Driving the Pennington Cabinets entry in the race sponsored by car owner Bob Pennington, “Doc” James Batson returned to the Citrus County Speedway Winners Circle for the first time since winning the 1998 Late Model Championship. Point leader Mike Bresnahan pressured him all the way, bobbing and weaving from the inside to the outside lanes but “Doc” held him off all the way for the 30 lap flag toflag win. Fred Stoner salvaged a third place finish over Robert Eltingwho was going for the “start from the rear bonus” for an extra $1,500. Al Lawrence continues to ride in a borrowed racecar and held out for fifth over Danny Johnson who also went for the start from the rear bonus. Elting and Bresnahan logged the heat wins.

Gary Swing proved again he is on a mission to win another Figure 8 championship. When the green flag flew Gary launched his car to the point and never looked back on his way to his fourth win out of five on the season. Charlie Meyer was the only driver to put any pressure on Swing right to the checkers in the 20-lap event. Robert Aaron locked onto third over a distant Phillip Rook and pole sitter T.J. Sharrone.

First year Limited Sportsman driver Jim Smith is driving more like an old pro in this competitive division. Smith outran point leader Mike Veltman for his second consecutive win and 3rd on the season. He will be going for the three in a row bonus next week. The win moved Jim into second in the points race when Bill Oestricher blew his engine in warmups and couldn’t make the start. Travis Nichols won out in a hard fought run for third over John Gann and Lenny Brown. Rex Struble and Johnny Sanders took the heat wins. Otis Hamilton locked on to the lead early in the Street Stock 20-lap feature and dueled with Sport Wilson for the final seven laps to claim his first win of the season. Tommy Malicoate out maneuvered Scott Hendrickson and Ernie Reed for a third place finish. Reed elected to start from the rear of the 19-car field in an attempt at taking home a $200 bonus but had to settle for fifth. Mike Bresnahan, driving forHarley Wilson Sr. took the win in the first heat while Sport Wilson outran his brother Wes for the win in the second heat.

Frank Coleman has spent 9 weeks trying to dial in his Mini Stock and Saturday was his night to make it work as he picked up his first win of the season over point leader George Neumann, who was going for a three in a row bonus. Mark Sowell made several passes at the leaders but was unable to make it stick in the outside groove and had to settle for third. Don Faunce and Billy Smith had their own race going for fourth with Faunce coming out on top. Heat wins went to Neumann and SteveWagner.

J.D. Goff took his fourth win of the year in the Hobby Stock 20-lap main and moved ahead of Roy Perkins in the point’s chase as the defending champion had his second DNF in a row. Point leader Chris Hooker locked on to Goff in the run for the flag and now holds a 40-point lead over Goff with a second place finish. James Teague Mickey Burns and Brandon Johnson round out the top five over a 24-car startingfield. Jim Hand, Mickey Burns and Mike Ruff shared the heat wins. Rick Ellis sliced his way through lots of lapped traffic in the 10-lapStreet Legal Junker field for the win over the 20-car field. Next Saturday night will see the Late Models return for the American Freightways Big Bonus Challenge plus the Goff Racing 30 Lap Hobby Stockbonus race. Limited Sportsman, Street Stocks and Mini Stocks will roundout a full night of racing at the “Friendliest Track in the South.”

Citrus County Speedway Results 05/20/00
Late Model Pennington Big Bonus Challenge ­ 30 Laps ­ 12 Cars
1. #3X James Batson Inverness
2. #31 Mike Bresnahan Lecanto
3. # 7 Fred Stoner Hernando
4. #27 Robert Elting Wesley Chapel
5. #45X Al Lawrence Spring Hill
1st Heat Winner - #27 Robert Elting ­ Wesley Chapel
2nd Heat Winner - #31 Mike Bresnahan ­ Lecanto
Limited Sportsman Feature ­ 20 Laps ­ 15 Cars
1. #32 Jim Smith Inverness
2. #55 Mike Veltman Crystal River
3. #39 Travis Nichols Inverness
4. # 9 John Gann Brooksville
5. #11 Lenny Brown Hernando
1st Heat Winner ­ #69 Allan Struble ­ Homosassa
2nd Heat Winner - #36 Johnny Sanders ­ Homosassa
Street Stock Feature ­ 20 Laps ­ 19 Cars
1. #36 Otis Hamilton Brooksville
2. #94 Sport Wilson Floral City
3. #18 Tommy Malicoate Brooksville
4. # 7 Scott Hendrickson Inverness
5. #55 Ernie Reed Inverness
1st Heat Winner - # 4 Mike Bresnahan ­ Lecanto
2nd Heat Winner - #94 Sport Wilson ­ Floral City
Mini Stock Feature ­ 20 Laps ­ 16 Cars
1. # 0 Frank Coleman Brooksville
2. # 1 George Neumann Inverness
3. # 5 Mark Sowell Hernando
4. # 2 Don Faunce Spring Hill
5. #00 Billy Smith
1st Heat Winner - # 1 George Neumann ­ Inverness
2nd Heat Winner - #07 Steve Wagner
Hobby Stock Feature ­ 15 Laps ­ 24 Cars
1. #14 J.D. Goff Brooksville
2. #24 Chris Hooker Floral City
3. #05 James Teague Clearwater
4. #22 Mickey Burns Inverness
5. #88 Brandon Johnson Inverness
1st Heat Winner - # 5 Jim Hand ­ Zephyrhills
2nd Heat Winner - #22 Mickey Burns ­ Inverness
3rd Heat Winner - #23 Mike Ruff ­ Homosassa
Figure 8 Feature ­ 20 Laps ­ 12 Cars
1. #22 Gary Swing Floral City
2. #94 Charlie Meyer Pinellas Park
3. # 6 Robert Aaron Brooksville
4. #17 Phillip Rook Inverness
5. #27 T.J. Sharrone Floral City
Street Legal Junker Winner #15 Rick Ellis - Invernessby

Larry MacMillan




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