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| Richie Smith Logs 10th Hobby Stock Win | by Larry MacMillan
(Inverness, Fl. 6/23/01) All seven divisions beat what appeared to be a possible rainout at Citrus County Speedway. On Hundred twenty-five cars were not discouraged by the prospects of foul weather that had been plaguing the area all day. Infield flooding was pumped out by 3 p.m. and the Figure 8 and Street Legal Junker racecourses ware ready to run by race time.
Richie Smith started 11th in the 17-car Hobby Stock field and proceeded to move to the front by lap 17 of the 20 lap main event. Smith scored his tenth win of the season and picked up another $200 in the Three in a Row Bonus in the process for the second time this season. His phenomenal win streak could set a record for total wins in a season if he continues at this pace. It took Brandon Johnson five laps to pick up the lead from David Amundson who crashed in lap five, ending his night. Tommy Smith moved into second on the restart and stayed on Johnsons rear bumper for the balance of the race. Johnson held out for second followed by Tommy Smith, J.D. Goff and Roy Perkins.
Mike Bresnahan made a return to his home track and picked up a ride that took him to a flag to flag win in the Late Model 30 lap run. The 2000 track champion had 20 cars chasing him all the way to the flag. Another Florida Pro driver, Keith Zavrel outran Fred Stoner in the run for second but lost it weighing to light in tech. Topping off the top five were Tim Sharrone, Brad Atkins and Perry Lovelady.
Seventeen cars took the green in pursuit of the ICC/Astec Paint Mini Stock 30 special. Rob Wheatley took the early lead and outran Frank Coleman to the flag for his third win of the season and the $350 win purse. George Neumann tried for the Start from the Rear Bonus and ended the hard charge in a third place finish. John Coleman and Mike Allen picked up fourth and fifth respectively. Frank Coleman and Don Faunce took the heat wins.
Michael Bell had it all his way in the 19 car Street Stock Feature jumping to the point early and never looking back, for his 3rd win of the season. Ernie Reed Jr. capped off a good run from his 13th starting spot to take second over James Green Jr., Victor Stanley and Dean Lawyer. Curtis Yoamans and Reed took the heat wins.
Sportsman rookie Chris Hooker jumped to the point when the green flag flew and went on to outrun point leader Mike Veltman for his first win in the division. Rex Struble came from the rear of the pack in his back up racer to take third away from Bill Oestreicher and Johnny Sanders. Hooker and Rex Struble won their respective heats.
Sixteen Figure 8 cars kept things busy in the intersection. Ken Crews locked onto the lead from the get go and never gave it up for his first win of the season. Darryl Hage chased him all the way to the flag with Mike Veltman in hot pursuit. Robbie Hage finished in fourth just ahead of Peanut Higgenbotham. Figure 8s wont be back until July 21st.
Rounding out the wild night of action, 18 Street Legal Junkers chased Roy Blotz for the entire 15 laps as he went to the winners circle for the first time this season. Point leader Stuart Madison gave it all he had but is still not in the winners column and picked up his 12th top five finish. Gary Johnson, Victor Shahid and Allen Turner round out the top five. Week sixteen will be highlighted with the Bobby Clark R.V. Sales and Service Late Model 30 for $1300 to win. Added to the program are the Sportsman, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks, Hobby Stocks and the Street Legal Junkers in week 15 of the 2001 Citrus County Speedway racing season.
Citrus County Speedway Results 6/23/01
Late Model Feature 30 Laps 21 Cars
1. #7x Mike Bresnahan Lecanto
2. #7 Fred Stoner Hernando
3. #32 Tim Sharrone Floral City
4. #25 Brad Atkins Summerfield
5. #68 Perry Lovelady Lakeland
1st Heat Winner - #7x Mike Bresnahan Lecanto
2nd Heat Winner - #61 John Chance Floral City
Sportsman Feature – 20 Laps – 12 Cars
1. # 3 Chris Hooker Floral City
2. #55 Mike Veltman Crystal River
3. #69 Rex Struble Homosassa
4. # 5 Bill Oestreicher
5. #36 Johnny Sanders Homosassa
1st Heat Winner - #3 Chris Hooker – Floral City
2nd Heat Winner - #69 Rex Struble – Homosassa
Street Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 19 Cars
1. #17 Mike Bell Brooksville
2. #55 Ernie Reed Jr. Crystal River
3. #53 James Green Jr. Inverness
4. #35 Victor Stanley Brooksville
5. #54 Dean Lawyer Beverly Hills
1st Heat Winner - #27 Curtis Yoamans – Floral City
2nd Heat Winner - #55 Ernie Reed Jr. – Crystal River
ICC/Astec Paint Mini Stock Feature – 30 Laps – 19 Cars
1. #88 Rob Wheatley Inverness
2. #20 Frank Coleman Brooksville
3. #1x George Neumann Inverness
4. #21 John Coleman Brooksville
5. # 3 Mike Allen Center Hill
1st Heat Winner - #2 Don Faunce – Spring Hill
2nd Heat Winner - #20 Frank Coleman – Brooksville
Hobby Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 17 Cars
1. #42 Richie Smith (10th Win) Hernando
2. #88 Brandon Johnson Inverness
3. #21 Tommy Smith Floral City
4. #14 J.D. Goff Brooksville
5. #07 Roy Perkins Inverness
1st Heat Winner - #88 Brandon Johnson – Inverness
2nd Heat Winner - #21 Tommy Smith – Inverness
Figure 8 Feature – 20 Laps – 19 Cars
1. #81 Ken Crews Tampa
2. # 8 Darryl Hage St. Petersburg
3. #55 Mike Veltman Crystal River
4. #74 Robbie Hage St. Petersburg
5. # 5 Peanut Higgenbotham Brooksville
Street Legal Junker Feature – 15 Laps – 18 Cars
1. # 3 Roy Blotz Floral City
2. # 2 Stuart Madison
3. #40 Gary Johnson
4. #41 Victor Shahid Jr.
5. # 4 Allen Turner
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