Magnolia Motor Speedway
McRee rolls to NeSmith victory at Magnolia
By Roby Helm
NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series
Justin McRee picked up $2,000. (Scott Oglesby)
COLUMBUS, Miss. (Sept. 6) — Justin McRee of Woodstock, Ala., picked up his second NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series win in the last 10 days by driving to victory Sunday night in the 40-lap main event at Magnolia Motor Speedway. McRee overtook early race leader Jim McDuffie of Meridian, Miss., on the ninth lap and checked out on the way to victory, lapping all but six rivals.
“McDuffie slipped up just enough for me to get inside him in turn three to take the lead,” McRee said.
McRee’s first series win came Aug. 28 at Whynot Motorsports Park in Meridian, Miss. At Magnolia, McRee led the final 32 laps and his margin of victory was almost a half a lap.
Larry Boutwell of Baker, Fla., switched cars for the Sunday night race, and finished second after a late-race battle with Mike Boland of Cuba, Ala., who settled for third. Series points leader Eric Cooley of Fulton, Miss., was fourth and leading series rookie Ben McCreary of Baldwyn, Miss., rounded out the top five.
Notes: McRee's Trak-Star chassis is sponsored by Century Carriers. ... Chase Washington took the GM Performance Parts Hard Charger honors with his 21st-to-12th run. ... Seven drivers finished on the lead lap and 19 of 24 starters were running at the finish. ... Derrick Rainey of Powder Springs, Ga., finished 17th in Eric Cooley's backup car. Rainey destroyed his Warrior Race Car in a flip on Saturday night across town at Columbus Speedway. ... Drivers Eric Cooley, Ben McCreary, Chase Washington, and Mike Boland participated in the Ride For Life Auction, as fans bid for rides in the two-seat Dirt Late Model. More than $4,000 was raised to benefit the local chapter of the American Cancer Society on Saturday and Sunday nights in Columbus. ... Next up for the series is a non-points event Sept. 18-19 at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Ala. The Red Top Auto Auctions Dega 100 pays $10,000 to the winner.
NeSmith Chevrolet @ Magnolia: (1) Justin McRee, (2) Larry Boutwell, (3) Mike Boland, (4) Eric Cooley, (5) Ben McCreary, (6) Matthew Turner, (7) Todd Morrow, (8) Klint Byars, (9) Evan Ellis, (10) Chase Edge, (11) Jason Sanderford, (12) Chase Washington, (13) Eddie Rickman, (14) Jeff Fields, (15) Marcus Minga, (16) Jeremy Hines, (17) Derrick Rainey, (18) Doug Sanchagrin, (19) Jay Burchfield, (20) Jim McDuffie, (21) Blake Koenigsberger, (22) Charlie Henderson, (23) Kevin Henderson, (24) Scott Knowles. Fast qualifier (among 30 cars): McDuffie, 14.358 seconds. Consolation race winners: Boland, Turner.
