IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

July 25, 2004 FSCR Rain Postpones Citrus L.M. Twin 50's by Larry MacMillan (Inverness, Fl. 7/24/04) Drivers, Car Owners, Pit Crew Members, Track employees and fans showed that there is patience, perseverance and persistence in their makeup when it comes to making every effort to enjoy there favorite Saturday night pastime. Nineteen Super Late Models were scheduled to go for a pair of 50 lap, back to back, races for a $1,000 to win purse in each race. Six other divisions were also ready to race but the weather just wouldn’t cooperate. Scattered showers moved into the area at about 4:30 during practice. The track crew members waited out the first shower for about 45 minutes before they started trying to dry out the track. They no sooner got started on the outside groove with the track wreckers dragging large tires behind to generate heat when the rain started again. After another 15 minute wait it stopped again. Another attempt was made to start drying out the track only to have the bottom drop out with about an inch of rain falling in 45 minutes. All track equipment and 20 to 25 race cars began another hour long job of drying out the track again, with success this time. Each of the seven divisions got in 5 to 10 laps of practice and the racing scheduled was adjusted to allow for features only due to the rain delay and time constrictions. The 4 Cylinder Bombers came on the track to line up for the first feature of the night and no sooner had they lined up for the green flag when another heavy rain shower dumped on the speedway. At that point there wasn’t enough time to get the track dried out again, allowing for the 11:00 o’clock curfew and 200 laps of feature racing. Even if they had been successful the rain showers continued for the rest of the evening. The plug was pulled and the Late Model Twin 50’s has been rescheduled for Saturday August 7th. Rain Checks will be honored for the next two race nights. Many of the Late Models that were at Citrus Saturday night were there to try on the 3/8ths mile in preparation for next week’s “Florida Pro 100.” Point leader Rich Pratt, and local series rookie Jim Smith who is second in points were both out to give it a shot and will be back next Saturday night. Other local drivers who have given notice to the series regulars are Herb Neumann Jr. who won the last Florida Pro race at Citrus. Danny Johnson, Local Point leader John Chance, Rex Struble, and rookie Daniel Webster have also committed to trying the big dogs on at their home race track. Dickie and Wayne Anderson could possibly be in the lineup as both have participated in the Florida Pro races and live close by in Wildwood. It just depends on what other commitments they may have for next weekend. A surprise Late Model entry Saturday night was one of the winningest drivers in the history of Citrus County Speedway. Gary Grubbs was scheduled to drive Keith Zavrel’s #47. This would have been his first race in a short track car in six or seven years. He says he is getting the bug and the exposure to the practice session Friday night and what little practice he got Saturday night may have gotten the thought of getting his old race car out of storage and back on the race track. Grubbs proved to be one of the most exciting drivers to watch at the speedway during his early years of racing. He commented on Friday night that there is about an inch of dust on his #10 race car that has been on jack stands ever since that banner season he took the championship at his home track. Added to the Super Late Model Florida Pro 100 next week will be the Super Stocks, Hobby Stocks, Mini Stocks, Thunder Stocks and 4 Cylinder Bombers. Florida Pro cars will qualify in time trials and fast qualifier will pull a pill to see how many cars will be inverted for the start. Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! news@karnac.org or send a letter to the editor!