|
|
 |
|
| |
|
|
| Herb Neumann Back In Citrus Winner's Circle | by Larry MacMillan
INVERNESS, Fla. (Aug. 31, 2002) - After a rainout and a one-week hiatus to allow for a Tractor and Truck Pull that never got off the ground due to the weather conditions, Citrus County Speedway finally was able to get the big show in. Despite rain at 4 P.M. the racers came, 125 cars strong plus 18 women signed up for the powder puff race that was rained out two weeks ago.
Needless to say, everyone was eager to get back to business. The rain continued until 5:30 and then the drying of the track began in earnest. The big job was getting the infield drained for the Figure 8 race that was the ninth feature added to the program. Despite the delay in getting started, all 12 heats and nine features were completed before the 11 p.m. curfew.
Nineteen Late Models took the green in their first point race in over a month due to special non-point races that were run during the month of July and August and rainouts. Defending champion Herb Neumann came off the outside pole position and set the pace for the entire 30 laps but it wasn’t any give me win. Neumann had to work for his first win of the season with Jim Smith on his rear bumper from lap five, right to the checkered flag. Pole sitter Raymond Lovelady held out for a third place finish over 12th starter Rex Struble who came through traffic despite getting turned around on two occasions for a fourth place finish over Danny Johnson. Smith, Herb Hoefler and Dale Sanders picked the heat wins.
Tate Pierce became the second first time winner of the evening working his way from 7th to the winner’s circle in the Sportsman 20 lap feature. Thirteen cars took the green flag and defending champion Mike Veltman started tenth and worked his way through traffic to finish second over J.D. Goff who survived a couple of mishaps. Bill Oestreicher managed to keep Kyle Bookmiller back in fifth place at the finish line. Goff and Pierce took the wins in the heat races.
In the tight run for the Street Stock point’s crown, Mike Bell has his new ride dialed in and flexed his horsepower and logged his third win by outrunning the 15 starters to the checkers and picked up 38 points on point leader Travis Nichols. Ernie Reed has also found the key to his new ride and held out for a close second place finish over Travis Nichols. Corky Miley locked in a fourth place finish and picked up 50 points for Kathy Ray. Wes Wilson moved from his 12th starting spot to finish fifth. Nichols and James Green Jr. took the heat wins.
Rob Wheatley worked his way from the middle of the pack of a 16 car starting Mini Stock field to take his fourth win of the season. Point leader Robbie Yoakam worked his was from 16th to second right on the rear bumper of Wheatley when the checkers flew. John Chance in his second outing in a Mini Stock moved from 12th to third when it was all over. Ron Bartley and brother Jimmy Barley rounded out the top five. Heat wins went to Jimmy Bartley and Tom Giddings.
Twenty-one Hobby Stockers took on the challenge of the Smith Brothers in their race for the crown and it was to no avail. Tommy Smith busted out of his 8th starting position and took the point in lap 7 of their 20 lap main event and went on to win his 9th of the season and regained his point lead over Richie Smith who did not race Saturday night. Daniel Webster celebrated his 16th birthday with a second place finish over Alvin Williamson driving Roy Perkins car. Perkins picked up a ride in Richie Smith’s car for a fourth place finish and Dean Lawyer came from his 20th starting spot to finish fifth. Heat winners were Tommy Smith and Dean Lawyer.
After not making the winner’s circle in 2001 defending Thunder Stock champion Stuart Madison found his fourth checkered flag of 2002 and is moving in on his second consecutive championship with his win on Saturday night. Current point leader Josh Teague finish right on his rear bumper followed by Rick Badessa, Lee Keller and Butch Patz Jr. in the first of two feature races. Tim Wilson won his fourth of the season in the second feature. Robin Bauer moved to the point in the first lap and held the lead before slipping back to fifth before moving back up to second at the finish line over Robert Jordan, pole sitter Larry Triana and Dale Shelton. Bauer won the first heat with Bedessa and Natasha Teague taking the other two heat races.
Figure 8’s were back and most of the contenders were locals as opposed to last years St. Pete gang dominating the intersection action. Victor Stanley got back into his first Figure 8 race in two years and drove for Peanut Higgenbotham who totaled his car while leading the race in his last outing. Stanley took one lap to move to the point and set the pace for the entire 20 laps. Another former champion, Ron Schreifels Jr. came from the back of the 12-car field to finish on the heels of Stanley. Pole sitter Travis Nichols held out for third. Dwayne Fults spun out early and got sent to the rear of the field only to come back and finish fourth just ahead of Mark Wilkins who is back in a new ride.
Wrapping up the nine feature race night were 13 of the 18 registrants for the Powder Puff race and what a race these amateurs put on. It went non-stop for 20 laps and most of the ladies avoided any contact with the rest of the field. Mary Shelton and Patty Fults battled through slower traffic for the final two laps. Patty took the outside lane and Mary took the low groove and got to the checkers before her. I was one of the most exciting finishes of the evening. Congratulations to all the ladies that participated in the fun race and we look forward to their return before the season is over.
Next Saturday night the Late Models go in another “Show Down 125” for $5,000 to win. This again will draw some of the big hot shoes in Florida Short Track racing for the big purse. Supporting the field of Late Models will be the Sportsman, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks, Hobby Stocks and Thunder Stocks. Qualifying time trials are scheduled to start at five.
RESULTS
LATE MODEL
Feature – 30 Laps – 20 Cars
1. #98 Herb Neumann Jr.
2. # 9 Jim Smith
3. #17 Raymond Lovelady
4. # 3 Rex Struble
5. #96 Danny Johnson
1st Heat Winner - #9 Jim Smith
2nd Heat Winner – #22 Herb Hoefler
3rd Heat Winner - # 1 Dale Sanders
SPORTSMAN
Feature – 20 Laps – 13 Cars
1. #81 Tate Pierce
2. #55 Mike Veltman
3. #14 J.D. Goff
4. # 0 Bill Oestreicher
5. #03 Kyle Bookmiller
1st Heat Winner - #14 J.D. Goff
2nd Heat Winner - #81 Tate Pierce
STREET STOCK
Feature – 20 Laps – 16 Cars
1. #17 Michael Bell
2. #55 Ernie Reed
3. # 2 Travis Nichols
4. #51 Corky Miley (Points to Kathy Ray)
5. #20 Wes Wilson
1st Heat Winner #53 James Green Jr.
2nd Heat Winner # 2 Travis Nichols
MINI STOCK
Feature – 20 Laps – 16 Laps
1. #88 Rob Wheatley
2. # 8 Robbie Yoakam
3. #21 John Chance
4. #6x Ron Bartley
5. #6 Jimmy Bartley
1st Heat Winner #6 Jimmy Bartley
2nd Heat Winner #83 Tom Giddings
HOBBY STOCK
Feature – 20 Laps – 21 Cars
1. #21 Tommy Smith
2. # 1 Daniel Webster
3. #07 Alvin Williamson
4. #42 Roy Perkins
5. #19 Dean Lawyer
1st Heat Winner - #21 Tommy Smith
2nd Heat Winner - #19 Dean Lawyer
THUNDER STOCK
1st Feature – 20 Laps – 14 Cars
1. # 2 Stuart Madison
2. #20 Josh Teague
3. #88 Rick Badessa
4. #21 Lee Keller
5. #23 Butch Patz Jr.
Thunder Stock 2nd Feature – 20 Laps – 14 Cars
1. #85 Tim Wilson
2. #97 Robin Bauer
3. #28 Robert Jordon
4. # 1 Larry Triana
5. #51 Dale Shelton
1st Heat Winner - #97 Robin Bauer
2nd Heat Winner - #88 Rick Badessa
3rd Heat Winner - #X2 Natasha Teague
Powder Puff Derby – 20 Laps – 13 Cars
1. #51 Mary Shelton
2. #00 Patty Fults
Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board!
news@karnac.orgor send a letter to the editor!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
