Kyle Bronson Collects $5,000 at Cochran Motor Speedway with RockAuto.com Winter Shoot

Cochran, GA – Kyle Bronson of Brandon, FL became the first repeat winner of the 2017 season on the RockAuto.com Winter Shootout for the NeSmith Dirt Late Model Series with a $5,000 win at Cochran Motor Speedway on Saturday night March 11th. Bronson led the final four laps after getting by Riley Hickman, who had led laps 7-55, with a pass while racing amongst lapped traffic in his Brandon Collision/All Florida Real Estate sponsored Rocket Chassis #40B. The win makes Bronson the first two-time winner in 2017 on the RockAuto.com Winter Shootout for the NeSmith Dirt Late Model Series after picking up the Chevrolet Performance World Championship win at Bubba Raceway Park early this season.

42 entries made their way to Chris and Joni Martin’s 3/8th mile facility for the $5,000 to win event. Sunoco Race Fuels Pole Qualifying would determine the line-up for the 4 Chevrolet Performance Heat Races from which the top 3 finishers would transfer to the main event. Following Heat Races 2 RockAuto.com B-Mains would take the top 6 finishers from each to set the 24-car starting field. Loudon, TN driver Matt Henderson would top Sunoco Race Fuels Time Trials in his Terror Race Cars/Crowder Small Engine sponsored entry by setting a fast time of 14.685 seconds and putting himself on the pole of Chevrolet Performance Heat Race #1 which would determine the pole sitter for the feature event. Henderson would get out to an early lead and pick up the Heat Race win. Heat Race 2 went to fellow Tennessee driver Riley Hickman in the Hickman Manufacturing CVR. The third Heat Race win was claimed by Red(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word), FL’s Devin Dixon in the Big Frog Motorsports/Dave’s Towing sponsored #58 Rocket Chassis. The fourth and final heat race win went to “Big Tree” Larry Harrod in his #27 Harrod Logging/EPA Photography sponsored machine. Two 15-lap RockAuto.com B-Mains would determine the final 12 starters for the main event. Commerce, GA’s 15- year old Payton Freeman picked up the win in B-Main 1 to lock his Freeman Plumbing/Price’s Septic sponsored mount in the big show. B-Main 2 win went to LaFayette, AL’s Chase Edge in the Edge’s Gas sponsored special.

With the field set, the near capacity crowd at Cochran Motor Speedway roared to life when the green flag dropped for the 60-lap main event. The great fans at Cochran were treated to superb racing from the get go of the as the racing action was fierce and furious throughout the field, but especially so among the top 5 throughout the 60-lap feature. Matt Henderson would use his inside pole start position to jump out to the early lead heading into turn one, but the first of 6 caution flags would wave before the completion of lap 1 when contact between cars resulted in Jimmy Thomas #22 machine spun at the bottom of turn 4 setting up a complete restart. Once again Henderson was able to jump to a lead at the drop of the green flag, but Riley Hickman kept him in his sights. Hickman used the outside lane of the track to setup his assault on Henderson for the lead. After applying pressure and several failed attempts to clear Henderson, Hickman was able to get by him on the outside coming to complete lap 7. After secruring the lead the caution lights would once again come one as the #A19 Austin Trucking sponsored machine of John Ownbey slowed down the back straightaway.

Hickman settled into the lead for the restart and established a comfortable gap before caution would wave again on lap 10 for the spinning machine of Ryan Carter. Green flag waved again with fierce battles among the top 5 that would once again slow as one of the contenders at the front of the field, Larry Harrod, would slow with a flat tire on lap 12. Harrod would rejoin the field at the tail as the green lights lit with Hickman continuing to lead. Lap 17 would see the fifth caution when suspension issues would drop Walker Arthur’s Cecil B. Arthur Beef Farms machine from contention at the front of the field. Hickman again setup a lead as some of the most intense racing for position was taking place behind him amongst a contingent of Sunshine State drivers Whitener, Bronson, and Mark Whitener. The sixth and final caution would wave on lap 33 for Payton Freeman after his Freeman Plumbing machine slid to a stop off the top of turn 3.

The caution would stack the field up for what would be the final “dixie double file” restart. With Hickman out front he would once again take command of the lead with the fierce action continuing behind him. Slide jobs, lane swapping, and door-to-door action had the fans on the edge of their seat as laps began to wind down. Friday night’s winner and 18th place starter Mike Pegher Jr. looked as though he was going to join the party, but damage to the nose of his machine hindered his car’s handling dropping him from contention. The race among the top 5 got even better as lapped traffic was racing for position ahead of leader Hickman allowing the others to reel him in as laps wound down. Kyle Bronson and Whitener had used every possible line on the speedway to remain in the runner up position, but it was Bronson who was able to put his machine in position to pounce as he cleared Hickman on lap 55. From there it was Hickman who found himself among the battle for not only the lead but a top 5 finish. The race to catch Bronson would prove to be too much as they were able to keep him in their windows but not able to catch the driver who has now picked up the two largest paying events of the 2017 RockAuto.com Winter Shootout Season.

The 2017 RockAuto.com Winter Shootout returns to action on Friday and Saturday March 24th and 25th at Oglethorpe Speedway Park in Pooler, GA for the Emory Stone Spring Race for the Cure which will include TWO Complete Racing Shows for the NeSmith Late Models. Friday March 24th will be a 40-lap $2,000 to win followed by a 50-lap $2,500 to win event on Saturday March 25th. For more information about Oglethorpe Speedway Park visit their official website at www.OSPRacing.net or give them a call at 912-964-8200.

For more information about the NeSmith Dirt Late Model Series, please visit the official website at www.nesmithracing.com.

You can also follow NeSmith Racing on all of your favorite social media outlets as well:
Facebook – NeSmith Racing
Twitter - @NeSmithRacing
Instagram – nesmithracing

Round #7 of the RockAuto.com Winter Shootout Feature Results
1 40B Kyle Bronson
2 R1 Riley Hickman
3 58 Devin Dixon
4 5 Mark Whitener
5 P1 Andy Picklesimer
6 17 Matt Henderson
7 J39 Jimmy Elliott
8 18 Chase Edge
9 52 Ryan Carter
10 22 Jimmy Thomas
11 RJ1 Mike Pegher Jr
12 27 Larry Harrod
13 8 Ron Parker
14 19 Marcus Minga
15 F1 Payton Freeman
16 66 Jody Knowles
17 22 Cecil Eunice
18 20 Cole Godowns
19 87 Walker Arthur
20 01 Travis Pennington
21 P4 Jamie Perry
22 A19 John Owenby
23 1N Jordy Nipper
24 J1 Joshua Bishop

Entries: 42
Fast Qualifier: Matt Henderson – 14.685
Provisionals: None
Lead Changes: 3
Lap Leaders: Henderson – 1-16; Hickman – 7-55; Bronson – 56-60
Margin of Victory: 0.939 seconds
Time of Race: 37 minutes, 51 seconds
NEXT RACE: March 24th – Oglethorpe Speedway Park - $2,000 to win

NeSmith Chevrolet, Buick, GMC is the Official Title Sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series.
Chevrolet Performance is an Official Sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series.
Hoosier Racing Tire is the Official Tire of the NeSmith Dirt Late Model Series.
Sunoco Race Fuels is the Official Race Fuel of the Series.
Cruise with the Champions is the Official Vacation and Rookie of the Year Sponsor for the Series.
RockAuto.com is an Associate Sponsor of the Series and Official Sponsor of the RockAuto.com Winter Shootout Series.
David Smith Carburetors is the Official Carburetor of NeSmith Racing.

Contingency Sponsors Include: Crate Insider.com, AR Bodies, FreeStyle Graphix, Out Pace Performance, and Knowles Racing Parts and Bodies.

2017 Chassis Sponsors are Trak-Star Race Cars, Warrior Race Cars, Rocket Chassis, GRT Race Cars, and CVR Race Cars.