Inverness, Fl 7/21/07: A full pit graced Citrus County Speedway with 137 racers hauling in from all over the state of Florida Saturday night and it looked like it was going to be a banner night of racing featuring 20 of the best Mini Stock Challenge series drivers and 22 Southern Sportsmen drivers. Twenty three Figure 8’s were also on tap with 19 Modifieds, 25 Pure Stocks and 12 V8 Thunder Stock Rookies on the race card as well.
The 3 o’clock practice session went on as scheduled with severe weather watches being posted from Citrus County south through Sarasota County. The Mini Stock Challenge racers got their time trials underway with Chris Zimmerman, Chris Hooker and Rex Christensen all turning in the 15 second bracket on the 3/8ths mile. Brian Dorer was taking the green flag for his first of two laps and the bottom dropped out shutting down his attempt to set a good qualifying run. Five minutes later the drivers were sent to the pits to wait out the rain shower.
The fans sat through three different showers being promised an all feature race program if the track could be dried out before 7 p.m. The drivers pitched in after the rain stopped for the third time drying out the oval while the sweep crew worked frantically on clearing the Figure 8 intersection. They had just completed the job and were ready to go racing when the rain came again, ending any chance of racing this Saturday night. Needless to say there were a lot of tired and disappointed drivers that had to turn around and make the drive home.
No announcement was made as to a makeup for the Mini Stock Challenge or Southern Sportsman race with both the Speedway and the series having pretty full schedules for the balance of the race season. Rain checks for the pits and grandstands will be honored for one of the next two race nights.
Friday night about 250 drivers and fans turned out for the open practice and Annual Appreciation Barbecue and there was plenty of great covered dishes, barbecued pork and chicken, great deserts and cold drinks provided by Mack Mills from the concession management. Thanks to the track for their sponsorship of this very successful event.
Next Saturday night will see the return of the Super Late Models, Sportsman, Mini Stocks, Street Stocks, Pure Stocks, 4 Cylinder Bombers and V8 Thunder Stocks for a full regular points race card. Open practice will be Thursday night.
