Monday, September 15, 2003 David Steele Blitzes TBARA Field at Citrus by Larry MacMillan (Inverness, Fl. 9/13/03) Twenty Four TBARA Sprinters took the green flag at Citrus County Speedway in their scheduled 25 lap main event. The first of five caution flags that marred the first 3 laps came before the completion of the first lap. Two laps into the race a horrendous crash took out Shane Butler when he hit the turn three wall, full bore, head on, in lap 2. Shane was out of the car in seconds after the accident and fortunately walked away from what could have been extremely detrimental to his racing career. The race car was another matter and is probably junk. David Steele took the point on each of 7 caution flags which is most unusual for these pros in high speed action. Steele continued to lap car after car with only eleven finishing in the lead lap when the race was called after 21 laps due to time constraints and curfew. The Tampa born Steele has spent most of the year racing in IRL-Busch and USAC races took the checkered flag for his first TBARA win in 2003 while another national driver, Doug Hevron, who has four wins in 2003, ran a close second. Dude Teate out of Leesburg held out for third over Stan Butler, and pole sitter Sonny Hartley to round out the top five. The balance of the lead lap finishers were Wayne Reutimann Sr., Keith Butler, Wayne Reutimann Jr., Mark Gimmler, Tim Sharrone and John Sambor. Fourteen Open Wheel Lites were debuted at the 3/8th mile venue in the first of two races they will run in 2003. Bob Quick was the quickest of these motorcycle motor driven scale 3 and 5 window coupes taking the win from green to the checkers. Rick Lundeen moved from fifth to second at the finish. Brian Gingrus and ninth starter Ron Towles rounded out the top four finishers. Thunder Stocks kicked off the feature action with twenty one cars taking the green flag with the final five laps bringing on the most excitement. Larry Triana battled with Pat Quick in the final laps and held off the point leader for his first win of the season. Pat was looking for number eleven in the win column. Larry Van (Iovannisci) held out for third over Rick Badessa who was driving a borrowed car for the second week. Ray White had his best finish of the season with fifth a place finish under his belt. Heat wins went to Tim Wilson and Louie Cioe. Richie Smith is back in complete control in the Hobby Stock division scoring his sixth feature win of the season and putting some more cushion in his lead and quest for a third Hobby Stock Crown. Alvin Williamson put on the best show taking over the lead and holding off most contenders until lap 18 when Richie made the pass and tucked away the win. Roy Perkins held on for third over Peanut Higginbotham and early leader Todd Downs. Glen Colyer and Downs took the heat wins. Mini Stocks saw perennial winner Robbie Yoakam come back home after winning his sixth of seven races at Ocala on Friday night in his quest for the Mini Stock Challenge Series crown. Running a limited race schedule at Citrus, it is ironic that the only Mini Stock Challenge race he didn’t win was right here at his home track, Citrus County Speedway when he finished second behind Richard Kelly Jr. Phillip Joyner kept him honest right to the end and had to settle for second. Chris Thornton, Tom Giddings and Dustin DesChamps took the balance of the top five spots over the thirteen starters. Heat wins went the Yoakam and George Neumann. Street Stocks will have to come back next week and run their postponed feature due to the curfew. On top of that 20 lap main event there will be seven divisions running with the return of the Late Models, Sportsman, Street Stocks, Hobby Stocks, Mini Stocks, Thunder Stocks and the Figure 8’s also on the schedule. Citrus County Speedway Results 9/13/03 TBARA Sprint Series Feature – 21 of 25 Laps Run – 24 Cars 1. #96 David Steele 2. #22 Doug Hevron 3. #68 Dude Teate 4. #118 Stan Butler 5. #32 Sonny Hartley 6. #99 Wayne Reutimann Sr. 7. #19 Keith Butler 8. #00 Wayne Reutimann Jr. 9. #51 Mark Gimmler 10.#78 Tim Sharrone 11.#33c John Sambor 1st Heat Winner - #96 David Steele 2nd Heat Winner - #68 Dude Teate 3rd Heat Winner - #118 Stan Butler Open Wheel Modified Lite Feature – 20 Laps – 14 Cars 1. #06 Bob Quick 2. #04 Rick Lundeen 3. #09 Brian Gingrus 4. #01 Ron Towles 1st Heat Winner - #04 Rick Lundeen 2nd Heat Winner – Brian Gingrus Mini Stock Feature – 13 Cars – 20 Laps 1. # 8 Robbie Yoakam 2. #86 Philip Joyner 3. #24 Chris Thornton 4. #83 Tom Giddings 5. #51 Dustin DesChamps 1st Heat Winner - # 3 George Neumann 2nd Heat Winner - #8 Robbie Yoakam Hobby Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 21 Cars 1. #42 Richie Smith 2. #09 Alvin Williamson 3. #07 Roy Perkins 4. # 5 Peanut Higginbotham 5. #00 Todd Downs 1st Heat Winner - #44 Glen Colyer 2nd Heat Winner - #00 Todd Downs Thunder Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 21 Cars 1. # 1 Larry Triana 2. #55 Pat Quick 3. # 4 Larry Van 4. #29 Rick Badessa 5. #15 Ray White 1st Heat Winner - #85 Tim Wilson 2nd Heat Winner - #88x Louie Cioe Street Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 13 Cars Postponed until Next Week 1st Heat Winner - #1 Daniel Webster 2nd Heat Winner - #53 James Green Jr. Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! <news@karnac.org>or send a letter to the editor!