OCALA, FL – Ivedent Lloyd Jr. of Ocala, FL driving the Snow Brothers Special was declared the $10,000 winner in the 100-lap 8th Annual Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race on Saturday night for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series at Bubba Raceway Park. Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA won the $20,000 NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS Championship.

The engine in the B&B Produce/Dave’s Towing Special driven by apparent winner Mark Whitener of Middleburg, FL was disqualified by NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series officials for a piston violation.

The 8th Annual Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race, the first edition held at Bubba Raceway Park, will be a memorable one for a track that provided three and four-wide close quarters racing in front of a packed house, and plenty of drama, as the fate of many drivers changed lap after lap. That included the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Championship battle.

Turner won the $20,000 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Championship in the Hedman Husler Special by ten points over two-time series champion David Earl Gentry of Murfreesboro, TN in the Eads Farms/Hardy & Associates Warrior. It was an up and down weekend for both drivers, as they exchanged the point lead twice during the event.

Turner held a 16-point lead over Gentry coming into the weekend. Gentry had a mechanical problem during the Thursday night practice session and had to change engines on Friday morning. Turner was the fastest qualifier in his group, and started the fourth ten-lap heat race from the pole position. Turner dropped back in the race, finished sixth and failed to transfer to the main event.

Gentry started eighth in the first heat race, but rallied to finish fourth and transfer into the main event, earning the 13th starting spot. Turner started fourth in the first 20-lap B-Main race on Saturday night, and failed to finish in one of the top three transfer spots. Turner took a Provisional and started the main event from the 23rd starting spot.

Gentry started the race with four-point lead over Turner in the Championship battle. As the race unfolded, Gentry had charged his way up to third spot, but things changed dramatically on lap 45. After restarting in third spot after a lap 42 caution flag, Gentry fell off the pace and dropped back to the sixth spot, and Turner moved up to 12th and took over the point lead from Gentry.

Lap 45 saw Gentry stop on the track with a cut down left-front tire, and the caution flag came out. Gentry went to the pits, changed the tire, and restarted in the 18th spot. Gentry charged back through the field and ended up finishing seventh, but Turner claimed the 12th spot at the finish to win the Championship. Gentry will be the Championship Runner-Up for the second straight year.

“After 146 consecutive races and eight years of trying, we finally got this championship, and it was really nerve racking to get it,” Turner said. “David Earl is a tough competitor, and we have traded having bad luck all season. I hated to see him cut down that tire because I really wanted to win the championship racing with him right down the end.”

Shan Smith of Dade City, FL started 21st and finished second in the Outlaw Race Parts GRT to earn the Hedman Husler of the Race Award. Doug Horton of Bruceton Mills, WV took the third spot in the Mainland Transport Warrior.

Horton’s finish gave Warrior Race Cars built by Goddard Performance of Knoxville, TN the 2012 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring Division Chassis Manufacturers Challenge Championship and their third title.

Keith Nosbisch of Valrico, FL came back from a lap 16 cut tire to finish fourth in the Transportation Specialist Warrior and Dennis “Rambo” Franklin was fifth in the AES Racing Special. Mack McCarter of Sevierville, TN took the sixth spot in the CVR Race Cars Special, and Gentry claimed the seventh spot.

Chase Edge of Lafayette, AL drove the Edge’s Gas Company Special to an eighth-place finish and Walker Arthur of Forest, VA finished ninth in the Cecil B. Arthur Beef Farms Rocket. Shannon Lee of Lumberton, MS won the Bubba Army Last Chance Race, started 28th and last in the field and rounded out the top ten in the Billy Riels Racing GRT.

Chris Cantrell of Chester, SC finished 21st in the CANCO Rocket was earned the $5,000 VP Racing Fuels Rookie of the Year Award after finishing sixth overall in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series point standings. Cody Kierre of Beebe, AR in the K&E Racing GRT was second in the VP Racing Fuels Rookie points, and eighth overall in the series point standings.

Whitener took the lead at the start of the race from the pole position followed by outside front row starter Kyle Bronson of Tampa, FL in the Brandon Ford Warrior, Lloyd, Horton and
Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN in the Jim Beeman Lumber Special. Whitener set a fast pace in the opening laps of the race and caught the cars at the tail of the 28-car field by the sixth lap.

Lloyd got by Bronson for second on lap 11 and began to reel in Whitener, who was in heavy lapped traffic. O’Neal was also on the move, and passed Lloyd for second on lap 12, as a three-car battle for the lead began in heavy lapped traffic. Jeff Mathews of Valrico, FL spun the CURS Rocket in turn four to bring out the first of 12 caution flag.

On the restart, Lloyd slipped up the banking in turn two, as Greg Martin of Oliver Springs, TN in the Biff Motorsports Special and Justin McRee of Cottondale, AL in the High Roller Race Cars Special got by for third and fourth respectively. The caution bulb was fired up on lap 18 when Nosbisch slowed with a flat tire.

As Whitener set sail in the lead on the restart, O’Neal and Martin raced side-by-side for the second spot. Martin took the spot with an outside move off turn two, but O’Neal came charging back on the inside to reclaim second coming off the fourth turn. Martin’s night came to an abrupt end on lap 23 when he hit the fourth turn wall.

Whitener led O’Neal, Lloyd, Horton, Gentry, McRee, Ronnie Johnson, who had charged up from the 19th starting spot in the NeSmith Chevrolet Special, Joey Coulter of Charlotte, NC in the Wolfpack Racing Rocket after starting 18th, McCarter, and Arthur down for the restart. Gentry was on the move when the green came back out, moving up from fifth to third.

O’Neal took the lead away from Whitener on lap 26 in turn two, and Johnson moved up to the fourth spot. Two laps later, Johnson drove around the outside of Gentry for the third spot. O’Neal and Whitener carried their battle for the lead into lapped traffic on lap 30, as Johnson moved up to make it a three-car dance for the point.

Whitener took over the lead on lap 32, and held it for two laps before O’Neal reclaimed the top spot on lap 34. Turner stalled with a cut tire in turn two on lap 35 to bring out the caution flag, and with Gentry running in the fourth spot, it appeared his championship hopes were dimming. Josh Adkins of Talladega, Al spun the Yellow Hammer Construction Special in turn one on lap 38 to bring out the caution flag and set up another double-file restart.

When the field went green, a three-wide battle for third broke out behind O’Neal and Whitener. Horton was on the inside with Gentry in the middle, and Johnson on the outside. They raced door-to-door-to-door from turn two, down the backstretch, and through turns three and four. As they exited turn four, Johnson ran out of real estate and hit the wall ending his night.

By lap 39, Gentry was running third, and Nosbisch rallied back through the field after his lap 16 tire change to move into the fifth spot. Bronson spun in turn four on lap 42 to set up a restart with O’Neal leading Whitener, Gentry, Horton, and Nosbisch. Shannon Lee of Lumberton, MS started the Billy Riels Racing GRT 28th and last on the grid, but restarted in the sixth spot, followed by McCarter, McRee, Coulter, and Arthur.

Gentry lost the third spot and championship point lead on the restart when he fell to the sixth spot, and Turner moved up to the 12th position. Gentry slowed to a stop with a cut down left-front tire on lap 45 to bring out the caution flag. This misfortune earned Gentry the Dominator Race Products Hard Luck of the Race Award.

Whitener took the lead on the restart, but O’Neal passed him back for the lead on the next lap. The caution came out on lap 51 when Jason Fitzgerald of Middleburg, FL spun the M&M Transport and Refrigeration GRT in turn four. O’Neal led Whitener, Horton, Nosbisch, Lee, McCarter, Arthur, Smith, Franklin, McRee, Gentry and Turner down for the restart.

Whitener dove under O’Neal on the restart to take the lead in turn two. O’Neal then had to hold off a challenge from Horton to keep the second spot. By lap 60, Whitener and O’Neal had a half straightaway lead on Horton. The next few laps would get intense in the battle for the lead, as O’Neal and Whitener traded slide job passes.

O’Neal dove under Whitener to take the lead in turn two on lap 66 to grab the point. Three laps later, White threw a slider at O’Neal in turn two, but a combination Whitener’s car pushing and O’Neal staying in the throttle got the two cars together. O’Neal got sideways and backed into the turn two wall.

While under caution, O’Neal hit Whitener’s car on two occasions, and O’Neal was sent to the pit area and parked for the rest of the race. Whitener took over the lead for the restart followed by Horton, Smith, Nosbisch, McCarter, Lloyd, Franklin, Edge, Gentry, and Lee. When the field went back to green, Whitener held a half-straightaway over Smith, who had got by Horton for second, by lap 75.

Lloyd was on the move during the last 25 laps of the race, as he climbed into the third spot on lap 81, and he made what would prove to be the $10,000 winning pass on Smith on lap 85. Whitener had a three second advantage over Lloyd at the checkered flag, but threw it all away in the tech area after the race.

Lloyd’s engine was also torn down and inspected by NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series officials, and it passed inspection. Lloyd was declared the winner of the race at 5:24 a.m. Sunday morning.

In Friday night’s preliminary action, Whitener was the fast qualifier among the 45 entrants with a lap around the 3/8-mile clay oval in 15.477 seconds. The four 15-lap heat races on Friday night were won by Whitener, Bronson, Lloyd, and Horton. The Saturday night 20-lap B-Main races were won by Arthur and Coulter. Lee won the ten-lap Bubba Army Last Chance Race.

The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series will return to Bubba Raceway Park to open the 2013 racing season with five straight nights of racing from January 28 through February 2, 2013. The first four races will be 40-lap $2,000-to-win events, and the February 2 race will be 50-laps and $3,000-to-win.

Bubba Raceway Park and the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series will be announcing a generous separate point fund for these five races and a hefty contingency program for drivers participating in the five Florida Speedweek races.

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.

OFFICIAL RESULTS OF ROUND 22 AT BUBBA RACEWAY PARK IN OCALA, FL ON 12/1/12:

POS STRT CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN LAPS $ WON
1. 3 21 Ivedent Lloyd Jr. Ocala, FL 100 $10,000
2. 21 17ss Shan Smith Dade City, FL 100 $5,000
3. 4 11 Doug Horton Bruceton Mills, WV 100 $3,000
4. 9 5n Keith Nosbisch Valrico, FL 100 $2,000
5. 7 27c Dennis Franklin Gaffney, SC 100 $1,750
6. 8 71 Mack McCarter Sevierville, TN 100 $1,500
7. 13 56 David Earl Gentry Murfreesboro, TN 99 $1,300
8. 25 18 Chase Edge Lafayette, AL 99 $1,200
9. 17 87 Walker Arthur Forest, VA 99 $1,100
10. 28 47 Shannon Lee Lumberton, MS 99 $1,000
11. 11 B17 Justin McRee Cottondale, AL 97 $800
12. 23 10 Matthew Turner Dawsonville, GA 97 $700
13. 26 1 Johnny Stokes Columbus, MS 97 $600
14. 24 27 Larry Harrod Plains, GA 97 $500
15. 22 19 Josh Adkins Talladega, AL 95 $450
16. 27 121 Michael Blount Sumrall, MS 95 $440
17. 6 7 Jason Fitzgerald Middleburg, FL 71 $430
18. 10 7b Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN 68 $420
19. 2 40 Kyle Bronson Tampa, FL 54 $400
20. 14 114 Chris Cantrell (R) Chester, SC 50 $400
21. 15 10w Chris Wilson Crossville, TN 49 $400
22. 12 12 Ryan Montgomery Fairmont, WV 48 $400
23. 18 2 Joey Coulter Charlotte, NC 42 $400
24. 19 5 Ronnie Johnson Chattanooga, TN 37 $400
25. 5 24 Greg Martin Oliver Springs, TN 22 $400
26. 14 11s David Smith Inman, SC 20 $400
27. 20 33 Jeff Mathews Valrico, FL 14 $400
28, 1 58 Mark Whitener Middleburg, FL 100 $0 – DQ

ENTRIES: 45
FAST QUALIFIER: Whitener, 15.477 Seconds
PROVISIONALS: Turner, Harrod, Edge, Stokes, Blount
LEAD CHANGES: 8 Between 2 Drivers
LAP LEADERS: Whitener, 1-25; O’Neal, 26-31; Whitener, 32-33; O’Neal, 34-44; Whitener, 45; O’Neal, 46-50; Whitener, 51-65; O’Neal, 66-68; Whitener, 69-100
LAPS LED: Whitener, 75; O’Neal, 25
VP RACING FUELS ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Cantrell
HEDMAN HUSLER OF THE RACE AWARD: Shan Smith (started 21st and finished 2nd)
DOMINATOR RACE PRODUCTS HARD LUCK AWARD: Gentry
INTEGRA RACING SHOCKS JUST MISSED IT AWARD: Austin Kirkpatrick
RACE CAR ENGINEERING 5TH-PLACE AWARD: Franklin
KRC 6TH-PLACE AWARD: McCarter
QA 1 RACE PRODUCTS 7TH-PLACE AWARD: Gentry
RACE CAR ENGINEERING 8TH-PLACE AWARD” Edge
MODERN IMAGES 9TH-PLACE AWARD: Arthur
KRC 10TH-PLACE AWARD: Lee
MIKE’S CUSTOM TANKS 11TH-PLACE AWARD: McRee
SHORTY’S SHOCK SERVICE 12TH-PLACE AWARD: Turner
SCHOENFELD HEADERS 13TH-PLACE AWARD: Stokes
J.T. RACING EQUIPMENT 14TH-PLACE AWARD: Harrod
KINSER AIR FILTERS 15TH-PLACE AWARD: Adkins
CAUTIONS: 12
MARGIN OF VICTORY: 3.558 Seconds
TIME OF THE RACE: 1 Hour, 46 Minutes, and 25.094 Seconds
GROUP QUALIFYING:
1ST GROUP:
POS CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN CHASSIS LAP 1 LAP 2 TIME
1 10 Matthew Turner Dawsonville, GA DWB 15.938 15.746 15.746
2 J4 John Garvin Jr. Sarver, PA Rocket 16.409 15.787 15.787
3 11 Doug Horton Bruceton Mills, WV Warrior 16.226 15.823 15.823
4 71 Mack McCarter Sevierville, TN CVR 15.856 15.874 15.856
5 12 Ryan Montgomery Fairmont, WV Warrior 15.975 15.880 15.880
6 18 Chase Edge Lafayette, AL Mastersbilt 16.203 15.962 15.962
7 111 Steven Roberts Jesup, GA Barry Wright 16.390 16.039 16.039
8 11s David Smith Inman, SC TNT 16.366 16.191 16.191
9 2 Joey Coulter Charlotte, NC Rocket 16.424 16.409 16.409
10 19 Josh Adkins Talladega, AL Barry Wright 16.499 17.046 16.499
11 4g Bob Gardner Germantown Hills, IL Rayburn 16.858 16.611 16.611
12 17k Cody Kierre – R Beebe, AR GRT 17.032 17.356 17.032

2ND GROUP:
POS CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN CHASSIS LAP 1 LAP 2 TIME
1 58 Mark Whitener Middleburg, FL Barry Wright 15.712 15.477 15.477
2 5n Keith Nosbisch Valrico, FL Warrior 15.744 15.734 15.734
3 11k Austin Kirkpatrick Ocala, FL Barry Wright 16.396 16.052 16.052
4 24 Greg Martin Oliver Springs, TN Bloomquist 16.528 16.140 16.140
5 5 Ronnie Johnson Chattanooga, TN Mastersbilt 16.288 16.146 16.146
6 33 Carter Stokes New Smyrna, FL Rocket 16.346 17.091 16.346
7 17ss Shan Smith Dade City, FL GRT 16.358 16.589 16.358
8 56 David Earl Gentry Murfreesboro, TN Warrior 16.543 16.728 16.543
9 25 Dalton Myers Riverview, FL Barry Wright 16.551 16.877 16.551
10 10w Rodney Wing Meridian, MS Rocket 16.584 17.038 16.584
11 11r Stacey Roberts Sylvester, GA Rocket 17.010 16.716 16.716

3RD GROUP:
POS CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN CHASSIS LAP 1 LAP 2 TIME
1 21 Ivedent Lloyd Jr. Ocala, FL Snow Bros. 15.814 15.721 15.721
2 B17 Justin McRee Cottondale, AL HRRC 15.842 15.981 15.842
3 27c Dennis Franklin Gaffney, SC Barry Wright 16.436 16.005 16.005
4 23 Chris Ferguson Mt. Holly, NC Longhorn 16.034 16.176 16.034
5 10cw Chris Wilson Crossville, TN GRT 16.304 16.382 16.304
6 27 Larry Harrod Plains, GA Scorpion 16.801 16.588 16.588
7 87 Walker Arthur Forest, VA Rocket 17.005 16.739 16.739
8 38c John Gardner Jr. Creve Coeur, IL Rayburn 16.953 16.976 16.953
9 5d Rodgerick Dykes Smith Station, AL Warrior 17.201 16.995 16.995
10 47 Shannon Lee Lumberton, MS GRT 17.076 17.148 17.076
11 8a Todd Morrow East Ridge, TN GRT 17.265 17.511 17.265

4TH GROUP:
POS CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN CHASSIS LAP 1 LAP 2 TIME
1 40b Kyle Bronson Tampa, FL Warrior 15.744 15.597 15.597
2 7f Jason Fitzgerald Middleburg, FL GRT 16.177 16.803 16.177
3 7 Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN Mastersbilt 16.187 16.360 16.187
4 54 Brandon Overton Appling, GA Mastersbilt 16.243 16.881 16.243
5 33 Jeff Mathews Valrico, FL Rocket 16.408 16.579 16.408
6 69 Tony Lawson Laurel, MS Scorpion 16.866 16.523 16.523
7 110 Brent Barrett Cleveland, MS GRT 16.600 16.705 16.600
8 114 Chris Cantrell – R Chester, SC Rocket 16.640 16.657 16.640
9 121 Michael Blount Sumrall, MS GRT 17.001 16.718 16.718
10 10c Ronnie Cooper McKenzie, TN GRT 17.252 16.781 16.781
11 1 Johnny Stokes Columbus, MS GRT 16.826 17.013 16.826

HEAT RACES (15 Laps – Top 4 Transfer To Main Event):

1ST HEAT: 1. Whitener; 2. Martin; 3. Nosbisch; 4. Gentry; 5. Johnson; 6. Kirkpatrick; 7. Sta. Roberts; 8. C. Stokes; 9. Myers; 10. S. Smith; 11. Wing.

2ND HEAT: 1. Bronson; 2. Fitzgerald; 3. O’Neal; 4. Cantrell (R); 5. Blount; 6. Mathews; 7. Cooper; 8. Barrett; 9. Lawson; 10. J. Stokes; 11. Overton.

3RD HEAT: 1. Lloyd; 2. Franklin; 3. McRee; 4. Wilson; 5. Arthur; 6. Dykes; 7. Harrod; 8. Lee; 9. Ferguson; 10. Morrow; 11. J. Gardner.

4TH HEAT: 1. Horton; 2. McCarter; 3. Montgomery; 4. D. Smith; 5. Coulter; 6. Turner; 7. B. Gardner; 8. Adkins; 9. Ste. Roberts; 10. Edge; 11. 17k Kierre (R); 12. Garvin.

B-MAINS (20 Laps – Top 3 Transfer To Main Event):

1ST B-MAIN: 1. Arthur; 2. Johnson; 3. S. Smith; 4. Kirkpatrick; 5. Sta. Roberts; 6. Harrod; 7. Ferguson; 8. Lee; 9. Myers; 10. Morrow; 11. C. Stokes; 12. J. Gardner; 13. Dykes; 14. Wing DNS.

2ND B-MAIN: 1. Coulter; 2. Mathews; 3. Adkins; 4. Blount; 5. B. Gardner; 6. Edge; 7. Turner; 8. J. Stokes; 9. Cooper; 10. Barrett; 11. Kierre (R); 12. Lawson; 13. Ste. Roberts; 14. Garvin DQ; 15. Overton DNS.

BUBBA ARMY LAST CHANCE RACE (10 Laps – Winner Transfers To Main Event): 1. Lee; 2. B. Gardner; 3. Kirkpatrick; 4. Barrett; 5. Sta. Roberts; 6. Lawson; 7. Myers; 8. J. Gardner; 9. Cooper; 10. Dykes.

FINAL 2012 NeSMITH CHEVROLET DIRT LATE MODEL SERIES POINT STANDINGS:

1. 10 Matthew Turner – 1,862
2. 56 David Earl Gentry – 1,852
3. 27 Larry Harrod – 1,786
4. 18 Chase Edge – 1,664
5. 1 Johnny Stokes – 1,538
6. 114 Chris Cantrell (R) – 1,498
7. 121 Michael Blount – 1,366
8. 17k Cody Kierre (R) – 920
9. 2x Anthony White – 824
10. 22 William Thomas – 794
11. 10c Ronnie Cooper – 784
12. 117 Jake Teague (R) – 720
13. 19 Marcus Minga – 618
14. 99 Justin Summers (R) – 594
15. B17 Justin McRee – 590
16. 72 Frank Wilson – 584
17. 1s Jeremy Shaw – 562
18. 27c Dennis Franklin – 556
19. 38 Chase Washington – 514
20. 110 Brent Barrett – 494

R – Denotes VP Racing Fuels Rookie of the Year Candidate

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 Dealer four 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. VP Racing Fuel is the Official Racing Fuel 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. RockAuto.com is an Official Sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Contingency Sponsors for 2012 are Dominator Race Products, Race Car Engineering, KRC, QA 1 Precision Products, Modern Images, Mike Custom Tanks, Shorty’s Shock Service, Schoenfeld Headers, Integra Racing Shocks, J.T. Kerr Racing Equipment, Kinser Air Filters, Trak-Star Race Cars, Warrior Race Cars, Rocket Chassis, GRT Race Cars, TNT Race Cars, and Stinger Race Cars.