(Inverness, Fl. 6/10/06) Six local divisions and the Open Wheel Lites traveling series filled the Citrus Count Speedway pit area with 143 race teams and gave the fans there money’s worth of action on the 3/8ths mile oval. Half the Figure 8 “St. Pete Gang” were held up on the Howard Franklin Bridge due to an accident but fortunately made the trip without further incident after the heat races got underway.
Herb Neumann Jr. was the dominate force in the 23 car Late Model 35 lap main and put some more cushion in his point lead. Neumann launched his #98 racer from the his fourth starting spot and used the outside groove putting on a side by side battle with Keith Zavrel for several laps before taking over the lead. From that point on he never looked back. Despite several caution flags for spins and minor crashes he kept sixth starter Gary Grubbs at bay right to the checkers. Raymond Lovelady made his way from 7th to third over early leader Zavrel with Scott Grossenbacher moving from 11th to round out the top five after taking a second place finish in the Powell Memorial Friday night. Heat wins went to Keith Zavrel, Danny Johnson and Gary Grubbs.
After a late start for the season and four top five finishes former Sportsman Champion Mike Veltman finally made his way from his 11th starting spot to Victory Lane over a 16 car field. It wasn’t an easy trip as he got spun on two occasions making his way around A.J. Macklin who lead most of the race with plenty of heat behind him all the way to his second place finish. Maloy Kelly moved from 5th to 3rd followed by point leader Jim Altobelli and Tom Posavec. Heat wins went to Phillip Rook and Edward Allen.
Eighteen Mini Stocks took the green flag for their 20 main event with Rick Litka taking the early point while the rest of the field got sorted out. Johnny Siner was man on a mission coming from his 9th staring spot to the front of the pack making a three deep pass on the inside lane to take the lead and set the pace to his second win of the season. Johnathon Camp put his ride on cruise from 14th to put some heat on at the checkered flag but had to settle for a second place finish. Jesse Henley started fourth and finished 3rd just ahead of 13th starter George Neumann while Rick Litka managed to salvage a fifth place finish. Jesse Henley and Mike Lawhorn took the heat wins.
Twenty nine cars took the green flag in the Hobby Stock feature and Johnny Zuidema jumped off the outside pole to the point and set the pace all the way from start to finish for his first feature win of the season. Frank Stromquist managed pull off the pole and despite losing the drag race into turn one and two he locked on to Zuidema to salvage a second place finish. Doc James Batson moved from 17th , for the second week in a row, logging a third place finish over Jason Murphree and the winner of their last race Bobby Taylor who started 19th. Tim Quick, Jason Murphree and Doc Batson locked in heat wins.
Twenty five Thunder Stocks took the green in preparation for their 50 lap feature next week. Glen Colyer moved from his fifth starting position to the point early in the race and left the entire field well behind with a half lap lead at several points in their 20 lap main. Nobody had anything for him despite closing the gap on several occasions with caution flags due to some minor accidents and spins. Colyer went on to win his first feature of the year being chased to the line by Tim Wilson. Victor Shahid held the early lead until Colyer made his way to the front and fell back for a third place finish. Defending Champion Steve Steindurf worked his way through traffic to finish fourth over Daniel Bouchard. Shahid, Stinedurf and Megan Spicer, driving her dad’s race car after totaling hers two weeks ago managed a 6th place finish in the feature.
Fifteen Figure 8’s took on the intersection 40 times in their 20 lap man event and it was a wild first few laps. Several red flags came on for accidents that rearranged the lead position. When the dust cleared it was local driver Curtis Youmans taking his second feature win in the Dirt Poor racing machine. John Thomas tried to reel Curtis in but had to settle for a second place finish. Pole sitter Charlie Meyer, one of the cars that got stuck on Howard Franklin on his way to Citrus pulled off a third place finish followed by Donnie Thomas and Darryl Hage. Only half the field finished.
The visiting Open Wheel Lites came in from all over the state to put on their second show of the year. Jacksonville’s Rick Lundeen wasted no time going to the point when the green flew and set the pace from flag to flag. Dennis Diehl out of West Palm Beach made some last lap passes to move into second when the checkers flew followed by Stuart’s Phil Krauthoff. Roger Richmond from Port Charlotte ran a solid fourth.
Next Saturday night will be the Father’s Day Special with the Open Wheel Modifieds, Thunder Stocks in their annual 50 lap feature, Limited Sportsman, Hobby Stocks and 4 Cylinder Bombers. Green flag drops on the first heat at 5:30 p.m., so come early to get a good seat and treat Dad to this special race.
