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| Hage Citrus Figure 8 Winner at Citrus | Two Thousand race fans came to honor and pay tribute to Dale Earnhardt Saturday night as Citrus County Speedway kicked off its 46th racing season. A pre-race tribute to the NASCAR Legend, Dale Earnhardt, had the drivers and pit crews in the infield and the fans on their feet for a eulogy, read by track announcer Larry MacMillan, and an Elvis Presley spiritual No One Stands Alone was played while two black #3 Monte Carlos and the 2001 Dodge pace car took several parade laps. The womens racing club passed out black, commemorative, ribbons to all the fans, drivers and pit crews and a register book was set up in the concession area for anyone to sign that wanted to participate which will be sent to the Earnhardt family.
Ten heat races and seven features kicked off the 2001-racing season. Late Model pilot John Chance returned to the Late Model wars to pick up his first feature win over an 11-car field. Billy Bechtelheimer came from the back of the pack to put the pressure on Chance in the final 5 laps of the 30 lap main, finishing second over Dale Sanders, Tom Haselmayer and Perry Lovelady. Tom Haselmayer and Dale Sanders took the heat wins.
Rex Struble locked onto the point from the get-go and had a rear view mirror full of Mark Dominiques #7 car for the entire 20 laps. Defending Champion Mike Veltman charged through the 18-car traffic to hold out for third over John Gann and rookie Sport Wilson. Wilson and Bill Oestreicher picked up the heat wins.
Travis Nichols took his new Street Stock ride to his first win over a 22 car-starting field. Harley Wilson moved into contention early in the race but couldnt make the pass, settling for second. John Levecque, Victor Stanley and Ernie Reed Jr. battled to the line and finished in that order in the race for third. Bruce VanHoozen and Ernie Reed Jr. picked up the heat wins.
Mini Stock pilot Rob Wheatley used sheer determination to advance from his 7th starting spot and overcame a hard charge by outside pole sitter Richie Powers, Mark Sowell, and Kevin Harrod to make a 17th lap pass for the win. Fourteen cars took the green and caution flag three times before the race got started. Kevin Harrod and Powers locked in the heat wins in qualifying for the 20 lap main.
Second year driver Richie Smith gave notice to 15 Hobby Stock contenders in their opener that he is determined to capture the points crown in 2001. Starting eighth, it took him fifteen laps to find his way around second place finisher Kreg Belcastro who was chased most of the way by Art Bruengingsen. Last years runner up J.D. Goff finished a solid fourth ahead of 1999 champ, Roy Perkins. Heat wins went to Smith and Goff.
Curtis Yoamans took the green flag and held off plenty of competition from behind in the 20 lap Figure 8 feature, taking the win in a wire to wire run only to lose it in tech for weighing in too light. The St.Petersburg gang captured four of the top five spots with Bob Hage inheriting the win after his strong second place run. Peanut Higgenbotham held out for second followed by J.R. Meyer, Charlie Meyer and Robbie Hage.
Thirteen cars kicked off the Street Legal Junker Season with second year driver John Donahue showing the new kids how it is done on the altered racecourse. Newcomer Allen Turner put on a stellar first performance with a second place finish over Rick Badessa, Millie Miller and Stuart Madison.
This Saturday night the Late Models, Sportsman, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks, Hobby Stocks and Street Legal Junkers return for another round of stock car action before taking a three-week hiatus for the Citrus County Fair. Racing returns after the fair on March 31st will a full race card and the TLS Motorsports Andy Henessey Memorial 33 for Hobby Stocks.
by Larry MacMillan
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