Ronnie Johnson Tops NeSmith Late Models At Talladega

Ronnie Johnson (5) battles for the lead with 12-year-old Tyler Clem (14) during Saturday night’s NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series feature at Talladega Short Track. Johnson went on to score the victory. Photo courtesy NeSmith Media

On a normal night when Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN comes from the 12th starting spot and wins a NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series race, it’s a pretty big story. That wasn’t the case at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL on Saturday night. The big story was the driver that finished fourth. His name is Tyler Clem of St. Petersburg, FL and he’s 12-years-old.

The race was billed as a Race For The Ages on the Grand Stage of Talladega NASCAR Weekend. The oldest driver in the field was 82-year-old legend Red Farmer of Hueytown, AL, and 70 years his junior, Clem at age 12 was the youngest driver among the 58 different drivers that competed over the weekend with the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series.

So, how does a 12-year-old driver that finished fourth steal the show from the defending and two-time NeSmith Late Model National Champion and National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame Inductee? Clem won the not only the cheers of the huge crowd, but also the hearts of the fans by holding off not one two-time NeSmith National Champions, but two of them.

Two-time NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion Eric Cooley of Fulton, MS joined Johnson and Clem in a three-wide battle for the lead, a war that waged for 14 of the 50 lap feature race that had everyone on the grounds off their seats. Clem took the lead on lap four, and began to pull away.

By lap 19, Johnson had charged up from his 12th starting spot in the NeSmith Chevrolet Special to challenge Clem for the lead. Johnson tried inside and outside to grab the point, but Clem had just enough coming off the corners to hold him off. By lap 25, Clem had a pair of two-time National Champions racing him on each side of him.

Clem showed the talent and skill of a veteran three times his age, as he positioned his race car in just the right position to spoil any momentum either Johnson or Cooley could muster to make a challenge to take the lead from the youngster.

Clem’s defense of the race lead, however, did take its toll on his tires. Johnson had the outside for a lap 32 restart, and he got a good run to roll around the outside of Clem, who just couldn’t find the traction he needed to hold off the 59-year-old veteran.

“We won the race, but Tyler Clem is the show tonight,” Johnson said in the winner’s circle. “That is one impressive young man because at my age, these races are getting harder and harder to win, and Tyler really made me work for this one. He did things tonight in a race car that you can’t teach someone. They are just things that come natural, and Tyler showed tonight he has natural ability to drive a race car.”

Cooley finished second and third was Matt Henderson with Clem in fourth

“At first, I couldn’t believe I was leading a NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Touring race,” Clem said. “Then I couldn’t believe I had Ronnie Johnson on one side of me and Eric Cooley on the other, and they weren’t flying by me. Ronnie Johnson is the best there is. He’s a legend and a Hall of Fame driver. It was just unreal to race side-by-side with him as long as I did.”

Cale Conley of Vienna, WV finished fifth. Chase Edge of LaFayette, AL finished sixth, followed by Todd Morrow of East Ridge, TN in seventh. Kevin Sitton of Baytown, TX took the eighth spot.

Joe Noogin of Boaz, AL finished ninth and Adam Gauldin of Talladega, AL rounded out the top ten.

The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring Division will next travel to Mississippi for a pair of 40-lap $2,000-to-win races over the Memorial Day Holiday Weekend. Whynot Motorsports Park in Meridian, MS will host the NeSmith Late Models on May 23, and they will be at Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, MS on May 24.

For more information about the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series, visit the series web site at NesmithRacing.com.

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Talladega Short Track – Eastaboga, AL
Race Results – May 2, 2015

1. 12 5 Ronnie Johnson Chattanooga, TN 50 $2,625
2. 1 33b Eric Cooley Fulton, MS 50 $1,451
3. 2 H2 Matt Henderson (R) Loudon, TN 50 $975
4. 6 14 Tyler Clem (R/Y) St. Petersburg, FL 50 $700
5. 10 14c Cale Conley Vienna, WV 50 $650
6. 7 18 Chase Edge LaFayette, AL 50 $675
7. 3 8a Todd Morrow East Ridge, TN 50 $500
8. 13 20 Kevin Sitton Baytown, TX 50 $450
9. 20 21 Joe Noogin Boaz, AL 50 $400
10. 8 17 Adam Gauldin Talladega, AL 50 $375
11. 14 55 Ryan King Anniston, AL 50 $350
12. 5 101 Forrest Trent Talbott, TN 50 $300
13. 11 11 Cruz Skinner (Y) Oxford, AL 50 $280
14. 4 2x Nick Lyons Centrailia, IL 50 $260
15. 23 30 Ryan King (R) Seymour, TN 49 $375
16. 9 7 Cole Daffron (Y) Pell City, AL 49 $240
17. 21 5d Rodgerick Dykes Smith Station, AL 42 $220
18. 15 19 William Thomas Phenix City, AL 40 $200
19. 17 15 Nathan Mayes Springdale, AR 31 $200
20. 16 21m Cody Martin (R) Christiana, TN 24 $325
21. 22 5c Mike Combs Odenville, AL 23 $200
22. 19 81 Adam Cummings Odenville, AL 17 $200
23. 24 10 Ryan Crane (R) Panama City, FL 10 $325
24. 18 08 Justin Shipley Douglasville, GA 9 $200