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| Citrus Victory Lane Crowded With First Time Winners | (Inverness, Fl. 10/06/01) Citrus County Speedway fans saw ten (10) first time winners in Victory Lane Saturday night. Dare To Win produced seven and regular points championship racing saw three first time winners in the 2001 season as the final five weeks wind down to the race for the crown.
All seven divisions took the green flag for the Dare To Win races, which allowed the drivers who havent had a checkered flag in the past two years to run for the winner take all purse. Chris Allen made his first trip in Hobby Stock action over and 8-car field. Kathy Ray, the mother of two took the win in the street stock division after a three-year hiatus from racing. Rookie Phillip Joyner locked into his first win in the Mini Stock 15 lap race. It was Terry Caters turn to take his first win in five years over the Sportsman qualifiers. Late Model rookie Jim Smith headed up the charge to the winners circle in the their 15 lap run. It was Robert Jordan taking the win in Thunder Stocks and Dwayne Fults picked up the winners purse in Figure 8 to celebrate his 40th birthday.
Eighteen Late Models took the green in their 30 main and Tim Sharrone took his first win of the season with Fred Stoner locked onto his rear bumper all the way to the checkers. Dale Sanders moved from sixth to third while Brad Atkins held out for fifth over hard charger Billy Bechtelheimer who had to start 12 after his win last week.
Mike Veltman picked up his eighth win of the season over a 14 car Sportsman field, adding another 40 point cushion to his points lead for his third championship crown in three years. Chris Hooker picked up the hard charger award, passing seven cars on his way to a second place finish. Mark Dominique came off the outside pole to hold out for third being chased by Terry Cater and Bill Oestreicher to round out the top five.
There was another first time winner in the Street Stock 20 lap feature. Kevin Roberts is another driver that has taken a couple of years off before coming back strong to become the eleventh different winner in the division. John Chance drove for Scott Guthman and finished in a solid second over another birthday celebrant, Harley Wilson Sr.. Dare to Win winner Kathy Ray outran point leader Travis Nichols to the finish line in the race for fourth.
Robbie Yoakam managed to pick up his first Mini Stock win of the season over a 20-car starting field. Frank Coleman moved up through the field to lock onto second to put a little more cushion in his point lead. Mike Moore outran Kevin Harrod and Jay McKenzie in the run for third.
It was the Smith brothers running one and two again in Hobby Stock action. This time it was Tommy in Victory lane for his third win of the season. They have 14 wins in the books for this season. Roy Perkins is still looking for his first win but had to settle for third after holding the lead at the mid point of the race. Kreg Belcastro and Chris Cross took fourth and fifth respectively.
Troy Davis picked up his second win of the season over a 26-car Thunder Stock field. Point leader Stuart Madison just couldnt make the pass on the leader and is still winless with his second place finish. Gary Johnson, Billy White and Rick Badessa round out the top five.
Fifteen Super Mini Cup cars took the green flag for their final appearance of the season. Twelfth starter Mark Ross pulled off a late charge to the front and took the lead in lap 15 of the 20 lap main event for the win. Colt Smith out ran Josh Hermanson, Doug Smith and Brian Etty in the run for second.
Citrus County Speedway enters the final five weeks of the 2001 season and will feature the TBARA winged Sprint Cars for the fastest show ever at this 46 year old venue. The sprint cars have turned high 12 and low 13-second laps in traffic and promise to put on quite a show. Joining them will be the Sportsman, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks, Hobby Stocks and Thunder Stocks. The Late Models will have the week off and return for the final four weeks of the season on Oct. 20th in their race for the crown.
Citrus County Speedway Results 10/06/01
Late Model Feature – 30 Laps – 18 Cars
1. #32 Tim Sharrone Floral City
2. # 7 Fred Stoner Hernando
3. # 1 Dale Sanders Lecanto
4, #25 Brad Atkins Summerfield
5, # 6 Billy Bechtelheimer Dover (Hard Charger Award)
Sportsman Feature – 20 Laps – 14 Cars
1. #55 Mike Veltman Crystal River
2. # 3 Chris Hooker Floral City (Hard Charger Award
3. # 7 Mark Dominique Lecanto
4. #12 Terry Cater Inverness
5. # 0 Bill Oestreicher Wesley Chapel
Street Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 19 Cars
1. #31 Kevin Roberts Inverness
2. #33 John Chance Floral City
3. #85 Harley Wilson Floral City
4. #63 Kathy Ray Floral City
5. # 2 Travis Nichols Inverness
Mini Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 20 Cars
1. #1xx Robbie Yoakam Hernando
2. #20 Frank Coleman Brooksville
3. #25 Mike Moore Brooksville
4. #34 Kevin Harrod Bushnell
5. #1x Jay McKenzie Inverness
Hobby Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 21 Cars
1. #21 Tommy Smith Floral City
2. #42 Richie Smith Hernando
3. #07 Roy Perkins Inverness
4. # 3 Kreg Belcastro Inverness
5. #66 Chris Cross Inverness
Thunder Stock Feature – 15 Laps – 26 Cars
1. #73 Troy Davis
2. # 2 Stuart Madison
3. #40 Gary Johnson
4. #17 Billy White
5. #88 Rick Badessa
“Dare To Win” Winners
Hobby Stock – #17 Chris Allen
Street Stock - #63 Kathy Ray
Mini Stock - #86 Phillip Joyner
Sportsman - #12 Terry Cater
Late Model - #2x Jim Smith
Figure 8 - #00 Dwayne Fults
Thunder Stock - #27 Robert Jordan
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