(Inverness, Fl. 09/30/00) With just seven weeks left in the 2000 season Citrus County Speedways car count has been rising. One Hundred thirty seven racecars jammed the pits for one of the largest of the year with six divisions running plus the Street Legal Junker Special Big Purse Challenge. The McNatt Plumbing Late Model Big Purse Challenge saw Mike Bresnahan come up fast qualifier, falling .115 seconds short of the record time set last week by Ricky Carlton. Nineteen cars went on the clocks, with 17 taking the green flag for the 35-lap main. Ricky Carlton won the pole and set the pace from the green flag, finishing a half lap ahead of the rest of the field at the checkered flag for his second consecutive win. He is also leading in the Florida Pro points race. First timer Shane Russ held off Herb Neumann Jr. for a second place finish with Dale Sanders coming up through the pack from his 9th starting spot to finish fourth in front of Mike Bresnahan.

Limited Sportsman points leader Mike Veltman drew the #1 pill to take the pole and blew the 16 car field away for his 9th feature win of the season. Johnny Sanders had his best finish of the year holding off Rex Struble, Alan Struble and Jim Smith in the race for second. Heat wins went to Smith and Robert Aaron.

Mike Bell battled with John LeVecque for the entire 20-lap main in the Street Stock action with Bell taking his first trip to Victory Lane and holding on to the win. He won previously but was found illegal on that occasion. LeVecque has been out of action for about six weeks but came back with a rebuilt racecar and held out over Wayne Lewis, Harley Wilson Sr. and Ernie Reed for a second place finish. Bell, Levecque and Lewis took the heat wins.

After coming off three 2nd place finishes, Mark Sowell logged his 5th Mini Stock feature win Saturday night. It was no contest from the green flag. Billy Smith managed to move up from his 8th starting position to pull off a second place finish over Frank Coleman, George Neumann and John Coleman. Heat Wins went to Robbie Yoakam and John Coleman.

Richie Smith survived a rough and tumble Hobby Stock 20 lap main, finishing second in the running and inheriting the win when apparent winner, Jim Hand was found to be running illegal springs. J.D. Goff improved on his point chase with a second place finish. Mickey Burns held out for third over Kreg Belcastro and Brandon Johnson. Heats wins went to Smith and Goff.

Fifteen Figure 8 cars took the green for their 20-lap feature run and Robbie Hage from St. Petersburg out ran Bob Hage, Larry Harris, Phillip Rook and Charlie Meyer for his third win of the season.

Rick Ellis plowed through the 21-car Street Legal Junker field to take the $200 win purse in the Carter Auto Recycling Big Purse Challenge. Tim Hundley, Eric Sharrone, John Donahue and Rick Worthington III balanced out the top five that saw only 12 cars finish the 20 lap event for the entry level division.

Alice Jacobson smoked the 5 Car Womens Racing Club Powder Puff field, lapping all but second place runner Mickie Mitchell to wrap up the night of excitement.

Moving into the final six weeks of the season, Late Models will be going for another $1,300 win purse in the Pepsi Big Purse Challenge. Figure 8s will also be back plus a full race card of Limited Sportsman, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks, Hobby Stocks and Street Legal Junkers.
by Larry MacMillin

Citrus County Speedway Results 09/30/00
Late Model McNatt Plumbing Big Purse Challenge ­ 35 Laps ­ 19 Cars
1. #34 Ricky Carlton Homosassa
2. #7x Shane Russ Myakka
3. #98 Herb Neumann Jr. Inverness
4. # 1 Dale Sanders Lecanto
5. #31 Mike Bresnahan Lecanto
Fast Qualifier - #31 Mike Bresnahan ­ 13. 752 Secs.
Limited Sportsman Feature ­ 20 Laps ­ 16 Cars
1. #55 Mike Veltman Crystal River
2. #36 Johnny Sanders Homosassa
3. #69 Rex Struble Homosassa
4. #93 Alan Struble Brooksville
5. #32 Jim Smith Inverness
1st Heat Winner - #32 Jim Smith ­ Inverness
2nd Heat Winner - #6 Robert Aaron ­ Brooksville
Street Stock Feature ­ 20 Laps ­ 25 Cars
1. #17x Mike Bell Brooksville
2. # 6 John LeVecque Inverness
3. #28 Wayne Lewis Zephyrhills
4. #85 Harley Wilson Sr. Floral City
5. #55 Ernie Reed Crystal River
1st Heat Winner - #17x Mike Bell ­ Brooksville
2nd Heat Winner - # 6 John LeVecque ­ Inverness
3rd Heat Winner - #28 Wayne Lewis ­ Zephyrhills
Mini Stock Feature ­ 20 Laps ­ 18 Cars
1. # 5 Mark Sowell Hernando
2. #00 Billy Smith Coleman
3. #20 Frank Coleman Brooksville
4. # 1 George Neumann Inverness
5. #21 John Coleman Brooksville
1st Heat Winner - #1x Robbie Yoakam ­ Hernando
2nd Heat Winner - #21 John Coleman ­ Brooksville
Hobby Stock Feature ­ 20 Laps ­ 23 Cars
1. #42 Richie Smith Hernando
2. #14 J.D. Goff Brooksville
3. #22 Mickey Burns Inverness
4. # 3 Kreg Belcastro Inverness
5. #88 Brandon Johnson
1st Heat Winner - #42 Richie Smith ­ Hernando
2nd Heat Winner - #14 J.D. Goff ­ Brooksville
Figure 8 Feature ­ 20 Laps - 15 Cars
1. #74 Robbie Hage St. Petersburg
2. #78 Bob Hage St. Petersburg
3. #48 Larry Harris Lecanto
4. #17 Phillip Rook Inverness
5. #94 Charlie Meyer St. Petersburg
Street Legal Junker Big Purse Challenge ­ 20 Laps ­ 21 Cars
1. #15 Rick Ellis 2. #38 Tim Hundley 3. #36 Eric Sharrone 4.
#55 John Donahue 5. 69 Rick Worthington
WRC Powder Puff ­ 10 Laps ­ 5 Cars ­ Winner: #93 Alice Jacobson --- 2nd
#17x Mickie Mitchell





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