January 30
Bubba Raceway Park,
Ocala, FL
Sanction: Crate Racin’ USA Winter Series (Bubba Army Winternationals) - $3,000
Information provided by: Series reports (last updated January 31, 10:16 am)
Bronson overtakes Richards for $3,000 NeSmith victory
Bubba Army Winternationals
- Kyle Bronson
- Max Blair
- Mark Whitener
- Tyler Clem
- Austin Kirkpatrick
- Ivedent Lloyd Jr.
- Brent Barrett
- Josh Richards
- Chase Edge
- Tyler Bare
- Logan Roberson
- Shan Smith
- Cale Conley
- Justin Williams
- Bryant Marsh
- Corey Almond
- Adam Bowman
- Ralph Morgan Jr.
- Mike Knight
- Michael Lake
- Bryce Davis
- Ryan King
- Marcus Minga
Kyle Bronson (40B) topped Max Blair (111) for a victory at Ocala.
What won the race: In the first of two NeSmith Crate Late Model events Saturday at Bubba Raceway Park, polesitter Kyle Bronson of Brandon, Fla., overtook Friday's winner Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., following a lap-37 restart and outran fifth-starting Max Blair of Centerville, Pa., to the checkered flag by 2.491 seconds for a $3,000 victory.
Quotable: “This crate stuff, it gets so hard to pass when you get lined out, so I had a hole there and an opportunity and I filled the hole,” Bronson said of his surge between Richards and Blair off turn two to grab the lead on a lap-37 restart. “I did what I had to do to win the race. I figured it I didn’t do that, I probably wouldn’t have won the race.”
Key notes: Coming off a spectacular 23-win season, Bronson earned his first Dirt Late Model victory of 2016 in the first half of NeSmith's Saturday doubleheader. ... After Bronson jumped to the early lead, Richards gained the point on lap 11 and controlled the race's middle stages. ... Slipping back as far as fourth after leading laps 1-10, Bronson rallied to the front following a lap-37 caution, splitting Richards and Blair off the second corner to move ahead. ... Shortly after, the second-running Richards spun in the third turn on lap 43 and was forced to the tail; he improved back to eighth in the final seven laps. ... Blair was satisfied with a runner-up finish; he said his car became tight and wasn't as fast as Bronson and Richards late in the race. ... Action was slowed by additional cautions on laps 8, 21, 31 and 35.
On the move: Mark Whitener of Middleburg, Fla., rallied from 15th to complete the podium driving a 2007-vintage Barry Wright Race Car.
Winner's sponsors: Bronson's Longhorn Chassis is sponsored by All Florida Real Estate Group, Baird Transport, Big Frog Shock & Suspension, Bilstein, Brandon Ford, Dirtwrap, Eibach Springs, Elite Concrete, Racecar Engineering and TSM Shocks.
Car count: 53
Fast qualifier: Kyle Bronson
Time: 14.736 seconds
Polesitter: Kyle Bronson
Consolation race winners: Brent Barrett, Ivedent Lloyd Jr., Austin Kirkpatrick, Adam Bowman
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.