IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

July 1, 2007 Joey Aguilar tops TBARA Sprints at Citrus by Larry MacMillan Despite an intermission storm Citrus County Speedway fans definitely got their money’s worth with a full race program featuring the TBARA Sprints, Florida Pro Challenge, Sportsman, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks, Purse Stocks and 4 Cylinder Bombers. Plus the Speedway was presented with 2 defibrillators from a benefit that was put on by the Sheriffs Department and Citrus Cardiology. The speedway hosted a benefit concert featuring the Marshall Tucker Band and the Artemus Pyle Band. The big storm came just as the presentation was being made at intermission and just about ended the evening. The officials hung in there, the rain quit and with the help of the drivers we got the track dried out and back to racing by 8:30 p.m. The 4 Cylinder Bombers opened up the feature racing with a 17 car field that saw some hard nosed racing despite a green race track. Ninth starter Jeff Eberly managed to make his way through traffic to take the point and the win in their 20 lap main event for his 4th feature win of the season. Ninth starter Dan Hagg and 7th starter Chris Harvey had a great battle going on for second but both were disappointed when they got to tech failing post race inspection. Inheriting 2nd place was Bobby Richardson, 3rd was Travis Hoefler, 4th going to Jeremy Sharrone and rounding out the top 5 was Kevin Stone. Heat winners were Sharrone and Tim Scalise. Pure Stocks put on a rough show that was called after 15 laps due to two blown engines causing long clean up delays and running out of time. This race had plenty of excitement while they were on green and when the checkered flag flew Rick Ray picked up his first win of the season against kids that were young enough to be his grandsons. Rick Shahid and Mike Dubbs battled for second in the final five laps with Dubbs coming out on top for the spot and Shahid settling for third. Glen Colyer moved from 9th to 4th at the finish line followed by 22nd starter Bobby Taylor who was looking for his 6th win of the season in a race he wasn’t even expected to run in. He loaned his Sportsman to Mike Veltman who broke his car during warm-ups and Bobby went home and brought back his pure stock just in time for the feature and started in the rear of the field. Heat winners were Rick Shahid, Rick Ray and Glen Colyer. Seventeen Street Stocks took the green flag for their 20 lap main and Richie Smith did it again from the rear of the field for his 10th feature win at the half way point of the season. Tim Wilson led the early part of the race and set the pace until lap 15 when Richie used the outside lane to make the pass for the win. Wilson had to settle for 2nd just ahead of a hard charging Phillip Rook who battled Wilson for the early lead. Tim Alexander and Frank Stromquist were in the mix for the top five positions and finished in that order. Heat wins went to Rook and Johnny Zuidema III. Twenty three of the 24 registered TBARA Winged Sprints lined up around the track for introductions and a quick start and after the four wide salute to the fans they turned up the boost and went for 30 laps of asphalt pounding racing as only they can do. Local Steven Bradley popped off the outside pole to take the early lead over pole sitter Mickey Kempgens and this battle continued until the two cars got together taking Bradley out early in the race. Meanwhile on the restart Joey Aguilar worked his way from 8th to the point and powered his way to his first win of 2007 in his first race of the year after only running 8 races last year. Point Leader Troy DeCaire put some cushion in his lead with a second place finish from his 11th starting spot. David Steele followed DeCaire through the field and settled for third over Gary Gimmler and Dude Teate. Rounding out the top 10 were Mickey Kempgens, Michael Smith, Brian Gingras, Larry J. Brazil Jr and Keith Butler. Heat winners were Mickey Kempgens, Steven Bradley and Brian Gingras. The Florida Pro Challenge brought in 13 cars from all over Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee for a 35 lap showdown that saw Trevor Farbo from Concord, N.C. take the win. Brandon Williamson of Atlanta, Ga. locked into second being chased to the line by J.L. Snowden of Salt Springs, Fl., Kyle Mitchell from Stone Mt., Ga. and Shawn Cain from Atlanta to round out the top five. Heat winners were Kyle Mitchell and Trevor Cauble from Rockwell, N.C. With only 15 minutes left before the curfew after the storm and lengthily cleanups we were able to run the Mini Stocks and Sportsman before ending the show for the night. Thirteen Sportsmen took the green flag and Phillip Rook moved to the point early from his third starting position and set the pace to the checkers for his 1st feature win of the season. Richie Smith was up on the wheel again from 12th to second right on Rook’s rear bumper when the flag flew. Clint Foley was in the mix and settled for third followed by Mike Veltman in his borrowed ride followed by Ernie Reed. Rook and Reed took the wins in the heat races. Wrapping up the night were thirteen Mini Stocks and Clint Foley was top gun at the finish line for his 5th win of the season. Point leader Steve Griffin was in hot pursuit from his 8th starting spot to finish second over Mike Lawhorn, George Neumann and Dan Smith. Lawhorn and Mark Powers locked in heat wins. Citrus County Speedway will not be running next Saturday night in deference to the Pepsi 400 in Daytona. Friday night will see Ryan Weaver in a benefit Country Music concert with a full show at the Speedway to benefit Citrus County Hospice and a 5 year old child who is in the care of Hospice at this time. Ryan is a home town Country Singer who is still in the Army and stationed in Alabama after returning from Iraq where his brother was killed when the helicopter he was in was shot down. His name is being used for the Aaron Weaver Chapter 776 Military Order of the Purple Heart. Ryan opened the evening of racing singing the National Anthem beautifully. Citrus will be back in action on Saturday July 14th featuring the Super Late Models, Sportsman, Mini Stocks, Street Stocks, Pure Stocks, V8 Thunder Stocks and PBG Legends. Citrus County Speedway Results 6/30/07 TBARA Winged Sprints – 30 Laps – 23 Cars 1. #52 Joey Aguilar-Tampa 2. #68 Troy DeCaire-Tampa 3. #91 David Steele-Tampa 4. #29 Gary Gimmler-Palm Beach 5. # 0 Dude Teate-Leesburg 6. #33 Mickey Kempgens- 7. #9X Michael Smith-Brooksville 8. #99 Brian Gingras 9. #21b Larry J. Brazil Jr.-Tampa 10. #19 Keith Butler-Riverview Sportsman Feature – 20 Laps – 13 Cars 1. #97 Phillip Rook – Inverness – 1st Feature Win 2. #42 Richie Smith – Hernando 3. # 7 Clint Foley – Dunnellon 4. #94 Mike Veltman – Crystal River 5. #55 Ernie Reed – Lecanto 1st Heat Winner - #97 Phillip Rook 2nd Heat Winner - #55 Ernie Reed Street Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 17 Cars 1. #142 Richie Smith – Hernando – 10th Feature Win 2. #93 Tim Wilson – Floral City 3. #75 Phillip Rook – Inverness 4. #63 Tim Alexander – Floral City 5. #57 Frank Stromquist – Lecanto 1st Heat Winner - #75 Phillip Rook 2nd Heat Winner - #47 Johnny Zuidema III – Homosassa Mini Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 13 Cars 1. # 7 Clint Foley – Dunnellon – 5th Feature Win 2. # 3 Steve Griffin – Inverness 3. #44 Mike Lawhorn – Clermont 4. # 1 George Neumann – Inverness 5. #82 Dan Smith – St. Petersburg 1st Heat Winner - #44 Mike Lawhorn 2nd Heat Winner - #29 Mark Powers – Hernando 4 Cylinder Bombers Feature – 20 Laps – 17 Cars 1. #001 Jeff Eberly – Spring Hill – 4th Feature Win 2. #22 Bobby Richardson – Lecanto 3. #20 Travis Hoefler – Floral City 4. #32 Jeremy Sharrone – Floral City 5. #98 Kevin Stone – Dade City 1st Heat Winner – #32 Jeremy Sharrone 2nd Heat Winner - #48 Tim Scalise – Lutz Pure Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 22 Cars 1. #19 Rick Ray – Floral City – 1st Feature Win 2. #36 Mike Dubbs – Bushnell 3. # 3 Rick Shahid – Floral City 4. #44 Glen Colyer – Homosassa 5. #127 Bobby Taylor – Crystal River 1st Heat Winner - #3 Rick Shahid 2nd Heat Winner – #19 Rick Ray 3rd Het Winner - #44 Glen Colyer Florida Pro Challenge – 35 Lap Feature – 13 Cars 1, #35 Trevor Farbo – Concord N.C. 2. #20 Brandon Williamson – Atlanta Ga. 3. #40 J.L. Snowden – Salt Springs, Fl. 4. #26 Kyle Mitchell – Stone Mt., Ga. 5. #00 Shawn Cain – Atlanta, Ga. 1st Heat Winner - #26 Kyle Mitchell 2nd Heat Winner - #37 Trevor Cauble – Rockwell, N.C. Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! or Email KARNACto send a letter to the editor!