GIBSONTON, Fla. — Randy Weaver was surprised to be in victory lane with his B&M Concrete CVR on Thursday night at East Bay Raceway Park after the finish of the 30-lap Newsome Raceway Parts Crate Racin’ USA Dirt Late Model Series Winter Shootout race.

Weaver only led one lap of the race, but it was the one that counted.

Weaver found himself the leader on a last lap restart after early race leader Max Blair in the Murphy’s Logging Rocket was penalized for a restart violation. Blair was ticketed for brake checking the field on a restart and was sent to the tail of the field. That gave Weaver the lead for a one lap dash to the checkered flag.

“I hate to win races this way, and I feel bad for Max because I had a second-place car tonight,” Weaver said. “I’m coming back to race after a couple of years off, and we’re having fun again. It doesn’t matter if we win or finish 24th. We’re having fun.”

Weaver was off for two years after suffering a head injury during a race. Weaver took the time off and let his head heal properly. He got a doctor’s green light to return to the cockpit of a dirt late model and he put together a deal with CVR Race Cars to return to competition this season. It didn’t take long for Weaver to wear off the ring rust.

Keith Nosbisch finished second in the Adams Used Auto Parts Rocket and Freddie Carpenter drove the Nevin Gainey Race Cars Kryptonite to a third-place showing. Steve Mathis Jr. and Walker Arthur rounded out the top five.

The finish:

Randy Weaver, Keith Nosbisch, Freddy Carpenter, Steve Mathis Jr., Walker Arthur, Cruz Skinner, Pierce McCarter, Joseph Joiner, Jake Knowles, Drew Kennedy, Clay Harris, Derrick Shaw, Jeremy Shaw, Nevin Gainey, Bruce Harvey, Jamie Carter, Marcus Minga, Travis Varnadore, Max Blair, Devin Dixon, Todd Hurst, Jody Knowles.