|
| Tom Haselmayer Tops Late Model Field at Citrus County Speedway | by Larry MacMillan
One Hundred thirty one cars came to race at Citrus County Speedway in week six of the 2001 season and the end result was four new winners in Victory Lane. The Florida Dwarf cars brought in 20 hot shoes for their first visit of the season to one of their favorite quarter mile racetracks and put on one heck of a show.
Tom Haselmayer had his way with the 19-car Late Model field in the LaPerle Memorials 30 and took home the $1,300 win purse for his first trip to Victory Lane after taking a year off. Dale Sanders held out for second in a see saw battle for the spot that included a hard charging Herb Neumann Jr. who advanced from 11th to challenge for the lead in the final 10 laps. Neumann got together with Haselmayer in the run for the lead and was sent to the rear of the field for the restart. Sanders was followed across the line at the checkers by Al Lawrence, John Chance and Billy Bechtelheimer, to round out the top five. Neumann and Cyrus Robinson won their heat races.
Defending Sportsman champion Mike Veltman took his first trip to Victory Lane for the new season over a 17-car field. Veltman moved from his 10th starting spot in the first 10 laps to challenge pole sitter Jimmy Wilson for the lead with Alan Struble locking on for a second place finish. Mark Dominique held out for third over Sport Wilson. Jimmy Wilson held on for a fifth. Heat wins went to Jimmy Wilson and Dominique.
Another new winner in Mini Stock action was Mike Moore taking his first over the 19 starters. Don Faunce chased him to the line with Frank Coleman coming on strong in the late going followed by his son John. Pole sitter Jake Garver held out for fifth after leading the first 10 laps. Moore also won his heat and Kevin Harrod took the second heat.
Michael Bell became the sixth different winner in Street Stocks out gassing a 23-car group of intense racers. Harley Wilson attempting to become the first double winner of the season just couldnt catch Bell in the final five laps. Pole sitter Victor Stanley held the early lead but had to settle for third over Dean Lawyer and Travis Nichols who moved from 16th to finish in the fifth spot. Cliff Erhardt, Lawyer and Nichols were the heat winners.
Richie Smith made it five for six in Hobby Stocks and also added a $100 start from the rear bonus over the 20-car field. Brandon Johnson moved through the field from his 12th starting spot to pick up second over pole sitter Glen Colyer Sr.. Art Bruengingsen out dueled Roy Perkins in the run for fifth. Colyer and the only other feature winner in the division, Steve Thomas, won the heats.
Fifteen J.D. Concessions Street Legal Junkers took the green flag in their 15-lap finale and Jerry Hoover became the second two-time winner in the beginner division. Stuart Madison came through the wild pushing and shoving match to pick up a second place finish over pole sitter Robin Bauer. Rick Badessa and Roy Blotz picked up the J.D. Concessions $20 bonus for finishing fifth and 8th in the random finish selected for the bonus money.
Kissimmee's, Jeff Ripley lost the lead to Jacksonvilles Rich Lundeen in lap 12 of the 20 lap Dwarf Car main event, and was able to recover after Lundeen just about lost it in slower traffic in lap 17. Ripley took the win over the 20-car field and Lundeen salvaged a second place finish over Don Hess, from Geneva, Fl., who challenged both leaders all the way. Kissimmees Allen Davis moved from his 11th starting spot to pick up a fourth place finish over Auburndales Dennis Archinal. Lundeen and Hess won their heat races.
Week seven will see eight different divisions in a full night of racing. The M. Dominique Mobile Home Restoration 40 highlights the full night of action. The 911 Emergency racers make their first of three visits for the year plus the Figure 8s return in their fourth race of the 2001 season. Late Models, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks, Hobby Stocks and Street Legal Junkers are also on the race card. It just doesnt get any better than this.
Citrus County Speedway Results
Late Model LePerle Memorials 30 – 19 Cars
1. #13 Tom Haselmayer Brooksville
2. # 1 Dale Sanders Lecanto
3. #45X Al Lawrence Spring Hill
4. #61 John Chance Inverness
5. # 6 Billy Bechtelheimer Dover
1st Heat Winner - #44 Cyrus Robinson – Spring Hill
2nd Heat Winner - #38 Herb Neumann Jr. – Inverness
Sportsman Feature – 20 Laps – 17 Cars
1. #55 Mike Veltman Crystal River
2. #93 Alan Struble Brooksville
3. # 7 Mark Dominique Lecanto
4. # 1 Sport Wilson Floral City
5. #34 Jimmy Wilson Hernando
1st Heat Winner - #34 Jimmy Wilson – Hernando
2nd Heat Winner - #7 Mark Dominique – Lecanto
Street Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 23 Cars
1. #17 Michael Bell Ocala
2. #85 Harley Wilson Floral City
3. #35 Victor Stanley Brooksville
4. #54 Dean Lawyer Ocala
5. # 2 Travis Nichols Inverness
1st Heat Winner - #75 Cliff Erhardt – Ocala
2nd Heat Winner - #54 Dean Lawyer – Ocala
3rd Heat Winner - #2 Travis Nichols – Inverness
Mini Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 19 Cars
1. #25 Mike Moore Brooksville
2. # 2 Don Faunce Spring Hill
3. #20 Frank Coleman Brooksville
4. #21 John Coleman Zephyrhills
5. #10 Jake Garver Leesburg
1st Heat Winner - #25 Mike Moore- Brooksville
2nd Heat Winner - #34 Kevin Harrod – Bushnell
Hobby Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 20 Cars
1. #42 Richie Smith Hernando
2. #88 Brandon Johnson Inverness
3. #44 Glen Colyer Sr. Homosassa Springs
4. #35 Art Bruengingsen Brooksville
5. #07 Roy Perkins Inverness
1st Heat Winner - #44 Glen Colyer Sr.- Homosassa Springs
2nd Heat Winner - #28x Steve Thomas – Brooksville
Florida Dwarf Car Feature – 20 Cars – 20 Laps
1. #14 Jeff Ripley Kissimmee
2. #04 Rich Lundeen Jacksonville
3. #28 Don Hess Geneva
4. #74 Allen Davis Kissimmee
5. #12 Dennis Archinal Auburndale
1st Heat Winner - #04 Rich Lundeen – Jacksonville
2nd Heat Winner - #28 Don Hess – Geneva
J.D. Concessions Street Legal Junkers – 15 Laps – 15 Cars
1. #30 Jerry Hoover
2. # 2 Stuart Madison
3. #97 Robin Bauer
4. #40 Gary Johnson
5. #88 Rick Badessa
J.D. Concessions $20 Bonus Winners – 5th #88 Rick Bedessa & 8th #3 Roy
Blotz
Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board!
or send a letter to the editor!
|
