411 Motor Speedway
Johnson doubles up in 411's NeSmith action
By Roby Helm
NeSmith Dirt Late Model Series
Ronnie Johnson claimed a pair of NeSmith Series victories at 411. (Chad Wells)
SEYMOUR, Tenn. (Aug. 24) —Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, Tenn., doubled up with the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Saturday night at 411 Motor Speedway, claiming a $4,000 victory in the makeup feature for the second annual J.T. Kerr Memorial and earning another $2,500 payday for winning the night’s regularly scheduled Old Smoky Moonshine 50 presented by Parkway Liquor Store.
Claiming his second and third series victories of the season, Johnson earned a total of $6,500 on the night while also stretching his lead in the points standings on the Crate Late Model tour to 48 points over Ronny Lee Hollingsworth of Northport, Ala., who finished sixth and 10th in Saturday’s two feature races. | Slideshow
“It feels great to be able to still win races at this point in my career, especially with the good young talent the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series has coming up,” said Johnson, who now has 16 career NeSmith Series victories. “They really made me work for both wins tonight. I want to thank 411 Motor Speedway for giving us a great track to race on tonight and I also want to thanks all of these great fans for coming out to watch it.”
Johnson claimed the J.T. Kerr Memorial feature victory over Cory Hedgecock of Loudon, Tenn., with Johnny Stokes of Columbus, Miss., Todd Morrow of East Ridge, Tenn., and leading series rookie Kyle Bronson of Brandon, Fla., rounding out the top five.
In the second feature, Johnson topped a close race with Tait Davenport of Benton, Ky., who led the first 31 laps of the 50-lap race and battled Johnson side-by-side for much of the remaining distance after Johnson edged ahead with 19 laps remaining.
Roger Best of Louisville, Tenn., successfully filled in for his son Hunter, who had a back injury, with a ninth-to-third run. Matt Henderson of Loudon, Tenn., was fourth with hometown driver Brian King fifth.
Next up for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series will is a Labor Day Weekend tripleheader with a $2,000-to-win race on Friday night at Batesville (Ark.) Motor Speedway, a $2,500-to-win race on Saturday night at West Plains (Mo.) Motor Speedway and a $2,000-to-win race on Sunday night at Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, Miss.
Old Smoky Moonshine 50: (1) Ronnie Johnson, (2) Tait Davenport, (3) Roger Best, (4) Matt Henderson, (5) Ryan King, (6) Kyle Bronson, (7) Cory Hedgecock, (8) Todd Morrow, (9) Adam Beeler, (10) Ronny Lee Hollingsworth, (11) Josh Adkins, (12) Jason McCall, (13) Chris Chandler, (14) Brian Courtney, (15) Shane Roberts, (16) Jake Teague, (17) Pierce McCarter, (18) David Crabtree, (19) John Cobb, (20) Johnny Stokes, (21) Jimmy Elliott, (22) Brent Barrett, (23) David Earl Gentry, (24) Chris Wilson. Fast qualifier (among 24 cars): Davenport, 14.936 seconds.
J.T. Kerr Memorial: (1) Ronnie Johnson, (2) Cory Hedgecock, (3) Johnny Stokes, (4) Todd Morrow, (5) Kyle Bronson, (6) Ronny Lee Hollingsworth, (7) Matt Henderson, (8) Adam Beeler, (9) Tait Davenport, (10) Hunter Best, (11) David Earl Gentry, (12) Mack McCarter, (13) John Cobb, (14) Chris Wilson, (15) Scott Dedwylder, (16) Brandon Umberger, (17) Shan Smith, (18) Brent Wyatt, (19) Shannon Lee, (20) Dennis Franklin, (21) Justin McRee, (22) David Crabtree, (23) Jonathan Davenport, (24) Ryan King. Fast qualifier (among 30 cars): Cobb, 13.903 seconds. Consolation winners: Wilson, J. Davenport.
