Down & Dirty Speedway
Boutwell leads final 37 laps for Avenger victory
By Roby Helm
NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model SeriesGREENVILLE, Ala. (Nov. 8) — Larry Boutwell of Baker, Fla. race to his first career NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series win at Avenger Motor Speedway. Boutwell took the lead on lap 14 after fast qualifier and polesitter Shep Lucas of McKenzie, Ala., dropped out under caution with a broken rear end assembly.
Baker took the checkered flag and the $3,000 top prize in the 50-lap main event with a 12-length advantage over runner-up Scott Knowles of Lanett, Ala., the Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Race.
“We’ve been working hard and it feels good to finally win one of these races,” Boutwell said. “We just got a new Rocket Chassis a couple of weeks ago, and we’ve been out here for a couple of races to learn about the track, and it all paid off.”
Derrick Rainey of Powder Springs, Ga., took the third spot and Hunter Peacock of Macon, GA finished fourth. Dana Eiland of Salem, Ala. was fifth. Series points leader Chip Brindle of Chatsworth, Ga., had a rough night, spinning in turn four on the 20th lap. He salvaged a 15th-place finish and leads Boutwell by 66 points with one points race remaining, virtually assuring him the championship.
Notes: Boutwell drives a Rocket Chassis sponsored by McLeod Construction. ... The feature was slowed by seven caution periods, none for serious incidents. ... Chris O'Connor spun while running third on the 15th lap. ... Frank Ingram was running second but slowed with mechanical problems on the 40th lap. ... Chris Tays rallied from 17th to eighth to win hard charger honors. ... Chip Brindle is assured the $20,000 series championship by starting the series points finale on Nov. 29 at Columbus (Miss.) Speedway. ... The series has a non-points event Dec. 12-13 at East Bay Raceway Park in Gibsonton, Fla., paying $10,000 to the winner.
NeSmith @ Avenger: (1) Larry Boutwell, (2) Scott Knowles, (3) Derrick Rainey, (4) Hunter Peacock, (5) Dana Eiland, (6) Ben McCreary, (7) Stephen Brantley, (8) Chris Tays, (9) Brandon Register, (10) Eric Cooley, (11) Chris O'Connor, (12) Jeff Fields, (13) Matthew Turner, (14) Rusty Hoge, (15) Chup Brindle, (16) Randy Adams, (17) Jimmy Thagard, (18) Frank Ingram, (19) Marcus Minga, (20) Ray Robbins, (21) Jim Till, (22) Chad Wallace, (23) Shep Lucas, (24) Will Henderson. Fast qualifier (among 33 cars): Lucas, 17.129 seconds. Consolation race winners: McCreary, Brantley. Provisional starter: Wallace.
