| Thursday, February 21, 2002 | |
| Bresnahan Picks Up Citrus L.M. Points Lead | Larry MacMillan
Mike Bresnahan took a year off to run with the Florida Pro and Sunbelt Series and came back after doing well in both after taking Rookie of the Year. He departed his home track as the 2000 Late Model Champion and it would appear that his return has the same goal in sight for 2002. Just two races into the season, he is sporting the win in Spectacular I, a top ten finish in the first points race of the year and the win last week on the new playing field that he seems to have figured out already. Jim Smith trails him by just four points with two top 5 finishes. Pinellas Parks Teddy Nelson holds out in third just 12 points behind Smith. Rex Struble, and Raymond Lovelady are tied for fifth.
Mike Veltman is the man to beat for the fourth consecutive year, locking in his first win of the season on opening night and backing it up with a heat win. Mark Dominique followed up with his first win of the season on night two and holds out in second in the early points run. Bill Oestreicher and George Neumann share third with Buddy Kessler returning with a solid fifth place hold in the early going.
Ernie Reed and Danny Cretty hold the two top spots in the Street Stock action after sharing the winners circle in the first two weeks of the 2002 season. Mike Bell, Harley Wilson Sr. and David Kingsbury hold down the balance of the top five positions with a ton talent behind them that will also be in the chase for the crown.
Rob Wheatley set the pace for the first week of the season in Mini Stock action. Robbie Yoakam trails Wheatley by 12 with two decent finishes. Jay McKenzie continues to improve with top 5 finishes in both initial weeks of racing. Kevin Harrod borrowed a ride to make his first ride to the Winners circle last week and with only one week on his resume holds out in fourth over an improving Harry Futch Jr.
It would seem the Smith Brothers are going to share the limelight in the Hobby Stock division with older brother Tommy having a six point lead with two heat wins and a feature win and a second in back to back weeks. Richie has a 100-point lead over former champion Roy Perkins. Dustin Aaron holds out in fourth while Joe Rauner and Brandon Johnson share in the race for fifth.
Robert Jordan paired a win and a fourth place finish to hold the Thunder Stock lead. Josh Teague continues to come from the rear of the pack and finishes up front holding down an 18-point lead on rookie Terry Sharrone. Defending Champion Stuart Madison locked on to fourth over Tim Wilson after the first two weeks of racing.
Robert Aaron jumped to the top of the Figure 8 point race with a last turn win in their only outing. Darryl Hage, Jeff Kramer, Charlie Meyer and Dwayne Fults round out the top five. They return to action on Saturday March 2nd just before the three-week break for the Citrus County Fair.
The rest of the divisions will get two more workouts to dial in on the new 3/8th mile racecourse before the break. This Saturday night will feature a 40-lap shootout for the Hobby Stocks battling for a $500 win purse.
-Larry MacMillan
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