National Sprint Car Champion Danny "The Dude" Lasoski to Drive Dirt Late Model at TST During NASCAR Weekend

(CARTERSVILLE, GA – October 12, 2017)     The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series will be in action this Friday night with a $2,000-to-win show and Saturday night paying $2,500-to-win at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL with a very well-known and accomplished short track competitor, but not necessarily that familiar with dirt late model fans.

National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Inductee and the 2001 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Champion Danny “The Dude” Lasoski of Dover, MO will be in action with America’s Leader In Racing this weekend driving the CVR House Car based out of Lenoir City, TN. While Lasoski has limited dirt late model experience, it was some impressive experience.

Lasoski finished third in the Prelude to the Dream at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, OH a few years ago, and was surrounded by some pretty good company. The Dude finished third behind Tony Stewart and Kenny Wallace, and finished in front of another accomplished dirt racer, Ken Schrader, who finished fourth.

“Just like I was in a dirt late model in the Prelude to the Dream, I don’t want to just be in the race, I want to win it,” Lasoski said. “That’s the way I’m planning on running this weekend at Talladega Short Track. I don’t want to just make the race, I want to win it.”

Lasoski is no stranger to the track known as “The Hornet’s Nest” as the last time he was there; he won a World of Outlaws Sprint Car race, one of his 90 World of Outlaws career wins. Lasoski was able to test the CVR “House Car” on Wednesday night at a track similar to the size and configuration to TST, I-75 Raceway in Sweetwater, TN.

It didn’t take The Dude long to get the orange #1cvr machine up to full song, as he was in the gas on the first lap turning competitive lap times. Lasoski’s “full fendered” racing success also includes an IROC Series win in 2004 at Texas Motor Speedway.

“A mutual friend of myself and (NeSmith Racing CEO and Founder) Mike Vaughn asked me about trying this and I said I’d love to,” Lasoski said. “A group of great sponsors came forward to make it happen, and I hope we put on a good show for them and especially the fans. Chip Vineyard and his CVR Race Cars crew have been great to work with, and I could immediately tell I have a competitive race car for this weekend. I just love to race. If it has a steering wheel and four wheels, I’m ready to go fast in it and win with it.”

The sponsors that made this special ride happen for Lasoski and CVR Race Cars include Martin’s Wrecker Service of Cartersville, GA, Mike Bell Chevrolet of Carrollton, GA, Gentry’s Used Auto Parts and Recycling of Newnan, GA, C.S. Beatty Construction of Birmingham, AL, Billy Ballew Motorsports of Daytona Beach, FL, Skinner Body Shop of Oxford, AL, Mike Vaughn’s Auto Exchange of Cartersville, GA, Hoosier Racing Tires, Sunoco Race Fuels, and Chevrolet Performance.

With it being NASCAR Weekend across Speedway Boulevard from Talladega Short Track at Talladega Superspeedway, a lot of the current NASCAR drivers with a Sprint Car background probably have done battle with Lasoski through the years. So when they are done with their day jobs, they just might drop in at Talladega Short Track to check out “The Dude.”

Also expected this weekend competing with the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series are the defending National Champion and current point leader Cory Hedgecock of Loudon, TN; Rookie of the Year candidates Grant Garrison of Walton, KY, Colton Horner of Katy, TX, and Andy Picklesimer of Ooltewah, TN; three-time National Champion and National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame Inductee Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN; Marcus Minga of Shannon, MS; T.J. Brittain of Centre, AL, and many more from throughout the Southeast.

Race fans will be treated to a full racing program at Talladega Short Track on both nights as the weekly divisions, including the NeSmith Street Stocks and the NeSmith Sportsmen, will be in action. Both fans and competitors are encouraged to arrive at Talladega Short Track from the east, and travel westbound on Speedway Boulevard for the easiest access to the track.

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.