By Larry McMillan

(Inverness, Fl. 4/27/02) Thirty-two heavy duty Late Models made the show for the first of four 125-lap specials on the Citrus County Speedway schedule for 2002. Seven drivers were out for their first try on the new configuration to include Jimmy Cope.

When the dust settled and the checkered flag flew only eleven cars were still running. The top 24 cars qualified in time trials and the top four out of an 8-car consolation race. For the most part high 13 and low 14-second runs were setting up the top qualifiers until the final seven took on the fast 3/8th mile.

Herb Neumann Jr. turned in a 13.853 to set fast time before Wayne Anderson shot that down with 13.733-second lap. With only three more cars to qualify, Mike Bresnahan missed the track record on the old configuration by one tenth of a second and picked up the fast qualifier $500 with a 13.645 second run.

On the pill draw the starting lineup put Herb Hoefler on the pole after qualifying 4th fastest with an 13.840 with Herb Neumann on the outside, Wayne Anderson taking the inside of row two and Mike Bresnahan the outside. The drag race to turn one when the green flew put Hoefler on the point where he stayed for first 25 laps with several caution flags interrupting a solid run for anyone. Several caution flags came out for restarts with laps counting up to lap 75.

Hoefler got caught up in a four-car tangle on turn three and four that ended the night for Anderson, Wayne Jefferson, and Hoefler. On the restart, Herb Neumann took the point with Dave Pletcher putting the heat on for the next fifty laps.

Bresnahan was sitting quietly letting the leaders battle for the spot. Pletcher took numerous runs at Neumann before the break for Bresnahan came when Pletcher dove under Neumann and the two cars made contact and drifted high a on turn one and two. Bresnahan took advantage of the opening and held off all challengers to the finish line, banking $5500 for his nights work.

Herb Neumann Jr. finished second ahead of James Powell, Jim Smith, Dave Pletcher, Jimmy Britts, Lee Faulk, and Scott Grossenbacher, the only eight cars in the lead lap, and two lapped cars in Richie Anderson and Teddy Nelson. The balance of the field was forced to park it before the end of the race either for mechanical problems or crashes.

In other action, Tommy Smith continued to show why he is king of the Hobby Stock division. Starting 16th in the twenty three car field he managed to move to the point in the first 20 laps of the 30 lap main event for his fourth win of the season. Kreg Belcastro outran Brandon Johnson in the run for second while early leader Chris Cross held out for fourth over Don Wooten.

Another hot contender for his fourth Sportsman crown Mike Veltman showed the ten-car field the way to Victory Lane for third time this season. Mark Dominique held the early lead in their 30 lap main when something went sour in his engine opening up the gates for Jimmy Thompson take second over Terry Cater, Bill Oestreicher and Warren Baughn.

Travis Nichols used the second groove to improve his run for the Street Stock division championship, claiming his third feature win of the season. Don Teague seesawed from second to fifth, survived an early wreck that looked like he wouldnt make the restart, and came back to hold on for second just ahead of 18th starter Mike Bell. James Green lost power at the mid point in the race and gave up the lead to hold out for a fourth place finish over 16th starter Kathy Ray.

Seventeen Mini Stocks took the green in their 30 lap main and point leader Robbie Yoakam powered from his 14th starting spot to make his fourth trip to Victory Lane. Jay McKenzie scored a second place finish over early leader, rookie Lance Taylor. William Prevatt moved from 16th to finish fourth and Kevin Harrod held on for a fifth place finish.

Thunder Stocks went in a pair of 15 lap features and Josh Teague took home his fifth first place trophy of the season and maintains the point lead after seven weeks of action. Stuart Madison, Robert Jordan, Todd Downs and Rick Badessa round out the top five in the first race.

Robin Bauer took her first feature win after starting 14th in the sixteen-car field. Michael Wilson held out for a solid second in his second week of racing while Lee Keller, Glen Gordon and Natasha Teague battled it out for third and finished in that order.

Sportsman go into the spotlight next Saturday night kicking off the may schedule in a 40 lap main event with time trials for qualifying and a $700 win purse up for grabs.

It was also announced late last week that the Powell Memorial, the next Citrus County Speedway 125 scheduled for May 25th will have the Late Models running for a $10,000 win purse and paying second $5,000, third $3,000, fourth $2,000 and 5th $1,000. Should bring in more of the hot shoes to try on Citrus County Speedway.

Citrus County Speedway Results 04/27/02
Crystal Motor Car Co. Late Model 125 Finish

1. #3x Mike Bresnahan Homosassa
2. #98 Herb Neumann Jr. Inverness
3. #37 James Powell
4. # 9 Jim Smith Inverness
5. #75 Dave Pletcher Pinellas Park
6. #92 Jimmy Britts
7. #25 Lee Faulk
8. #09 Scott Grossenbacher
9. #x2 Richie Anderson
10.#34 Teddy Nelson Largo
11.#3 Rex Struble Homosassa
12.#137 Mike Franklin Hialeah
13.#96 Dan Johnson Crystal River
14.# 5 Daniel Keene Sr. Land O Lakes
15.#61 Jimmy Cope Weeke Wachee
16.#19 Tommy Schnader Largo
17.#6x Mac Johnson Newberry
18.#13 Tom Haselmayer Brooksville
19.#5K Daniel Keene Jr. Land O Lakes
20.#54 Kevin Bryant Ocala
21.#6 Billy Bechtelheimer Dover
22.#19 Wayne Anderson Wildwood
23.#22 Herb Hoefler Floral City
24.# 1 Wayne Jefferson St. Petersburg
25.#72 Scotty Crockett Land O Lakes
26.#88 Brock Oglesby Ocala
27.#43 Billy Pratt
28.#16 Tommy McCann
Sportsman Feature - 30 laps - 10 Cars
1. #55 Mike Veltman Crystal River
2. #3 Jimmy Thompson Pinellas Park
3. #1 Terry Cater Inverness
4. ##0 Bill Oestreicher Webster
5. #59 Warren Baughn Crystal River
Street Stock Feature - 30 Laps - 19 Cars
1. #2 Travis Nichols Inverness
2. #3x Don Teagure Hernando
3. #17 Mike Bell Brooksville
4. #53 James Green Inverness
5. #63 Kathy Ray Floral City
Mini Stock Feature - 30 Laps - 17 Cars
1. #8x Robbie Yoakam Hernando
2. #lx Jay McKenzie Inverness
3. #29 Lance Taylor Palm Harbor
4. #9 William Prevatt Brooksville
5. #34 Kevin Harrod Bushnell
Hobby Stock Feature - 30 Laps - 23 Cars
1. #21 Tommy Smith Floral City
2. #3 Kreg Belcastro Inverness
3. #88 Brandon Johnson Inverness
4. #66 Chris Cross Inverness
5. #90 Dan Wooten
lst Thunder Stock Feature - 15 Laps - 17 Cars
1. #20 Josh Teague
2. ##2 Stuart Madison
3. #28 Robert Jordan
4. #27 Todd Downs
5. #88 Rick Badessa
2nd Thunder Car Feature - 15 Laps - 16 Cars
1. #97 Robin Bauer
2. #39 Michael Wilson
3. #21 Lee Keller
4. #63 Glenn Gordon
5. #x2 Natasha Teague

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