CARTERSVILLE, GA – NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series officials have released the 2016 National Touring schedule that features 20 races at 11 different tracks that will be contested over 11 weekends from April 8-9 through November 25-26. Nine tracks will return from the 2015 season, and two tracks will return after a two or more years absence.
The 2016 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series season will begin with a spectacular two day, two race extravaganza at I-75 Raceway in Sweetwater, TN on April 8-9. The April 8 race will be 40-laps and pay $2,000 to the winner, and the April 9 show will be 50 laps and $2,500-to-win.
The NeSmith Late Models will compete in front of an international audience during NASCAR Weekend on April 29 and 30 at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL. The April 29 race is 40 laps and $2,000-to-win, and the April 30 event is 50 laps and $2,500-to-win.
NeSmith Late Model competitors will race for extra laps and extra cash for all positions on May 21 at Cochran Motor Speedway in Cochran, GA. Cochran Motor Speedway will present a 60-lap main event paying $4,000-to-win.
Memorial Day Weekend will be the Annual “Salute To The Armed Forces Nationals” on May 28 and May 29. The $2,500-to-win Salute To The Navy 50 will take place at Whynot Motorsports Park in Meridian, MS on May 28, and Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, MS will host the $2,000-to-win Salute To The Air Force 40 on May 29.
The NeSmith Late Models return to I-75 Raceway on June 3 for the 3rd Annual Bill Hendren Memorial 40 paying $2,000-to-win. The next night, the series moves an hour up the road to 411 Motor Speedway in Seymour, TN for the $4,000-to-win 5th Annual J.T. Kerr Memorial 40 on June 4.
The Annual “Salute To America Nationals” will be highlighted by three races for the NeSmith Late Models over the July 4th Holiday Weekend. The action will begin on July 2 with a 40-lap $2,000-to-win event at Penton Raceway in Penton, AL. The middle race will be a 50-lap $2,500-to-win show at East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City, AL.
Flomaton Speedway in Flomaton, AL will host the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series for the first time since 2008 with the third race of the Annual Salute To America Nationals going for 50 laps and paying $2,500-to-win on July 4.
Greenville Speedway in Greenville, MS will return to the NeSmith Late Model National Touring schedule for the first time in two years with the two-night, two-race “Rumble On The Gumbo Nationals” on July 15 and 16. The July 15 race will be 40 laps paying $2,000-to-win, and the July 16 event will be 50 laps and $2,500-to-win.
East Tennessee race fans just can’t get enough of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series, and I-75 Raceway has answered their requests with a third race on July 23. Round 15 of the 2016 season will be a 50 lap race paying $2,500-to-win.
Golden Isles Speedway in Brunswick, GA will present the NeSmith Late Models in the 3rd Annual Showdown On The Coast on October 14 and 15. The 60-lap $5,000-to-win race will feature Qualifying and Heat Races on October 14, with the B-Main races and the Main Event on October 15.
The second NASCAR Weekend of the 2016 season at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL will once again feature the NeSmith Late Models for two races on October 21 and 22. The October 21 race will be 40 laps and pay $2,000-to-win, and the October 22 event is 50-laps and $2,500-to-win.
The 2016 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series season finale will be the $10,000-to-win 100-lap Possum Town Grand Prix at Magnolia Motor Speedway on November 25 and 26. The Possum Town Grand Prix returns to the National Touring schedule for the first time since 2007. The NeSmith Late Models will compete in Qualifying and Heat Races on November 25, and the B-Main races and the Main Event on November 26.
The Chevrolet Performance World Championship that has traditionally been contested each season since 2005 in November or December will now become a part of the Winter Shootout Series that is run during January and February.
“Johnny Stokes and I have been talking for quite a while about doing a 100-lap $10,000- to-win race at Magnolia Motor Speedway, and at the same time, neither of us wanted to interfere with the integrity of the Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race,” NeSmith Racing Founder and CEO Mike Vaughn said. “Mother Nature came along and made it work for everyone. The World Championship Race works better for Bubba Raceway Park in February, and Stokes can bring back the Possum Town Grand Prix on its traditional Thanksgiving Weekend date.”
Rain has moved the last two World Championship Races from November to February, and that has worked out well for the competitors and the hosting track, Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, FL. The $10,000-to-win 100-lap 12th Annual Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race will be run at Bubba Raceway Park during the 2017 Winter Shootout on a date to be announced.
In addition to the 12th Annual Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race, Bubba Raceway Park will host a pair of Winter Shootout races, all as a part of its Annual Bubba’s Army Speedweeks beginning in January of 2017.
Another change in the 2016 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series involves moving the NeSmith Racing Annual Awards Banquet from January to December. The 2016 NeSmith Racing Annual Awards Banquet will be on December 17 at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame and Thunder Road Museum in Dawsonville, GA.
The NeSmith Racing Annual Awards Banquet will honor the Top 10 drivers in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series, the Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series, the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series and the NeSmith Performance Parts Street Stock Division, and other Special Awards.
“With the changes that have been taking place in NeSmith Racing, that include the inception of the Winter Shootout, we felt it would be in everyone’s best interest to put a period on a season before the end of the year of that season,” Vaughn said. “By moving the NeSmith Racing Annual Awards Banquet to December, everyone will have their point fund money before Christmas, and we can begin the next year’s racing with the first Winter Shootout race at the Icebowl at Talladega Short Track with a clean slate.”
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.
2016 NeSMITH CHEVROLET DIRT LATE MODEL SERIES TOURING DIVISION SCHEDULE
April 8 I-75 Raceway, Sweetwater, TN 40 Laps $2,000-To-Win
April 9 I-75 Raceway, Sweetwater, TN 50 Laps $2,500-To-Win
“NASCAR WEEKEND”
April 29 Talladega Short Track, Eastaboga, AL 40 Laps $2,000-To-Win
April 30 Talladega Short Track, Eastaboga, AL 50 Laps $2,500-To-Win
May 21 Cochran Motor Speedway, Cochran, GA 60 Laps $4,000-To-Win
“Extra Laps, Extra Cash, All Positions!!”
“SALUTE TO THE ARMED FORCES NATIONALS”
May 28 Whynot Motorsports Park, Meridian, MS 50 Laps $2,500-To-Win
“Salute To The Navy 50”
May 29 Magnolia Motor Speedway, Columbus, MS 40 Laps $2,000-To-Win
“Salute To The Air Force 50”
June 3 I-75 Raceway, Sweetwater, TN 40 Laps $2,000-To-Win
3rd Annual Bill Hendren Memorial 40
June 4 411 Motor Speedway, Seymour, TN 40 Laps $4,000-To-Win
5th Annual J.T. Kerr Memorial 40
“SALUTE TO AMERICA NATIONALS”
July 2 Penton Raceway, Penton, AL 40 Laps $2,000-To-Win
July 3 East Alabama Motor Speedway, Phenix City, AL 50 Laps $2,500-To-Win
July 4 Flomaton Speedway, Flomaton, AL 50 Laps $2,500-To-Win
“RUMBLE ON THE GUMBO NATIONALS”
July 15 Greenville Speedway, Greenville, MS 40 Laps $2,000-To-Win
July 16 Greenville Speedway, Greenville, MS 50 Laps $2,500-To-Win
July 22 OPEN
July 23 I-75 Raceway, Sweetwater, TN 50 Laps $2,500-To-Win
October 14-15 Golden Isles Speedway, Brunswick, GA 60 Laps $5,000-To-Win
3rd Annual Showdown On The Coast
“NASCAR WEEKEND”
October 21 Talladega Short Track, Eastaboga, AL 40 Laps $2,000-To-Win
October 22 Talladega Short Track, Eastaboga, AL 50 Laps $3,000-To-Win
Nov. 25-26 Magnolia Motor Speedway, Columbus, MS 100 Laps $10,000-To-Win
Possum Town Grand Prix
NeSmith Chevrolet, Buick, GMC of Claxton, GA is the Title Sponsor of the NeSmith Late Models. 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 Late Models. Hoosier Racing Tire is the Official Tire Sponsor of the NeSmith Late Models. RockAuto.com is an Official Sponsor of the NeSmith Late Models. Beyea Headers is the NeSmith Late Model Hard Charger Sponsor. Sunoco Race Fuels is the Official Race Fuel of the NeSmith Late Models. Panama City Cycles is the Official ATV Provider of the NeSmith Late Models. AR Bodies is an Associate Sponsor of the NeSmith Late Models. NeSmith Late Model Contingency Sponsors for 2015 are CrateInsider.Com, Integra Racing Shocks, Image Screen Printing, and Gresham Race Parts. 2015 Chassis Sponsors are Trak-Star Race Cars, Warrior Race Cars, Rocket Chassis, GRT Race Cars, and CVR Race Cars.