IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

April 11, 2004 FSCR Grossenbacher & Struble Share Citrus Twin 50 Wins by Larry MacMillan Citrus County Speedway’s new Twin 50 Late Model format was put to the test for the first time Saturday night and was met with mixed emotions from drivers and fans. For the most part, the 20 Super Late Model drivers who took part in the first of five scheduled new format race nights were eager to try it on for size. In pre race interviews prior to the initial 50 lap all green flag race, the strategy was to look for the possibility of qualifying for a good starting position and going for the $1,500 dollar win without using up your race car and saving the best for last in the second back to back race with the fifteen minute infield pit stop to adjust for any changes in the car and the track. All the work was done in the infield and any car that went to the pits was put to the rear for the start of the second race. Former Late Model champion Mike Bresnahan took his new ride to set fast qualifying time and had the option of taking a $200 fast qualifying bonus and start sixth or giving up the bonus and start fourth for a better shot at the front runners. He chose to start fourth behind pole sitter Scott Grossenbacher, Herb Neumann Jr. and Wayne Anderson. Twenty cars took the green flag for the first race and Grossenbacher set the pace from the get go watching the race for second in his rear view mirror for the first 40 of the 50 laps. He wrapped up the final ten with a ton of pressure from Wayne Anderson to the checkers, holding out for the win. Anderson, Neumann, Bresnahan, John Chance, Ricky Carlton and Dale Sanders were the only 7 cars to finish in the lead lap. Five cars picked up DNF’s for mechanical reasons with Danny Johnson blowing a motor. A young fan from the grandstands helped in setting the start of the second 50 lap race with a #8 pill draw, leaving the top 8 to draw for the front starting positions. The front row was decided on the final two pills drawn and Dale Sanders and Rex Struble set up the front row. Mike Bresnahan, Herb Neumann Jr., Wayne Anderson, Scott Grossenbacher, Ricky Carlton and John Chance balanced out to front four rows. Only 17 cars were able to take the green flag for the second race. Sanders won the drag race to turn one but was only able to hold off Rex Struble for one lap before being pushed up to the outside groove and sliding back to seventh for the best part of the race. By lap three a fierce battle for second between Bresnahan and Anderson went on for 47 laps. Anderson made numerous attempts to make low passes on Bresnahan, making contact in the latter laps but was unable to make the pass until lap 49. Anderson dove under Bresnahan off turn two making contact on the move and Bresnahan came back and tucked the nose of his car under Anderson’s rear bumper in turn three pushing Anderson wide on four and regaining second for the checkered flag. Anderson was not a happy camper and retaliated on the back stretch after the checkers and pushed Bresnahan almost into turn three while Mike locked up the brakes. Anderson came out of his car, which was still in gear, trying to get to Bresnahan to express his feelings for the move. Mike pulled away while the infield crew tried to calm Anderson down. Meanwhile, Andersons abandoned race car continued to move and pulled down into the infield before promoter Billy Hooker ran alongside and hit the kill switch, stopping the car before it ran over someone or sustained any damage. The episode ended in a $500 fine for both drivers but they retained their second and third finish. Scott Grossenbacher, Dale Sanders John Chance,, Perry Lovelady, rookie Daniel Webster, Arkansas visitor 16 year old Ryan Foster and Herb Hoefler rounded out the top ten, who were all in the lead lap at the checkered flag. Super Streets ran their first point race of the season with 12 cars taking the green in their 25 lap main event. Steve Olone checked out on the rest of the field early and was never to be seen again by the entire field taking the win. James Hendrickson finished a distant second with Steve Anderson on his rear bumper at the finish. Joe Viverito and Chris Cross rounded out the top five. Jay McKenzie took his new ride to a very impressive win over the 15 car Mini Stock field in their 25 lap feature run. Don Faunce, Steve Griffin, Chris Hooker and Richard Stroup balanced out the top five. Six cars in the division took DNF’s due to mechanical problems or early wrecks in the race. Twenty eight Hobby Stocks were split into 14 car Twin 20 lap features with Dean Lawyer taking his first win of the season ahead of Ernie Reed, Bill Ryan, Butch Patz and Tim Whitehead. Tommy Smith blitzed the field in the second race for his first win of the season, followed by Alvin Williamson, Troy Davis, Patrick Lewis and Richard Henick. Dale Catrett and Jim Nocella were D.Q.’d in post race inspection after taking second and third in the race. Thunder Stocks also split 28 cars for twin 20’s with Lee Keller running away with the first feature over Jeremy Brown, Steven Stinedurf, Larry (Van) Iovannisci, and Kelly Conner. Rick Badessa was another first time winner in the second feature over Jerry Hoover, Glen Colyer, John Sullivan and Michael Long finishing in the top five positions. Clark Pittsley was the big dog in the 4 Cylinder Bombers 20 lap run which only saw three of the four registered cars take the green. John DeGeorge put on a pretty good race with the winner but had to settle for second well ahead of last week’s winner Jeff Pittsley. Next Saturday will see another 7 division race card with the Modifieds back for another 30 lap special plus the Mini Cup Cars, Super Streets Stocks, Mini Stocks, Hobby Stocks, Thunder Stocks and 4 Cylinder Bombers. Citrus County Speedway Results 4/10/04 Super Late Model Twin 50 #1 1. #09 Scott Grossenbacher 2. #84 Wayne Anderson 3. #98 Herb Neumann Jr. 4. #57 Mike Bresnahan - Fast Qualifer 5. #61 John Chance 6. #3 Ricky Carlton 7. #1 Dale Sanders 8. #3x Rex Struble 9. #8 Perry Lovelady 10. #10 Ryan Foster 11. #1x Daniel Webster 12. #65 Shane Nichols 13. #88 Brock Oglesby 14. #90 Paul Combast 15. #42 Richie Smith 16. #98 Danny Johnson 17. #47 Keith Savrel 18. #99 Charles Sanders 19. #19 Kiki Thomas 20. #22 Herb Hoefler Super Late Model Twin 50 #2 1. #3x Rex Struble 2. #57 Mike Bresnahan 3. #84 Wayne Anderson 4. #09 Scott Grossenbacher 5. #1 Dale Sanders 6. #61 John Chance 7. #8 Perry Lovelady 8. #1x Daniel Webster 9. #10 Ryan Foster 10. #22 Herb Hoefler 11. #47 Keith Zavrel 12. #3 Ricky Carlton 13. #98 Herb Neumann, Jr. 14. #90 Paul Combast 15. #99 Charles Sanders 16. #65 Shane Nichols Super Street Stock Feature - 25 Laps - 12 Cars 1. #20 Steve Olone 2. #X3 James Hendrickson 3. #48 Steven Anderson 4. #72 Joe Viverito 5. #77 Chris Cross 6. #27 John Makula 7. #59 Brett Flagg 8. #5X Dusty Bremer 9. #44 Rob Perry 10. #33 Ray Lyon 11. #55 Ernie Reed 12. #28 Mike Bell DNS Mini Stock Feature - 25 Laps - 15 Cars 1. #5x Jay McKenzie 2. #2 Don Faunce 3. #3 Steve Griffin 4. #1x Chris Hooker 5. #95 Richard Stroup 6. #44 Mike Lawhorn 7. #20 Jim Curry 8. #9 William Prevatt 9. #911 Randy Futch 10. #1 George Neumann 11. #43 Tony Whittier 12. #00 David Curry Hobby Stock Feature #1 – 20 Laps – 14 Cars 1. #19 Dean Lawyer 2. #22 Ernie Reed 3. #33 Bill Ryan 4. #10 Butch Patz 5. #35 Tim Whitehead Hobby Stock Feature #2 – 20 Laps – 13 Cars 1. #42 Tommy Smith 2. #09 Alvin Williamson 3. #73 Troy Williamson 4. #46 Patrick Lewis 5. #60 Richard Henick Thunder Stock Feature #1 – 20 Laps – 14 Cars 1. #21 Lee Keller 2. #76 Jeremy Brown 3. #0X Steven Stinedurf 4. # 4 Larry Iovannizsci 5. #44 Kelly Conner Thunder Stock Feature #2 – 20 Laps – 14 Cars 1. #88 Rick Badessa 2. #30 Jerry Hoover 3. #4x Glen Colyer 4. #33 John Sullivan 5. #35 Michael Long 4 Cylinder Bomber Feature – 20 Laps – 3 Cars 1. #64 Clark Pittsley 2. #22 John DeGeorge 3. #20 Jeff Pittsley 4. #23 Tony DeGeorge (No Start) Have an opinion on this story? 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