Boyd's Speedway
Smith dominates Boyd's for first NeSmith victory
By Roby Helm
NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series
Jeff Smith celebrates his first NeSmith victory. (Mike Blevins)
RINGGOLD, Ga. (June 1) — Jeff Smith of Chatsworth, Ga., led all 40 laps of Friday’s NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Summer National 40 at Boyd’s Speedway and earned $2,000 for his first series victory.
Smith’s B.J. Floor Covering-sponsored Warrior Race Car led a contingent of track regulars that took six of the race’s top 10 spots, that included runner-up Jason Welshan Maryville, Tenn. Former series champion David Earl Gentry or Murfreesboro, Tenn., was third with Chris Wilson of Crossville, Tenn., and Bryan Pritchard of Harrison, Tenn., rounding out the top five. | Slideshow
Smith dominated the 40-lap race with Welshan only getting close on restarts. Smith pulled away even more late in the race as the leaders made their way through lapped traffic, picking up the victory by more than five seconds over Welshan.
“I don’t know if I was that good tonight, but rather lucky in lapped traffic,” Smith said. “The timing was just right when I would come up on a lapped car, and they would push up the race track giving me room to get underneath.
“We’re happy with this win because there was some tough competition out there from both the local guys and guys that travel with the series.� This is a great series and I hope the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series gets to come back to Boyd’s Speedway in the future.”
The race was slowed by three cautions. The first was caused by mechanical issues on the car of Loudon, Tenn., driver Cory Hedgecock on lap seven while rookie contender Cody Kierre of Beebe, Ark., spun to bring out the second caution with 11 laps complete. The final caution appeared on lap 20 when Ryan King of Seymour, Tenn., slowed with front-end damage.
The NeSmith tour moves to 411 Motor Speedway in Seymour, Tenn., Saturday night for the $4,000-to-win J.T. Kerr Memorial.
Summer National 40: (1) Jeff Smith, (2) Jason Welshan, (3) David Earl Gentry, (4) Chris Wilson, (5) Bryan Pritchard, (6) Rex Ritchey, (7) Todd Morrow, (8) Matthew Turner, (9) Anthony White, (10) Ronnie Johnson, (11) Grayson York, (12) Johnny Stokes, (13) Larry Harrod, (14) Mack McCarter, (15) Michael Blount, (16) Chris Noah, (17) Chase Edge, (18) Chad Wallace, (19) Hunter Best, (20) David Tindell, (21) Cody Kierre, (22) Chris Cantrell, (23) Ryan King, (24) Cory Hedgecock. Fast qualifier (among 27 cars): Smith, 15.366 seconds. Consolation race winners: Hedgecock, Ritchey. Provisional starter: Stokes.
