IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

March 6, 2005 FSCR Wayne Anderson heads up Sunbelt Series Opener by Larry MacMillan (Inverness, Fl. 3/5/05) Citrus County Speedway closed out the first four weeks of the 50th Anniversary racing season with a jammed pit area that had no room for any other racers to park. With three Traveling Racing Series opening up their point season at one venue everyone interested in getting involved for 2005 was there plus the local Hobby Stock division. The fans jammed the grandstands as well on a chilly night that saw a record 160 race cars looking for Victory Lane. The Super Late Model Sunbelt Series saw local former Late Model champion Mike Bresnahan run fast time at 13.689. He drew the nine pill for the inversion for the start, putting Gary Grubbs on the pole in his first big race since winning 17 features and the track championship 8 years ago. Outside pole went to Mac Johnson who locked onto Grubbs rear bumper when the green flag dropped for the 125 lap season kickoff with 31 of 32 cars starting the race. The first major incident had Johnson taking out the leader which brought one of many caution flags out sending Johnson to the rear. Meanwhile 8th starter and defending Sunbelt Champion Wayne Anderson was picking off the competition on the outside lane until lap 46 when he made the pass on Grubbs. Anderson managed to pull away at will despite slower traffic causing multiple caution flags. Grubbs spent the rest of the race holding off Chris Fontaine until Fontaine lost power and backed up moving Scott Grossenbacher up to third with Jeff Choquette, and Daniel Webster rounding out the top five. Grubbs was DQ’d for too much left side weight in post race inspection moving everyone up one spot with Rich Pratt claiming the fifth spot followed by Jeff Scofield, Mike Franklin, Tal Etheredge, Brock Oglesby and Ryan Foster locking in the top ten positions. Due to a late caution flag that saw Jay Middleton put Herb Neumann Jr. into the front straight wall, after and earlier confrontation, totally destroying the front end of Neumann’s race car and taking both cars out for the night. Due to the delay the curfew brought the checkered flag out after 115 laps. The “Blue Goose” Dave Dunkin out clocked the 35 car Southern Sportsman Series racers for fast time. A 17 Car consolation race was run and the top 8 made the feature. When the green fell on the 28 starters for the feature outside pole sitter Travis Nichols battled for the point for five laps before he was able to take the lead and from that point on it was catch me if you can. Nichols, now out of Naples, grew up at Citrus County Speedway and definitely had it dialed in Saturday night. Multiple caution flags throughout the race turned the originally scheduled 50 lap race into a 25 lap run for the checkers. Aaron Williamson, Sam Cressman, Patrick Thomas and Edward Allen locked onto the top five spots. Rounding out the top ten were Scott Holly, Richard McMehan, James Knight, Craig Cuzzone and Ricky Hoffman. Forty three Mini Stocks went on the clocks looking for one of the 28 starting spots. Twenty were taken on times and 8 came out of the 23 car consolation race. This was another race that was shortened by multiple cautions that saw three wide racing at every point on the track. The heavy hitters worked their way through the traffic jam with Ronnie Larson coming out top shoe taking the checkers followed by defending points champion Dustin DesChamps, local former champion Chris Hooker, last week’s winner Robbie Storer and Wendell Guy. Rounding out the top ten were Don Faunce, Keith Roggen, Tom Jones, Chris Thornton and Matthew Rotkis. Corky Miley took his first win of the season in the Hobby Stock division for 2005, dedicating the race to his brother Manzy Miley who was killed in a tragic traffic accident last month. Corky felt has brother rode with him for the entire green to checkers, wire to wire win being chased by good friend Tommy Smith. Tim Anderson came off the outside pole to hold onto third at the finish line with Alvin Williamson and Wild Bill Ryan. Curtis Flanagan, Artie Hewitt, Charles Herne, Dean Lawyer and Ron Nelson finished up the top ten. Citrus County Speedway will take a three week hiatus for the Citrus County Fair activities. The season will restart on April 2nd with 32 race nights on the schedule through November 12th. Citrus County Speedway will continue its 50th Anniversary celebration with 7 divisions running on most Saturday nights with a variety like the fans have never seen in all those years. Look for more appearances by the local Late Models, Sportsman, Figure 8’s and Super Stocks. Add the Corteco Modifieds, FAST Trucks, USA Sprints, TBARA Sprints, FAST Sprints, Mini Cup Cars, Pro Modifieds, Mini Stock Challenge, a Crash A Rama, Demolition Derby, and Enduro 150 and wrapping up the season with the 1st Leg Of the “Triple Crown 125” for the Super Late Models. Citrus County Speedway Results 3/5/05 Sunbelt Super late Model 115 Laps of 125 – 31 Cars 1. #84 Wayne Anderson – Wildwood 2. #09 Scott Grossenbacher – San Antonio 3. #70 Jeff Choquette – Royal Palm Beach 4. #1x Daniel Webster – Brooksville 5. # 0 Rich Pratt – Anthony 6. #07 Jeff Scofield – Plant City 7. #97 Mike Franklin, Jr. – Ocala 8. # 8 Tal Etheredge – Sylvester, Ga. 9. #88 Brock Oglesby – Ocala 10.#10x Ryan Foster – Lowell, Arkansas Southern Sportsman Series – 25 Laps of 50 - 28 Cars 1. #20 Travis Nichols 2. #13 Aaron Williamson 3. #97 Sam Cressman 4. #25 Patrick Thomas 5. #23 Edward Allen 6. #1x Scott Holly 7. #12r Richard McMehan 8. #28 James Knight 9. #61 Craig Cuzzone 10.#32 Ricky Hoffman Florida Mini Stock Challenge 1. #89 Ron Larson 2. #51 Dustin DesChamps 3. #1x Chris Hooker 4. #9 Robbie Storer 5. #31x Wendell Guy 6. # 2 Don Faunce 7. #20 Keith Roggen 8. #60 Tom Jones 9. #24 Chris Thornton 10.# 3 Matthew Rotkis Hobby Stock Feature – 20 Laps 25 – 35 Cars 1. #55 Corky Miley 2. #42 Tommy Smith 3. #11 Tim Anderson 4. #09 Alvin Williamson 5. #33 Bill Ryan 6. #3x Curtis Flanagan 7. # 9 Artie Hewitt 8. #83 Charles Herne 9. #19 Dean Lawyer 10.#16 Ron Nelson Have an opinion on this story? 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