Kid Rocket Blasts to NeSmith Late Model Win at Bubba Raceway Park

KID ROCKET BLASTS TO NeSMITH LATE MODEL WIN AT BUBBA RACEWAY PARK

 (January 29, 2016 - OCALA, FL) – Josh Richards of Shinnston, WV drove the Sallack Well Service Rocket to his first career NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series win on Friday night at Bubba Raceway Park in Round 2 of the RockAuto.com Winter Shootout.  Richards picked up the $2,500 win in the 40-lap main event after a hard fought battle with Kyle Bronson of Brandon, FL.

In the last half of the race, Bronson tried both high and low in the Brandon Ford Special to get around Richards for the lead.  On two occasions, Bronson looked like he was going to take the lead after getting alongside Richards, only to have caution flags spoil the effort.

“This is only the second time I’ve run a race with a Chevrolet Performance 604 Racing Engine, and it takes a different style of driving that I’m still trying to learn,” Richards said.  “Kyle Bronson and I are both aggressive drivers, and he made me earn this one.  If it wasn’t for Bubba Clem and his track crew, we wouldn’t have had a track to race on tonight.  After all of the rain they’ve had here over the last few days, the track was still pretty wet.”

After leading the first four laps of the race, Bronson finished second, .755 seconds behind Richards.  Walker Arthur of Forest, VA took the checkered flag in third, but he was disqualified in the post-race technical inspection with unapproved suspension components on his Cecil B. Arthur Beef Farms Special. 

That moved Dennis Franklin of Gaffney, SC up to the third spot in the M&W Transport Special.  Tyler Bare of Rockridge Baths, VA was fourth in the Blue Grass Farm Special, and Justin Williams of Concord, VA drove the Ditch Witch Special to a fifth-place finish.  Keith Nosbisch of Valrico, FL came from the 18th starting spot to finish sixth in the Image Skin Care Rocket.

Logan Robertson of Waynesboro, VA took the seventh spot in the Mike’s Tire and Auto Special, and Chase Edge of LaFayette, AL took over the RockAuto.com Winter Shootout point lead with an eighth-place finish in the Edge’s Gas Company Special.  Edge holds a 48-point lead over William Thomas of Phenix City, AL.

The ninth spot went to Jimmy Mac of Mooresville, NC in the Lake Norman Motors Special.  Sunoco Young Guns Challenge Series driver, 15-year-old Bryan Marsh of Corinth, MS, rounded out the top ten in the Modern Woodmen Trak-Star after starting 22nd.

In preliminary action, Trent Ivey of Union, SC was the fast qualifier among the 53 entrants with a lap around the 3/8-mile clay oval in 15.060 seconds driving the Ivey Construction Special.  The four 12-lap B-Main Races were won by Shan Smith of Dade City, FL in the Smith Racing Rocket, Ralph Morgan Jr. of Mount Union, PA in the Morgan’s Excavating Special, Mike Pegher Jr. of Cranberry Township, PA in the Royal Flush, Inc. Rocket, and Ryan Carter of Blackshear, GA in the Mark’s Auto and Collision Special.

Bubba Raceway Park is located north of Ocala, FL at 9050 N.W. Gainesville Road, Ocala, FL 34482.  For more information call 352-622-9400, or visit the track web site at www.bubbaracewaypark.com and on Facebook at Bubba Raceway Park. 

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.