Five First Time Season Winners go to Citrus Victory Lane
by Larry MacMillan
(Inverness, Fl. 4/22/06) Six local divisions continued their race for the championship crown and the visiting Open Wheel Lites made the total car count 131 and that made for a great racing show Saturday night in the 8th week of regular racing at Citrus County Speedway.
Twenty four super Late Models worked on their second week of point races with Daniel Webster, Raymond Lovelady and Dustin DesChamps taking the wins in the heat races. On the pill draw, Danny Johnson pulled the #1 and took off when the green flew and set the pace from flag to flag with some heavy hitters giving him some heat all the way. Caution flags flew frequently for minor spins and debris on the track. Johnson overcame numerous runs at his top spot but survived them all for his first win in a couple of years. Raymond Lovelady moved from 9th to second when the checkers flew followed by Mike Bell who started on the outside pole and followed Johnson for 33 of the 35 lap main. Daniel Webster held out in third until Lovelady made his move toward the leader late in the race and Webster settled for a fourth place run. Rounding out the top five was defending champion and 14th starter Herb Neumann Jr.
Edward Allen came off the pole to set the pace for the entire 20 laps in the Limited Sportsman 17 car race. Magic Mike Veltman made a late move on Ernie Reed to move to within shooting distance of taking the checkers away from Allen but just didn’t have enough laps left to make it work. Veltman settled for second ahead of Ernie Reed, Jim Altobelli and Tom Posavec to round out the top five. Allen and Scott Hendrickson took the heat wins.
Car number 23 was the one to wear in both the Limited Sportsman and Mini Stock division Saturday night. Twenty one Mini Stocks took the green flag for their 20 lap feature and Jesse Henley took his number 23 to the front for his first feature win. Three time champion George Neumann moved from 10th to second when the checkers flew followed by Clint Foley who over came a short trip to the pits for an overheat problem making a final lap pass on James Ellis to relegate Ellis to fourth ahead of Johnathon Camp. Ellis and Jeff Pittsley captured the heat wins.
Twenty five Hobby Stocks took the green flag continuing to make this the most popular division to compete in at Citrus. Jason Murphree flexed his horsepower to score his first win of the season after five races. James Henick took the early lead through the halfway point before he went wide, opening the door for Murphree and settling for second at the finish line. Jay Witfoth continues to run well moving from 8th to third at the finish line. John Makula move from 14th to fourth. “Doc” James Batson started 22nd and then was sent to the rear of the pack in lap four, motoring back through traffic and crossed the line a half car length behind Makula for fifth. Heat wins went to Henick, Bobby Taylor and Curtis Flanagan.
The 4 Cylinder Bomber Division continues to grow with 17 making the show Saturday night. Justin Durbin battled with brother Joey for his fourth win of the season and has more wins than any other driver at Citrus. Jeremy Root, Paul Combast and Peter Nelson in the “Green Machine” locked up the top five in their 15 lap main event. Joey Durbin and Tim Nocella took the heat wins.
Curtis Youmans found his nitch in racing when he climbed into his Figure 8 car. He locked onto the outside pole position and the point when the green flew in the 14 car race and led from the Get-Go. He had to thread the needle for slower traffic on numerous occasions but his timing was just right and no one was able to give him a run for his first Figure 8 win. Clifford Rousseau fought off Wayne Calkins in the final laps to hold out for second followed by Calkins, Charlie Meyer and John Thomas. Half the field was in the pits before it was all over. Cody Moore was involved in a three car wreck pushing him off the number one turn causing some concern for his condition. He walked away but his car was taken to the pits on the hook.
Open Wheel Lite 2004 Point Champion Ron Towles took a wire to wire win over the 12 car Open Wheel Lite gang. He was chased to the start finish line by 3 time Champion Rick Lundeen. Nick Shadid, John Bailey and Jeff Wolfe took the top five spots. Heat wins went to Roger Richmond and Towles.
Next Saturday will see the PBG Legends make their first visit to Citrus. They will be joined by the Open Wheel Modifieds, Limited Sportsman, Mini Stocks, Hobby Stocks, Thunder Stocks and 4 Cylinder Bombers.
Saturday, May the 6th will be “Crasharama Night” featuring the Figure 8 Bus Races, Boat Trailer Race, the Figure 8’s and maybe a Chicane Race plus a regular race card. Late Models are back for their third race of the season plus Limited Sportsman, Mini Stocks, Thunder Stocks and 4 Cylinder Bombers. Put Citrus on your weekend schedule right through November 11th only if you want to put some excitement into your life!
Citrus County Speedway Results 4/22/06
Late Model Feature – 35 Laps – 24 Cars
1. #96 Danny Johnson – 1st Feature Win
2. #17 Raymond Lovelady
3. # 7 Mike Bell
4. #11 Daniel Webster
5. #98 Herb Neumann
1st Heat Winner - #11 Daniel Webster
2nd Heat Winner – #17 Raymond Lovelady
3rd Heat Winner - #51 Dustin DesChamps
Limited Sportsman – 20 Laps – 17 Cars
1. #23 Edward Allen – 1st Feature Win
2. #77 Mike Veltman
3. #55 Ernie Reed
4. #76 Jim Altobelli
5. #01 Tom Posavec
1st Heat Winner - #23 Edward Allen
2nd Heat Winner - #03 Scott Hendrickson
Mini Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 21 Cars
1. #23 Jesse Henley – 1st Feature Win
2. # 1 George Neumann
3. # 7 Clint Foley
4. #98 James Ellis
5. #13 Johnathon Camp
1st Heat Winner - #20 Jeff Pittsley
2nd Heat Winner - #98 James Ellis
Hobby Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 25 Cars
1. #95 Jason Murphree – 1st Feature Win
2. #60 James Henick
3. # 4 Jay Witfoth
4. #27 John Makula
5. #77 James Batson
1st Heat Winner - #60 James Henick
2nd Heat Winner - #66 Bobby Taylor
3rd Heat Winner - #33 Curtis Flanagan
Figure 8 Feature – 20 Laps – 14 Cars
1. #37 Curtis Youmans – 1st Feature Win
2. # 3 Clifford Rousseau
3. #14 Wayne Calkins
4. #94 Charlie Meyer
5. #77 John Thomas
4 Cylinder Bomber Feature – 20 Laps – 17 Cars
1. #12 Justin Durbin – 4th Feature Win
2. #55 Joey Durbin
3. #002 Jeremy Root
4. #90 Paul Combast
5. #08 Peter Nelson
1st Heat Winner – #16 Tim Nocella
2nd Heat Winner - #55 Joey Durbin
Open Wheel Lite Feature – 20 Laps – 12 Cars
1. #01 Ron Towles – Jacksonville
2. #04 Rick Lundeen – Jacksonville
3. #68 Nick Shadid - Kissimmee
4. #45 John Bailey – Sarasota
5. # 3 Jeff Wolfe – Sarasota
1st Heat Winner - #33 Roger Richmond – Port Charlotte
