140 Racers in Six Divisions Kick Off 2006 Citrus Racing Season
140 Racers in Six Divisions Kick Off 2006 Citrus Racing Season
After a disappointing first week rainout Citrus County Speedway entered its 51st year of racing action in week two of the 2006 season. Driver anxiety to get back into action was apparent with 140 cars registering for the first week of point races in all six divisions on the race card. The fans definitely got their money’s worth with some wild action in all divisions.
Late Models opened their season with a 21 car field with former track champions Herb Hoefler and Mike Bresnahan taking the wins in the heat races. When the green fell for the feature pole sitter Raymond Lovelady took the point and set the early pace with Herb Neumann Jr. in hot pursuit. Five laps into the race Lovelady slipped to outside on turn one and Neumann took the lead with Scott Grossenbacher on his rear bumper. Tenth starter Mike Bresnahan worked his way on the outside lane to second in the final laps but didn’t have time to set up to make the pass on Neumann when the checkers flew. Grossenbacher held out for third followed by Raymond Lovelady and Danny Johnson.
Limited Sportsmen opened their season 16 cars strong and Tom Posavec smoked the field taking a heat win and the feature by quite a margin. Second heat winner Jim Altobelli showed that he is definitely going to be a contender in this season for a second place finish in the feature followed by Rusty Bremer, Ernie Reed and Ronnie Heard.
Twenty nine Mini Stocks took the green flag in preparation for next week’s Mini Stock Challenge. Robbie Storer showed the rest of the field the way to Victory Lane in both his heat and the feature. Clint Foley won the second heat was the only driver that had anything for Storer settling for second with Dan Smith finishing a distant third. Johnathon Camp out maneuvered Steve Bradford in the run for fourth. A full field on Florida’s best Mini Stock pilots is expected for next week’s Mini Stock Challenge season opener at Citrus.
Doc James Batson proved again he is the man to beat in the Hobby Stock division with his second win of the season after the Winter Spectacular special win. Thirty three cars showed up for the four heat races won by Jason Witfoth, Tim Anderson, Bobby Taylor and Doc Batson. A 12 car “B” Main, won by Curtis Flanagan, rounded out the 27 car starting field for the feature that saw lots of wrecks. Bobby Taylor chased Doc Batson for the entire race settling for a second place finish over 21st starter and defending Champion Curtis Flanagan. Jason Witfoth came off the pole and held out for a fourth place finish ahead of Alvin Williamson who started 11th in the field.
After a really tough season in 2005 Tim Wilson is back on track and won over the 30 car Thunder Stock division by a half lap. Pole sitter Andy Taylor held off the rest of the pack for a second place finish over his brother Ted Taylor, Mike Pitts and Joe Boyd who were nose to tail at the start finish line. Heat wins went to Andy Taylor, Wilson, and Megan Spicer.
Four Cylinder Bombers started their season with 11 cars in the field and it was Donald Guy leaving the rest of the division in his dust. When the green dropped it was all over except working his way through lapped traffic and staying out of trouble. Peter Nelson managed to keep him in sight but couldn’t reel him in finishing 2nd ahead of Paul Combast, Lee Ackerman and Phil Edwards.
The final race before the Citrus County Fair break through the entire month on March comes up next weekend featuring the Open Wheel Modifieds, the Florida Mini Stock Challenge, the Southern Sportsman series, Hobby Stocks, 4 Cylinder Bombers and the Fantastic Figure 8’s. Figure 8’s will be out in force after getting rained out on opening night.
April 1st will see the TBARA Sprints, Modifieds, Limited Sportsman, Mini Stocks, Thunder Stocks, Mini Cup Cars and 4 Cylinder Bombers restart the season. Racing will continue through November 11th, every Saturday night, except the weekend of the Pepsi 400 on July 1st. It should be a great season.
