IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

May 14, 2006 Citrus Features Fast Truck/Late Model Series Plus 4 Local Divisions by Larry MacMillan Perfect weather, 149 race machines and 7 divisions put on a wild program that had some pure side by side action plus what appeared to be a continuation of last week’s “Crash Fest” from the locals. The local Modifieds brought 20 racers for heats and a 30 lap feature run in the battle for the 2006 Championship Crown. Steve Parez launched his race car off the pole and set the pace from flag to flag for his first win at Citrus County Speedway. Mitch Korzenski locked onto Parez at the drop of the green flag and on several restarts but just couldn’t drum up enough horsepower to make the pass, claiming a second place finish. Point leader and defending champion Billy Bechtelheimer used the second groove from his 11th starting spot to nail down a third place finish over Bobby Blake and Mike Wilson. Heat wins went to Doug Miller and Harold Cannon. Thirty Hobby Stocks took the green flag to begin what proved that stock car racing is a contact sport. Due to the heavy schedule it was an all feature night for three of the divisions. Time restraints shortened the race with Sonny VanOchten holding off a hard charge from Tim Alexander to the checkers. Larry Triana held the lead for a couple of laps before he went wide off of turn two and slipped back to third at the finish line. Mike Wilson out ran John Makula in the race for fourth. Makula was doing double duty with his first ride in the # 20 Modified. Tim Quick put a first on his resume by being the first driver to make it over the new turn one wall and walked away from the wild ride. Thunder Stocks brought in a 24 car contingency in another action packed 25 lap feature. Caution flags and extended cleanups ran the clock out on this one also. Gary Johnson managed to use the outside lane to make a late pass on early leader Daniel Bouchard for the win. Bouchard held Mike Dubbs at bay in the race for second while Glen Colyer moved from 10th to fourth over 11th starter Rick Shahid. It was a battle royal from start to finish with a lot of paint swapping and bump and go racing. An 18 car Mini Stock field wrapped up the local point’s racing with a 25 lap feature that saw some more close racing that caused them to be short changed by the clock also due to caution flags and clean ups. Rick Litka benefited by a couple of the caution flags and moved from his 8th starting spot to Victory Lane when it was all over. Third starter Clark Pittsley managed to stay on top of the leaders for a second place finish over Don Faunce who worked his way from 11th to third at the checkers. George Neumann started 13th and finished fourth 16 over starter Johnathon Camp holding who held out for fifth. Fifty six racers came from all over the state with three divisions of young and old racers in the Adult Fast Trucks with 23 participants in a 75 lap shootout, Fast Late Models with 16 cars going for 100 laps and Fast Kids with 17 trucks in a 35 lap show down. Wayne Anderson made his second trip to Victory Lane at his home track in as many weeks with his new Fast Late Model powered by the same crate motor and tires that the rest of the field must run. The motor was dropped in the #84 chassis on Thursday and Wayne only had Friday night and Saturday afternoon to set up the car that dominated from early in the race to the checkers. Dalton Zher gave it all he had but had to settle for second. Dustin Dunn in his first Late Model race spent most of the evening holding off numerous attempts to snatch third from the young rookie. Dustin wasn’t having any despite his lack of Late Model experience and held out for third over Spencer Taylor and Brock Burns rounding out the top five. Anthony Campi was top shoe in the 12 to 16 year old Fast Truck division. Drew Brannon stayed on his rear bumper for much of their 35 lap main followed by John Kidwell, Cody Beniot and Austin Howell. The race had to be cut short due to time restrictions. Fast trucks saw plenty of bump and run action but they got all 75 laps run in the Fast Truck division which was the final race on the card. Travis Roland picked up the lead early in the race and set the pace to the checkers over J.R. Garcia III, James Wright III, Andy Magronigle and Travis Hanson. The Fast Truck/Late Model series is scheduled to be back at Citrus on August 5th. Next Saturday night will be bringing in the Goodyear Late Model Challenge. The local point’s races continue with the Limited Sportsmen, Hobby Stocks, Thunder Stocks, and 4 cylinder Bombers rounding out the full race card. Citrus County Speedway Results 5/13/06 Open Wheel Modified – 30 Laps – 20 Cars 1. #92 Danny Parez – 1st Feature Win 2. #82 Mitch Korzenski 3. # 6 Billy Bechtelheimer 4. #75 Bobby Blake 5. #79 Mike Wilson 1st Heat Winner - #53 Doug Miller 2nd Heat Winner - # 3 Harold Cannon Hobby Stock Feature – 25 Laps – 30 Cars 1. #99 Sonny VanOchten – 1st Feature Win 2. #74 Tim Alexander 3. # 1 Larry Triana 4. #44 Mike Wilson 5. #27 John Makula Thunder Stock Feature – 25 Laps – 24 Cars 1. #40 Gary Johnson – 2nd Feature Win 2. #14 Daniel Bouchard 3. #36 Mike Dubbs 4. #44 Glen Colyer 5. #13 Rick Shahid Mini Stock Feature – 25 Laps – 19 Cars 1. #82 Rick Litka – 1st Feature Win 2. #64 Clark Pittsley 3. # 2 Don Faunce 4. # 1 George Neumann 5. #13 Johnathon Camp Fast Late Models Feature – 100 Laps – 16 Cars 1. #84 Wayne Anderson 2. #119 Dalton Zher 3. #3 Dustin Dunn 4. #46 Spencer Taylor 5. #40 Brock Burns Fast Truck Pros Feature – 75 Laps – 23 Trucks 1. #01 Travis Roland 2. #36 J.R. Garcia III 3. #56 James Wright III 4. #94 Andy Magronigle 5. #14 Travis Hanson Fast Truck Kids Feature – 35 Laps – 17 Trucks 1. # 8 Anthony Campi 2. #08 Drew Brannon 3. #7NY John Kidwell 4. #39 Cody Beniot 5. #96 Austin Howell Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! or Email KARNACto send a letter to the editor!