Friday March 29th, 2024 8:06AM

Josh Richards blasts to NeSmith Late Model win at Ocala

By Roby Helm

OCALA, Fla. - Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.V. 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 Ocala, Fla. 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, Fla..

In the last half of the race, Bronson tried both high and low 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 took the checkered flag in third, but he was disqualified in the post-race technical inspection with unapproved suspension components on his mount.

That moved Dennis Franklin up to the third spot. Tyler Bare was fourth and Justin Williams drove to a fifth-place finish.

Keith Nosbisch, Logan Robertson, Chase Edge, Jimmy Mac and Bryan Marsh rounded out the top ten.

Edge took over the RockAuto.com Winter Shootout point lead, and holds a 48-point lead over William Thomas.

In preliminary action, Trent Ivey was the fast qualifier among the 53 entrants with a lap around the 3/8-mile clay oval in 15.060 seconds. The four 12-lap B-Main Races were won by Shan Smith, Ralph Morgan, Jr., Mike Pegher, Jr. and Ryan Carter of Blackshear, Ga.

The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series returns to Bubba Raceway Park for a Saturday Double-Header. There will be a Saturday afternoon show featuring Round 3 of the RockAuto.con Winter Shootout with a $3,000-to-win 50-lap main event. The Saturday night show will be the non-points $10,000-to-win 100-lap 11th Annual Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race.

For more information, visit NesmithRacing.com.

NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series
Bubba Raceway Park – Ocala, FL
RockAuto.com Winter Shootout Round 2 – Jan. 29, 2016

POS STRT CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN LAPS $WON
1. 2 17b Josh Richards Shinnston, WV 40 $2,500
2. 3 40 Kyle Bronson Brandon, FL 40 $1,250
3. 8 2 Dennis Franklin Gaffney, SC 40 $850
4. 6 30b Tyler Bare Rockridge Baths, VA 40 $700
5. 5 1w Justin Williams Concord, VA 40 $650
6. 18 02 Keith Nosbisch Valrico, FL 40 $550
7. 7 17r Logan Robertson Waynesboro, VA 40 $500
8. 15 18 Chase Edge LaFayette, AL 40 $450
9. 13 23 Jimmy Mac Mooresville, NC 40 $400
10. 22 1m Bryant Marsh (Y) Corinth, MS 40 $375
11. 17 71 Hudson O’Neal Martinsville, IN 40 $350
12. 21 10 Ryan Crane Panama City, FL 38 $300
13. 1 88 Trent Ivey Union, SC 35 $280
14. 11 RJ1 Mike Pegher Jr. Cranberry, PA 34 $260
15. 9 45 Shan Smith Dade City, FL 24 $250
16. 10 44 Ralph Morgan Jr. Mount Union, PA 23 $240
17. 16 94 Bryan Davis Hornell, NY 18 $220
18. 14 5 Mark Whitener Middleburg, FL 10 $200
19. 12 52 Ryan Carter Blackshear, GA 9 $200
20. 23 7a Cory Almond Appomattox, VA 9 $200
21. 24 J17 Joe Kump Lake Helen, FL 7 $200
22. 19 21b Billy Beacher Franklin, NY 3 $200
23. 20 72 Frank Wilson Milton, FL 1 $200
24. 4 87 Walker Arthur Forest, VA 40 $0/DQ-Sspntn

  • Associated Categories: NASCAR News, Other Motorsports
  • Associated Tags: motorsports, Auto Racing, Dirt Track, Stock Car, Short Track, Dirt Late Model, NeSmith
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