Sweetwater, TN – Round 6 of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring Season took the series to Tim and Angie Kyle’s I-75 Raceway in Sweetwater, TN for the 3rd Annual Bill Hendren Memorial 40. The race honoring the Hendren patriarch would see twenty-one competitors sign in for action at the 3/8 mile semi-banked oval. Cory Hedgecock made the trip all the way from his race shop, about 7 miles, to see if he could remain “perfect” at I-75 Raceway during NeSmith Dirt Late Model Series competition.
Hedgecock got off to a great start by turning fast time of the night in his Eagle Race Engines sponsored BruceBilt Rocket with a time of 13.204. To keep things interesting for those drivers in pursuit of the 2016 NeSmith Cup and National Championship, current point leader Scott Dedwylder timed in second fast, followed by current 3rd place in points LaFayette, AL driver Chase Edge making the top 3 starters the top 3 currently in the National Championship point standings.
Rounding out the top six qualifiers that would be locked into the feature based on time were Marcus Minga in his B&M Salvage Rocket, Riley Hickman in the Hickman Manufacturing Special, and John Ownbey rounded out the top 6 in his Sam’s Restaurant Equipment special.
Two B-Mains would establish the starting positions for the remainder of the field. Seiler Brothers Lumber Heat Race #1 was claimed by Maryville, TN’s Brad Coffey, while defending Series Champion Ronnie Johnson picked up Heat Race #2 win. Both drivers were awarded $50 for winning their respective heats paid by Seiler Brothers Lumber.
Hedgecock led the field to green with Dedwylder and Edge in pursuit before the first of five caution flags waved on lap 2 for Jason Britton in turn 2. On the ensuing restart the R1 of Riley Hickman would make contact and spin off of the back straightaway to bring out the caution again. The field was only able to complete one lap before the yellow lights were lit once again for a spin by Jimmy Elliott in turns 3 and 4. The restart on lap 3 would see the biggest incident of the night as a log jam of cars coming off of turn 2 caused the #7 of Marty Calloway to get out of shape, and several cars made heavy contact after the race track closed up quickly with the spinning cars heading into turn 3. The A-1 car of Jesse Lowe, the J39 of Jimmy Elliott, 7 of Calloway, 7 of William Overby, and the 24c of Barry Goodman were all victims of the melee with only Goodman able to rejoin the field. The caution would wave once more for a slowing Michael Blount in the Magnolia Transport special.
Hedgecock was able to keep his nose clean and make quick work of lapped traffic as he paced the field after each restart and was able to finish 3.062 seconds ahead of Dedwylder and Edge at the checkered flag. This win marked Hedgecock’s third win in of the season, all three of which have come at the track just a short drive from his shop.
The NeSmith Dirt Late Model Series travels just up the road to the McCarter family operated 411 Motor Speedway in Seymour, TN for the J.T. Kerr Memorial 40 paying $4,000 to win on Saturday night June 4th.
For more information about the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series, visit the series website at www.nesmithracing.com. You can also follow the series by Liking the Facebook page at NeSmith Racing; following on Twitter @NeSmithRacing; and Instagram @nesmithracing.
NeSmith Chevrolet, Buick, GMC is the Official Title Sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. Chevrolet Performance is an Official Sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series.
Hoosier Racing Tire is the Official Tire of the NeSmith Dirt Late Model Series. Sunoco Race Fuels is the Official Race Fuel of the Series. Panama City Cycles is the Official ATV Provider of the Series. Cruise with the Champions is the Official Vacation and Rookie of the Year Sponsor for the Series.
RockAuto.com is an Associate Sponsor of the Series and Official Sponsor of the RockAuto.com Winter Shootout Series. David Smith Carburetors is the Official Carburetor of NeSmith Racing.
Contingency Sponsors Include: Out-Pace Performance, Crate Insider.com, Gresham Racing Parts, FreeStyle Graphix.
2016 Chassis Sponsors are Trak-Star Race Cars, Warrior Race Cars, Rocket Chassis, GRT Race Cars, and CVR Race Cars.
Official Results for Round 6 at I-75 Raceway in Sweetwater, TN
| Position | Driver Name | Hometown | Chassis |
| 1 | Cory Hedgecock | Loudon, TN | Rocket |
| 2 | Scott Dedwylder | Vossburg, MS | Capital |
| 3 | Chase Edge | LaFayette, AL | Mastersbilt |
| 4 | John Owenbey | Cleveland, TN | Longhorn |
| 5 | Ronnie Johnson | Cleveland, TN | Trak Star |
| 6 | Brad Coffey | Maryville, TN | Warrior |
| 7 | Marcus Minga | Shannon, MS | Rocket |
| 8 | Riley Hickman | Ooltewah, TN | Club 29 |
| 9 | Heath Hindman | Signal Mountain, TN | Coulter Built |
| 10 | Jason Britton | Alexander City, AL | Pierce |
| 11 | Michael Blount | Sumrall, MS | Mastersbilt |
| 12 | Barry Goodman | Spring City, TN | Rocket |
| 13 | Brandon Williams | Crossville, TN | CVR |
| 14 | Anthony White | Clinton, TN | Longhorn |
| 15 | Justin Summers | Maryville, TN | Stinger |
| 16 | Philip Thompson | Knoxville, TN | Warrior |
| 17 | Marty Calloway | Maynardville, TN | Mastersbilt |
| 18 | Jesse Lowe | Crossville, TN | CVR |
| 19 | William Overby | Maryville, TN | CJ Rayburn |
| 20 | Josh Fields | New Tazewell, TN | Rocket |
| 21 | Jimmy Elliott | Cleveland, TN | Longhorn |
ENTRIES: 21
FAST QUALIFIER: Cory Hedgecock – 13.204
PROVISIONALS: Nonw
LEAD CHANGES: 0
LAP LEADERS: Hedgecock – 1-40
LAPS LED: Hedgecock – 40
BEYEA HEADERS HARD CHARGER OF THE RACE: Britton – (started 20th finished 10th)
CRUISE WITH THE CHAMPIONS ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Hedgecock
CAUTIONS: 5
MARGIN OF VICTORY: 3.062 Seconds
TIME OF THE RACE: 35 Minutes and 13 Seconds
NEXT RACE: June 4th, 411 Motor Speedway, $4,000 to win – J.T. Kerr Memorial, 40 laps