{"id":15099,"date":"2012-11-30T14:55:29","date_gmt":"2012-11-30T14:55:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/?p=15099"},"modified":"2012-11-30T14:55:29","modified_gmt":"2012-11-30T14:55:29","slug":"championship-on-the-line-in-nesmith-chevrolet-dlms-grand-finale","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/front-page-news\/championship-on-the-line-in-nesmith-chevrolet-dlms-grand-finale\/","title":{"rendered":"CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE LINE IN NeSMITH CHEVROLET DLMS GRAND FINALE"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"CARTERSVILLE, GA \u2013 The $20,000 2012 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Championship is on the line between Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA and David Earl Gentry of Murfreesboro, TN in the $10,000-to-win 100-lap 8th<\/sup> Annual Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, FL this Thursday through Saturday.<\/p>\n

The Grand Finale for the 2012 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series 2012 season will take place on a level playing field, as Bubba Raceway Park is a new venue for the series.\u00a0 Not only is it the most prestigious race of the year for the tour, but it is also the most important.\u00a0 Turner heads to the unique tri-oval with a 16-point lead over Gentry.<\/p>\n

For Turner, the road to compete for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Championship has been a long one.\u00a0 Known as \u201cThe Ironman\u201d of the series, Turner has competed in 145 consecutive series events over eight seasons, or every event the series has held since its inception in 2005.\u00a0 He\u2019s finished outside of the top ten in the point standings only once when he was 11th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

In 21 races this season, Turner has accumulated 1,782 points with one win, nine top five finishes, 16 top ten finishes, and one fast time award driving the Hedman Husler Special.\u00a0 Turner has completed 907 of a possible 910 laps of NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series competition in 2012, and he also leads the Hedman Husler Hard Charger point standings.<\/p>\n

Turner has finished third in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series point standings twice, and was the series championship runner-up once.\u00a0 This week he is closer than he has ever been to capturing the NeSmith Cup and the $20,000 check that goes with it.\u00a0 As close as he is, Turner is still going to have to earn the title because Gentry is ready to race him hard for it.<\/p>\n

Gentry knows how to win championships, as he has two NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series titles on his resume. Gentry would love to put the NeSmith Cup in between his 2006 and 2007 Championship trophies in his impressive trophy case.<\/p>\n

In 2012 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series competition, Gentry has 1,766 points with three wins, 11 top five finishes, 14 top ten finishes, and two fast time awards in 21 starts driving the Eads Farms\/Hardy & Associates Warrior.\u00a0 Gentry hasn\u2019t had the smoothest season in his career, as he and Turner have traded the point lead a couple of times this season, but Gentry still has a legitimate shot at his third title.<\/p>\n

The championship scenario going into the 8th<\/sup> Annual World Championship Race at Bubba Raceway Park shows that Turner has to finish seventh or better to clinch the championship.\u00a0 If Gentry wins the race and Turner finishes eighth, the two drivers would be tied in points, but Gentry would win the tie-breaker with more wins than Turner.<\/p>\n

If Gentry doesn\u2019t win the race, he would have to finish at least eight spots ahead of Turner to win the title.\u00a0 For Turner to keep the point lead and win the championship, all he has to do is keep Gentry close by and finish within seven spots of Gentry.<\/p>\n

The top ten drivers in the 2012 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series point standings will earn a seat at the Annual Awards Banquet on January 12 at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame and Thunder Road Museum in Dawsonville, GA and collect a check out of the $50,000 point fund.<\/p>\n

NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series top ten drivers expected at Bubba Raceway Park this weekend are Larry Harrod of Plains, GA who is third in the standings and the 2011 VP Racing Fuels Rookie of the Year Chase Edge of Lafayette, AL who is fourth in the standings.\u00a0 Johnny Stokes of Columbus, MS is fifth in the standings.<\/p>\n

Chris Cantrell of Chester, SC is sixth in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model point standings and will pick up a $5,000 bonus as the 2012 VP Racing Fuels Rookie of the Year.\u00a0 Michael Blount of Sumrall, MS holds down the seventh spot, and Cody Kierre of Beebe, AR is eighth.\u00a0 Anthony White of Clinton, TN is ninth, and William Thomas of Phenix City, AL rounds out the tenth spot in the standings.<\/p>\n

With $10,000 going to the winner of the 8th<\/sup> Annual Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race, many of the top dirt late model drivers in the country along with many local favorites will be at Bubba Raceway Park on Thursday through Saturday.<\/p>\n

The 2011 World Championship Race winner Doug Horton of Bruceton Mills, WV will be looking for his second race win in a new High Gear Racing Warrior.\u00a0 His teammate, Ryan Montgomery of Fairmont, WV, who is the youngest winner in a Northeastern series, and a 2013 RUSH Late Model Series title contender will also be in the house.<\/p>\n

National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame Inductee Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN is an entrant, along with Super Late Model standout Don O\u2019Neal of Martinsville, IN.\u00a0 Rodney Wing of Meridian, MS will drive a Jamie Slatton-owned Buddy\u2019s Home Furnishings Rocket, and last year\u2019s second-place finisher Dennis Franklin of Gaffney, SC will be in an AES Racing Special.<\/p>\n

Randy Weaver of Crossville, TN, a three-time Super Late Model Champion, is entered along with Justin McRee of Tuscaloosa, AL.\u00a0 The local contingent will include Ivedent Lloyd Jr. of Gainesville, FL, Keith Nosbisch of Valrico, FL, Phillip Cobb of Apollo Beach, FL, Jack Nosbisch Jr. of Riverview, FL, and Shan Smith of Dade City, FL.<\/p>\n

The action begins on Thursday night for the 8th<\/sup> Annual Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race with a practice session beginning at 7:30 p.m.\u00a0 On Friday night, the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring Series cars and stars will compete in Qualifying and Preliminary Heat Races beginning at 8 p.m. to set the front of the field.\u00a0 Pre-Race Technical Inspection and Registration will open at 3 p.m. on Friday afternoon.<\/p>\n

B-Main Races to set the back part of the starting field will be held on Saturday night prior to the $10,000-to-win 100-lap 8th<\/sup> Annual Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring Division, Round 22 and the final race of the season for the series.\u00a0 The action on Saturday night begins at 7 p.m.<\/p>\n

The Howard Johnson\u2019s Hotel in Ocala, FL at Exit 354 on I-75 is the Official Host Hotel for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series $10,000-to-win 100-lap 8th<\/sup> Annual Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race at Bubba Raceway Park.<\/p>\n

The Howard Johnson\u2019s Hotel is offering NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series fans and competitors a special discount rate of $59.99 per night plus tax.\u00a0 Rooms are going fast, so call 352-629-7021 to make reservations, and ask for the Bubba Raceway Park special discount rate.\u00a0 The physical address for the Howard Johnson\u2019s Hotel is 3951 NW Blitchton Road, Ocala FL\u00a0 34482.<\/p>\n

Located just minutes from Bubba Raceway Park, the Howard Johnson\u2019s Hotel has freshly remodeled rooms, each equipped with a mini fridge and a microwave, plus free high-speed internet service.\u00a0 They also a free continental breakfast and offer a hot breakfast for $4.99, a pool and hot tub.\u00a0 There is also a plethora of restaurants and shopping close by.\u00a0 For more information visit the Howard Johnson\u2019s web site at www.hotelocala.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Bubba Raceway Park is located north of Ocala, FL at 9050 N.W. Gainesville Road, Ocala, FL 34482.\u00a0 For more information call 352-622-9400, or visit the track web site at www.bubbaracewaypark.com<\/a> and on Facebook at Bubba Raceway Park.<\/p>\n

For more information about the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series visit the series web site at www.nesmithracing.com<\/a>, or visit the series on Facebook at NeSmith Racing.\u00a0 Becoming a fan of the NeSmith Racing Facebook page will make you eligible for special prizes that will be given away each month.\u00a0 You can follow us on Twitter @NeSmithRacing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

CARTERSVILLE, GA \u2013 The $20,000 2012 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Championship is on the line between Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA and David […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"publish_to_discourse":"","publish_post_category":"","wpdc_auto_publish_overridden":"","wpdc_topic_tags":"","wpdc_pin_topic":"","wpdc_pin_until":"","discourse_post_id":"","discourse_permalink":"","wpdc_publishing_response":"","wpdc_publishing_error":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17,22,3,73],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15099","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ocala-speedway","category-featured","category-front-page-news","category-nesmith-chevrolet-dirt-late-model-series"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15099","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15099"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15099\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15102,"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15099\/revisions\/15102"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15099"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15099"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15099"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}