| Mike Faulk Gets First Florida Pro Race Win at Citrus County Speedway | by Dave Westerman
It took two days at the track and two hours in the tech area, but young Mike Faulk claimed his first ever win in Florida Pro Series Super Late Model action at Citrus County Speedway Sunday afternoon.
The biggest Florida Pro Series field in three years, 33 cars, was ready for action under a hot, boiling sun late Saturday afternoon with 31 cars taking time. Albany GA driver Jeff Gordon had problems in warm-ups and was done for the day while Craig Seewald showed up just as qualifying was ending and had to start the B-main at the tail of the field.
Citrus County Speedway Late Model point leader Mike Bresnehan had his A&G Tractor & Debris/Reed's Auto Body Chevy hooked up on the hot racing surface and set quick time of 13.557 seconds followed by the FPS Friday night Ocala Speedway winner Rick Carlton who cut a lap of 13.600 in his Citrus Truck Accessories/McNatt Plumbing Monte Carlo. Wayne Anderson (13.637), Brock Oglesby (13.666), and Rich Pratt (13.702) rounded out the top five qualifiers.
With just the top 14 cars from time trials locked in, the B-main line-up was as good as any regular feature line up you'd see at any track and included four of the top five drivers in Florida Pro Series points.
Up and coming driver Shane Seig of Tucker, GA was in Dick Anderson's Great Clips/Country Joe Homes machine and pretty much dominated the 20-lap distance slowed only by a lap 14 caution when David Hodges, Jr. and Keith Zavrel got tangled up in turn two.
FPS point leader Jay Middleton of Lake City ran second the entire distance in his North Florida Pharmacy Chevy followed by local favorite Daniel Keene, Jr., Brian Finney, Scot Walters and Danny Johnson. The top six automatically transferred to the 100-lap main event. Doyle Boatwright, Steve Lamb, Hodges, Seewald and Joe Winchell took the provisionals to make up the 25 car starting
grid.
A planned driver introduction/autograph session was scrapped as ominous clouds began to build behind the speedway to the east and the cars quickly lined up trying to beat the rain that was moving in.
Neither of the top two qualifiers did well in the re-draw among the top ten with Bresnehan picking number 10 and Carlton starting eighth.
Mike Fritts had the Sytsma Hurricane Racing/Torbert Farms Monte Carlo on the pole as the green flag flew, but slipped badly off turn four allowing outside polesitter Mike Faulk to grab the early lead.
Just as the field completed lap five, a bolt of lightning hit just behind the grandstands and fans began to head for the exits. Two laps later, with a light rain beginning to fall, Scott Grossenbacher spun in turn four to bring out the caution.
With a heavy rain now falling, the red flag was tossed on lap nine and the field parked on the backstretch to allow crews to cover the cars with everyone seeking shelter as the storm turned nasty.
Within a half hour the infield and parking lots were flooded and with severe lightning still in the area, it was decided to pack it in for the evening and complete the race on Sunday.
Drivers and crews returned late Sunday morning and were told they could work on their cars, but could not change tires. There would also be no practice, meaning the teams would be going at it "cold turkey" as far as setting up for the hot daytime conditions.
With temperatures near 95 degrees and fans using umbrellas to keep the sun rather than rain off them, the race resumed with 91 laps to go. Since it had started to rain when Grossenbacher had spun the night before, he was allowed to restart from the position he was in when the spin occurred.
The restart line-up saw Faulk leading followed by Fritts, James Powell III, Oglesby, Herb Neumann, Jr., Pratt, Carlton, Bresnehan, Anderson, and Patrick Williams. Only one driver did not return as Daniel Keene, Jr. had a family committment planned for Sunday so 24 cars took the green.
Faulk quickly jumped to a three car length lead while Fritts had his hands full with Powell. The hot slick conditions however were making it a one groove race track as small chunks of asphalt and rubber were starting to coat the outside groove making it virtually impossible to do any passing on the high side.
On lap 16, Carlton and Bresnehan got together in turn four with Bresnehan clipping Carlton's car again as the tried to get going causing quite a bit of cosmetic damage to both cars. Thus the top two qualifiers were placed at the back of the restart line-up.
As the green flew, Faulk was looking good while Powell was "rooting" on Fritts. Carlton went to the pits just as Brian Finney spun on lap 31 in turn two and was hit by Doyle Boatwright to bring out the second caution. Danny Johnson spun to avoid the other crash and lost a lap in the process. Johnson continued, but Finney and Boatwright were done for the day.
Sixth running Rich Pratt got out of the groove and lost several spots just after the restart while Faulk, Fritts, Powell, Oglesby, and Neumann, continued to run in order.
Lap 52 would see all kinds of action as Brock Oglesby got shoved out of the groove just as Grossenbacher and Chris Turner locked horns. Oglesby, with his tires picking up all kinds of debris from the high side of the track, could not negotiate turn four and slammed the wall to end his afternoon after a good run.
On the restart it was Faulk still leading Fritts and Powell but Powell now had to contend with Wayne Anderson in fourth and Anderson likewise having fifth-running Patrick Williams on his bumper.
Caution flew again on lap 63 as Herb Neumann, Jr. got turned around by Aric Almirola with both cars being sent to the tail of the field for the restart.
As the green came back out, it was becoming apparent that Faulk was losing his grip in the corners. Fritts was doing everything he could to unnerve the young driver while have to deal with a relentless Powell knocking on his back door.
Then came "the wreck that never was" on lap 82. Fritts attempted to diamond off the low side of turn four but Faulk blocked his move. Fritts had already committed though and literally drove over the front end of Faulk's car doing his best Joie Chitwood imitation as the car got up on two wheels. "I looked up and all I could see was clouds," said Fritts.
Amazingly both drivers regained control and kept going without losing any positions. However, the flagman, seeing two cars coming directly at him with one on two wheels, instinctively threw the caution flag expecting a major altercation that fortunately never happened.
After a quick huddle, Florida Pro officials decided to call it a no caution situation and return to racing with the same line-up as they crossed the line completing the lap. This stirred up even more controversy as Fritts had crossed the stripe first making him now the new leader.
The final laps ran off without incident as Fritts zipped to an apparent victory with FPS Rookie point leader Faulk holding off Powell for second followed by Anderson and Williams.
Fritts and his crew were taking everything in stride in victory lane while Faulk was protesting he should have been put back in the lead after the last caution came out and Powell's crew saying both cars should have been sent to the rear for bring out the caution. Since everyone was too hot to really argue much, all the action moved underneath the shade of the oak trees in the tech area where things would get even more interesting as crews were told to start tearing down their engines.
After about an hour, it was determined the heads on the seven-year-old engine being used in Fritts' car did not meet the weight rule prescribed for that head in the Florida Pro Series rules, thus he was disqualified.
Faulk's crew, headed up by Mike's dad, former standout driver and well-known race car fabricator Lee Faulk, went to work removing the required pieces. Everything passed with flying colors and Faulk picked up his first career Florida Pro Series victory. Powell's 9:1 powerplant also was deemed legal and he was awarded second spot.
"I just want to thank my dad, my crew, Blake Construction, and Eatmon Racing Engines for helping me get here," said Mike Faulk.
"You don't know how proud I am right now." said Mike's dad Lee. "I got my first big Late Model win right here at Citrus and to have my boy do it here to is awesome. I love it but I think this "kid" stuff is gonna be the death of me yet," joked Faulk.
The official finish behind Faulk and Powell saw Wayne Andersaon third, Williams fourth and Bobby Coyle with an outstanding steady drive to fifth. B-Main winner Seig also drove a head-up race to grab sixth with Rich Pratt, Scot Walters, Danny Johnson and Scott Grossenbacher rounding out the top five.
The Florida Pro Series returns to action on Saturday, August 30th with a 100 lap event at Columbia Motorsports Park near Lake City.
OFFICIAL FINISH - FLORIDA PRO SERIES - CITRUS COUNTY SPEEDWAY 8/17/03:
1) Mike Faulk, Gainesville #25
2) James Powell III, Astor #37
3) Wayne Anderson, Wildwood #84
4) Patrick Williams, Archer #5
5) Bobby Coyle, S.W. Ranches #64
6) Shane Seig, Tucker, GA #92
7) Rich Pratt, Anthony #0
8) Scot Walters, Naples #2
9) Danny Johnson, Crystal River #96
10) Scott Grossenbacher, San Antonio #09
11) Jay Middleton, Lake City #74
12) Aric Almirola, Tampa #14
13) David Hodges Jr., Valdosta, GA #16
14) Herb Neumann, Jr., Inverness #98
15) Craig Seewald, Hollywood #44
16) Steve Lamb, Miami #99
17) Mike Bresnehan, Lecanto #3B
18) Brock Oglesby, Ocala #88
19) Chris Turner, Naples #94
20) Joe Winchell, Davie #13
21) Doyle Boatwright, Lawtey #57
22) Brian Finney, Merritt Island #80
23) Rick Carlton, Homosassa #3C
24) Daniel Keene, Jr., Brooksville #5K
DQ Mike Fritts, DeBary #77
Did Not Qualify - Keith Zavrel, Booksville #47; Brian Rogers, Tampa #7; Steve
Godlewski, Hollywood #22; Eddie Hamby, Hollywood #43; Kevin Durden,
Gainesville #56; Jimmy Thompson, Pinellas Park #90; John Gerstner, Tampa #62;
Jeff Gordon, Albany, GA #114.
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