Richie Smith restated his intentions of coming up the Hobby Stock Champion for 2001 with his second win of the 2001 season. Starting 13th was not a problem for the second year driver as he systematically cruised to the front of the 19 car field, taking the point away from Roy Perkins in lap 15 of the 20 lap main. Last years runner up in the points championship, J.D. Goff was right on Smiths rear bumper at the checkers followed by Perkins, Beau Stevenson and Brandon Johnson. Smith and Stevenson shared the heat wins.
1999 Late Model Champ, Danny Johnson had his way with the Late Model field in a flag to flag win. Jimmy Wear locked on to Johnson from the get-go but couldnt make the pass and settled for a second place finish, overcoming a late charge by Tom Haselmayer who made a final 3 lap run at the top two in the non-points race. Perry Lovelady outran Dale Sanders to the line in the race for fourth. Johnson took the win in the first heat and last weeks winner, John Chance won the second heat only to lose a right front wheel early in the feature that ended his night.
Sportsman rookie Sport Wilson had his act together and powered his way to the front of the very competitive 16-car field for his first win in his new division. Defending champion Mike Veltman just didnt have enough horsepower to make the run at the point and had his work cut out holding off last weeks winner Rex Struble in the run for second. John Gann held out for fourth over Alan Struble. Heat winners were Robert Pilkinton and Bill Oestreicher who were front-runners in the feature race but were taken out of action and did not finish the 20-lap main that saw eight caution flags.
The Street Stock main event saw 11 caution flags in seven laps when time ran out and the race was given the checkered flag on what would have been the 12th restart. Glenn Fleming went to victory lane after starting on the pole followed by Kevin Roberts, Michael Bell, Dean Lawyer and defending champion Wes Wilson to round out the top five in a 19 car starting field. Six starters didnt finish the race. Fleming and Wilson shared the heat wins.
Fourteen Mini Stocks took the green flag and Mark Sowell marched from the back of the pack to the front in lap 18 to take the win over John Coleman who set the pace from the green flag. Rob Wheatley tried to make it two in a row but had to settle for third this week. Don Faunce and Richie Powers round out the top five with John Coleman and Wheatley taking the heat wins.
Jerry Hoover locked onto the point at the green flag in the Street Legal Junker 15 lap main and was never seen again by the rest of the 13-car pack. Despite 3 caution flags, Hoover out powered everyone while Millie Miller spent the entire race keeping Stuart Madison, last weeks winner John Donahue and Brother Dave Maddox behind her. Larry MacMillan
Citrus County Speedway will go on a 3 week hiatus for the Citrus County Fair but will have a booth at the fair during the week of March 19th through the 24th. Come on by and see videos of races from the past at Citrus plus you can register to win the 1987 Monte Carlo SS #3 that will be given away at the speedway at the end of the season. The womens racing club will be taking care of the booth and some of the drivers will be there for autographs throughout the fair. First practice session will be Thursday March 29th and all seven divisions resume racing on Saturday March 31st. The first special will be featured that night with the TLS Motorsports Andy Henessey Memorial 33 for Hobby Stocks. Racing will continue every Saturday night through November 10th.
