IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

August 8, 2004 FSCR Ten Features, 161 Racers, Make for Banner Night at Citrus by Larry MacMillan It was a full house in the pits and the grandstands for the biggest show of the year at Citrus County Speedway Saturday night. Seven divisions ran ten feature races for a total of 275 action packed laps of all green flag racing keeping the fans on the their feet a good deal of the time. With the rained out makeup for the Super Late Model Twin 50’s highlighting the action, a total of 30 of Florida’s finest battled for the increased purses before the final checkered flag fell. Twenty six Super Late Models qualified for the first of the back to back Late Model 50’s with track record holder Scott Grossenbacher turning a 13:609 second run earning him a third starting spot for the first race. Second fast qualifier Rich Pratt pulled the 5 pill and third fast qualifier Herb Neumann Jr. pulled the #1 for the pole with Mike Franklin qualifying 8th pulling the #2 pill for the outside pole. When the green fell, Neumann took the point and set the pace for all 50 laps while the balance of the field fought it out for the top ten spots which later became instrumental in the starting lineup for the second phase to the Twin 50’s. Neumann took the win followed by Jim Smith, Rich Pratt, John Chance and Mike Bresnahan. Rounding out the top ten were Raymond Lovelady, Tal Etheridge, Danny Johnson, Daniel Webster and Brock Oglesby. Several late arrivals joined the 1st feature race after making the trip from Lakeland’s rainout for a total of 28 cars. Sixteen of the 28 were able to finish. After a 15 minute rest stop in the infield the top ten finishers in the first feature were inverted for the start of the second feature putting Brock Oglesby on the pole along side young local rookie Daniel Webster. The balance of the 30 cars were lined up according to their finish with the cars not finishing going to the rear of the field as they came out of the pits after repairs. Two more late arrivals, Scotty Crocket and Ryan Foster also started towards the back of pack. The pole seemed to be the spot to be in for both races as Oglesby led from start to finish followed by 23rd starter Wayne Anderson who was 29 laps down in the first race after his late arrival. Daniel Webster was able to hold off the rest of the field for a third place finish over Danny Johnson, Raymond Lovelady, Mike Bresnahan, Tal Etheridge, Herb Neumann Jr., Rex Struble and Jim Smith. The monthly Sportsman 40 drew 16 cars for qualifying with Richie Smith coming up with fast qualifier honors at 14:888 second on the 3/8ths mile. Johnny Sanders locked in second fast time in his hand controlled race car. All 16 cars took the green flag with Mike Veltman coming off the outside pole to set the pace with Johnny Sanders locking on to his rear bumper all the way to the checkered flag. John Smith, Jeremy Goddard and Steve King rounded out the top five with ten of the 16 starters still in the running when the checkers flew. Sixteen seemed to be the magic number for several of the feature races as the Mini Stocks also started that many cars in their double feature. In making up last weeks rain out new arrival Dan Smith powered through the field from the back end of the field to take the win over Jay McKenzie, Mike Lawhorn, Don Faunce and George Neumann. Four cars that were registered for last week’s race didn’t make it back for the make up to include Robbie Yoakam. Another non participant last week, Lee Davis, came through with the win in the second feature in a side by side finish with Chris Hooker. Johnny Siner, Jim Curry and Don Faunce had their own battle going for the third spot, finishing in that order. The thirty car Hobby Stock field was split for a pair of 20 lap features that saw a consistent top five finisher finally make it to Victory lane for the first time this year. Bobby Taylor survived a late hit from Tommy Smith and then made an 18th lap pass on leader Tim Whitehead for the crowd pleasing win. Whitehead was also going for his first win but had to settle for second ahead of Fred Tuski, Cody Moore and Tommy Smith. After suffering three DNF’s due to engine problems Curtis Neumann finally got the gremlins out of his motor and left the 16 car 2nd feature field in the dust for his fourth win of the season. Bill Ryan motored from sixth to finish a distant second ahead of Doc James Batson, John Hughes and Dean Lawyer. Twenty six cars took the green in another thrilling Thunder Stock finish. Wayne Heater suffered transmission problems in pre race practice that looked like it may take him out for the night. Being the next to last race of the night gave him plenty of time to fix it and it paid off big time as he went on to win a side by side finish with point leader Jerry Hoover in their 20 lap main. Rick Badessa was also in the mix when the checkers flew with new comer Chris Huntoon finishing right behind him and Robert Jordon on his bumper for a fifth place finish. Twenty one cars register for the wild Figure 8 race but only 16 saw the green flag. Curtis Youmans took the early lead off the pole but ran into trouble after 6 laps. Several more caution flags slowed the action down just a bit but when the dust settled it was Robbie Hage out of St. Petersburg in Victory Lane. Dwayne Fults survived an early spin and came back through the heavy traffic to hold out for second being chased to the flag by Ken Crews in the nose to tail finish for the top three spots. Two new names to the Figure 8 driver list Mike Wedlick and Joey Binson took the balance of the top five spots with only 10 cars still running when the checkers flew. Joey Durbin and Shawn Evans ran a five lap side by side battle to the checkers in the 15 lap 4 Cylinder Bomber division main. Joey Durbin came out top gun for the win. Shawn held out for second over Rick Fort, Justin Durbin and Clark Pittsley. Next Saturday will feature the Open Wheel Modifieds, a Super Stock double feature, Mini Stocks preparing for the Mini Stock Challenge on the 21st, Hobby Stocks, Thunder Stocks and 4 Cylinder Bombers for another exciting night at the action attraction, Citrus County Speedway. Citrus County Speedway Results – 8/7/04 Late Model Twin 50 #1 – 50 Laps – 28 Cars Late Model Twin 50 #2 – 50 Laps – 30 Cars 1. #98 Herb Nuemann Jr. – 2nd Feature Win 1. #88 Brock Oglesb 2. #84 Wayne Anderson #32 Jim Smith 3. # 0 Rich Pratt 3. #1x Daniel Webster 4. #61 John Chance 4. #96 Danny Johnson 5. #77 Mike Bresnahan 5. #17 Raymond Lovelady 6. #17 Raymond Lovelady 6. #77 Mike Bresnahan 7. #8b Tal Etheridge 7. #8b Tal Etheridge 8. #96 Danny Johnson 8. #98 Herb Neumann Jr. 9. #1x Daniel Webster 9. #3x Rex Struble 10.#88 Brock Oglesby 10.#32 Jim Smith Fast Qualifier - #09 Scott Grossenbacher – 13:609 Seconds Sportsman Feature – 40 Laps – 16 Cars 1. #55 Mike Veltman – 1st Feature Win 2. #36 Johnny Sanders 3. #31 John Smith 4. #40 Jeremy Goddard 5. #99 Steve King Fast Qualifier - #3 Richie Smith – 14:888 Seconds Mini Stock Feature #1 – 20 Laps – 16 Cars Mini Stock Feature #2 – 20 Laps – 16 Cars 1. #72 Dan Smith – 1st Feature Win 1. 94x Lee Davis – 2nd Feature Win 2. #5x Jay McKenzie 2. #1x Chris Hooker 3. #44 Mike Lawhorn 3. #01 Johnny Siner 4. # 2 Don Faunce 4. #20 Jim Curry 5. # 1 George Neumann 5. # 2 Don Faunce Hobby Stock Feature #1 – 20 Laps – 14 Cars Hobby Stock Feature #2 – 20 Laps – 16 Cars 1. #66 Bobby Taylor – 1st Feature Win 1. #01 Curtis Neumann – 4th Feature 2. #35 Tim Whitehead 2. #33 Bill Ryan 3.. #71 Fred Tuski 3. #77 James “Doc” Batson 4. #12 Cody Moore 4. #28 John Hughes 5. #42 Tommy Smith 5. #19 Dean Lawyer Thunder Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 26 Cars 1. #71 Wayne Heater – 2nd Feature Win 2. #30 Jerry Hoover 3. #88 Rick Badessa 4. #30x Chris Huntoon 5. #28 Robert Jordon Figure 8 Feature – 20 Laps – 16 Cars 1. #74 Robbie Hage – 1st Feature Win 2. #98 Dwayne Fults 3. #81 Ken Crews 4. #87 Mike Wedlick 5. #27b Joey Binson 4 Cylinder Bomber Feature – 15 Laps – 6 Cars 1. #55 Joey Durbin – 1st Feature Win 2. #30 Shawn Evan 3. #43 Rick Fort 4. #79 Justin Durbin 5. #64 Clark Pittsley Have an opinion on this story? 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