East Alabama Motor Speedway
Nowell overcomes Harrod at East Alabama
By Roby Helm
NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model SeriesPHENIX CITY, Ala. (July 4) — Hometown driver Terrance Nowell gunned down the field Sunday in front of a packed house at East Alabama Motor Speedway, earning $2,500 with a victory in the Salute to Armed Forces 50 on theNeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series.
Nowell started third in the main event, overtook early leader Larry Harrod of Plains, Ga., on lap 36, and pulled away to post a 1.590 second margin of victory driving the Clarence’s Truck Repair GRT.
“I kept looking inside Larry, and I think the longer the race went, the tighter his car got,” Nowell said. “Our car kept getting better as the race went on, and when the track came to us, we were able to get underneath Larry and take the lead.”
The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series celebrated its 100th event since the inception of the series in 2005. Nowell’s first career win with the series made him the 38th different winner in 100 races.
Harrod led the first 35 laps of the race after earning the pole position earlier during the evening in spectacular fashion driving the Harrod Logging Scorpion, but had to settle for second at the end of the race and was the VP Racing Fuels Rookie of the Race.
Dana Eiland of Salem, Ala., was third followed by Billy Franklin of Calera, Ala. Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, Ga., was fifth and was honored during the pre-race drivers meeting for making his 100th consecutive series race, the only driver to compete in every series event.
Salute to Armed Forces 50: (1) Terrance Nowell, (2) Larry Harrod, (3) Dana Eiland, (4) Billy Franklin, (5) Matthew Turner, (6) Eric Cooley, (7) Chip Brindle, (8) Chase Edge, (9) Marc Gooden, (10) Russ Ogletree, (11) Joseph Joiner, (12) Pat Wall, (13) Rodgerick Dykes, (14) Michael Blount, (15) Chris McElhenney, (16) Shannon Lee, (17) Marcus Minga, (18) Danny Stroud, (19) Richie Stephens, (20) Ryan King, (21) Paul Walters, (22) Charlie Henderson, (23) Justin McRee, (24) Jordy Nipper. Fast qualifier (among 32 cars): Harroed, 16.461 seconds. Consolation race winners: Walters, Nipper. Provisional starters: Blount, Minga.
