Danny Cretty Finally Claim Citrus Street Stock Prize
by Larry MacMillan
All six regular divisions put their talents to work at Citrus County Speedway’s 3/8ths mile asphalt Saturday night and put on some outstanding driving abilities that led to some tight finishes in several divisions. Talent, experience and survival proved to be a winning combination for most of the 90-car field.
The regular Late Model divisions went into their second week of the 2003 season with 21 cars making the show. Only 19 made the start for the 30 lap main event with Daniel Keene Jr. on the outside pole winning the run for turn one over first timer Roland Harrell out of Gainesville. An early race five-car pile up took out three cars on turn four in a run for the front by Danny Johnson, Ricky Carlton and Richie Smith. Roland Harrell slid up the turn taking Carlton out and sending him down through traffic to the infield. Twelve cars were running so close that Carlton, Smith and Johnson took several hits before the rest of the field could get on the binders to avoid them. Several other cars received damage in the wreck but were able to come back to finish the race.
When the checkers flew Daniel Keene Jr. took the wire-to-wire win over ninth starter Mike Bresnahan who was putting a ton of pressure on Keene at the finish line. Herb Hoefler held off defending champ Rex Struble, first race winner Jim Smith and Jimmy Thompson. Rounding out the top ten were Herb Neumann Jr., Dale Sanders Billy Bechtelheimer and first timer Richard Elkins from Ocala. Thompson, Carlton and Keene took the wins in their respective heats.
It was Billy “O” Oestreicher for all 20 laps from the outside pole in the Sportsman feature. Mike Veltman worked his way through traffic to finish two car lengths back and being chased by J.D. Goff when the checkers flew. Johnny Sanders, starting from the scratch row, survived an early mishap that brought on one of several caution flags to move into fourth at the finish line. Pole sitter David White outlasted the rest of the field to finish fifth. Oestreicher and Veltman won the heat races.
Danny Cretty has spent the first five weeks finishing in the top five in Street Stock action and nailing down second in the point race for the division. Last week, a trip to Talladega forced him to ask Scott Guthman to pinch-hit for him in his absence and Guthman pulled off a top five finish to salvage the points that kept Danny in second. Week six was charmed as Danny took his first win of the season over two time winner Travis Nichols who put on a late charge from fourth in lap sixteen but ran out of laps and power to make the pass. Ernie Reed out dueled Daniel Webster and Joe Viverito in the run for third. Cretty took over the point lead by virtue of his win. Owen Leigh and Daniel Webster picked up the heat wins.
Mini Stock point leader Chris Thornton out of Clearwater picked up his first win of the season in their 20 lap main event over a 17-car field that had him starting ninth. Five consecutive top five finishes kept him at the top of the leader board and this just put a cushion in that lead. Thornton made a late pass on Phillip Joyner who was looking for his second win of the season and looking to improve his third place spot in the point race. Don Smith made his presence known with a his first top five finish of the season, holding out for third over early leader Chris Hooker and Tom Giddings. Heat winners were Joyner and Hooker.
Hobby Stockers hit the green flag 19 strong for their 20-lap main. Joe Rauner lost out on the run to the one turn to Josh Teague. Teague held the lead for a short time while the hot shoes came from the rear of the field. Before lap seven it was a power battle of the heavy hitters with two time champion Richie Smith taking the point and Wes Wilson closing fast. Wilson made the pass for the lead with seven laps to go and led the field to the checkers for his second-win of the year. Smith settled for second with Dean Lawyer, Curtis Neumann and last week’s winner Sport Wilson settling the battle for the top five spots. Heat wins went to Smith and Alvin Williamson.
John Donahue took the point at the green flag for the Thunder Stock feature and held the spot for seven laps before the heavy hitters went to the front of the pack. Pat Quick used the outside groove to her advantage and put some extra cushion in her point lead with win number two of the season. Lee Keller gave it all he had but had to settle for a second place finish after Quick snatched the lead from him late in the race. Tim Wilson led at the mid point but slipped back to fifth and recovered to finish third over Jerry Hoover and John Donahue. Donahue and Larry Triana took the heat wins.
8’s make their first appearance of the year with the Late Models, Sportsman, Hobby Stocks and Thunder Stocks. Mini Stocks will have the night off. Parents are urged to bring the kids early for the Easter Egg Hunt that is being organized by Donna Oestreicher from Stitches by Witches and the Easter Bunny. Don’t forget the family special at Citrus gets a family of two adults and to children under 12 in for $25.00. Happy Easter to one and all from all of us at Citrus County Speedway.
Citrus County Speedway Results 3/12/03 Late Model Feature – 30 Laps – 19 Cars
1. 5k Daniel Keene Jr.
2. 3x Mike Bresnahan
3. 22 Herb Hoefler
4. 69 Rex Struble
5. 32 Jim Smith
1st Heat Winner - #90 Jimmy Thompson
2nd Heat Winner - #3 Ricky Carlton
3rd Heat Winner - #5k Daniel Keene
Sportsman Feature – 20 Laps – 12 Cars 1. # 0 Bill Oestreicher
2. #55 Mike Veltman
3. #14 J.D. Goff
4. #36 Johnny Sanders
5. # 6 David White
1st Heat Winner - #0 Bill Oestreicher
2nd Heat Winner - #55 Mike Veltman
Street Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 13 Cars 1. #01 Danny Cretty
2. # 2 Travis Nichols
3. #55 Ernie Reed
4. # 1 Daniel Webster
5. #72 Joe Viverito
1st Heat Winner - #24 Owen Leigh
2nd Heat Winner - # 1 Daniel Webster
Mini Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 17 Cars 1, #24 Chris Thornton
2. #86 Phillip Joyner
3. #72 Don Smith
4. #1x Chris Hooker
5. #83 Tom Giddings
1st Heat Winner - #1x Chris Hooker
2nd Heat Winner - #86 Phillip Joyner
Hobby Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 19 Cars 1. #85 Wes Wilson
2. #42 Richie Smith
3. #19 Dean Lawyer
4. #01 Curtis Neumann
5. #94 Sport Wilson
1st Heat Winner - #09 Alvin Williamson
2nd Heat Winner - #42 Richie Smith
Thunder Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 16 Cars 1. #55 Pat Quick
