| Carlton Wins in Last Five Laps at Citrus County Speedway in Sunbelt Super Late Model Series | by John Barker
INVERNESS, FLORIDA – Rick Carlton picked his best place and time to take the lead winning the FASCAR Sunbelt Super Late Model Series 125 Saturday night on Citrus County (FL) Speedway by using a late race restart to secure victory after several earlier failed attempts.
Carlton rifled to the lead for the final five circuits following a restart, the result of oil on the track, and the race leading Wayne Anderson lost his running groove after leading for 120 laps. Carlton moved quickly to the inside of Anderson at the flag stand on the restart and as they raced side-by-side down the back straightaway Anderson was unable to recover.
“Coming off of four was where I had been getting him (Anderson), but prior to this time going into turn one I could just get to his tail,” said Carlton of Homosassa, FL, driving the Webster Race Cars machine.
“This time going into turn one he (Anderson) just let it open too much and I got it in there. This time I got a better bite – best bite I got off all night. Then I got enough room so I could get beside him.”
The second place running Anderson, who looked too tough to catch earlier, looked a little out of line on the restart and had to know he was going to have a problem after the oil was down.
“When something like that happens and they lay down stay dry all I have to do is miss my line just a little bit,” said Anderson, driving the Pro Shocks car.
“Well, I’ll tell you what, the first 90 laps the car was really good,” said Anderson of Wildwood, FL. “It started getting tight in the middle and a little loose off and when all the gear oil was laid down that really hurt me. It wasn’t just a little. It was all the way around the race track.”
Posting his third top five finish Jonny Kay of Deerfield Beach, FL once again had his Steel Building Depot on the quick move, but came up just a bit short.
“Well, you just have to keep having a hot rod at every race and then the breaks will come your way,” said Kay. So we’ll keep knocking off these top five finishes and see if we can’t improve a couple of spots.”
Mike Bresnahan of Inverness, FL posted quick time of a 21 car field by turning the track in 13.596 seconds or 66.20 mph in his Mike Bresnahan Racing ride. Bresnahan drew number nine for inversion. He would finish fourth.
Anderson jumped to the lead after two early starting attempts ended with cautions before a completed lap with Carlton and Kay following.
Kay pressured Carlton hard for second before 10 laps, but backed off waiting for another opportunity. Anderson opened a three car lead in lap 25 still followed by Carlton and Kay.
On a lap 46 restart it was Anderson, Carlton, Kay, Scott Grossenbecher of San Antonio, FL and Barry Willoughby of Pt. St. Lucie, FL.
Anderson, Carlton, Kay, Grossenbecher and Bresnahan were in the top five at halfway. In lap 72, Michael Williams of Mims, FL took over sixth from Willoughby and the top five at halfway remained the same.
Anderson, Carlton, Kay, Grossenbecher and Bresnahan still maintained the top five spots.
During lap 88, Carlton tried Anderson for the lead, but fell short and backed off with Kay still on Carlton’s bumper. In lap 92, Carlton tried another quick move on Anderson inside, but couldn’t quite make it.
In lap 102, Anderson, Carlton, Kay and Bresnahan opened an eight car lead over fifth place running Grossenbecher.
The race was red flagged in lap 118 for oil on the track with Anderson, Carlton, Kay, Bresnahan and Gossenbecher still controlling the top five.
On a lap 119, there were 13 cars taking the green and Carlton finally had enough room to get by Anderson for the lead.
Another caution unfurled in lap 122 and the restart in lap 123 was Carlton, Anderson, Kay, Bresnahan and Grossenbecher.
Carlton crossed the stripe followed by Anderson and Kay. Rounding out the top five were Bresnahan and Jay Middleton of Lake City, FL, who dispatched Grossenbecher from his spot in lap 124 in turn two.
The next FASCAR Sunbelt Super Late Model Series race will be April 12 at USA International Speedway in Lakeland, FL.
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