IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

April 14, 2008 Citrus County Roars With 138 Drivers On Hand By Larry MacMillan File Photo - Curtis Neumann Another action packed night at Citrus County Speedway kept the fans satisfying their need for speed with 138 racers in 8 divisions making for 10 feature races, time trials for the Open Wheel Mod Squad and 9 heat races for 5 of those divisions. The fans definitely got their moneys worth with no interruptions for foul weather for a change. Curtis Neumann had the Mod Squad covered, turning fast qualifying time for the fourth time out of 5 races in 2008 and then pulled the #1 pill taking the pole for their 40 lap feature. When the green flag dropped Curtis won the drag race to turn one and two over Billy Bechtelheimer who stayed with him in a side by side race for several laps before Neumann locked it down for the remaining 36 laps. Meanwhile Robbie Cooper marched through traffic from his 4th starting spot to chase Neumann to the checkered flag followed by hard charger Richie Smith moving from 7th to third. Rounding out the top five were Kurt Jett and Tommy Schnader. Neumann scored his second win of the year and put a little cushion in his early season point lead and definitely has his new race car dialed in for a possible championship in 2008. Tim Quick is establishing himself as the man to beat in Street Stock action, taking his 3rd feature win of the year and sitting on top of their point race in week 5 of their 2008 season. Twenty one cars took the green for their 20 lap feature run with Quick sitting way back in 18th spot when the green flag flew. Frank Stromquist took the early lead away from Kenny May and held on to the halfway point while the middle and back of the pack moved through traffic to get in the mix in the run for the checkers. When it was all said and done Tim Quick had the field covered 7th starter Brent Cooper and Doc James Batson in a three car run for the flag. Rounding out he top five were Larry Welter Jr. and Mike Loudy. Heat wins went to David Foster his 4th of the season, Jason Murphree and Dr. Mark Fallows for their first heat wins of the season. After a rainout last week and a 5 week break for the fair the Mini Stocks finally got to race with a 14 car field making the scene. Another driver who is establishing himself as a contender for the 2008 championship is Clint Foley. He came to make that fact know with a heat win to open up the night and the marching from 12 to first in their 20 lap feature run. George Neumann looked like he might pickup his first win of the season until the final 2 laps of the race when Foley made the pass leaving George to finish in second followed by 10th starter Robbie Yoakam, Mike Lawhorn and Mark Powers. Neumann locked down his second heat win of the year. They will make up their rain out from last week on April 26th running double features with their regularly scheduled race after a week off next week. Pure Stocks had to schedule 3 feature races for the night with 24 cars from the rained out feature last week out to make up their race. Thirty three total cars showed for the night and that set up another pair of features instead of running heats and a 33 car feature. In the make up race Tim Wilson rolled from 12th to Victory lane over the 24 car field followed by Jesse Veltman and Wild Bill Ryan who was looking for his 5th straight win but had to settle for third. Victor Shahid held the early lead but fell back to fourth when the checkers flew followed by John Drye. Tim Wilson managed to make it two wins in a row in the first of the two regular features from his 6th starting position. Jesse Veltman drove from 14th to chase Wilson to the finish line for second again. Steve Hise moved from 12th to third followed by Larry Welter. In feature #3 it was Wild Bill Ryan one more time coming from 14th to first for his 5th win of the year. Victor Shahid again leg the early going but had to settle for 2nd followed by Chad Markland, James Henick and Aaron Welter. Despite a short field the 10 car Figure 8 field put on a great show and an unbelievable finish that had the entire field under a cloud of dust right over the intersection due to a last lap wreck off of turn four. When the dust settled John Baranauskas came through with his first win of the season. Wayne Calkins made a late move around early leader Neil Herne for a second place finish followed by Darryl Hage with Clifford Rousseau moving into fourth and Hearne holding out for 5th at the checkers. The fans gave the entire field a standing ovation for the race they ran. Rounding out the regular division racing for the night were 22 V8 Thunder Stock Rookies that saw post race inspection change the ultimate outcome. Apparent winner James Peters was D.Q.d in tech giving the win to point leader Alexander Wilder. Second place was up for grabs also with Cotee Clark getting a D.Q. moving Deric Sharrone into second followed by Ron Sellars III. Austin Roberts who led the first 18 laps got into the wall off turn 4, went down into the infield and got his car back on track salvaging a 4th place finish by virtue of the 2 D.Q.s. Michael Martin locked down the 5th spot with his 7th place finish. Fifteen Mini Cup Cars pulled in from all over Florida and it was Zephyrhills Devin McLeods night to howl with a win in the first heat and taking a wire to wire win in their feature. It was a battle royal behind him for position with Zack Hoyt out Ocala outrunning Sarasotas Brady Marshall in the run for second. Brenton Franklin from Hillard out ran Vero Beachs Rick Fiore. All the front four were 16 years old or younger with 43 year old Rick Fiore being the oldest in the front 5 and winning the second heat race. Wrapping up the visiting series were the Pro Challenge Series with a late run to the front by J.L. Snowden, Rowdy Gordon both of Salt Spring, Fl. taking the top two spots. Paul White hauled in from Eustis taking 3rd spot away from Georgias Brandan Williamson who led most of 35 lap race. Rounding out the top 5 was Salt Springs Jarrett Snowden. Williamson took the win in their only heat race. Citrus County Speedway welcomes the new Central Florida Sprints next Saturday night. These 800 horsepower sprinters come in without wings which always presents an interesting race without the down force of the wings to help them stay on the ground. Sportsman will be running a make up rain out feature plus a regular program with the Street Stocks, Pure Stocks, V8 Thunder Stocks and 4 Cylinder Bombers. The Late Models and Mini Stocks will make up their rainout races on Saturday April 26th and an added traveling series the STARS Truck Series in racing action. Citrus County Speedway Results 4/12/08 Open Wheel Modified Feature – 40 Laps – 15 Cars 1. #01 Curtis Neumann – Inverness – 2nd Season Win – Fast Qualifier 2. #98 Robbie Cooper – Ocala 3. #42 Richie Smith – Hernando 4. # 9 Kurt Jett – Anthony 5. #19 Tommy Schnader – Largo Street Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 23 Cars 1. #97 Tim Quick – Lecanto – 3rd Season Win 2. #197 Brent Cooper – Dunnellon 3. # 7 Doc James Batson – Inverness 4. #58 Larry Welter Jr. – Williston 5. #21 Mike Loudy – Brooksville 1st Heat Winner - #4 David Foster – Wildwood 2nd Heat Winner - #95 Jason Murphree – Homosassa 3rd Heat Winner - #007 Mark Fallows Mini Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 14 Cars 1. # 7 Clint Foley – Dunnellon – 2nd Season Win 2. # 1 George Neumann – Inverness 3. # 8 Robbie Yoakam – Hernando 4. #44 Mike Lawhorn – Clermont 5. # 9 Mark Powers – Hernando 1st Heat Winner - #7 Clint Foley 2nd Heat Winner – # 1 George Neumann Pure Stock Feature (Rainout Make Up) – 20 Laps – 24 Cars 1. #93 Tim Wilson – Floral City – 1st Season Win 2. #55 Jesse Veltman – Crystal River 3. #33 Bill Ryan – Bushnell 4. #88 Victor Shahid – Floral City 5. #39 John Drye – Inverness Pure Stock Feature #1 – 20 Laps – 17 Cars 1. #93 Tim Wilson – Floral City – 2nd Season Win 2. #55 Jesse Veltman – Crystal River 3. #42 Steve Hise – Inverness 4. #85 Larry Welter – Bronson 5. #16 Pure Stock 2nd Feature – 20 Laps – 16 Cars 1. #33 Bill Ryan – Bushnell – 5th Season Win 2. #88 Victor Shahid – Floral City 3. #34 Chad Markland – Floral City 4. #13 James Henick – Inverness 5. #80 Aaron Welter – Sorento Figure 8 Feature – 20 Laps – 10 Cars 1. #27 John Baranauskus – St. Petersburg - 1st Season Win 2. #14 Wayne Calkins – Pinellas Park 3. # 8 Darryl Hage – St. Petersburg 4. # 3 Cliff Rousseau – St. Petersburg 5. #83 Neil Herne – Floral City V8 Thunder Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 22 Cars 1. #14 Alexander Wilder – Floral City – 1st Season Win 2. #59 Deric Sharrone – Floral City 3. #32 Ron Sellars III – Spring Hill 4. #31 Austin Roberts – Inverness 5. #76 Michael Martin – Citrus Springs Mini Cup Car Feature – 20 Laps – 15 Cars 1. #00 Devin McLeod – Zephyrhills – 14 yrs old 2. #67 Zack Hoyt – Ocala – 16 Yrs Old 3. #20 Brady Marshall – Sarasota – 13 Yrs Old 4. #11 Brenton Franklin – Hillard – 15 yrs old 5. #60 Rick Fiore – Vero Beach – 43 yrs old 1st Heat Winner - #00 Devin McLeod 2nd Heat Winner - #60 Rick Fiore Florida Pro Challenge Feature – 35 Laps – 8 Cars 1. #40 J.L. Snowden – Salt Springs 2. #24 Rowdy Gordon – Salt Springs 3. #25 Paul White – Eustis 4. #20 Brandon Williamson – Georgia 5. # 4 Jarrett Snowden – Salt Springs Heat Winner - #20 Brandon Williamson Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on The Real Racin USA Florida Fan Message Board! or Email KARNACto send a letter to the editor!