It was another 150 race car night at Citrus County Speedway Saturday night featuring the PBG Legends, a 50 Lap Hobby Stock Special for $500 to win plus the Late Models, Limited Sportsman, Mini Stocks, 4 Cylinder Bombers and the Fantastic Figure 8’s.
The heat of the night matched the heat on the race track which was a bit on the slick side for the Hobby Stock and Legends qualifying. Several engines blew during the evening adding oil on the track. Cleanup crews were kept busy with some lengthy cleanups.
Thirty eight racers tried to qualify for the Hobby Stock special with the top 18 qualifying on the clock. Twenty cars ran in the Consolation race with the top 6 making the feature and 2 promoter’s choice drivers making the 26 car field. Pole sitter Jay Witfoth set the pace for the first 27 laps while numerous caution flags tightened up the field helping the middle of the pack to pick their spots to move into contention.
Mike Wilson moved from 12th to take the lead in lap 27 and then checked out on the field to leave Witfoth to battle the rest of the field for a second place finish. Clint Foley did double duty and in only his second week in his Hobby Stock racer moved from 10th to finish third after 50 laps of racing. Rounding out the top five were David Kingsbury and Curtis Flanagan.
Flanagan was the only driver who had anything for Mike Wilson and moved into a position of a possible knock down, drag out finish with Wilson only to fade from second to fifth in the final two laps. Only thirteen racers out of 26 starters were still running when the checkers flew.
Twenty one of Florida’s top Late Model Hot Shoes made up the field for their 35 lap main. Raymond Lovelady, Keith Zavrel and Herb Neumann locked onto good starting spots with heat wins. When the green flag dropped Herb Neumann Jr. came off the pole with Herb Hoefler dicing with for the lead on the outside groove.
Hoefler had the lead in the side by side run in lap one only to see Neumann find some extra horsepower to take the point where he stayed for his fourth checkered flag of the 2006 season. Mike Bresnahan made his way around Hoefler and kept the heat on Neumann right to the checkered flag, settling for second. Hoefler held out for third with Raymond Lovelady and Wayne Anderson wrapping up the top five spots.
Limited Sportsman rookie driver D.J. Macklin made a quick move from his fifth starting spot to the point and spent the rest of the 20 lap feature holding off the entire 24 car field for his very first feature win in the division. Long time Late Model and Figure 8 driver Fred Tuski is making a come back after several years off and moved from 10th when the green flew to make a run at Macklin for the checkers but had to settle for second. Tom Posavec came from 17th to finish third just ahead of 16th starter Craig Robinson and 6th starter Maloy Kelly. Heat wins went to Kelly, Ernie Reed and Posavec.
Mini Stock driver Johnny Siner has been on a mission in 2006 and that is apparent with his determination to finish every race even when he gets involved in accidents. Despite the damages to his car he keeps coming back for more and it has paid off in most cases. Siner launched his race car from his sixth starting spot to the front of the 14 car line to log his second feature win of the season and came home clean of any damage to get there.
Chris Hooker started his first point race of the season from 12th spot and gave Johnny a run for the checkers but apparently didn’t have enough to make the pass and settled for second at the finish line. Point leader George Neumann had the early lead but slipped to third with Johnathon Camp and Clint Foley right on his rear bumper when it was all over. Jesse Henley and Clint Foley were the heat winners.
Justin Durbin looked like he had his 9th 4 Cylinder Bomber win wrapped up from the get go but due to caution flags and an Uncle who suggested on his arrival that he would give his nephew a run for his money that didn’t happen. Caution came out late in the 20 lap race when Marlon Durbin closed up on Justin for the restart. Marlon made an early pass when the checkers flew only to get bumped out of the lead by Justin bringing out another caution. Justin was put to the rear and Marlon was penalized for the early jump and restarted second with Jeramy Root on the point.
With two laps left in the race Marlon almost made an early run on Jeremy and backed off before he made the pass for another penalty. Root was able to hold Marlon off for the win. Terry Dunbar Peter Nelson and Jon Doucette finished in the top five. Heat wins went to Justin and Marlon Durbin.
Figure 8’s brought a 15 car field and Daryl Hage made short work of taking the early lead away from his dad Bob Hage. Brother Robbie Hage locked on to Daryl for the balance of the race. Despite 3 red flags for accidents nobody had anything for the two front runners finishing in that order. Seventh starter Joey Catterelli was being chased by his team car driven by 15th starter Zach Perry in the run for third when the checkers flew. Clifford Rousseau moved from 13th to hold out for fifth.
Sixteen year old Kory Abbot was the big gun in the 35 lap PBG Legends shoot out for his second win at Citrus County Speedway this season. The Legends will be back in August.
Next Saturday night will feature the FAST Truck Pros, FAST Kids Trucks, FAST Late Models in their 3 division traveling series plus the local Open Wheel Modifieds, Limited Sportsman, Mini Stocks, Thunder Stocks and 4 Cylinder Bombers. It will be another busy night at Citrus County Speedway.
Citrus County Speedway Results 7/29/06
Hobby Stock Special – 50 Laps – 26 Cars – (36 Qualified)
