Winner's Circle

Sunoco Victory Lane

Knowles Breaks Through for NeSmith Dirt Late Model Series Victory During "Salute to America Nationals" at East Alabama Motor Speedway

(PHENIX CITY, AL – July 3, 2017) – 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 the series is NeSmith Racing's way of celebrating the July 4th holiday with the "Salute to America" Nationals. The best of the best competitors in pro late models battled it out during the holiday weekend putting on a show not to miss as the quest for the championship goes into July. After being plagued by mother nature for the opening race at ECM Speedway on Saturday, the NeSmith competitors made the trip on Sunday evening to the "playground of power", East Alabama Motor Speedway. When the race concluded, thanks to a late race pass #66 Jake Knowles was able to break through continuing a winning weekend for the Knowles motorsports family.

Members of the Knowles family won in the widely popular "Great American Race" that requires drivers to travel/race across the United States to different destinations. Jake’s Aunt Beth and Cousin Jody picked up the overall win, while NeSmith Media contributor Olivia Gentry and her sister Genna picked up the Rookie class win. After making a late race pass on #18 Chase Edge all the key components came together for Knowles who rallied from the 12th starting position to take the victory besting the 37 competitors that signed in Sunday.

The race got under way with pole sitter #52 Ryan Carter leading the opening laps, and that would change after passes were contested by #23 Cory Hedgecock, #18 Chase Edge,  and  local hot shoe “Big Sky” #55 Montana Dudley. The opening sequence would stay under green until lap 19 when #27 Terrance Nowell slowed at the top of turn four. Another yellow would fall for debris on lap 37. On the restart #18 Chase Edge was able to muster by #23 Hedgecock and #52 of Ryan Carter after he slipped losing momentum out of turn four. Problems would arise for the NeSmith Dirt Late Model Series Touring points leader and February winner at EAMS when Hedgecock would have some issues and have to take it behind the wall ending his evening early while contending in the top 5.. While Chase Edge was still out in front beginning to work lapped traffic, Knowles and another family member #66K Dylan Knowles were closing fast. The final yellow would fall on lap 41 when #22 Jimmy Thomas spun solo out of four. On the restart Knowles made his move getting around Edge on the restart taking the lead in the late rally and cruising to Victory Lane for his first NeSmith Dirt Late Model Series victory of 2017.

OFFICIAL RACE RESULTS from Salute to America Nationals at East Alabama Motor Speedway

1st #66 Jake Knowles

2nd #18 Chase Edge

3rd #66K Dylan Knowles

4th #55 Montana Dudley

5th #1N Jordy Nipper

6th #T1 Todd Morrow

7th #22 Jimmy Thomas

8th #23 Ahnna Parkhurst

9th #56jr Colton Horner

10th #1G Grant Garrison

11th #D2 David Duplissey

12th #52 Ryan Carter

13th #3 Cody Smith

14th #23 Cory Hedgecock

15th #17 Matt Henderson

16th #14 Will Herrington

17th #27 Terrence Nowell

18th #P1 Andy Picklesimer

19th #5 Roderick Dykes

20th #57 Shep Lucas

21st #6R Shane Riner

22nd #95 Brandon Williams

23rd #J39 Jimmy Elliott

24th #16 Austin Horton

For more information about the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series, visit the series website at http://nesmithracing.com. You can also follow the series by Liking the Facebook page at NeSmith Racing.  Follow us on Twitter @NeSmithRacing and Instagram @nesmithracing.

Edited from NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series press release by Wesley Outland – NeSmith PR