CARTERSVILLE, GA – The 2012 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Champion Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA has been named the Southern Race Week Radio Dirt Late Model Driver of the Year. The Southern Race Week Radio Show is syndicated to 28 radio stations throughout Georgia and Alabama.
To hear Matthew Turner’s interview on Southern Race Week, go to Facebook on the internet and like the Southern Race Week page, then click the About page for a list of radio stations and air times.
This award is the latest of accolades Turner has received since winning his first NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Championship at the series’ season finale on December 1 at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, FL. Turner edged out two-time NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Champion David Earl Gentry of Murfreesboro, TN by ten points.
The week after winning the title, Turner and his #10 Hedman Husler championship-winning race car made the trip to the International Motorsports Industry Show (IMIS) in Indianapolis, IN, where the race car was displayed in the IMIS Hall of Champions. Turner was also honored, with many other National Racing Champions at a special reception on December 5 at Lucas Oil Stadium.
“Our team has worked hard to win this championship, but we haven’t had much time to let it all sink in, as it has been so humbling and overwhelming to be honored like we have with the Southern Race Week Driver of the Year Award, and be in the Hall of Champions at the IMIS Show,” Turner said. “When you think about all of the great drivers in Georgia and Alabama they could have picked for the Driver of the Year Award, and then to be recognized with guys like Cup Champion Brad Kesoloski, and World of Outlaws Champion Donnie Schatz at the IMIS Show, plus rubbing elbows with Tony Stewart, just shows how far we’ve come as a team, and how far the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series has come as a series over the past eight years.”
Turner is known as the Ironman of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series, as he is the only driver that has competed in all 146 events the series has held since its inception in 2005. He has come close to winning the championship on a couple of occasions, and has finished in the Top 10 of the point standings in seven of the past eight seasons.
Turner will be honored at the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Annual Awards Banquet on January 12, 2013 at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame and Thunder Road Museum in his hometown of Dawsonville, GA. Turner will receive the NeSmith Cup trophy and check for $20,000 for winning the 2012 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Championship.
“I can’t put into words how special it is to win the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Championship,” Turner said. “But to be honored in my hometown in front of all of my family and friends is even more special. Dawsonville has a very rich racing tradition and I’m proud to be a part of all of that.”
Dawsonville, GA is synonymous with stock car racing, from the humble beginnings of the sport through the success of Bill Elliott in NASCAR, and now, the Ironman – Matthew Turner – has brought home another National Championship.
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. You can follow us on Twitter @NeSmithRacing.