Hickman Owns NeSmith DLMS Competition at TST

(EASTABOGA, AL – October 17, 2017)     Riley Hickman of Cleveland, TN drove his Hickman Manufacturing CVR to his second straight NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series win at Talladega Short Track on Saturday night in the 50-lap Main Event.  Hickman was the dominant force during NASCAR Weekend at The Hornet's Nest.

In two nights of NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series competition, Hickman was the Sunoco/Knowles Race Parts and Bodies Fast Qualifier, setting a new track record of 13.821 seconds on Friday night, led all 90 laps of Main event competition, and pocketed $4,500 of first-place prize money.

"This win tonight feels better than last night because I had my doubts that we could win two in a row here," Hickman said.  "Our success this weekend was a team effort because with all of this youth in the NeSmith series, I'm feeling old, so I need my crew to help us step up our program to keep up with these kids."

Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Year point leader Grant Garrison of Walton, KY finished second in the Darrell Lanigan Racing Club 29, .653 seconds behind Hickman, and was the Rookie of the Race.  Jake Knowles of Rome, GA took the third spot in the Knowles Race Parts and Bodies Rocket, and three-time NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN was fourth in the Austin Trucking Capital.

Cruz Skinner of Oxford, AL drove the Skinner's Body Shop CVR to a fifth-place finish and the sixth spot went to T.J. Brittain of Centre, AL in the Brittain Hauling Warrior.  Brittain started 14th and finished sixth to earn the Beyea Headers Hard Charger of the Race Award.

Cla Knight of North Augusta, SC finished seventh in the Augusta Aquatics Longhorn, and the defending NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion and current point leader Cory Hedgecock of Loudon, TN took the eighth spot.

Colton Horner of Katy, TX was ninth in the Houston Specialty Products Black Diamond, and Jimmy Elliott of Cleveland, TN rounded out the top ten in the Mighty Muffler and Brakes Longhorn.  In preliminary action, Hickman out-timed the 41-car field in Sunoco/Knowles Race Parts and Bodies Qualifying with a lap around TST in 14.526 seconds.

The Hoosier Race Tires first 15-lap B-Main Race was won by Brad Berry of Attalla, AL in the Berry Racing GRT.  The Chevrolet Performance second 15-lap B-Main Race was won by Hedgecock.

Hickman was quick to pick things up where he left off on Friday night by taking the lead at the start of Saturday night's 50-lap main event followed by Garrison, Johnson, Skinner and Knowles.  Hickman lived up to his nickname of "The Hustler" by catching the cars on the tail of the lead lap by the tenth tour.

By lap 14, Hickman put several lapped cars between himself and Garrison, who was a half a straightaway behind the leader.  The first of four caution flags came out on lap 20 when John Ownby of Cleveland, TN in the Ownby Racing Mastersbilt and Sam Seawright of Fort Payne, AL in the Center Stage Kryptonite tangled on the front straightaway while battling for the tenth spot.

The restart saw Hickman leading with Garrison, Johnson, Skinner, Knowles, Hedgecock, Horner, Berry, Brittain and Minga doubled up behind him for the Dixie-Style Double-File Restart.  Berry spun in turn one and collected Tyler Wood of Linden, TN in the Wood Racing GRT and Andy Picklesimer of Ooltewah, TN in the Hyma Motorsports CVR on the restart to relight the yellow caution bulb.

The next restart saw Knowles get by Skinner to take over the fourth spot, and the field stayed green until lap 24 when Mark Heatherly of Rossville, GA stalled the Powell Motorsports Longhorn.  The top ten for the restart had Hickman leading Garrison, Johnson, Knowles, Skinner, Hedgecock, Brittain, Horner, Ownby and Knight.

While Hickman and Garrison set sail when the green flag brought the field back up to speed, Knowles was able to get by Johnson to take over the third position.  Ownby stalled while running ninth on lap 31 to bring out the final caution flag of the race.

The race went green for the final 19 laps of the event and Hickman was untouchable.  Garrison could get close in lapped traffic, but Hickman always seemed to be able to keep lapped cars between himself and the second place driver.

The next event for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series will be Round 15 on the 2017 season with the $10,000-to-win Southern 100 at Southern Raceway in Milton, FL on November 3 and 4.

For more information and rules about the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series, visit the series web site at http://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.