| Stoner Scores in American Freightways L.M. 30 | by Larry MacMillan
One hundred seventeen race cars took on Citrus County Speedway Saturday night and it was survival of the fittest in the Demo Derby. Fred Stoner won the outside pole position for the American Freightways Late Model 30 and went on to take a flag to flag win over a 22-car field. Mason Love put the pressure on Stoner from start to finish, taking a solid second in the run for the $1300 win purse. Dale Sanders started 10th and managed to come through the heavy traffic to pick up third over Keith Zavrel and Perry Lovelady. Stoner also won his heat with Danny Johnson and Herb Neumann Jr. picking up the second and third heat wins.
Fourteen cars took the green in the 20-lap Sportsman main with Rex Struble taking his new ride to the winners circle for the second time in as many weeks. Brother Alan Struble settled for second while Johnny Sanders held off Chris Hooker and Mike Veltman in the run for third. Struble and Sanders took the heat wins.
Dean Lawyer launched his race car from the 7th starting spot in the 20-lap Street Stock main, taking the point in lap seven and going on to take his second win of the year over a 15 car starting field. Point leader Travis Nichols put the pressure on right to the flag but had to settle for second. Ernie Reed Jr. finished third right on Nichols rear bumper. Mike Bell moved from 12th to fourth at the finish line and James Green Jr. locked on to fifth after taking his first heat win of the season. Ernie Reed Jr. took the win in the second heat.
Mark Sowell snatched the Mini Stock lead away from Frank Coleman in lap-10 of their main event and went on to win his fourth feature of the year. Coleman had to settle for second followed by Richie Powers, who was again racing for point leader Kevin Harrod. Rick Coleman briefly held the early lead but slipped back to fourth over Doug Hopper who started 15th in the 19-car field. Sowell and Rob Wheatley took the heat wins. Steve Thomas moved from his 17th starting spot to take the point away from Roy Perkins in lap 15 of the Hobby stock feature, making it two in a row and win #4 on the year. Only three drivers have been to Victory Lane in the division. Point leader Richie Smith has 7 wins and his brother Tommy has one. Roy Perkins had to settle for second followed by a hard charging J.D. Goff who finished third for the second time in as many weeks. Dustin Aaron held out for fourth just ahead of Eric Sharrone. Heats wins went to Perkins and Brandon Johnson.
Joe Rauner took 12 laps to power his way to the front of the Street Legal Junker 19 car starting field and went on to win his first of the season. Point leader Stuart Madison picked up his 11th top five finish but is still looking for his first win. Troy Davis held the lead for several laps and slipped back to third when the checkers flew. Rick Badessa moved from 9th to outrun early leader Pat Quick for a fourth place finish.
Mark DeWaine picked up the $600 win purse after he finished off Roy Yeager in the final seconds of the Survivor 2001 Demo Derby. Leslie DeVary took third place money. The next Demo Derby at Citrus is slatted for September 22nd.
Saturday night the Street Legal Junkers take the spotlight in the Oak Hill Hospital 25 for $150 to win and a $500 big purse challenge. Figure 8s return to action along with the best weekly Late Model show in Florida, Sportsman, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks and Hobby Stocks round out the full night of racing.
[NOTE: Jack Smith and Rick and Joe Anges of KARNAC.com made a trip up to Citrus County Speedway, although we arrived with only 3 features and the Demo left on the card we were very impressed with what we saw and will be back soon........Rick]
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