INVERNESS, Fla. -- Citrus County Speedway kicked off 2006 with Part II of Winter Spectacular III featuring a Super Late Model 125 and a 100 Lap 4 Cylinder Bomber Enduro. Joining the “Need for Speed” off season group were the Limited Sportsmen, Hobby Stocks, and Thunder Stocks in 25 lap feature events.
Car owner Dick Anderson (left) with Late Model Winner Wayne Anderson
It was a barn burner night of action to kick off Citrus’ 51st season of short track racing with new promoters Mike Reed and Richard Pospich in attendance.
Mike Bresnahan was top qualifier for the 125 Lap Super Late Model race and he drew the number 6 pill putting 15 year old Dalton Zehr on the pole with another youngster, Daniel Webster on the outside pole.
When the green flag flew Webster took the point with Zehr, third starter Wayne Anderson slipping into third followed by Scott Grossenbacher, Herb Neumann Jr. and Bresnahan.
Anderson took advantage of Zehr’s inexperience and hung him outside in the first five laps and began an 18 lap chase on Webster before he and Grossenbacher managed to take over the top two spots.
Anderson was driving his dad’s #92 and about all Grossenbacher could do was keep Wayne in sight for the balance of the 125 laps. Webster held off Herb Neumann Jr., Mike Bresnahan and Tuffy Hester in the race for 3rd until lap 113 when Webster’s tires started going away.
Neumann and Bresnahan had a see-saw battle royal going on for fourth for most of those 113 laps that wound up with Neumann making the pass followed by Bresnahan, Hester and Daniel Webster.
Wayne went on to win the $3,000 win purse lapping all but the front 6. Wayne was met in Victory Lane by his mother Mary and King of the Short Tracks, Dad, Dickie Anderson who suggested “he was thinking about getting back into racing but may have second thoughts after seeing that performance for fear Wayne would make him look bad.” It was like coming home for Dickie and Mary who formerly were promoters at Citrus County Speedway for several years.
Scott Grossenbacher and family
The first ever 4 Cylinder Bomber 100 lap Enduro at Citrus drew 28 cars from every corner of Florida and had its share of excitement. Paul Combast launched his hot rod off the outside pole and held the point for the first 15 laps before Joey Durbin snatched the lead away from him while making their way through slower traffic. Durbin looked like he was on the way a $1,000 win purse until he ran into trouble getting bumped off the one turn that caused some concern for his safety that brought on the only red flag of the race. For the restart Shawn Evans took the point and he held onto the lead until he went high off the 2 turn that just about left him a lap down. Twenty fourth starter Mike Stallnaker took over the top spot at that point and set the pace right to the checkered flag. Shawn Evans was able to power his way back through traffic to salvage a 2nd place finish over Norman Dismuke, Paul Combast and Justin Durbin. Only 12 of the 28 starters were still running when the checkers flew.
Mike Bell had his way with the 10 car Limited Sportsman field with a flag to flag win in their 25 lap main event. Tom Posavic motored his way from 9th to second to put the pressure on in the final laps when the checkered flag flew for a second place finish. Edward Allen held out for third over J.T. Renau and Terri Sapp.
Twenty eight Hobby Stocks registered and saw two drop out before their 25 lap feature. Don Teague found some extra muscle in his racer and held off numerous charges by defending division champion Curtis Flanagan. Six caution flags interrupted the race for the lead but Teague managed to hold Flanagan off before Curtis lost it in turn 3 and had to go back to the rear of the field for the restart late in the race. Flanagan used the outside lane for the final 5 laps and wound up chasing Teague to the flag, salvaging 2nd in the close finish. Sheldon Kinser outran Donnie Roberts and Jim Hand in the race for third.
Nineteen Thunder stocks took the green flag in their 25 lap main and saw the tightest finish of the season opener. Defending champion Steve Stinedurf pulled the low pill and won the pole for the start and the field spent most of the evening working on his rear bumper. Steve held the lead on and off for 24 laps but lost it to 9th starter Ted Taylor on the final run for the start finish line. Tenth starter Tim Wilson worked his way through traffic to pick up third ahead of one time leader Jammie Dunnahoe and Megan Spicer.
If Saturday night was any indication of what the 2006 season is going to be like fans and drivers will be in for a heavy duty short track adventure this year. Racing resumes in earnest on Saturday night February 11th featuring the TBARA Winged Sprints in the first leg of a three night weekend series opener. The Tangerine Series Ford Focus Midgets will be introduced to Citrus County Speedway powered by Ford Focus crate motors. Added to the point season opener will be the Open Wheel Modifieds, Mini Stocks, Thunder Stocks and the Wild and Fantastic Figure 8’s.
RESULTS
Citrus County Speedway Winter Spectacular III Results
Winter Spectacular Late Model 125 – 15 Cars
1. #92 Wayne Anderson
2. #09 Scott Grossenbacher
3. #98 Herb Neumann Jr.
4. #77 Mike Bresnahan – Fast Qualifier 13.723 Seconds
