November 16, 2004 Citrus County Speedway Concludes 49th Season By Larry MacMillan Seven divisions plus the TBARA Winged Sprints concluded the Citrus County Speedway 49th regular racing season that had 150 drivers registered for the various divisions. These included the Figure 8’s and Hobby Stocks in 50 lap adventures plus Super Stocks, Mini Stocks, Thunder Stocks and 4 Cylinder Bombers. Twenty eight ladies took over the driving chores from their significant others or borrowed cars in the 15 lap Powder Puff race. Tommy Smith took the interrupted Hobby Stock 50 after 8 caution flags flew in the first 11 laps. The entire field was sent to pits for a consultation to get their heads on straight and put on a decent race or get their payoff cut in half for half a race. As it was the race was cut to 40 laps before the break and Smith took the win after Cody Moore took out Curtis Neumann who had a half lap lead on the rest of the pack with just three laps left in the race. Smith inherited the lead on the restart and was chased across the line by Mike Bell, Tim Whitehead, Steven Anderson and John Hughes. Sixteen cars took the green in the 50 Lap Figure 8 race and Robbie Powell took the lead in the early stages and looked like he was going to run away with the race until a lapped Gregg Dick nailed him in the intersection that ended both their nights in lap 25. From that point on, it was downhill all the way for the entire field as the checkers came out for Robert Aaron for the win being chased by Ron Schreifels who were the only two cars in the lead lap of 7 cars that finished the race. Ken Crews, Joey Brinson and Seth Nistok were many laps down to round out the top five. Dusty Bouchard took a flag to flag win over Tom Posavec, Stephen Anderson, Bob Masciarelli and Frank Buchanan in the 14 car Super Stock 25. Thirteen Mini Stocks chased George Neumann for all 25 laps with Chris Hooker, Don Faunce, Wendell Guy and Jamie White taking the top five spots. Nineteen Thunder Stocks saw Ted Taylor take the early lead fall back to third and then regain the lead by lap 7 for the win. Rick Badessa, Wayne Heater, D.J. Macklin and Dave Ross locked in the top five positions. Justin Durbin came up with his fourth win in a row in the local 4 Cylinder Bomber group while modified Shane Guy was again the overall winner in their 15 lap race. The ladies put on quite a show to close out the 49th racing season at Citrus County Speedway. Two of the hot shoes were Becka Brown and Becky Aaron who’s over confidence on their run for the front put them into the turn four wall ending their night early. Kristine Henick led the most laps and took the win with Kaye White running in the top five all night and locking in a second place finish. Rena Hoover see sawed back and forth from third to sixth and back to third when the checkers flew. Twenty of the 28 starters finished the race. The TBARA Winged Sprints ended their season Saturday night where it all began back in February at Citrus County Speedway. The 3/8th mile venue saw 28 of the winged rockets qualify in three heats and 23 of the 24 qualifiers taking the green flag for their 25 lap season finale and the race for the 2004 championship. Ray Bragg, Bo Hartley and Gary Gimmler took the checkers for the 9 and 10 car 8 lap heat wins turning laps in the 12.4 second bracket. If the fans blinked during the 8 laps they were bound to have missed something. Richard Waddell took the green flag from the pole position and lost the race to turn one to John Sambor who held on to the spot to turn three before Dude Teate took the point on the outside groove to lead the first lap. From that point on it was catch the point leader if you can. It looked like a shoe in for Teate to wrap up the win and the championship by building a half lap lead over the second place car until the caution came out in lap 20 that tightened up the field and put the lapped cars to the rear. Winner Doug Hevron On the restart it was a five car race for the front to include Teate, Doug Heveron, Wayne Reutimann Sr., David Steele and Wayne Reutimann Jr. A red flag came out for a three car crash on the back chute in lap 21 that took out Richard Waddell and Gary Gimmler while Randy Woodall survived a run in with the back wall with little damage to his racer. When the green flew again it was a four lap shootout with Doug Heveron taking the outside groove and running side by side with Dude Teate right to lap 24 before finally making the pass for the win. Teate wrapped up the championship over Wayne Reutimann Sr. with his second place finish. David Steele made a final lap pass on Wayne Reutimann Sr. to snatch third from the point runner up and son Wayne Jr. locked in a fifth place finish. The final race of the season will be a two day series for the Winter Spectacular scheduled for December 3 and 4th featuring the Super Late Model 150 with qualifying, racing, a Demo Derby and Barbeque on Friday December 3rd. The Super Late Model 150 will be run on Saturday night December 4th plus Modifieds, Hobby Stocks and Thunder Stocks. Closing out 2004 will be the Annual Awards Banquet at the Citrus County Auditorium on Friday night December 10th. Tickets are on sale for $18 per person and $ 35 per couple. Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! <news@karnac.org>or send a letter to the editor!