The young man who won his very first TBARA Sprint car race at Citrus County Speedway returned four years later to repeat a dominant performance in the annual winged sprint car race at this 46 year old venue. At age sixteen, Shane made TBARA history on this quarter mile to become the youngest ever series driver to take home a feature win. It is very apparent that he likes Citrus even though the configuration has changed with shorter turns than they were on their last outing.
Shane came out of his 8th starting spot to take the point away from Gary Gimmler at about the halfway point in the 25-lap main. Dude Teate worked his way past ten competitors to pick up the hard charger honors with Wayne Reutimann Sr. right on his rear nurf bar at the checkered flag. Gimmler slipped back through the field but managed to salvage a fourth place finish over Keith Butler who held out for fifth.
Twenty-one Hobby Stocks put on the closest race in the memory of most officials who have been around for any number of years. In a real barn burner that saw 8 cars running side by side and bumper to bumper coming across the finish line, Brandon Johnson and James Teague finished in a dead heat in their 20 lap main, sharing the winners circle and purse. Richie Smith squeaked by J.D. Goff by inches to claim third place. Kreg Belcastro nipped Glen Colyer for fifth and it was Roy Perkins over Nick Fiorentino in the race for seventh place.
Fifteen Mini Stocks went to the asphalt with Doug Hopper snatching the lead away from Rick Coleman at lap fifteen of their 20-lap feature. Harry Futch Jr. had his best run of the season holding off Don Faunce and Jay McKenzie for ten laps in the run for third. Heat winners were Rick Coleman and Danny Buchanan.
Kevin Roberts made it two in a row in Street Stock action, taking a flag to flag win over the 19-car starting field. The battle for second raged on behind him with Scott Guthman holding off a late charge by Victor Stanley and James Green. Ernie Reed picked up fifth.
With the Late Models taking the night off Tate Pierce took over the hot seat in Wayne Lewis Sportsman ride and put the #99 racecar in the winners circle for the first time this season. Mike Veltman motored his way through the 13-car field to put on a late charge but was denied his 9th win of the season by Pierce. Chris Hooker also put on a late charge against Veltman to salvage a third place run. Bill Oestreicher outran early leader Terry Cater in the race for fifth.
Thunder Stocks came out 23 cars strong and Joe Rauner took the checkered flag but was denied his third win of the season in Tech for running illegal springs. Josh Teague diced with Rauner for the final seven laps of the race, inheriting the win after the D.Q. Point leader Stuart Madison continues his quest for a feature win before the end of the season but will have to wait another week with his second place finish on Saturday. Allen Turner locked in a fourth place finish over first timer Carmine Castoria.
A full race card will open up the final four weeks of racing next Saturday night. All seven divisions are on the program with the return of the Late Models and Figure 8s.
Citrus County Speedway Results 10/13/01 TBARA Sprint Car Feature – 25 Laps – 15 Cars 1. #18 Shane Butler Bushnell 2. # 0 Dude Teate Leesburg 3. #22 Wayne Reutimann Zephryhills 4. #29 Gary Gimmler Palm Beach Gardens 5. #19 Keith Butler Tampa 1st Heat Winner - #29 Gary Gimmler – Palm Beach Gardens 2nd Heat Winner – #22 Wayne Reutimann – Zephryhills Sportsman Feature – 20 Laps – 13 Cars 1. #99 Tate Pierce 2. #55 Mike Veltman Crystal River 3. # 3 Chris Hooker Inverness 4. # 0 Bill Oestreicher 5. #12 Terry Cater Inverness 1st Heat Winner - # 7 Mark Dominique – Lecanto 2nd Heat Winner - #93 Alan Struble – Brooksville Street Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 19 Cars 1. #31 Kevin Roberts Inverness 2. #33 Scott Guthman Brooksville 3. #35 Victor Stanley Brooksville 4. #53 James Green Inverness 5. #55 Ernie Reed Crystal River 1st Heat Winner - #31 Kevin Roberts – Inverness 2nd Heat Winner - #2x Don Teague – Hernando Mini Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 15 Cars 1. #15 Doug Hopper New Port Richey 2. #22 Rick Coleman Brooksville 3. #03 Harry Futch Jr. Inverness 4. # 2 Don Faunce Spring Hill 5. #1x Jay McKenzie Inverness 1st Heat Winner - #2 Rick Coleman – Brooksville 2nd Heat Winner - # 0 Danny Buchanan – Hernando Hobby Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 21 Cars 1. #U2 James Teague Hernando 1. #88 Brandon Johnson (tie) Inverness 3. #42 Richie Smith Hernando 4. #14 J.D. Goff Brooksville 5. # 3 Kreg Belcastro Inverness 1st Heat Winner - #U2 James Teague – Hernando 2nd Heat Winner - #14 J.D. Goff – Brooksville 3rd Heat Winner - #21 Tommy Smith – Floral City Thunder Stock Feature – 15 Laps – 23 Cars 1. #20 Josh Teague Clearwater 2. # 2 Stuart Madison Wildwood 3. # 4 Allen Turner Inverness 4. #24 Carmine Castoria Inverness 5. #88 Rick Badessa Inverness
