Labor Day Weekend took an unusual turn at Citrus County Speedway Saturday night with some decent weather for a change and 123 race cars competing for a trip to Victory Lane in 4 points divisions and a 50 lap Special for the Sportsmen Division and the Central Florida Sprints ran the Jackie Gordon Memorial 30 for an action packed night of racing.
Thirty two Sportsmen went on the clock to qualify for the top 16 starting spots and the balance of the field made up of the top 6 finishers in a 15 lap Consi race plus 2 Promoters Choices for a total of 26 cars taking the green flag. Aaron Williamson was top qualifier and pulled the 6 pill to invert the top 6 for the start of the grueling run for the $800 win purse.
Arthur Conquest came off the pole slot to take the point in the early going and many of the drivers were saving their race cars for the end of the race but crashes and spins brought out numerous caution flags. Tom Posavec followed Conquest for 6 laps before making his move to the outside lane and raced side by side for the next 4 laps before locking in the lead.
Conquest fell in behind Posavec followed by Travis Nichols with the three battling for the lead on several restarts due to spins and wrecks on the track. Most of the passing action took place in the middle of the pack with only half the starting field finishing the race. Posavec, Conquest and Nichols held on to the top three spots when the checkers flew. Ninth starter Wayne Morris locked in a fourth place finish with Mike Bell, Dusty Bouchard, Aaron Williamson, Rick McMahan,, Phillip Rook and Steve Olone rounding out the top ten. Phillip Rook took the win in the “B” Main Qualifier.
Modified point leader Billy “Bad” Bechtelheimer exploded back on the scene in his new ride and definitely sent the message that he is on a mission to repeat his championship run. When the green fell he blew the 17 car field away after winning his heat race earlier in the evening. Mitch Korzenski spent the first few laps trying to hold off the rest of the field but was unable to keep Tommy Schnader, Doug Miller and Bobby Blake from moving him to the outside groove.
Several caution flags marred the runaway win that look apparent for Billy “Bad” and 8th starter Teddy Nelson moved through traffic making several passes on restarts at Bechtelheimer to no avail and had to settle for second. On the checkered flag lap there was a five car wreck coming off turn four that opened the door for Kyle Bookmiller, Harold Cannon and Mike Wilson to warp up the top five slots. Tommy Schnader took the win in the first heat in a borrowed car.
Twenty Mini Stocks took the green flag in the 20 lap Mini Stock feature and Johnathon Camp made an early run on early leader Jesse Henley and commenced to blow the rest of the field away for his 2nd win of the season. With the win he closed in on the point leader George Neumann who finished third behind Jesse Henley. Clint Foley held out for fourth over Kevin Harrod who was in a see saw battle with Neumann and Foley throughout the race for the spot. Heat wins went to Henley and Foley.
Tim Wilson made it two in a row and came out of his 19th starting spot to out run the 23 car Thunder Stock field for his 6th win of the season. Rick Shahid move from 12th to second when the checkers flew followed by Carmine Castoria , Rick Ray and Steve Stinedurf. Heat wins went to Glenn Colyer, Victor Shahid and Wilson who continues to move up the point ladder currently running 3rd and just 50 points behind leader Louie Coie, and 38 points behind Glen Colyer going into Saturday night's races.
Justin Durbin continues to dominate the 4 Cylinder Bombers even when he has to borrow a car to run. After a break down in the practice session he moved to Neil Durbin’s car and claimed his 10th points win of the season after a DNF last week. Jon Doucette held the early lead but watched Durbin go by in Lap 12 of their 20 lap main. James Williams, Gary Sullivan and Travis Hoefler rounded out the top five. Heat wins went to Durbin and Patric Conner.
The Central Florida Non Winged Sprint Cars ran the Jackie Gordon Memorial 30 to warp up the evening with a 15 car field. Bad weather in Miami kept five cars out of the field. Jim Alvis and Scott Adema took the heat wins. The race was marred by several caution flags with Troy DeCaire using the outside lane to his advantage and locking onto the point late in the race for the win. Chasing him to the line was Shane Butler, Scott Adema, Jimmy Thompson, Gary Gimmler and Jimmy Alvis. The balance of the field got knocked out of the race for DNF’s.
Next Saturday night will be “Super Saturday” featuring FASCAR Pro Trucks, double Late Model and Figure 8 races plus regular heat and feature action for Mini Stocks and the return of the Hobby Stocks after a week off. The first Late Model and Figure 8 features will be makeup races for the rained out feature races on August 26th. You will definitely get your money’s worth on this one.
Citrus County Speedway Results 9/2/06
Sportsmen 50 Feature – 50 Laps – 28 Cars
1. #01 Tom Posavec
2. #78 Arthur Conquest
3. #22 Travis Nichols
4. #56 Wayne Morris
5. #17 Mike Bell
6. #74 Dusty Bouchard
7. #113 Aaron Williamson – Fast Qualifier
8. #12 Rick McMahan
9. #97 Phillip Rook
10.#20 Steve Olone
Modified Feature – 30 Laps – 17 Cars
1. # 6 Billy Bechtelheimer – 2nd Season Win
2. #34 Teddy Nelson
3. #03 Kyle Bookmiller
4. # 3 Harold Cannon
5. #79 Mike Wilson
1st Heat Winner - #91 Tommy Schnader
2nd Heat Winner - #6 Billy Bechtelheimer
Mini Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 20 Cars
1. #13 Johnathon Camp – 2nd Season Win
2. #23 Jesse Henley
3. # 1 George Neumann
4. # 7 Clint Foley
5. #34 Kevin Harrod
1st Heat Winner - #23 Jesse Henley
2nd Heat Winner - # 7 Clint Foley
Thunder Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 23 Cars
1. #85 Tim Wilson – 6th Season Win
2. #13 Rick Shahid
3. #24 Carmine Castoria
4. # 2 Rick Ray
5. # 0 Steve Stinedurf
1st Heat Winner - #44 Glen Colyer
2nd Heat Winner - #8 Victor Shahid
3rd Heat Winner - #85 Tim Wilson
4 Cylinder Bomber Feature – 20 Laps – 12 Cars
1. #055 Justin Durbin – 10th Season Win
2. # 5 Jon Doucette
3. #54 James Williams
4. # 4 Gary Sullivan
5. #20 Travis Hoefler
1st Heat Winner - #055 Justin Durbin
2nd Heat Winner - #44 Patric Conner
Central Florida Wingless Sprints – Jackie Gordon Memorial 30 – 15 Cars
