ADAIRSVILLE, GA – This weekend is the biggest race of the year for the Newsome Raceway Parts Crate Racin’ USA Dirt Late Model Series with the largest purse ever paid. Cochran Motor Speedway in Cochran, GA will host the $20,000-to-win $600-to-start 16th Annual Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
The payout for the 16th Annual 75-lap Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race is as follows: 1. $20,000; 2. $7,500; 3. $5,000; 4. $2,500; 5. $2,000; 6. $1,900; 7. $1,800; 8. $1,700; 9. $1,500; 10. $1,000; 11. $900; 12. $800; 13-24. $600.
The big money is exciting enough, but when you add the big picture, considering this is also a points-paying race for the 2020 National Championship, the top two drivers are tied for the Newsome Raceway Parts Crate Racin’ USA Dirt Late Model Series point lead coming into this mega event.
Wil Herrington of nearby Hawkinsville, GA is tied with Cruz Skinner of Oxford, AL for the point lead, as each driver has 722 points coming into this weekend’s World Championship Race. Herrington has three wins, six top five finishes, and three Boyd Built Fabricators Fast Time Awards in eight races. Two of Herrington’s 2020 wins have come at Cochran Motor Speedway.
Skinner, the 2013 VP Racing Fuels Young Gun Challenge Series Champion and last season’s Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Year with a runner-up finish in the National points, has one win this season with five top five finishes and seven top ten finishes in eight races. Herrington and Skinner have raced each other close this season, having finished in the top five with each other four times this season.
Several of the Top 20 drivers in the Newsome Raceway Parts Crate Racin’ USA Dirt Late Model Series point standings have close ties to Cochran Motor Speedway. Herrington grew up at Cochran Motor Speedway, starting in the beginner Divisions, and working his way up into Late Models.
Corey Dunn of Milledgeville, GA is third in the National point standings, and he leads the Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Year point standings. Dunn has 656 points after one win, two top five finishes, six top ten finishes and one Fast Time Award in eight 2020 races. T.J. Brittain of Centre, AL is fourth with 648 points.
Jody Knowles of Tyrone, GA is fifth in the Newsome Raceway Parts Crate Racin’ USA National standings with 614 points, and Cody Overton of Grovetown, GA is sixth in the standings and second in the Rookie standings with 592 points. Overton won the 2020 season opener for the Crate Racin’ USA National Tour in May at Cochran Motor Speedway.
Troy Dixon of Dallas, GA and Trynt Lloyd of Jacksonville, FL are tied for seventh in the National standings and third in the Rookie standings with 514 points apiece. Lloyd also leads the 2020 VP Racing Fuels Young Guns Challenge Series standings, which is a special point fund for Crate Racin’ USA Late Model drivers 18 years of age and younger.
Marcus Minga of Shannon, MS is ninth in the National standings with 486 points, and Ty Ellis of Covington, GA rounds out the Top 10 with 422 points. Ellis is also fifth in the Rookie point standings. With six of the Top 10 drivers from the Peach State, seven of the next nine drivers in the National point standings are also from the State of Georgia.
Parker Martin of Milledgeville, GA is 11th in the National standings, sixth in the Rookie points, and a VP Racing Fuels Young Guns Challenge Series driver with 366 points. Ahnna Parkhurst of Evans, GA is 12th with 330 points, and another Young Guns driver Jake Rainey of Hiram, GA is 13th with 280 points. Rainey had a second-place finish last time out at Cochran Motor Speedway.
Logan Palmer of Acworth, GA is 14th in the National standings with 254 points, and Jordy Nipper of Macon, GA, who also has a second-place finish at Cochran Motor Speedway, is 16th with 238 points. Young Guns driver Garrett Smith of Eatonton, GA is 17th with 228 points, and Blake Smith of East Dublin, GA is 19th with 170 points.
The chances are good that there will be a new name on the Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race Globe Trophy this year. The winner of the last three races, Kyle Bronson of Brandon, FL will not be attending this year’s race due to a prior Super Late Model commitment. The only other multi-time winner is Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN in 2005 and 2007.
List of names on the Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race Globe Trophy reads like a Who’s Who in Dirt Late Model racing. Along with Bronson and Owens, former winners are Randy Corte (2006), Shanon Buckinghan (2008), Tim McCreadie (2009), Doug Horton (2010), Jonathan Davenport (2011), Ivedent Lloyd Jr. (2012), Ray Cook (2013), Walker Arthur (2015), and Dennis Franklin (2016). The main event in 2014 was rained out.
The on-track action for the Newsome Raceway Parts Crate Racin’ USA Dirt Late Model Series begins on Friday night at Cochran Motor Speedway with an Open Practice. The Pit Gate opens at 4 p.m. with the Open Practice from 7:30 p.m. until 10:30 p.m.
There will be Boyd Built Fabricators Group Qualifying and KRC Power Steering Heat Races on Saturday night to fill the front half of the starting field for the Main Event. The Pit Gate Opens at 2 p.m. with Crate Racin’ USA Dirt Late Model Series Pre-Race Registration and Technical Inspection from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Drivers Meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. and Hot Laps are scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
On Sunday, the KRC B-Main Races will be run to fill the back half of the Big Show, and if there are over 50 Entries, there will be a $600-to-win Non-Qualifiers Race. The winner can take the money or elect to start 25th in the Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race that highlights Sunday night’s events. The Pit Gate opens at 2 p.m., the Drivers Meeting is set for 6:30 p.m., and Hot Laps are scheduled for 7 p.m.
Cochran Motor Speedway is located at 241 Jim Wimberly Road, Cochran, GA 31014. For more information call 478-456-4036, or visit the track web site at www.cochranspeedway.com. You can also Like them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CochranMotorSpeedway/.
The economical Aluminum Head, Steel Block, Chevrolet Performance 604 Circle Track Engine is the engine of choice for the Newsome Raceway Parts Crate Racin’ USA Dirt Late Model Series competitors. The Chevrolet Performance 604 Engine is in stock and available for free next day delivery from Newsome Raceway Parts in Hartsville, SC.
Newsome Raceway Parts gives a portion of the sales from each Chevrolet Performance Circle Track Engine sold back to the Crate Racin’ USA Point Funds in four different Divisions. Each economical Chevrolet Performance Circle Track Engine is built and sealed at the factory to prevent any expensive modifications. To place an order call 1-877-497-3624.
For more information and rules about the Newsome Raceway Parts Crate Racin’ USA Dirt Late Model Series, visit the series web site at www.crateracinusa.com, or visit the series on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CrateRacinUSA/. You can follow us on Twitter @CrateRacinUSALM, and at Instagram at crateracinusa.
Newsome Raceway Parts, a Division of Raceway Chevrolet in Hartsville, SC, is the Title Sponsor of Crate Racin’ USA. Chevrolet Performance Parts is an Official Sponsor of Crate Racin’ USA. Hoosier Racing Tire is the Official Tire Sponsor of Crate Racin’ USA. VP Racing Fuel is the Official Race Fuel and Lubricant of Crate Racin’ USA. Knowles Race Parts and Bodies is the Official Parts Supplier for Crate Racin’ USA. Willy’s Carburetors is the Official Carburetor of Crate Racin’ USA. Fullmoon Graphics is the Official Wrap, Banner, and Sign Company of Crate Racin’ USA. Crate Racin’ USA 2020 Chassis Sponsors are Warrior Race Cars, Rocket Chassis, GRT Race Cars, and CVR Race Cars.
PHOTO CUTLINE: Wil Herrington of Hawkinsville, GA will be one of the favorites this Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the $20,000-to-win 75-lap 16th Annual Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race for the Newsome Raceway Parts Crate Racin’ USA Dirt Late Model Series at Herrington’s home track Cochran Motor Speedway in Cochran, GA. Herrington is the Co-Point Leader of the National Tour with Cruz Skinner of Oxford, AL. Herrington has three wins this season driving the #14 5m Construction Rocket, and two of those wins have come at Cochran Motor Speedway (Brian McLeod Photo)