June 14, 2004 Citrus County Speedway Revs Up Florida's West Coast by Larry MacMillan Robbie Yoakam visited the Winners Circle for the third time in 2004 Saturday night saw a full pit and quite an increase in the car count which led to some real exciting competition in all seven divisions that took on the 3/8th mile oval. Evening rain showers in the surrounding area kept some away but the race went on unhindered by the weather. Those that missed this show missed what was reminiscent of “The Day” Citrus County Speedway has offered over the past years 49. Like all business ventures, the track has had its ups and downs but this was definitely an UP NIGHT! Sixteen Modifieds chased Billy Bechtelheimer for the entire 30 laps of their main event while the race for second between Teddy Nelson and Wayne Jefferson raged on behind him. Nelson won out at the checkers for second with Jefferson holding up his Modified reputation by being right there at the finish line for a solid third place finish. Meanwhile Robert Ray was holding off 2 time winner Harold Cannon in the race for fourth. Nelson and Jefferson flexed their horsepower for heat wins in their first 2004 appearance at Citrus. Super Stocks doubled the number of competitors from their last appearance in May with sixteen racers taking the green flag in their 20 lap run for the flag. Steve King set the early pace from the pole while the heavy hitters came from the back of the pack to run him down. Mike Bell and Steve Olone had a 7 lap match race going before Mike Bell was able to make the pass on Olone for their one-two finish. Steve Anderson managed to move from 15th to third when the checkers came out. Ernie Reed and Steve King battled right to the end for fourth and fifth respectively. Joe Viverito won the first heat and had to bail out of the feature after holding out in fourth at the mid point in the race. Bell took the win in the second heat. Mini Stocks added five cars to the line up from their last outing. Fourteen started the race with 10 finishing and 14th starter, Robbie Yoakam, took the checkers again outrunning defending champion Chris Hooker who set the early pace from the pole and held out for second with a damaged race car. Jay McKenzie worked his way from fifth to third after a long layoff. George Neumann was right on McKenzie’s rear bumper at the finish line and well ahead of Johnny Siner who picked up fifth. Heat wins went to Yoakam and McKenzie. Citrus County is known for their big fields of racers. Tommy Smith logged his fourth Hobby Stock win of the season in an unbelievable final ten lap run from the back of the field. He had to make three runs from the back, starting 21st in the scratch position when the green flew and then being sent to the rear on two restarts later in the race. Smith used the outside groove making a five lap run at 7 cars that were running in front of him on the final restart of their 20 lap feature. When it was all said and done, runner up Bill Ryan was scratching his helmet trying to figure out how he lost this one. Curtis Neumann held out for third just ahead of Bobby Taylor and Neil Herne Jr. Heat wins went to Ryan and Taylor. A late crash that took out the leader Lee Keller and early pace setter Wayne Heater gave Robert Jordan his first Thunder Stock win in 2004. Jordan managed to make his way from 19th to third by lap 18 when the two leaders ended a long bumping session that took them both out in lap 20 opening the door for Jordan to go on to his first win. Rick Badessa held out for second over Steven Stinedurf who moved from the 18th starting spot to third. Jerry Hoover started 23 and challenged for the lead before he fell back to fourth just ahead of Louie Cioe. The 4 Cylinder Bombers increased their field from 3 to 8 starters this week and when the checkers flew it was Justin Durbin setting the pace from flag to flag in their 20 lap main and the 6 lap heat race. Rick Fort finished second in both races with point leader Clark Pittsley coming from the back end of the field to finish third. Harold Barup and Festus Barup matched up to round out the top five. The Florida Mini Cup Series brought in a field of 18 of the ½ scale NASCAR racers and Terry Tullis won the pole by turning fast qualifying time. Warm up took out one of the cars when he flipped on turn two. Dennis Tullis flipped his car in a charge for fourth after starting 15th that ended his night. The balance of the field saw five lead changes with Terry Tullis seesawing from the back to third and back to the front, taking the checkered flag for the win in their 20 lap feature. Brett Jameson took the lead twice but had to settle for second when it was all over. Rick Auriemma, Larry Folino and Mike Holt locked in the top five positions. Terry shared the win with runner up Jameson and Auriemma for the photo shoot. Next Saturday will feature the TBARA Sprint cars, the fastest cars on the asphalt, turning in the 3/8ths mile in the low 12 second mark. Added to the race card will be the Super Stocks, Mini Stocks, Hobby Stocks, Thunder Stocks and the 4 Cylinder Bombers. Citrus County Speedway Results 6/12/04 Modified Feature – 30 Laps – 16 Cars 1. # 6 Billy Bechtelheimer (1st Win) 2. #34 Teddy Nelson 3. # 1 Wayne Jefferson 4. #19 Robert Ray 5. # 3 Harold Cannon 1st Heat Winner - #34 Teddy Nelson 2nd Heat Winner - # 1 Wayne Jefferson Super Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 16 Cars 1. #17 Mike Bell (1st Win 2004) 2. #20 Steve Olone 3. #48 Steven Anderson 4. #55 Ernie Reed 5. #99 Steve King 1st Heat Winner - #72 Joe Viverito 2nd Heat Winner - #17 Mike Bell Mini Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 14 Cars 1. #8 Robbie Yoakam (3rd Win) 2. #1X Chris Hooker 3. #5X Jay McKenzie 4. # 1 George Neumann 5. #01 Johnny Siner 1st Heat Winner - # 8 Robbie Yoakam 2nd Heat Winner - #5X Jay McKenzie Hobby Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 21 Cars 1. #42 Tommy Smith – (4th Win) 2. #33 Bill Ryan 3. #01 Curtis Neumann 4. #66 Bobby Taylor 5. #13 Neil Herne Jr. 1st Heat Winner - #33 Bill Ryan 2nd Heat Winner - #66 Bobby Taylor Thunder Stock Feature – 20 Laps -23 Cars 1. #28 Robert Jordan (1st Win) 2. #88 Rick Badessa 3. #0X Steven Stinedurf 4. #30 Jerry Hoover 5. #88X Louie Cioe 1st Heat Winner - #88X Louie Cioe 2nd Heat Winner - #71 Wayne Heater 3rd Heat Winner - #88 Rick Badessa 4 Cylinder Bomber Feature – 20 Laps – 8 Cars 1. # 2 Justin Durbin (3rd Win) 2. #43 Rick Fort 3. #64 Clark Pittsley 4. # 3 Harold Barup 5. #69 Festus Barup Heat Winner - #2 Justin Durbin Florida Mini Cup Series Feature – 20 Laps – 18 Cars 1. # 8 Terry Tullis 2. #70 Brett Jameson 3. #12 Rick Auriemma 4. #43 Larry Folino 5. #24 Mike Holt Fast Qualifier - # 8 Terry Tullis – 16.54 Seconds Have an opinion on this story? 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