NLMS Mobile results

Mobile, AL - It's Hot! And it is going to get hotter! The National Late Model Sportsman Series Points race is heating up as the Southern Dirt our heads for Waycross, GA and the running of the "Walker Jones 75" at Waycross Motor Speedway. Leading the touring series into Waycross is Gene Maine and the potent Ives Racing/Russell Brown Racing Chevrolet. The Valdosta, GA driver sits atop the points, but Waycross is not a track that has been kind to him in the past. In second spot is the points is Ricky Brant of Pooler, GA, who needs to make up some ground during the middle of the season to catch Maine before time runs out. Wendell Durrance won the "Waycross 75" earlier in the season at this track, and with a new car the Gainesville, FL driver is hoping that a repeat is in order to vault him over Brant and closer to Maine.

Fourth in the points overall, and leading the Rookie of the Year chase is Henry Carter Jr of Swainsboro, GA. With three top 10 finishes in the last three races another good finish could move him higher in the standings. "The Blackshear Bandit" Cecil Eunice is fifth in points and is looking for good things to happen as the series heads to his home track, and the site of many of his more than 500 wins. Further back in the points standings, but gaining ground at a rapid pace are Steve Jones, Billy Godowns Jr, Joe Kump, and Dennis Smith. By being at or near the front, these drivers have closed the gap to the points leaders considerably over the last three races and are forces to be reckoned with as the series heads into the second half.

In the Rookie of the Year battle, Carter leads Jones by a mere five points, and the Rhine, GA driver has had three top five finishes in the last four races. Third in the Rookie chase is Lee Jackson of Brooklet, GA, who has been quietly working his way towards the leading duo.

The Engine Builders points show Bennett Brothers with a slim lead over Gary Johns with Reeves RPM a very close third. Bennett, of Jacksonville, FL has ridden the success of Durrance and Maine to the top of the points and is hoping that their success combined with that of others who run his motors will keep him on top.

Snow Brothers leads the Chassis Builders points with a slim lead over Russell Brown. With each builder having about the same number of representatives, this battle changes almost every week depending on who places in the top five. Perched in third place is M&L Racing who are hoping their cars will make a late season charge to challenge the front runners.

Although Maine is safe, for the moment, at the top of the standings, the Walker Jones 75 could see some big moves made in the pack behind him. A poor finish, and Maine could see his lead eroded to next to nothing following the Waycross event. In the other points races, every race can see changes at the top and this week will be no exception. The battles are that tight.

National Late Model Sportsman Series Point Standings after 9 of 17 events

Championship Points                     Rookie of the Year Standings
1. Gene Maine                   820     1. Henry Carter Jr      455
2. Ricky Brant                  645     2. Steve Jones          450
3. Wendell Durrance             620     3. Lee Jackson          285
4. Henry Carter Jr              585     4. Wiley McDaniel       220
5. Cecil Eunice                 565     5. Duane Chancey        175
6. Tracy Mimbs                  545
7. Ivedent Lloyd                510     Chassis Builders Standings
8. Jimmy Lee Davis              505     1. Snow Brothers        215
9. Steve Jones                  460     2. Russell Brown        195
10. Everett Phillips            455     3. M&L Racing           115
11. Billy Godowns Jr            420     4. Walter Newman         75
12. Joe Kump                    375     5. Hooker                55
13. Terry Lumley                365
14. Dennis Smith                305     Engine Builders Standings
15. Randy Ellenberg             305     1. Bennett Brothers     150
16. Tracy Walden                280     2. Gary Johns           135
17. Robbie Metts                280     3. Reeves RPM           130
18. Skip Pannell                235     4. Custom Racing Engines 80
19. Johnny Collins              230     5. Wynn Racing Engines   55
20. Andy Stewart                220

1997 Winners Wendell Durrance 2 Gene Maine 2 Cecil Eunice 2 John Rankin 1 Tracy Mimbs 1 Dennis McDaniel 1 ***END***