FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CARTERSVILLE, GA – The 3rd Annual RockAuto.com Winter Shootout for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series continues this week with Rounds 2, 3 and 4 during the Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race Week at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, FL. The top dirt late model racers from throughout the country will be headed for the Sunshine State.

               The action starts on Wednesday night with an Open Practice Session followed by a pair of 40-lap $2,000-to-win races on Thursday night and Friday night. The week will be highlighted by the $10,000-to-win 100-lap 14th Annual Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race on Saturday night.

            The last five Chevrolet Performance World Championship Races have been held at Bubba Raceway Park, and the defending race Champion, Kyle Bronson of Brandon, FL has done what several drivers in the past have done, used that win to springboard his racing career. As Florida Speedweeks 2018 comes to a close, Bronson has been recognized as one of the hottest dirt late model drivers in the country.
           
            In three Chevrolet Performance World Championship Races, Bronson has finished no worse than third. In addition to last year’s win, Bronson has a second-place finish and a third-place showing in the Chevrolet Performance World Championship Races in the 2016 and 2013 respectively.
           
            Bronson considers Bubba Raceway Park one of his best tracks, and the Sunshine State was where he took a National Super Late Model win earlier in the month. Bronson will be trying to become the first driver in the 14-year history of the Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race to win it two years in a row.
           
            Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN is the only two-time winner of the Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race taking the first race in 2005, and again in 2007. Owens used his success in the Granddaddy of Pro Dirt Late Model Races to springboard his career to a lucrative super late model career, as did the 2011 race winner Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, GA.
           
            The driver with the next best finishing percentage is the 2015 Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race winner Walker Arthur of Forest, VA with one win, two top five finishes and four top ten finishes at Bubba Raceway Park. The 2016 Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race winner, Dennis “Rambo” Franklin of Gaffney, SC has one win and two top five finishes at BRP.
           
            The 2010 Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race winner Doug Horton of Wimauma, FL has one top five and three top ten finishes at Bubba Raceway Park. Other former Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race winners include Randy Korte of Highland, IL in 2006, Shanon Buckingham of Morristown, TN in 2008, Tim McCreadie of Watertown, NY in 2009, Ivedent Lloyd Jr. of Ocala, FL in 2012, and Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC in 2013. Mother Nature won the race in 2014.
           
            Three-time NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion and National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame Inductee Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN leads the Rock Auto.com Winter Shootout point standings after winning the opening Round at the 27th Annual Ice Bowl at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL on January 7.
           
            Michael Page of Douglasville, GA, Jimmy Elliott of Cleveland, TN, Jesse Lowe of Crossville, TN, and Andy Picklesimer of Ooltewah, TN are second through fifth respectively in the RockAuto.com Winter Shootout point standings for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series going into the three races at Bubba Raceway Park. 
           
            Sam Seawright of Fort Payne, AL, Dylan Knowles of Lanett, AL, Brad Berry of Attalla, AL, Shane Smith of Fruithurst, AL, and Chase Walls of Decherd, TN are sixth through tenth respectively going into the trio of races at Bubba Raceway park in the Rock Auto.com Winter Shootout points chase for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series.
           
            The open practice on Wednesday night will be from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. On Thursday and Friday, gates open at 4 p.m. with NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Pre-Race Registration and Technical Inspection from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Drivers Meeting on Thursday and Friday is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., with Hot Laps to follow.
           
            On Saturday for the 14th Annual Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race, the gates open at 4 p.m. with NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Pre-Race Registration and Technical Inspection from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Drivers Meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. with Hot Laps to follow.
           
            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.