(EASTABOGA, ALABAMA) – The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series roars into the hot summer racing months with “America’s Leader in Racing”. One of the marquee annual motorsports gatherings for them is NeSmith Racing’s way of celebrating the July 4th season with the “Salute to America” Nationals. The best of the best competitors of pro late models will battled it out during the holiday weekend putting on a show not to miss as the quest for the championship go into July. The final leg of the event was held on Monday evening July 3rd at “The Hornet’s Nest” Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Alabama with a $2000 to win finale. Current National Point Leader and defending NeSmith Dirt Late Model Series National Champion #23 Cory Hedgecock in his XR1 Rocket chassis would redeem himself after bad luck at East Alabama the previous night to capture another win in 2017 and increase his point lead for the National championship.
38 Nesmith Dirt Late Model Series competitors showed up on a Monday evening to tackle the 1/3rd mile, high-banked bullring. When the race started it was #16 Austin Horton on the front row opening the race leading the way. The first caution would come out on lap 18 after Hedgecock had taken the lead from Horton, then while exiting off turn four got clipped by lapped traffice. The decision was Hedgecock wasn’t at fault and was given the lead back. Another quick caution would fall on the restart for debris on the track.
All the while with Hedgecock leading, Sunday night’s winner from East Alabama Motor Speedway, #66 Jake Knowles, and local favorite #27 Brad Berry were in hot pursuit to reel in the leader. Horton would have his tires give up and handling issues forced him to fall back on the restart but stay within striking distance. #J39 Jimmy Elliott was also strong hanging inside the top five most of the race but couldn’t catch Hedgecock to mount a charge for the top spot.
After a couple of minor cautions and restarts, no one seemed to have enough to get to the Rocket chassis of Hedgecock as he would go on to take the checkered flag as fireworks filled the Alabama skies to put a close on the 2017 edition of the NeSmith Racing “Salute to America” Nationals.
OFFICIAL RESULTS:
1st #23 Cory Hedgecock
2nd #66 Jake Knowles
3rd # 27 Brad Berry
4th #J39 Jimmy Elliott
5th #16 Austin Horton
6th #1G Grant Garrison
7th #17 Matt Henderson
8th #22 Will Roland
9th #5 Roderick Dykes
10th #17G Adam Gauldin
11th #11 Cruz Skinner
12th #00 Matt Black
13th #81 Adam Cummings
14th #23 Anna Parkhurst
15th #95 Brandon Williams
16th #19 Marcus Minga
17th #3 Heath Carr
18th #05 TJ Brittain
19th #5c Mike Combs
20th #D2 David Duplissey
21st #16 Sam Seawright
22nd #T1 Todd Morrow
23rd #56jr Colton Horner
24th #55 Ryan King
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
Follow us 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. Knowles Race Parts and Bodies is the Official Parts Supplier 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, AR Bodies, Crate Insider.com, Gresham Racing Parts, Knowles Racing Parts and Bodies, and FreeStyle Graphix.
Chassis Sponsors are Trak-Star Race Cars, Warrior Race Cars, Rocket Chassis, GRT Race Cars, and CVR Race Cars.