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| Division Champions Crowned At Citrus Awards Banquet | By Larry MacMillan
Seven division Champions were honored at the 11th Annual WRC Citrus County Speedway awards banquet on Saturday December 8th along with 63 other drivers who made it to the top ten in the 2001-point races. Also, special awards honored Rookie of the Year, Fans Favorite, Most Improved Drivers and The Sportsmanship Awards.
Herb Neumann Jr. parlayed a 5 feature win and twelve top five finish season into the Late Model Championship over 65 drivers who participated during the season. Fourteen different drivers took the checkered flag in the 25 race series. Billy Bechtelheimer moved into second place on the final night of racing with a 4 win and 12 top ten record. Dale Sanders held out for third despite being one of two drivers in the top ten that did not make a trip to Victory lane. Rounding out the top ten are Danny Johnson, Perry Lovelady, Fred Stoner, Tim Sharrone, Brad Atkin, John Chance and rookie of the year Jim Smith.
Two time Sportsman Champion Mike Veltman picked up his third crown in as many years with 8 wins and 18 top ten finishes. Eight drivers made the trip to the Winners Circle out of thirty-four different drivers who raced for point supremacy in twenty-seven races. Rex Struble won out over Rookie of the Year Chris Hooker in the race for second place. Johnny Sanders held out for fourth over Mark Dominique, Alan Struble, Terry Cater, John Gann, Warren Baughn and Bill Ostreicher.
It was a run to the wire as Travis Nichols won out over Mike Bell and Ernie Reed in the Street Stock race for the crown. Fifty-two drivers ran for points with 12 taking the checkered flag in the twenty-eight races run. Dean Lawyer, Victor Stanley, Kathy Ray, Don Teague, Danny Cretty, Kevin Roberts and Scott Guthman took the balance of the top ten spots.
After twelve years of racing Frank Coleman captured his first ever Mini Stock crown, out dueling forty-five different drivers in their 28 race series. Fourteen different drivers shared Victory Lane. Mark Sowell, Don Faunce Mike Moore, Rob Wheatley, Kevin Harrod, Rick Coleman, John Coleman, Jake Garver and Harry Futch Jr. took the balance of the top ten positions.
Richie Smith left no doubt that he was a man on a mission in his second year of Hobby Stock action. He led the point race most of the year and became the winningest driver of the year with 12 victories. Cap that off with 10 top ten finishes and 9 heat wins and you know what was on his mind when the green flag dropped. J.D. Goff moved into second over former champion Roy Perkins in the final weeks of the season. Brandon Johnson held off Art Brueningsen, Rookie of the Year Eric Sharrone, Tommy Smith, Nick Fiorentino, Glen Colyer and Kreg Belcastro in the race for fourth. Only nine out of the 56 competitors in the division made the trip to Victory Lane.
Bob Hage was the dominate force in the intersection action, taking the Figure 8 crown away from defending champion Robert Aaron and son Robbie who chased him right down to the end of the season. Daryl Hage, Jeff Kramer, Charlie Meyer, Peanut Higgenbotham, Mike Veltman, Scott Knight and Dwayne Fults round out the top ten. Nine out of thirty drivers took home winners trophies in twelve races for the season.
Forty-six Thunder Stock drivers went for the point championship and Stuart Madison made consistency payoff for him. Despite never making it to Victory Lane he logged 17 top five and 12 top ten finishes in their 29 races. Alan Turner, Rick Badessa, Gary Johnson, Melvin Farmer, Troy Davis, Joe Rauner and Roy Blotz were left to battle for the next 8 spots. The final night left Robin Bauer and Jerry Hoover in a tie for tenth. Hoover was unable to race over the final two months of the season due to injuries.
Fans Favorite and Rookie of the Year honors from the Womens Racing Club were also given awarded after tallying the votes from the fans. Fans Favorite honors went to Late Model driver Dale Sanders. Limited Sportsman champion Mike Veltman was top vote getter in his division. Mike Bell took the honors in Street Stocks. Mini Stock runner up Mark Sowell won in his division, while another points runner up, J.D. Goff, was the winner in Hobby Stocks. Thunder Stock honors went to Pat Quick.
Rookie of the year honors in Late Models was Jim Smith, Limited Sportsman, Chris Hooker, Street Stock, Kathy Ray, Mini Stock Harry Futch, Jr., Hobby Stock, Eric Sharrone, Figure 8 Jeff Kramer and Thunder Stocks, Gary Johnson.
Most Improved Driver awards went to Late Model pilot Kevin Fair, Sportsman, Mark Dominique, Street Stock James Green, Jr., Mini Stock, Jay McKenzie, Hobby Stock #31 Nick Fiorentino and Thunder Stock, Billy White.
Sportsmanship awards went to Late Model Brad Atkins, Sportsman Bill Oestreicher, Street Stock Danny Cretty, Mini Stock Jake Garver, Hobby Stock Roy Perkins and Thunder Stock Pat Quick.
Citrus County Speedway kicks off the 2002-racing season on February 9th with a 36-week schedule for the point season. Winter Spectacular I and II will be run on December 15th, 2001 and January 19th 2002, featuring all green 100-lap feature races for Late Models with a $16,000 purse plus bonuses. There will be 30 lap feature races for Sportsman, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks, Hobby Stocks and Thunder Stocks.
-Larry MacMillan
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