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| Daniel Keene Jr. takes Winter Spectacular II Win at Citrus County Speedway | by Larry MacMillan
Youth won out over experience in the biggest Late Model race ever staged at Citrus County Speedway in Winter Spectacular II. With a $5000 win purse plus bonuses on the line, some of Florida's best Late Model pilots came to try on the new configuration with a 63 foot wide back chute opening all kinds of options for some heavy duty racing. Two nights of practice prior to race day on Saturday helped most drivers work on the new setup that was necessary to master the new expanded surface. When all was said and done, the drivers and fans love the new race course layout and it proved to be a super race, kicking off 2002 and the 47th year of action at Citrus.
Ricky Carlton turned up the heat in the time trials and picked up the $300 fast qualifier money with a 13.832 second run on the raw 3/8th mile racecourse. Johnny Kay locked in a second place run for $200 with his 13.844 second ride. On the pill draw, 10th fastest qualifer Herb Hoefler drew the pole with Daniel Keene Jr. drawing the outside pole. When the green flag flew, Daniel Keene Jr. rocketed to the point and immediately checked out on Hoefler for the first half of the 100 lap, all green flag main event. Numerous caution flags tightened up the traffic but young Keene had the power to hold off any challenges. The real battle was for second through the first 75 laps and then the big guns put the hammer down and put the pressure on for the top 10 positions. Mac Johnson made numerous attempts at moving to the front while seesawing with Dave Pletcher in the run for second and third in the final 25 laps. Wayne Anderson got into the mix from his 10th starting spot and was going after the lead with just 10 laps remaining when he got loose in turn one and lost it sending him to the rear of the lead lap for the restart.
Ricky Carlton inherited second on the restart and put the pressure on Keene for the final 20 laps. Another caution came out with just four laps remaining when third running Mac Johnson lost all the water out of his radiator on turn two which also took David Reutimann out of the picture and sent Johnson to the pits, ending his opportunity to pick up the $1,000 bonus for the win in his second race of the series. In the final run for the flag, Daniel Keene Jr. held off Carlton for the biggest win of his young career, pocketing $5,250. Carlton held on for second, taking home $2,500. The race for third was decided in the last lap when Johnny Kay moved from sixth, diving under the three car battle for the spot between Dave Pletcher, Hubert Simmons and Lee Faulk on the run for the flag. When the dust settled at the finish line it was Johnny Kay taking home third money and Pletcher, Simmons and Faulk finishing out the top six. Winter National Series I winner Mike Bresnahan finished seventh over Wayne Anderson, Danny Johnson, and another youngster, Brock Oglesby. Only eleven out of the 27 starters were still running when the checkers flew.
WINTER SPECTACULAR II LATE MODEL RESULTS:
1. #5k Daniel Keene Jr. Land O Lakes
2. #34 Ricky Carlton Homosassa
3. #77 Johnny Kay
4. #75 Dave Pletcher Pinellas Park
5. #74 Hubert Simmons Brooksville
6. #25x Lee Faulk Hot Springs
7. #3x Mike Bresnahan Lecanto
8. #19 Wayne Anderson Wildwood
9. #96 Danny Johnson Crystal River
10. #88 Brock Oglesby Ocala
11. #90 Al Lawrence Spring Hill
12. #00 David Reutimann Zephyrhills
13. #6x Mac Johnson Lake City
14. #18x Andy Werden
15. #22 Herb Hoefler Floral City
16. #8 Jeromie Fehrenbach Hernando
17. #38 Herb Neumann Jr Iverness
18. #34x Teddy Nelson Largo
19. #0p Rich Pratt Tampa
20. #72 Scotty Crockett Land O Lakes
21. #5 Daniel Keene Sr. Land O Lakes
22. #37 Terry Woodard Brooksville
23. #18 Jared Allison Cocoa
24. #6 Billy Bechtelheimer Dover
25. #08 John Buzinec Belview
26. #87 Bruce Gaskins Inverness
27. #79 Tommy Schnader St. Petersburg
28. #13 Tom Haselmayer Spring Hill (Blown Engine)
29. #43 Keith Williams Ocala (Blown Engine Did not Start)
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