IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

June 27, 2004 FSCR An Exciting Stormy Night at Citrus by Larry MacMillan Despite thunderstorms threatening throughout the evening, Citrus County Speedway was able to get the full race card in before the 4th of July break. Rain fell prior to warm-ups at the 3/8ths mile oval then the perennial sea breeze summer storms moved to the east opening up a six hour window that worked out beautifully allowing for heat and feature action in six divisions. Twenty minutes after the checkers dropped on the 28 car Thunder Stock winner the bottom dropped out and all but the employees and a few of the drivers and pit crew members got out dry as a bone. Thirteen Modifieds took the green flag for their 30 lap main event and Wayne Jefferson made his move from third to overtake early leader Billy Bechtelheimer. From that point on it was chase Jefferson to the checkers. Bechtelheimer managed to hold off the charges of Tommy Schnader for a second place finish and combined a heat win to gain the Modified point lead. John Grimm fell out of first due to not making the race. Mike Wilson and Chris Fadling battled to the flag to round out the top five in that order. Schnader picked up the win in the second heat. Super Stock action got back on track and 16 racers took the green. An early caution in the first lap caused by a major traffic jam ended Ernie Reed’s night before he really got started. It has been one thing after another for the former Champ. There was a battle royal for the point from the get go between James Hendrickson, Richie Smith, J.T. Renau and Joe Viverito. Steven Anderson got into the battle several laps into the race when he got together with Hendrickson bringing on the second caution. Mike Bell managed to move from his 11th starting spot to third at the caution and it was all over but the shouting when the green flew Mike took off and left the rest of the field to battle for second for his second win in a row. When the checkers flew the battle for second was won by Frank Buchanan, followed by Joe Viverito, John Makula and Bob Masciarelli. Buchanan lost the runner up spot on a D.Q. for an illegal sway bar moving everyone up a spot with Stephen Anderson making a come back to fifth after his run from the rear of the pack. Heat wins went to Masciarelli and Bell. Defending Mini Stock Challenge Champion Robbie Yoakam made a bit of a show out of the Mini Stock 20 lap main, coming from the back of the 11 car pack to take the lead in lap 3. Richard Stroup managed to move to within three car lengths of Robbie for the remaining laps with Robbie taking his third win in a row. Jay McKenzie held out for third ahead of three time champ George Neumann and Mike Lawhorn. McKenzie and Yoakam took the heat wins. Twenty Four Hobby Stocks chased Alvin Williamson from the green to the checkers as Alvin pulled off his first win ever. Bill Ryan gave him all the heat he could handle for the final five laps but it wasn’t enough to deprive Williamson of his first win. Bobby Taylor motored from 15th to a third place finish just ahead of point leader Tommy Smith which may have put Taylor at the top of the point ladder. Fourth starter Cody Moore managed to hold out over the big guns for a fifth place finish. Heat winners were Jeff Teague, Curtis Neumann and Moore. Wayne Heater got a slow start when the green fell, slipping from fourth to sixth but regained his composure and took it to the point when the first caution came out and early leader D.J. Macklin took a trip to the pits. On the restart Heater took all the heat the rest of the field could give him and held out for his first win of the year. Steven Stinedurf moved from his 17th starting spot to out run 28th starter Robert Jordan in the race for second. Gary Johnson moved from 10th to fourth and third starter Ray White had his best finish of the year in fifth. Heat wins went to Jared Kessler, Andy Taylor and Stinedurf. Justin Durbin logged his fourth win of the season in the 4 Cylinder Bomber action with heat winner Rick Fort and Clark Pittsley giving him a little something to think about. Durbin seems to be the dominant force in the economy division but Clark Pittsley is going to be tough to catch in the point’s battle with consistency being in his favor and making and finishing every race this season. Rounding out the top five were Michael Spencer and Rusty Adams. Citrus will be closed over the 4th of July weekend in deference to the Pepsi 400 at Daytona. By fan and driver demand four Late Model races have been added to the previously published schedule with a regular 30 lap Late Model point race on for the season restart on July 10th. Added to the card will be the Figure 8’s, Mini Cup Cars, a Sportsman 40 plus Mini Stock, Hobby Stock, Thunder Stock and 4 Cylinder Bombers. From the restart after the break it will be non stop racing every Saturday night until November 13th when the TBARA Winged Sprints close out the 49th racing season at Citrus County Speedway. Citrus County Speedway Results 6/26/04 Modified Feature – 30 Laps – 13 Cars 1. # 1 Wayne Jefferson – 1st Feature Win 2. # 6 Billy Bechtelheimer 3. #19 Tommy Schnader 4. #79 Mike Wilson 5. #29 Chris Fadling 1st Heat Winner - # 6 Billy Bechtelheimer 2nd Heat Winner - #19 Tommy Schnader Super Street Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 16 Cars 1. #17 Mike Bell – 2nd Feature Win 2. #72 Joe Viverito 3. #27 John Makula 4. #72x Bob Masciarelli 5. #48 Stephen Anderson 1st Heat Winner - #72x Bob Masciarelli 2nd Heat Winner - #17 Mike Bell Mini Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 11 Cars 1. #8 Robbie Yoakam – 5th Feature Win 2. #95 Richard Stroup 3. #5x Jay McKenzie 4. # 1 George Neumann 5. #44 Mike Lawhorn 1st Heat Winner - #5x Jay McKenzie 2nd Heat Winner - # 8 Robbie Yoakam Hobby Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 24 Cars 1. #09 Alvin Williamson – 1st Feature Win 2. #33 Bill Ryan 3. #66 Bobby Taylor 4. #42 Tommy Smith 5. #12 Cody Moore 1st Heat Winner - #8 Jeff Teague 2nd Heat Winner - #01 Curtis Neumann 3rd Heat Winner - #12 Cody Moore Thunder Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 28 Cars 1. #71 Wayne Heater – 1st Feature Win 2. #0X Steven Stinedurf 3. #28 Robert Jordan 4. #40 Gary Johnson 5. #15 Ray White 1st Heat Winner - #10 Jared Kessler 2nd Heat Winner - #36 Andy Taylor 3rd Heat Winner - #0X Steven Stinedurf 4 Cylinder Bomber Feature – 15 Laps – 6 Cars 1. # 2 Justin Durbin – 4th Feature Win 2. #43 Rick Fort 3. #64 Clark Pittsley 4. # 7 Michael Spencer 5. #67 Rusty Adams Heat Winner - #43 Rick Fort Have an opinion on this story? 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