CARTERSVILLE, GA – The 2013 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Champion Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN will be looking to put the icing on the cake of his championship season with a victory in the $10,000-to-win 100-lap 9th Annual Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race on November 23 at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, FL.
The National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame Inductee didn’t begin the season with the championship in mind, but a fateful decision after Memorial Day weekend led him to the $20,000 title.
“I haven’t raced for points since the mid-90s when I was with Barry Wright on the Hav-A-Tampa Dirt Late Model Series, as a teammate to Scott Bloomquist,” Johnson said. “The plan for this year was to run with the NeSmith Series through Memorial Day Weekend in May, and then do what we usually have done in the past, pick and choose races closer to home.”
The first five races of the season were at Bubba Raceway Park in late January, early February, with a driver earning points in their best three races. This worked in Johnson’s favor, as he missed the show on night two. He finished sixth in Round 1, and then turned in a pair of third-place finishes in Rounds 3 and 4.
Johnson picked up his first win of the season on February 2 at Bubba Raceway Park on February 2 and left Florida second in the point standings, 12 points behind Ronny Lee Hollingsworth of Northport, AL who won three of the first five races.
After three rainouts in March and April, the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring Division did not get their next three races in until Memorial Day Weekend with a trip of events at Hattiesburg Motorsports Park in Hattiesburg, MS, Whynot Motorsports Park in Meridian, MS, and Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, MS.
Johnson finished fifth at Hattiesburg Motorsports Park, eighth at Whynot Motorsports Park, and fourth at Magnolia Motor Speedway. As Johnson pondered dropping off the tour like he had planned at the beginning of the season, two things stood out in his decision-making process.
After the first eight races of the season, Johnson was second in the point standings, just 22 points behind Hollingsworth. Add to that, the next two races on the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series schedule were right in Johnson’s backyard at Boyd’s Speedway in Ringgold, GA and 411 Motor Speedway in Seymour, TN.
“I got to looking at where we were in the points and the schedule, and people kept telling me that I could win this championship,” Johnson said. “The next two races were close to home at Boyd’s Speedway and 411 Motor Speedway, so I thought I might as well go on to those and see what happened.”
Johnson finished fourth at Boyd’s Speedway on May 31, and was running third at 411 Motor Speedway in the J.T. Kerr Memorial 40 when rain postponed the race until August 24 with 14 laps in the books. Johnson had cut Hollingsworth’s point lead to 12 points.
The next four races on the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series schedule over the July 4th Holiday weekend at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL, East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City, AL and Green Valley Speedway in Glencoe, AL were all rained out, so next up was a trip to Greenville Speedway in Greenville, MS for a pair of races on July 12 and 13.
In his first trip ever to the gumbo clay oval on the Mississippi Delta, Johnson finished eighth and seventh. Johnson had reached the halfway point in the season and was now just two points behind Hollingsworth in the standings. The next two races were at Tennessee National Raceway in Hohenwald, TN on July 26 and Clayhill Motorsports in Atwood, TN on July 27.
Hollingsworth was up to the task of keeping Johnson behind him in the standings, as he took his fifth win of the season at Tennessee National Raceway, and finished third at Clayhill Motorsports. Johnson kept the point leader in sight with a third-place finish at TNR and a fourth-place finish at Clayhill. Johnson now trailed Hollingsworth by ten points.
The next three races on the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series schedule were a trio of events that Johnson had circled in red on his racing calendar. The high banks of Tazewell Speedway in Tazewell, TN would take place on August 23, and be followed by two races at 411 Motor Speedway on August 24 with the completion of the J.T. Kerr Memorial 40, and then another complete show.
This East Tennessee weekend would be the turning point for the title contenders. Johnson took over the point lead from Hollingsworth with a third-place finish at Tazewell Speedway while Hollingsworth finished 16th. The next night, Johnson visited the 411 Motor Speedway Victory Lane twice by winning both races.
Johnson left 411 Motor Speedway with a commanding 48-point lead over Hollingsworth in the standings, but the Chattanooga Flash wasn’t quite ready to start dusting off a place in his trophy case for the NeSmith Cup.
“There are still five races left in the season, and anything can happen,” Johnson said. “I gained 58 points on Ronny Lee in three races, and he’s more than capable of doing that to me. We’ll just keep on doing what we’ve been doing and see what happens.”
The next three races on the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Tour would take place over the Labor Day Holiday Weekend at Batesville Motor Speedway in Batesville, AR, West Plains Motor Speedway in West Plains, MO, and Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, MS. At Batesville Motor Speedway, Johnson finished fifth, while Hollingsworth was one and done.
After completing the first lap at Batesville, Hollingsworth was battling for the lead in turn one when he spun and hit the wall. Hollingsworth abruptly loaded up, headed back to Alabama and dropped off the tour conceding the championship to Johnson.
Johnson completed the three-race swing with a fifth-place finish at West Plains Motor Speedway and a second-place finish at Magnolia Motor Speedway. Johnson left The Mag with a 108-point lead over Kyle Bronson of Brandon, FL. The penultimate race of the season would be back at Greenville Speedway on October 6 for the Gumbo Nationals.
If Johnson had a 100-point lead or better after the Gumbo Nationals, he would clinch the $20,000 Championship. This gave Johnson a new outlook on winning his first series title in over 20 years. Basically, all he had to do was start the race, but he knew he had to get there to do it.
“I guess I’m going to have to be really careful for the next month and not do something stupid like break my arm or my leg,” Johnson said after the Magnolia Motor Speedway race. “Just showing up and starting the race seems so easy, but there are still a lot of things that can happen to keep me from getting there that you normally wouldn’t think about.”
Johnson made it to Greenville Speedway and finished fourth at the Gumbo Nationals to clinch the $20,000 2013 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Championship. In a 40-year Hall of Fame career, Johnson will now add the NeSmith Cup to his trophy case alongside two Dirt Track World Championship Race trophies, and a pair of Southern All-Star Late Model Championships.
The title was won on what has been come to be known as “Johnson Time” doing most of the behind the scenes work at the shop by himself. Many an event this season had begun without Johnson on the grounds, but in the middle of hot laps, and even during qualifying, Johnson would pull his rig through the pit gate.
“There are so many people to thank I couldn’t possibly mention them all by name, but they know who they are,” Johnson said. “I pretty much work in the shop by myself, but as it got closer to race time, somebody always seemed to show up to help and would go to the races with me. I’m pretty much well-known for getting to the races late, but it always seems to work out thanks to all of those people that showed up to help.”
With the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Championship in his possession, Johnson can now focus on the grand finale of the 2013 season, the $10,000-to-win 100-lap 9th Annual World Championship Race at Bubba Raceway Park. Johnson will be looking to pick up where he left off at BRP in February.
“I can race a little differently at the World Championship Race and be able to things I might not have done if I was racing for points and a championship,” Johnson said. “This is the biggest race of the year for the NeSmith series and there will be a lot of tough competition down there. I think we learned a lot about Bubba Raceway Park in February, but it’s going to be a tough race to make, let alone win.”
Not only has the 2013 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series season been a successful one financially for Johnson, but he says it has also been one of the most enjoyable he has experienced through the years.
“With putting the championship aside, this has also been one of the most enjoyable seasons I’ve ever had in racing because of the close comrodary with the other teams following the NeSmith series,” Johnson said. “I’ve run with a lot of series in the past, and the racers didn’t talk to each other a lot. In the NeSmith series, the racers were always willing to lend a hand to help and I got to know a lot great people involved with this series. There’s a lot of good young talent in this series.”
The on track action for the 9th Annual Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race will begin on Thursday night, November 21 with an open practice session at Bubba Raceway Park. The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring Division will compete in Qualifying and Heat Races on Friday night, November 22 to set the front half of the 100-lap main event starting field.
On Saturday night, November 23, the action will begin with B-Main Races to fill the back half of the 9th Annual Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race. That will be followed by the $10,000-to-win 100-lap main event.
The Howard Johnson’s Hotel in Ocala, FL at Exit 354 on I-75 is the Official Host Hotel for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series 9th Annual Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race at Bubba Raceway Park.
The Howard Johnson’s Hotel is offering NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series fans and competitors a special discount rate of $75.99 per night plus tax. Rooms are going fast, so call 352-629-7021 to make reservations, and ask for the NeSmith Racing special discount rate. The physical address for the Howard Johnson’s Hotel is 3951 NW Blitchton Road, Ocala FL 34482.
Bubba Raceway Park is located north of Ocala, FL at 9050 N.W. Gainesville Road, Ocala, FL 34482. For more information call 352-622-9400, or visit the track web site at www.bubbaracewaypark.com and on Facebook at Bubba Raceway Park.
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.
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. Hedman Hedders is the Official Hedder of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series and the Hedman Husler Award sponsor. Bilstein Shocks is the Official Spec Shock of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. Old Man’s Garage is the sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Old Man’s Garage Weekly Racing 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. 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, AR Bodies, 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.