Penton Raceway
Thomas leads 40 laps for NeSmith win at Penton
By Roby Helm
NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model SeriesPENTON, Ala. (July 18) — Starting outside the front row, William Thomas of Phenix City, Ala., led all 40 laps at Penton Raceway and raced to his second career victory on the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. Thomas earned $2,500 and has a chance at a $2,000 bonus if he can score a July 19 victory at his hometown track, East Alabama Motor Speedway. “We usually run this car in Super Late Model competition, but we put our GM Performance 604 Crate Engine in it for the first time for this race,” Thomas said. “We had to make a few adjustments to the car, but it really liked the engine.”
Derrick Rainey of Powder Springs, Ga., finished second followed by Scott Knowles of Lanett, Ala. Series points leader Chip Brindle of Chatsworth, Ga., and Frank Ingram of Acworth, Ga., rounded out the top five. Richie Stephens of Phenix City set fast time and started on the pole, but he spun on the first lap and, after restarting on the tail, pulled out on the sixth lap.
NeSmith @ Penton: (1) William Thomas, (2) Derrick Rainey, (3) Scott Knowles, (4) Chip Brindle, (5) Frank Ingram, (6) Larry Boutwell, (7) Steve Miller, (8) Jeff Fields, (9) Jason Hiett, (10) Stacey Roberts, (11) Tony Kemp, (12) Jordy Nipper, (13) Chad Wallace, (14) Royce Bray, (15) Hunter Peacock, (16) Chris Tays, (17) Eric Cooley, (18) Chris Smith, (19) Chase Edge, (20) Marc Gooden, (21) Dana Eiland, (22) Ted Lackey, (23) Cory Korreckt, (24) Adam Martin, (25) Richie Stephens. Fast qualifier (among 48 cars): Stephens, 14.424 seconds. Consolation race winners: Hiett, Eiland, Martin, Nipper. Provisional starters: Tays, Lackey, Edge.
