Kyle Bronson Takes Hard Earned Win At Winter Shootout
Story By:NE Smith Series Media Photos By: Bruce Carroll
OCALA, FL – Kyle Bronson of Brandon, FL drove the Brandon Ford Special to victory on Saturday in a spectacular Round 3 of the RockAuto.com Winter Shootout. The 50-lap race for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series saw a continuation of Friday night’s battle between Bronson and Kid Rocket Josh Richards.
Bronson and Richards raced side-by-side throughout the race and swapped the lead on two occasions. Bronson led the first ten laps with Richards all over him. Richards took the lead on lap 11 and led the next 33 laps with Bronson putting on the pressure. Bronson took Richards over the limit of control on lap 44, as Richards spun the Sallack Well Service Rocket coming off turn four.
The story of both races of the RockAuto.com Winter Shootout for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series could be told in this one photo. Josh Richards of Shinnston, WV in the #17r Sallack Well Service Rocket and Kyle Bronson of Brandon, FL in the Branson Ford Special raced side-by-side for most of the two races at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, FL. Richards won the Friday night 50-lap race, and Bronson won the 50-lap race on Saturday afternoon. (NeSmith Media Photo by Bruce Carroll)
The story of both races of the RockAuto.com Winter Shootout for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series could be told in this one photo. Josh Richards of Shinnston, WV in the #17r Sallack Well Service Rocket and Kyle Bronson of Brandon, FL in the Branson Ford Special raced side-by-side for most of the two races at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, FL. Richards won the Friday night 50-lap race, and Bronson won the 50-lap race on Saturday afternoon. (NeSmith Media Photo by Bruce Carroll)
Richards went to the back of the pack for the restart, and Bronson cruised home unchallenged to pick up the $3,000 win, his third career win with the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series.
Max Blair of Centerville, PA finished second in the R&J Poultry Rocket and Mark Whitener of Middleburg, FL drove the FK Rod Ends Rocket to a third-place finish. Sunoco Young Guns Challenge Series driver, 13-year-old Tyler Clem took the fourth spot in the Vahlco Wheels Rocket, and Austin Kirkpatrick of Reddick, FL was fifth in the Dave’s Towing Special.
Ivedent Lloyd Jr. of Ocala, FL drove the Ocala Restaurant Supply Special to a sixth-place finish and Brent Barrett of Cleveland, MS finished seventh in the Custom Spraying Inc. GRT. Richards rallied back from his lap 44 spin to salvage an eighth-place finish.
The RockAuto.com Winter Shootout point leader Chase Edge of LaFayette, AL finished ninth in the Edge’s Company Special. Edge now holds a 50-point lead over Clem in the point standings. Tyler Bare of Rockridge Baths, VA rounded out the top ten in the Blue Grass Farm Special.
In preliminary action, Bronson set Fast Time in the Ocala Restaurant Supply Qualifying with a lap around the 3/8-mile clay oval in 14.736 seconds. Ocala Restaurant Supply put a $100 bill in Bronson’s pocket for his efforts. The four 12-lap B-Main Races were won by Barrett, Lloyd, Kirkpatrick, and Alex Bowman of Seymour, IN in the Bowman Motorsports Special.
On an immaculately prepared race track, the early Saturday show with lots of three and four-wide racing, set the table for the Evening show, the 100-lap $10,000-to-win 11th Annual Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series.
For more information and rules about the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series, visit the series web site at www.nesmithracing.com, or visit the series on Facebook at NeSmith Racing. Becoming a fan of the NeSmith Racing Facebook page will make you eligible for special prizes that will be given away each month. You can follow us on Twitter @NeSmithRacing.
