Bresnahan Shows the Way for Sunbelt Super Late Models at Citrus County Speedway
by Jane Smith
Inverness, Fla. (April 8, 2006) A dusty, windy afternoon greeted the eighteen Super Late Model drivers who journeyed to Citrus County Speedway for the second race of the 2006 season.
It was the twelth car out that set fast time for the 125 lap event with Mike Bresnahan behind the wheel. Bresnahan set fast time with a 18.782 followed by Rich Pratt with a 13.827, Brian Finney with 18.932, Wayne Anderson with 13.935 and Chris Fontaine with a 14.002. Bresnahan pulled the 0 pill starting the field straight up.
With lightning in the distance and a coolness to the air, the Sunbelt made it just in time before the rain came. Taking the lead on the green was Bresnahan followed by Rich Pratt, Wayne Anderson, Brian Finney and Scott Grossenbacher. Anderson wasted no time taking over second from Pratt as Pratt settled into third. But on the second lap of the race, the yellow came out for Jeff Choquette, Jeff Scofield, Patrick Conrad and Danny Johnson. Choquette found himself on one of the mounds of dirt that protect the lights with Conrad having a messed up front end. Both Choquette and Conrad were down for the night with Scofield and Johnson able to continue.
The race goes back green on lap 12 as Bresnahan leads the way over Anderson, Pratt, Finney, Grossenbacher, Fontaine, Scott Millar, Daniel Webster, Scofield and Johnson. Lap 25 sees the yellow come out again for Mac Johnson and Jerry Artuso who have gotten together in turn 4. The race goes back green on lap 31 as Bresnahan controls the field.
Lap 34 the yellow comes out for debris on the track which is quickly cleared. The race goes back green on lap 38 with Bresnahan, Anderson, Pratt, Finney, Grossenbacher, Fontaine, Millar, Webster, Scofield and Danny Johnson leading the pack. Grossenbacher puts pressure on Finney for fourth and makes the move. Finney gets stuck on the outside and slides all the way back to tenth. The caution comes out again on lap 49 for more debris with the restart on lap 52.
On lap 56 Finney exits the field with Grossenbacher retiring to the pits only three laps later on lap 59. Bresnahan continues to the lead the way over Anderson, Pratt, Millar and Fontaine. On lap 70, Fontaine spins in turns 1 and 2 as he gets too high on the outside. At this time, Wayne Anderson exits the track for some repairs in the pits real fast. The race goes back green on lap 74 with twelve cars left in the field. Bresnahan continues to maintain the lead over Pratt, Millar, Scofield, Webster, Artuso, Mac Johnson, Danny Johnson, Tuffy Hester, Bobby Owens and Fontaine.
Lap 76 Fontaine brings out the yellow again as he spins on the frontstretch. At this time, Anderson comes back to the race, six laps down. The race goes back green on lap 80. But only three laps later the yellow is shown again for Danny Johnson who has spun in turns 3 and 4. Lap 87 sees the green with Bresnahan once again taking the point on the green. Mac Johnson and Chris Fontaine are racing hard and touch going into turns 3 and 4 with Fontaine spinning. The yellow comes out as Johnson and Fontaine go to the end of the lead lap.
Lap 92 sees the restart with Jeff Scofield challenging Scott Millar for his third place position. Scofield takes third as Millar settles into fourth. Lap 99 Artuso spins in turns 1 and 2 and retires for the night into the pits. Bresnahan maintains the points on the green followed by Pratt, Scofield, Millar, and Webster. Lap 107 Scofield puts pressure on Pratt for second as they go side by side with Scofield on the inside, Pratt on the outside. Scofield is able to make the move stick and takes over second as Pratt settles into third. But Bresnahan has a big enough lead that there is no way Scofield can possible catch him to take over the lead. In the meantime, Danny and Mac Johnson are putting on quite a show as they battle for sixth place position which Danny holds. Webster passes Millar and takes over third as Mac Johnson edges out Danny Johnson on the checkered flag for sixth. Click Here To Listento interview with Mike Bresnahan from Short Track America!. Bresnahan takes the checkered for his first win in the Sunbelt Super Late Model Series in 2006 followed by Jeff Scofield, Rich Pratt, Daniel Webster, and Scott Millar.
The next event for the Sunbelt Super Late Model Series will be April 29th at USA International in Lakeland.
OFFICIAL RESULTS SUNBELT SUPER LATE MODEL SERIES - APRIL 8, 2006 CITRUS COUNTY SPEEDWAY
1. #3 Mike Bresnahan, Lecanto 2. #07 Jeff Scofield, Plant City 3. #0 Rich Pratt, Anthony 4. #1x Daniel Webster, Brooksville 5. #20 Scott Millar, Ocala 6. #6 Mac Johnson, Newberry 7. #96 Danny Johnson, Crystal River 8. #47 Chris Fontaine, Lakeland 9. #23 Todd Brown, Lake Panasoffkee 10. #08 Bobby Owens, Orlando 11. #84 Wayne Anderson, Wildwood 12. #5 Jerry Artuso, Sault Saint Marie, CA 13. #31 Tuffy Hester, Lakeland 14. #15 Jason Boyd, Orlando 15. #09 Scott Grossenbacher, San Antonio 16. #80 Brian Finney, Merritt Island 17. #70 Jeff Choquette, Loxatchee 18. #2 Patrick Conrad, Clermont
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