IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

May 29, 2005 FSCR Raymond Lovelady tops Citrus Late Model Field by Larry MacMillan (Inverness, FL. 5/28/05) A warm night led to hot action and some temper tantrums and late lap anxiety attacks that turned into a great night of close racing competition at Citrus County Speedway. Six divisions brought in 103 race cars and three new winners to close out the month of April in the speedway’s 50th anniversary season. Fifteen Super Late Models took the green for their 30 lap main event and it was Katie Bar the Door from the get go. Lots of moving around up front leading to lots of contact as the field chased Perry Lovelady off the pole with the heavy hitters coming from the back end of the field. Perry held off two lanes of traffic moving from the back of the pack for 10 laps before Danny Johnson managed to move him to the outside lane for the pass and the lead. Gary Grubbs came with Johnson but got into trouble early and was sent to the rear on several restarts before he gave it up for the night with damage to the race car. Johnson got into trouble after a caution that sent him into the front wall and to the pits for repairs. When all was said and done it looked like Perry Lovelady was going to pull off his first win of the season when he got into trouble protecting the spot that rearranged the top six cars with two laps to go. Raymond Lovelady pulled through the confusion from fifth to first for his first win of the season and a cushion in his points lead in the division followed closely by Chris Hooker, Scott Grossenbacher, Mike Bell and Herb Neumann Jr. Heat wins went to Perry and Raymond Lovelady. It was a night for division point leaders to make their first trip to Victory Lane for 2005 as Richie Smith launched his Super Stock from 9th to first when the checkered flag flew in their 20 lap main. Doc James Batson was looking for his second win in a row and third of the season he moved from 12th to 5th on the final restart with just two laps to go and managed a second place finish over J.D. Goff who had to do a major repair job to his racer after a wreck in his heat race. Early leader Rusty Bremer held on for a fourth place finish over Tom Posavic after James Hendrickson was D.Q.’d for un-sportsman like conduct after the checkers flew. Heat winners were Smith and Batson. Jay McKenzie recovered from an early season wreck and what appeared to be season ending injuries three weeks ago and was dialed in this week for his first Mini Stock win of the 2005 season. Starting 5th in the 13 car field he moved to the point and held off point leader Chris Hooker who came from 13th to second at the finish line. Don Faunce see sawed through the field and pulled off a third ahead of George Neumann and Keith Roggen. Johnny Siner and Roggen took the heat wins. Twenty nine Hobby Stocks vied for the 24 starting spots in 3 heats and a B Main. It only took two laps for Corky Miley to take the point and dominate the field for his 4th feature win of the season with 15th starter and point leader Bill Ryan right on his rear bumper at the checkers. Mike Wedlick started 4th and held out for a third place finish ahead of Tim Whitehead and John Zuidema III in the their 20 lap feature run. Heat wins went to Miley, Jay Witfoth and Tommy Smith. Barry Bartlett won the B Main. Wayne Heater stormed to the front of the Thunder Stock 17 car field from his 8th starting spot for his 3rd feature win of the season. Mike Loudy Jr. started 13th and was sent to the rear of the pack on an early caution flag to make a last lap run at a second place finish. D.J. Macklin ran up front all evening and recovered from an early problem for third ahead of Glen Colyer and early leader Frank McGinness. Heat winners were Heater and point leader Steve Stinedurf. After taking a week off with a sick race car, Donald Guy got back on track and logged his third 4 Cylinder Bomber win over Roger Blevins, Kevin Stone, Tim Herington and new comer Lee Ackerman. Guy and Stone took the heat wins. Next week the TBARA Sprints return for their second visit running the fastest speeds ever run at Citrus County Speedway. David Steele pulled off an unofficial 11.986 second run on the 3/8th mile in his win in the February 19th , 50th anniversary season opener. Added to the race card will be the Figure 8’s, Mini Stocks, Hobby Stocks, Thunder Stocks and the 4 Cylinder Bombers. If you’re looking for high speed and excitement Citrus County Speedway is the place to go. Citrus County Speedway Results 5/28/05 Late Model Feature – 30 Laps – 15 Cars 1. #17 Raymond Lovelady – 1st Feature Win 2. #33 Chris Hooker 3. #09 Scott Grossenbacher 4. #X96 Mike Bell 5. #98 Herb Neumann 1st Heat Winner - #9 Perry Lovelady 2nd Heat Winner - #17 Raymond Lovelady Super Stock Feature – 20 Las – 19 Cars 1. #41 Richie Smith – 1st Feature Win 2. B4 Doc James Batson 3. #37 J.D. Goff 4. #5X Rusty Bremer 5. #01 Tom Posavic 1st Heat Winner - #41 Richie Smith 2nd Heat Winner - #B4 Doc James Batson Mini Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 13 Cars 1. #5X Jay McKenzie – 1st Feature Win 2. #1X Chris Hooker 3. #2 Don Faunce 4. # 1 George Neumann 5. #94x Keith Roggen 1st Heat Winner - #01 Johnny Siner 2nd Heat Winner - #94x Keith Roggen Hobby Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 24 Cars – 29 Registered 1. #55 Corkey Miley – 4th Feature Win 2. #33 Bill Ryan 3. #96 Mike Wedlick 4. #35 Tim Whitehead 5. #47 John Zuidema III 1st Heat Winner - #55 Corkey Miley 2nd Heat Winner - #4 Jay Witfoth 3rd Heat Winner - #42 Tommy Smith B-Main Winner - #71 Barry Bartlett Thunder Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 17 Cars 1. #71 Wayne Heater – 3rd Feature Win 2. #80 Mike Loudy Jr. 3. #14 D.J. Macklin 4. #44 Glen Colyer 5. #48 Frank McGinness 1st Heat Winner - #71 Wayne Heater 2nd Heat Winner - #0X Steve Stinedurf 4 Cylinder Bomber Feature – 15 Laps – 10 Cars 1. #33 Donald Guy – 3rd Feature Win 2. # 1 Roger Blevins 3. #98 Kevin Stone 4. #82 Tim Herrington 5. #77 Lee Ackerman Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! news@karnac.org or send a letter to the editor!