Ocala Speedway
Pair of DQs lift Bronson to first UDLMCS win
By Jim Rouse
Bubba Raceway Park
Kyle Bronson (40) won $3,000 at Bubba Raceway Park. (Trace Crisp)
OCALA, Fla. (March 9) — Kyle Bronson of Brandon, Fla., crossed the finish line third in Saturday’s United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series event at Bubba Raceway Park but was declared the race’s winner when the two cars finishing in front of him were found illegal in post-race technical inspection.
Bronson, who recovered from an spin that forced him to the tail of the field early in the 50-lap main event, earned $3,000 for his first-ever victory on the sixth-year regional series. | Slideshow
Hometown drivers Austin Kirkpatrick and Ivedent Lloyd Jr. both rallied from back-row starting spots to cross the finish line first and second respectively, but both performances were thrown out. Kirkpatrick was found to have used an illegal tire compound in the event while Lloyd was disqualified for having an extra carburetor spacer.
Fast qualifier Keith Nosbisch of Valrico, Fla., was moved up to the runner-up finish following the disqualifications while Rich Pratt of Anthony, Fla., Kenny Monohan of Lakeland, Fla., and Brandon DeWitt Morven, Ga., rounded out the top five in the race’s final rundown.
Bronson ran near the front early in the race and used a lap-12 restart to power by second-running Mark Whitener of Middleburg, Fla., and Nosbisch, who took the lead on the start of the race and had led through three restarts. But Bronson’s time out front didn’t last long. He spun from the lead on a restart a few laps later, handing the lead to Whitener.
After a caution-plauged first 20 laps, the field ran 17 laps caution free, allowing 23rd-starting Lloyd to take the lead from Whitener on lap 30. Whitener later slowed after suffering a flat tire with five laps remaining.
Lloyd was able to pull away after Whitener’s demise, but Kirkpatrick reeled him in and made the winning pass on lap 48 to go from 24th to first after a transmission problem kept him out of heat race action. Lloyd crossed the finish line second with Bronson close behind.
UDLMCS @ Ocala: (1) Kyle Bronson, (2) Keith Nosbisch, (3) Rich Pratt, (4) Kenny Monohan, (5) Brandon DeWitt, (6) Bryan Bernhardt, (7) Adam Bedenbaugh, (8) Mark Whitener, (9) Blaise Hetznecker, (10) Jack Nosbisch, Jr., (11) Brett Carlton, (12) Christian Augspurger, (13) Wayne Shugart, (14) Tyler Clem, (15) Billy Holmes, (16) Jason Fitzgerald, (17) Richard Ferry, (18) John Koller, (19) Darrell Padgett, (20) Jim Cryer, (21) Shan Smith. Disqualified: Kyle Van Sickle, Austin Kirkpatrick, Ivedent Lloyd, Jr. Scratch: Jeff Mathews. Fast qualifier K. Nosbisch, 14.429 seconds.
