Shane Butler Wins First Sprint Race & Gator Wagner Takes First Modified win at Citrus
by Larry MacMillan
(Inverness, Fl. 7/8/06) The five of the regular Citrus County Speedway divisions restarted the 2006 season after a week off and came out 110 cars strong while the TBARA Sprints were back to make up their rained out season opener with a 29 car field. The fans definitely got their monies worth with two of the winners making their first trip to Victory Lane in 2006.
TBARA Winged Sprints saw a lot of high speed paint swapping in their scheduled 30 lap main event with 29 cars registering but only 24 making the starting field. Mickey Kempgens took the point from the get-go being chased by Tommy Nichols for the first eight laps while Shane Butler worked his way through traffic and diving under Nichols in lap 9 then into the lead on lap 10. Several cautions came out for the single file starts but Shane was in command from that point on until lap 15 when 12th starter Dude Teate caught him. Butler and Teate diced for the lead until the final caution came out and the clock ran out on their allotted 30 minutes in lap 24. The checkers were thrown to end the race and put Butler in Victory Lane for the first time in 2006. Dude Teate had to settle for second followed by Charley Ladner, Mickey Kempgens and Brian Maddox. Heat wins went to Lance Taylor, Ladner and Brad Davis.
Another 1st time season winner took the top spot in the Open Wheel Modified 30 lapper. Steve Perez launched off the pole to the point with Jimmy Gator Wagner locking on to his rear nurf bar for the first five laps. Wagoner took advantage of a wide run off turn four to take the lead and despite several caution flags maintained the spot right to the checkered flag. Billy Bechtelheimer gave it a good go from his sixth starting spot but had to settle for second over Steve Perez who stayed in the hunt for all 30 laps. Chris Wentworth held out for fourth over Adam May in the 24 car field. Heat wins went to Tommy Schnader, Mitch Korzenski and Stephen Harbuck.
A.J. Isbister continues to be the big winner in Limited Sportsman action by tucking away a flag to flag win over the 29 car field for his fourth trip to Victory Lane. Maloy Kelly moved for sixth to second when the checkers flew with Fred Tuski on his rear bumper at the line. Dusty Bremer stayed in the mix for the entire 20 laps despite being turned around on one occasion. Rounding out the top five for his 8th top five finish was Tom Posavec. Heat winners were A.J. Isbister, Mike Veltman, and Jim Altobelli.
Twenty Three Mini Stocks took the green flag for their 20 lap main and Rick Litka became the third first time winner of the night in a wire to wire win. Phillip Joyner started 12th and finished second ahead of 9th starter Mike Lawhorn. Three time champion George Neumann took his first win of the season two weeks ago and worked his way through traffic from his 19th starting spot to hold out for fourth over James Ellis. Litka, Lawhorn and Kevin Harrod added heat wins to their resume.
Glen Colyer spanked the Thunder Stock field after moving from 14th to the point before the halfway point of their 20 lap feature run. When the checkers flew Colyer celebrated his birthday with a half lap win over Tim Wilson who moved from 13th and ran out of laps to catch Colyer. Pole sitter Christine Henick held off Louie Coie and Rick Shahid in the race for third. Heat wins went to Henick, Coie and Dennis Sanderson.
Justin Durbin still tops all regular divisions with his 8th win of the season Saturday night in the 4 Cylinder Bomber 20 lapper. He started at the back of the field and moved through the 12 car field like they were standing still. Peter Nelson came off the pole and lost the lead to Durbin in lap 8. Nelson spent the rest of the race see-sawing back and fourth from fourth to salvage 2nd at the finish followed by Bobby Riley, Jon Doucette and Travis Hoefler. Ashley Williamson and Durbin took home the heat wins.
Next Saturday night will feature the FMRA Midgets, Late Models, Mini Stock, Hobby Stocks, Thunder Stocks and the Fantastic Figure 8s return for more wild intersection action. Races get underway at 5:30 p.m.
