Hattiesburg Speedway
Hollingsworth grabs fourth NeSmith victory
By Roby Helm
NeSmith Dirt Late Model SeriesHATTIESBURG, Miss. (May 24) — Points leader Ronny Lee Hollingsworth of Northport, Ala., continued his domination of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Friday at Hattiesburg Motorsports Park, claiming his fourth victory in six series events this season as the Crate Late Model tour kicked off its weekend tripleheader.
The fourth-starting Hollingsworth charged to the front early in the quarter-mile oval’s Salute To Army 40 and overtook polesitter Justin McRee of Cottondale, Ala., for the lead on lap 12. Hollingsworth dominated the remainder of the race, opening more three-second lead in claiming the victory over Tait Davenport of Benton, Ky.
Rookie of the Year leader Kyle Bronson of Brandon, Fla., advanced from his 10th starting spot to finish third, while Shannon Lee of Lumberton, Miss., finished foruth and 17th-starting Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, Tenn., finished fifth.
Notes: Hollingsworth’s Barry Wright Race Car is sponsored by Sparks Motorsports, NXS Powerline, PJH Enterprises, Kelley Electrical Contractors, Ellis Welding and Pioneer Roofing. ... Hollingsworth, who opened the season by winning three of NeSmith’s five Speedweeks events at Bubba Raceway Park, holds a 22-point lead in the series standings over Bronson and Johnson, who are currently tied for second. ... Johnson earned the Hedman Husler of the Race Award for his 17th-to-fifth run. ... Former series champion David Earl Gentry of Wheel, Tenn., was running fourth with two remaining before mechanical woes dropped him to a 14th-place He earned the Dominator Race Products Hard Luck Award. ... The series continues its Memorial Day Weekend Salute To The Armed Forces Nationals with the $2,000-to-win Salute To The Navy 40 Saturday night at Whynot Motorsports Park in Meridian, Miss., and the $2,000-to-win Salute To The Air Force 40 Sunday at Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, Miss.
NeSmith @ Hattiesburg: (1) Ronny Lee Hollingsworth, (2) Tait Davenport, (3) Kyle Bronson, (4) Shannon Lee, (5) Ronnie Johnson, (6) Scott Dedwylder, (7) Mack McCarter, (8) Johnny Stokes, (9) Jeremy Shaw, (10) Josh Adkins, (11) Michael Blount, (12) Stephen Brantley, (13) Sid Scarbrough, (14) David Earl Gentry, (15) Jimmy Halford, (16) Shan Smith, (17) Cody Martin, (18) Justin McRee, (19) Chandler Petty, (20) Marty Hardy, (21) Cliff Williams, (22) Jake Teague, (23) Brent Barrett, (24) Evan Ellis. Fast qualifier (among 34 cars): McRee, 13.195 seconds. Heat race winners: Stokes, Shaw, Brantley, Williams.
