IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

June 1, 2008 J. Gerstner, Posavec, & Harrod take First Citrus Season Wins by Larry MacMillan Tim Quick and Tommy Smith battle in Street Stocks Citrus County Speedway closed out the month of May with some high speed action that kicked off with the shuttle lift off in the eastern skies at 5:02 p.m. and the drop of the green flag at 5:35 for the first of 13 heat races featuring 6 divisions of race cars. Added to the program was a demonstration of Joe Przepasniak’s 700 horsepower, 1963 Corvette dragster and offering a ride in the car next Saturday night for the lucky ticket holder making donations to homeless veterans. The return of the Super Late Model’s had the fans on their feet for the drag race to the checkers between outside pole sitter John Gerstner and former track champion Scott Grossenbacher. Gerstner held off the 18 car field for the entire 35 laps to take his first season win while Grossenbacher had to work his way around some traffic to get in range of trying for his third season win. It was a four car run for the lead in the final 5 laps with Gerstner, Grossenbacher, Richie Smith and Herb Neumann Jr. locking in the top four positions. Raymond Lovelady rounded out the top five and added a heat win to his season resume. Grossenbacher moved to within 5 points of point leader Neumann with his second place finish and a heat win. New comer JoJo Viverito took the win in the second heat. Tom Posavec left his new Sportsman in the garage and returned to the line up in his old dependable racer that he has been rocking with for years to launch from 6th to Victory Lane for his first win of the season. It wasn’t an easy ride but the horsepower is still there as he kicked off the evening with a heat win and then the big 20 lap feature in another exciting finish moving him to second in points. Ernie Reed opened the evening with a heat win and looked like he had his second win in a row locked down but in the final laps his racer faded from first to third as Posavec made the pass and Bobby Ervien came along with him moving into the point lead with his second place finish. Clint Foley jumped out of his Mini Stock and into his Sportsman to move into the mix for a fourth place finish over JoJo Viverito who was also doing double duty. The real shocker came in Mini Stock action as George Neumann turned up the RPM’s from his 8th starting spot to take the point and roll onto the checkered flag with Kevin Harrod in hot pursuit at the finish line. George put in a new rear end this week and in post race inspection it was found to be illegal. The D.Q. put Harrod into Victory Lane for his first win of the season. Clint Foley started 9th got into some trouble early in the race that brought out the caution and sent him to the rear for the restart and despite all the problems picked up a second place finish after the D.Q. Rounding out the top five were two early leaders Mike Lawhorn, Don Faunce and Johnny Siner who started 11th and overcame a starter problem early in the evening. It was the “Above It All Roofing” racing team that finished 1, 2, 3, in Street Stock action. Jason Murphree started 8th in the 18 car field and went on to win his 4th race of the season. Runner up was Tommy Smith who started 7th and chased Murphree for most of the race followed by point leader Tim Quick who settled for 3rd from his 11th starting spot. Frank Stromquist jockeyed with several drivers in his run from the lead before giving it up to Murphree but he salvaged a 4th place finish over David Foster. Heat wins went to Quick and Stromquist. Twenty two 4 Cylinder Bombers locked horns and bumpers in their 20 lap main event. Shawn Evans made short work of the front 5 to lead the field for most of the race and went on to win his second of the season. Chris Eberly locked onto Evans rear bumper and stayed their right to the checkered flag. Young gun Brandon Watson drove from 11th to 3rd in pursuit of his 3rd win of the season. Mike Ogren and Tim Scalise topped off the front five finishers. Heat winners were Chris Eberly, Shawn Evans and Jeremy Root. Added to the race card were the T.Q. midgets. Michael Belusar was top shoe in their heat and 20 lap feature. Ernie Teed Jr. rolled from 7th to 2nd followed by Michael Elder, Ted Durfee, Jack Duffy and Jamie Barnum. Jay McKinney made the trip but hit the wall during practice and was unable to race. Next Saturday night Citrus County Speedway opens the month of June with a full schedule featuring the Open Wheel Modifieds, Figure 8’s, Sportsman, Mini Stocks, Pure Stocks, V8 Thunder Stocks and the Florida Open Wheel Lites. Citrus County Speedway Results 5/31/08 Super Late Model Feature – 35 Laps – 18 Cars 1. #62 John Gerstner – Tampa – 1st Season Win 2. #09 Scott Grossenbacher – San Antonio 3. #33 Richie Smith – Hernando 4. #98 Herb Neumann Jr. – Inverness 5. #7 Raymond Lovelady – Lakeland 1st Heat Winner - #09 Scott Grossenbacher 2nd Heat Winner - #72 JoJo Viverito – Inverness 3rd Heat Winner - # 7 Raymond Lovelady Sportsman Feature – 20 Laps – 12 Cars 1. #01 Tom Posavec – Dunnellon – 1st Season Win 2. #88 Bobby Ervien – St. Petersburg 3. #55 Ernie Reed – Lecanto 4. #56 Clint Foley – Dunnellon 5. #72 JoJo Viverito – Inverness 1st Heat Winner - #01 Tom Posavec 2nd Heat Winner - #55 Ernie Reed Mini Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 13 Cars 1. #34 Kevin Harrod – Floral City – 1st Season Win 2. # 7 Clint Foley – Dunnellon 3. #44 Mike Lawhorn – Clermont 4. # 2 Don Faunce – Spring Hill 5. #01 Johnny Siner – Homosassa 1st Heat Winner - #44 Mike Lawhorn 2nd Heat Winner - #2 Don Faunce Street Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 17 Cars 1. #95 Jason Murphree – Homosassa – 4th Season Win 2. #93 Tommy Smith – Floral City 3. #97 Tim Quick – Lecanto 4. #57 Frank Stromquist – Lecanto 5. # 4 David Foster – Wildwood 1st Heat Winner - #97 Tim Quick 2nd Heat Winner - #57 Frank Stromquist 4 Cylinder Bomber Feature – 20 Laps – 21 Cars 1. #46 Shawn Evans – Williston – 2nd Season Win 2. #56 Chris Eberly – Spring Hill 3. #66 Brandon Watson – Dunnellon 4. #13 Mike Ogren – Spring Hill 5. #48 Tim Scalise – Lutz 1st Heat Winner - #56 Chris Eberly 2nd Heat Winner – #46 Shawn Evans 3rd Heat Winner – #002 Jeremy Root – Zephryhills Florida T.Q. Midgets Feature – 20 Laps – 8 Cars 1. #30 Michael Belusar 2. #10 Ernie Teed, JR. 3. #52 Michael Elder 4. #26 Ted Durfee 5. # 1 Jack Duffy Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! or Email KARNACto send a letter to the editor!