by Larry MacMillan (Inverness, Fl. 9/29/01) Cool weather greeted 125 racecars as all seven divisions took on Citrus County Speedway. With just seven weeks left to make their mark on their run for the points crowns they put the pedal to the metal for a full night of racing action. Seventeen Figure 8s took the green flag and chased Jeff Kramer to the checkered flag, producing the 8th new winner of the 2001 season. Peanut Higgenbotham picked up his sixth top five finish and is still looking for his first win of the season. Zack Perry came off the pole position and held out for a third place finish over Darryl Hage and Bob Hage.
In the first 20/20 split Late Model feature, Billy Bechtelheimer was top shoe taking his 3rd win of the season and pocketing the $1,500 win purse. Rex Struble moved from his sixth starting position to outrun point leader Herb Neumann JR. to the flag for second. Jim Smith survived several mishaps to lock in forth over Dale Sanders. Fred Stoner and Danny Johnson won their heat races but suffered mechanical problems in the feature.
After a disastrous Sportsman race last week, John Gann survived Mike Veltmans charge for the checkers for his first win of the season. Alan Struble battled to a third place finish over returning Bill Oestreicher and Johnny Sanders. Gann and Rex Struble picked up the heat wins.
James Green launched his racecar out of his sixth starting spot and by lap ten it was all over but the shouting as he went on to take his third checkered flag over a twenty one car field. Danny Cretty had his best finish of the season with a second place run over Kathy Ray, point leader Travis Nichols and last weeks winner, Mike Bell. Heat wins went to Scott Guthman and Victor Stanley.
Mike Moore logged his second Mini Stock win of the season with 18 heavy hitters chasing him to the checkered flag. Jimmy Bartley raced brother Ron in the run for second with Ron weighing in too light and losing his third place finish to Rick Sirmons. Mark Sowell was busy holding off Rob Wheatley in the race for fourth when the checkers flew. Young rookie Dustin DesChamps picked up his first race win ever, taking the first heat race. Rick Coleman smoked the field in the second heat.
Richie Smith started from the rear of the 17 car Hobby Stock feature and went on the take his eleventh win of the season. Brother Tommy Smith followed him across the finish line with Art Brueningsen, Glen Colyer and Eric Sharrone in hot pursuit. Gary Sharp took the win in the first heat and ran into problems in the feature, and finishing 17th. J.D. Goff won the second heat but ran in to mechanical problems late in the feature and had to settle for 7th.
Rick Badessa moved into the lead in the final lap of the Thunder Stock charge for the checkers and took his third win of the season. Allen Turner moved through the 24-car to pick up second over Tim Whitehead. Tara Roberts started 24th and picked off the field to hold out for fourth over Joe Rauner in their fifteen lap affair. Next week everyone who hasnt won get their chance to go the winners circle in the Dare To Win night at Citrus County Speedway.
The first half of the all feature program will have all contenders who havent been to Victory Lane in their division over the past two years, will compete in feature races. The second half of the program will have all competitors on track in regular point races as the final six weeks of the 2001 racing season winds down.
Citrus County Speedway Results 9/29/01 Late Model Feature – 40 Laps – 16 Cars 1. # 6 Billy Bechtelheimer Dover 2. # 3 Rex Struble Homosassa 3. #38 Herb Neumann Jr. Inverness 4. #2x Jim Smith Inverness 5. # 1 Dale Sanders Lecanto 1st Heat Winner - #7 Fred Stoner – Inverness 2nd Heat Winner - #96 Danny Johnson – Crystal River Sportsman Feature – 20 Laps – 15 Cars 1. # 9 John Gann Brooksville 2. #55 Mike Veltman Crystal River 3. #93 Alan Struble Brooksville 4. # 0 Bill Oestreicher Wesley Chapel 5. #36 Johnny Sanders Homosassa 1st Heat Winner - #9 Johnny Gann – Brooksville 2nd Heat Winner - #69 Rex Struble – Homosassa Street Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 21 Cars 1. #53 James Green Jr. Inverness 2. #01 Danny Cretty Dunnellon 3. #63 Kathy Ray Floral City’ 4. # 2 Travis Nichols Inverness 5. #17 Mike Bell Brooksville 1st Heat Winner - #33 Scott Guthman – Brooksville 2nd Heat Winner - #35 Victor Stanley – Brooksville Mini Stock Feature – 20 Laps (10 Laps Run) – 19 Cars 1. #25 Mike Moore Brooksville 2. # 6 Jimmy Bartley Bushnell 3. #61 Rick Sirmons Pinellas Park 4. # 5 Mark Sowell Hernando 5. #88 Rob Wheatley Inverness 1st Heat Winner - #51 Dustin DesChamps – Land O Lakes 2nd Heat Winner - #22 Rick Coleman – Brooksville Hobby Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 17 Cars 1. #42 Richie Smith Hernando 2. #21 Tommy Smith Floral City 3. #35 Art Brueningsen Spring Hill 4. #44 Glen Colyer Homosassa 5. #36 Eric Sharrone Floral City 1st Heat Winner - #40 Gary Sharp – Brooksville 2nd Heat Winner - #14 J.D. Goff – Brooksville Figure 8 Feature – 20 Laps – 17 Cars 1. #87 Jeff Kramer St. Petersburg 2. # 5 Peanut Higgenbotham Brooksville 3. #37 Zack Perry Largo 4. # 8 Darryl Hage St. Petersburg 5. #78 Bob Hage St. Petersburg Thunder Stock Feature – 15 Laps – 24 Cars 1. #88 Rick Badessa 2. # 4 Allen Turner 3. #36 Tim Whitehead 4. #4x Tara Roberts 5. #01 Joe Rauner
