, GA – Jason Fitzgerald of Middleburg, FL drove the M&M Transport and Refrigeration GRT to a convincing victory Friday night at the Super Bowl of Racing Presented By Rock Auto.com for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series at Golden Isles Speedway. Fitzgerald took the lead on the second lap and never looked back for his first series career win.
Jeremy Faircloth of Swainsboro, GA finished second in the CJR Forestry Warrior and Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC was third in the Tri-County Race Track Special. Walker Arthur of Forest, VA took the fourth spot in the Cecil B. Arthur Beef Farms Special and Chris Noah of Rainbow City, AL was the Rookie of the Race after a fifth-place effort in the Old Man’s Garage Special.
Robert Diekemper of Bloomingdale, GA took the sixth spot in the Baird Transport Special and Mack McCarter of Gatlinburg, TN was seventh in the CVR Race Cars Special. The defending NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Champion Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN started 21st and finished eighth in the NeSmith Chevrolet Special.
Fast Qualifier Jacob Anderson of Murphy, NC finished ninth in the Scrapy’s Metal Special. Anderson out-qualified the 43-car field with a lap around the 4/10-mile clay oval in 16.319 seconds. Mark Whitener of Middleburg, FL rounded out the top ten in the Dave’s Towing Special.
The preliminary ten-lap B-Main Races were won by Noah, Arthur, Jak Kicklighter of Savannah, GA in the Kicklighter Construction Special and Montana Dudley of Phenix City, AL in the Eiland Pools Rocket. Dudley was unable to start the main event after breaking an axle in his B-Main winning effort.
Anderson and Fitzgerald battled side-by-side for the lead for the first two laps of the 30-lap main event before Fitzgerald took the lead. Donald Brasher of Burlington, NC trailed the lead duo in the Mega Plumbing Rocket followed by Faircloth and Cook. The first of six caution flags came out on lap four when Dalton Cook stalled the Wrap Tech Signz Special in turn four.
Fitzgerald led Anderson, Brasher, Faircloth, Cook, Steve Cooke of Mt. Airy, NC in the AES Racing Special, McCarter, Noah, Arthur, and Whitener down for the restart. Brasher got around Anderson for second when the field went back to green flag action, but the field was slowed again by caution on lap five when Kicklighter spun in turn two.
Brasher’s stay in the second spot was short-lived as he dropped back to seventh on the next restart. Cook was on the move and advanced from fourth to second by lap six. Cook was looking for his second win of the day after winning earlier in the afternoon. Cook had a ways to go to get there, as Fitzgerald had a half-straightaway lead by lap ten.
Cook’s chance to catch Fitzgerald came in lapped traffic, which the leaders began to encounter on lap 12. Cook was camped out on Fitzgerald’s back bumper by lap 17, but the lapped traffic went away on lap 18 when Scott Lagasse Jr. stalled the Boy Scouts of America Special in turn one to bring out the third caution flag of the race.
Fitzgerald led the field down for the restart with Cook, Faircloth, Anderson, Whitener, McCarter, Cooke, Arthur, Noah and Brasher doubled up behind him. A wild battle for fourth broke out among four drivers when the green flag came out. McCarter spun in turn three, but Whitener was ticketed with the caution for giving him an assist.
On the next “Dixie Style” double-file restart, the battle for second-place was on, as Faircloth drove around the outside of Cook down the backstretch. Cook tried to step to the outside and retake the position coming off the fourth turn, but Faircloth slide up the racetrack and made contact with Cook, who had the choice of lifting or parking his car in the flagstand.
The caution flag came out on lap 23 when Cooke spun in turn three and collected two-time series champion David Earl Gentry of Murfreesboro, TN in the Lewis Fabrication/CSB Consultants Special and Josh Adkins of Talladega, AL in the Yellow Hammer Construction Special. All three cars were done for the night.
Faircloth and Cook renewed their battle for second on the restart, while Fitzgerald pulled away. As the leader came off the fourth turn to get the white flag signaling one lap to go, the white gave way to the yellow caution flag when Chase Edge of LaFayette, AL spun the Edge’s Gas Company Special in turn two.
For Fitzgerald, it was business as usual on the restart as he pulled away from the field in the final two laps to take a 1.2 second margin of victory to the checkered flag. The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series returns to Golden Isles Speedway on Saturday night for a 50-lap $2,500-to-win race.
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 2 AT GOLDEN ISLES SPEEDWAY IN BRUNSWICK, GA ON 2/7/14:
POS STRT CAR # DRIVER
1. 2 7 Jason Fitzgerald
2. 4 4 Jeremy Faircloth Swainsboro, GA 30 $1,250
3. 6 53 Ray Cook
4. 8 87 Walker Arthur Forest, VA 30 $700
5. 7 56n Chris Noah (R) Rainbow City, AL 30 $650
6. 17 5d Robert Diekemper Bloomingdale, GA 30 $550
7. 10 51 Mack McCarter Gatlinburg, TN 30 $500
8. 21 5 Ronnie Johnson Chattanooga, TN 30 $550
9. 1 64a Jacob Anderson Murphy, NC 30 $400
10. 14 58 Mark Whitener Middleburg, FL 30 $375
11. 12 110 Brent Barrett Cleveland, MS 30 $350
12. 3 93 Donald Brasher Burlington, NC 30 $300
13. 20 2c Joey Coulter Concord, NC 30 $280
14. 11 14 Wil Herrington (R) Cochran, GA 30 $260
15. 23 18 Tait Davenport Benton, KY 30 $250
16. 16 111 Steven Roberts Jesup, GA 30 $240
17. 24 64 Braden Mitchell (R) Russellville, AL 29 $220
18. 5 17c Steve Cooke Mt. Airy, NC 21 $200
19. 15 56 David Earl Gentry Murfreesboro, TN 21 $200
20. 22 19m Josh Adkins Talladega, AL 21 $200
21. 13 18e Chase Edge LaFayette, AL 18 $200
22. 18 8 Scott Lagasse Jr. St. Augustine, FL 18 $200
23. 9 7k Jak Kicklighter (R) Savannah, GA 10 $200
24. 19 1d Dalton Cook Columbus, GA 3 $200
ENTRIES: 43
FAST QUALIFIER: Anderson; 16.319 Seconds
PROVISIONALS: Davenport and Adkins
LEAD CHANGES: 1
LAP LEADERS: Anderson, 1; Fitzgerald, 2-30
LAPS LED: Fitzgerald, 29; Anderson, 1
ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Noah
DOMINATOR RACE PRODUCTS HARD LUCK AWARD: Gentry
PRC JUST MISSED IT AWARD: Montana Dudley
STEALTH RACING CARBURETORS 7TH-PLACE AWARD: McCarter
VELOCITA RACEWEAR 8TH-PLACE AWARD: Johnson
MODERN IMAGES 9TH-PLACE AWARD: Anderson
AR BODIES 10TH-PLACE AWARD: Whitener
MIKE CUSTOM TANKS 11TH-PLACE AWARD: Barrett
SHORTY’S SHOCK SERVICE 12TH-PLACE AWARD: Brashear
SCHOENFELD HEADERS 13TH-PLACE AWARD: Coulter
J.T. KERR RACING EQUIPMENT 14TH-PLACE AWARD: Herrington
KINSER AIR FILTERS 15TH-PLACE AWARD: Davenport
CAUTIONS: 6
MARGIN OF VICTORY: 1.248 Seconds
TIME OF THE RACE: 41 Minutes and 14.344 Seconds
QUALIFYING (Top 6 Transfer To Main Event):
| POS | CAR # | DRIVER | HOMETOWN | CHASSIS | LAP 1 | LAP 2 | TIME |
|
1 |
64a | Jacob Anderson | Murphy, NC | Mastersbilt |
16.382 |
16.319 |
16.319 |
|
2 |
7 | Jason Fitzgerald | Middleburg, FL | GRT |
16.373 |
16.352 |
16.352 |
|
3 |
93 | Donald Brasher | Burlington, NC | Rocket |
16.510 |
16.367 |
16.367 |
|
4 |
4 | Jeremy Faircloth | Swainsboro, GA | Warrior |
16.608 |
16.414 |
16.414 |
|
5 |
17c | Steve Cooke | Mt. Airy, NC | Barry Wright |
16.835 |
16.419 |
16.419 |
|
6 |
53 | Ray Cook | Brasstown, NC | Mastersbilt |
16.745 |
16.451 |
16.451 |
|
7 |
27 | Michael Brown | Pageland, SC | Barry Wright |
16.550 |
16.475 |
16.475 |
|
8 |
87 | Walker Arthur | Forest, VA | Mastersbilt |
16.601 |
16.476 |
16.476 |
|
9 |
7k | Jak Kicklighter – R | Savannah, GA | Barry Wright |
16.634 |
16.503 |
16.503 |
|
10 |
55 | Montana Dudley – R | Phenix City, AL | Rocket |
16.842 |
16.554 |
16.554 |
|
11 |
56n | Chris Noah – R | Rainbow City, AL | Mastersbilt |
16.784 |
16.559 |
16.559 |
|
12 |
51 | Mack McCarter | Gatlinburg, TN | CVR |
16.813 |
16.578 |
16.578 |
|
13 |
18 | Chase Edge | LaFayette, AL | Mastersbilt |
16.870 |
16.620 |
16.620 |
|
14 |
110 | Brent Barrett | Cleveland, MS | GRT |
16.783 |
16.650 |
16.650 |
|
15 |
14 | Wil Herrington – R | Cochran, GA | Rocket |
16.938 |
16.666 |
16.666 |
|
16 |
18 | Tait Davenport | Benton, KY | Longhorn |
16.742 |
16.675 |
16.675 |
|
17 |
22 | Cecil Eunice | Blackshear, GA | Mastersbilt |
16.686 |
16.678 |
16.678 |
|
18 |
114 | Chris Cantrell | Chester, SC | Rocket |
17.775 |
16.756 |
16.756 |
|
19 |
56 | David Earl Gentry | Murfreesboro, TN | Mastersbilt |
16.759 |
16.782 |
16.759 |
|
20 |
58 | Mark Whitener | Middleburg, FL | Barry Wright |
16.978 |
16.760 |
16.760 |
|
21 |
5 | Robert Diekemper | Bloomingdale, GA | Barry Wright |
17.063 |
16.768 |
16.768 |
|
22 |
111 | Steven Roberts | Jesup, GA | Barry Wright |
17.038 |
16.777 |
16.777 |
|
23 |
1d | Dalton Cook | Columbus, GA | Barry Wright |
17.179 |
16.786 |
16.786 |
|
24 |
15 | Evan Becton | Valdosta, GA | Brown |
16.952 |
16.789 |
16.789 |
|
25 |
11 | Stacey Roberts | Sylvester, GA | Bloomquist |
16.800 |
17.156 |
16.800 |
|
26 |
27 | Ben Faircloth | Swainsboro, GA | Rocket |
16.811 |
17.182 |
16.811 |
|
27 |
21m | Cody Martin | Christiana, TN | Warrior |
17.006 |
16.819 |
16.819 |
|
28 |
72n | Todd Neiheiser | Panama City, FL | Trak-Star |
17.380 |
16.825 |
16.825 |
|
29 |
19m | Josh Adkins | Talladega, AL | Barry Wright |
17.163 |
16.862 |
16.862 |
|
30 |
38 | Chase Washington | Houlka, MS | Barry Wright |
17.371 |
16.863 |
16.863 |
|
31 |
64 | Braden Mitchell – R | Russellville, AL | Mastersbilt |
16.869 |
16.882 |
16.869 |
|
32 |
21k | Kelly Walker | Moultrie, GA | Capital |
16.920 |
18.408 |
16.920 |
|
33 |
5 | Ronnie Johnson | Chattanooga, TN | Mastersbilt |
17.127 |
16.978 |
16.978 |
|
34 |
25 | Hunter Carter | Blackshear, GA | Mastersbilt |
17.029 |
16.982 |
16.982 |
|
35 |
35 | Kitt Sealy | Moultrie, GA | Barry Wright |
17.628 |
17.004 |
17.004 |
|
36 |
8 | Scott Lagasse Jr. | St. Augustine, FL | Bloomquist |
17.079 |
17.319 |
17.079 |
|
37 |
83 | Brian Hester | Dudley, GA | Mastersbilt |
17.264 |
17.148 |
17.148 |
|
38 |
17 | Ronald Dunn | Corinth, MS | Barry Wright |
17.453 |
17.363 |
17.363 |
|
39 |
121 | Michael Blount | Sumrall, MS | Trak-Star |
17.469 |
17.413 |
17.413 |
|
40 |
19 | Marcus Minga | Shannon, MS | Rocket |
17.476 |
17.461 |
17.461 |
|
41 |
5e | Tom Egner | Hinesville, GA | Warrior |
18.357 |
17.915 |
17.915 |
|
42 |
41 | Edgar Godsey | Bedford, IN | Mastersbilt |
19.179 |
18.366 |
18.366 |
|
43 |
2c | Joey Coulter | Concord, NC | Rocket | NT | NT | NT |
B-MAINS (10 Laps – Top 4 Transfer To Main Event):
1ST B-MAIN: 1. Noah (R); 2. Herrington (R); 3. Gentry; 4. D. Cook; 5. Mitchell (R); 6. Sealy; 7. Martin; 8. Blount; 9. Brown.
2ND B-MAIN: 1. Arthur; 2. McCarter; 3. Whitener; 4. Lagasse; 5. Davenport; 6. Becton; 7. Neiheiser; 8. Minga; 9. Walker.
3RD B-MAIN: 1. Kicklighter (R); 2. Edge; 3. Diekemper; 4. Johnson; 5. Sta. Roberts; 6. Adkins; 7. Eunice; 8. Hester; 9. Egner.
4TH B-MAIN: 1. Dudley (R); 2. Barrett; 3. Ste. Roberts; 4. Coulter; 5. Washington; 6. Cantrell; 7. B. Faircloth; 8. Carter; 9. Dunn; 10. Godsey DNS.
NeSMITH CHEVROLET DIRT LATE MODEL SERIES POINT STANDINGS THROUGH 2/7/14:
1. 53 Ray Cook – 194
2. 51 Mack McCarter – 178
3. 56n Chris Noah (R) – 174
4. 2c Joey Coulter – 168
4. 58 Mark Whitener – 168
4. 5d Robert Diekemper – 168
4. 4 Jeremy Faircloth – 168
8. 5 Ronnie Johnson – 154
8. 87 Walker Arthur – 154
10. 18 Tait Davenport – 152
11. 7k Jak Kicklighter (R) – 150
12. 8 Scott Lagasse Jr. – 146
12. 19m Josh Adkins – 146
14. 56 David Earl Gentry – 136
15. 17c Steve Cooke – 130
15. 7 Jason Fitzgerald – 130
17. 18e Chase Edge – 126
18. 64a Jacob Anderson – 112
19. 55 Montana Dudley (R) – 108
19. 110 Brent Barrett – 108
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.