(Inverness, Fl. 4/29/06) It was another banner night at Citrus County Speedway Saturday night with 141 race cars providing more high speed excitement than the fans could handle. Six regular divisions were racing for 2006 points and were joined by 22 PBG Legends in their first of two races scheduled at Citrus County Speedway for their Florida traveling tour.
In the 35 lap PBG Legends main it was a see-saw battle for the entire race between Cory Abbott and Brandon Thompson who swapped positions on the point several times. Despite 5 caution flags Abbott was able maintain his lead and made it three wins in two nights of racing over Brandon Thompson and Matt Bowers who pressed him all the way to the checkers. Legends are due back at Citrus on July 29th for another battle royal.
The Citrus County Speedway Mod Squad spent 29 laps of their main event chasing Teddy Nelson who launched his #34 machine off the outside pole, winning the drag race to turn one over pole sitter and defending champion Billy Bechtelheimer. Bechtelheimer saved the best for last riding in Nelson’s tire tracks for 20aps before making a concerted run at Teddy. Nelson who guarded the point with some smooth driving until lap 29 when Billy B got the inside line off turn 3 putting Nelson on the outside and in an effort to save the spot Teddy’s back end came around on him bringing on the caution for the final time. Bechtelheimer took the point on the green-white-checkers lap for his first win of the season over Kyle Bookmiller, Tommy Schnader, Mitch Korzenski and Steve Perez. A very disappointed Nelson had to settle for an 11th place finish over the 15 car field. Mitch Korzenski and Bechtelheimer took the heat wins.
The Limited Sportsman division showed up 18 racers strong and the fireworks started from the drop of the checkered flag for their 20 lap main that was cut short to 17 laps due to those fireworks and time consumed. Glenn Flemming and A.J. Isbister started the race in the front row and got together in the race for turn 1 going over the infamous (no wall) 1-2 turn, apparently Flemming forgot to turn left. Flemming came back for the restart on the front row and Isbister spent some time in the pits getting repairs. When he came back out on the track for the restart Flemming took off around the track and nailed him in the back end, pushing him down the front straight while Isbister stood on the breaks burning rubber the whole time. Flemming was disqualified for the action. When the race got back underway things ran reasonably smoothly with Tom Posavec taking the lead midway through the race being chased by last week’s winner and 13th starter Edward Allen to the checkers. Maloy Kelly remained in the mix and pulled off a third place finish over Bobby Taylor and Dusty Bremer. Heat wins went to Kelly and Jim Altobelli who came into the night’s action leading the points.
On the merits of three heat wins and 3 top five finishes, Mini Stock Point leader Clint Foley launched his racer from 16th to Victory Lane for his first win of the season. Three time champion George Neumann just couldn’t reel Foley in and had to settle for second over early leader Rick Litka, defending champion Chris Hooker and Johnathon Camp in a nose to tail finish over the 20 car field. Heat winners were Johnny Siner and Johnathon Camp.
Twenty seven racers provided plenty of fireworks in the Hobby Stock division with three new drivers joining the growing class. Bobby Taylor jumped out of his Sportsman and into his Hobby Stock to take the lead away from Wayne Heater early and go on to win his first race of the season in the division. Defending champion Curtis Flanagan moved from 18th to second when the checkers flew followed by Doc James Batson who was right on his rear bumper from his 17th starting spot. John Makula moved from 14th to fourth. Wayne Heater seems to have a lot better luck in borrowed rides from the Henick racing team than he does in his own race car but he held out for a fifth place finish after leading in the first 10 laps. Heater won the first heat with Danny Hage and Jason Murphree adding heats to their resume.
It was a 30 car crash fest in the Thunder Stock main with Daniel Bouchard taking his first feature at Citrus. Noah Hudson and Rick Shahid lost their second and third spots in post race inspection with Victor Shahid, Jim Kruse and Dennis Sanderson inheriting the spots to round out the top five. Heat wins went to Bouchard, Victor Shahid and Jim Kruse.
Rounding out the wild night of action Joey Durbin blitzed the 14 car Bomber 15 lap feature. New comer Donnie Stroshal Jr. started 14th and finished second ahead of 4 time winner Justin Durbin, Patrick Conner and Tim Nocella. Jon Doucette and Joey Durbin took the heat wins.
Next Saturday night will feature CRASH FEST 2006 with Figure 8 School buses locking horns in the intersection, a Boat-Trailer race which is always a riot, plus regular Figure 8 action with these hot shoes taking on the intersection 40 times and fighting for the same real estate in a 20 lap main event. Added to the race card will be the Late Models, Limited Sportsman, Mini Stocks, Thunder Stocks and 4 Cylinder Bombers. Don’t miss this one!
