Kyle Bronson inherited Saturday’s $10,000 victory at Volusia.
What won the race: Benefitting from Michael Page's disqualification, Kyle Bronson of Brandon, Fla., earned a $10,000 Crate Racin' USA Winter Shootout victory in Saturday's Sunshine Nationals finale at Volusia Speedway Park. Page of Douglasville, Ga., led all 30 laps of Saturday's feature at the half-mile oval and took the checkers 2.180 seconds ahead of Bronson, but his car’s engine failed postrace inspection.
Key notes: Bronson was declared the winner at 3:30 a.m. … According to series officials, Page's engine caused the disqualification because of “a valve spring installation height infraction outside the parameters set by Chevrolet Performance.” … Page and car owner Troy Baird told DirtonDirt.com that the team didn't knowingly use an illegal engine. Engine builder Matt Bishop, who inspected the engine Monday, told DirtonDirt.com that he concluded a faulty gauge used while rebuilding Page’s engine was apparently the cause of the infraction. … The disqualification was described by series officials as an “outside the seal” infraction, meaning Bishop won’t lose privileges as a certified engine rebuilder for Crate Racin’ USA. ... The victory gives Bronson his second straight victory in the Crate Late Model finale of the early-season event after he swept all three nights of Crate racing at the Sunshine Nationals last season. It was also his second victory of the weekend; he won Thursday's World of Outlaws season opener during night one of the Sunshine Nationals weekend. ... Page captured Thursday's weekend opener. ... Friday's action rained out. ... The event was on the undercard of the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series (winner Kyle Strickler) with Limited Late Models and 602 Crate Late Models.
On the move: Mack McCarter of Gatlinburg, Tenn., started 20th and finished third.
Winner's sponsors: Bronson’s Rocket Chassis is sponsored by Brandon Ford, Brandon Collision, All Florida Real Estate Group, Racecar Engineering and Lucas Oil.
Points chase: Before Saturday: 1. Dylan Knowles (180); 2. Jason Welshan (172); 3. Cody Overton (168); 4. Jake Knowles (154); 5. Jody Knowles (134).
Current weather: Clear, 45°F
Car count: 64
Fast qualifier: Pearson Lee Williams
Time: 17.391 seconds
Polesitter: Dylan Knowles
Heat race winners: Trever Taylor, Joseph Joiner, Mark Whitener, Michael Page, Kyle Bronson, Dylan Knowles, , ,
Consolation race winners: Jason Welshan, Mack McCarter, Jody Knowles, ,
Provisional starters: Jake Knowles, Drew Kennedy, ,
Next series race: February 4, East Bay Raceway Park (Gibsonton, FL) $2,500