(Inverness, Fl. 4/29/00) Three Citrus County Speedway drivers were put to the test of seeing if they could make their third consecutive trip to Victory Lane in their divisions Saturday night. To make the challenge even more tempting, promoters Billy Hooker and Steve Ziebarth put up additional bonus money for pulling off the racing hat trick. It didn’t stop their either, to make it even more interesting an additional bonus was added for the driver that would start from the rear of the field and go for the win.

Two-time Late Model winner and point leader Mike Bresnahan had the opportunity of making it a $2,500 night when he elected to start from the rear of the 13 car, 30 lap main event. An additional $500 incentive was given him when he was challenged in a match race with Ricky Carlton who came to visit after having some great success in his Florida Pro and DeSoto Late Model series. Carlton was turning some impressive 13.4 second hot laps in warm ups and looked like to be the man to beat.

Fred Stoner took the outside pole starting position and watched in his rear view mirror as the balance of the field held off the charges of Bresnahan and Carlton. Perry Lovelady proved to be the impassable object for both drivers and was turned around three times holding them off. One each occasion Lovelady got his second place spot back and the two offending drivers were sent to the rear of the pack for the restart.

When the checkers flew Fred Stoner took his first win of the season followed by Perry Lovelady, Mike Bresnahan, Dan Johnson and Ricky Carlton.

Mini Stock two-time winner Mark Sowell elected not to take the challenge of starting in the rear of the 14 car field and spent the entire 20 laps chasing point leader George Neumann to the checkers. Neumann logged his second feature win of the season followed by Mark Sowell, Frank Coleman, Mike Moore and Don Faunce.

Chris Hooker took the challenge of starting in the rear of the 27-car Hobby Stock division main event. He got caught up in three situations that got him sent to the rear and it just wasn’t meant to be for the young driver to pick up his fifth win of the season or the triple win bonus. He finished 11th when it was all over. J.D. Goff came out top shoe off the pole position and despite six caution flags was able to hold off the charge of Mike Ruff and Richie Smith for the shortened 15-lap event. It took Allen Jacobson 12 laps to make the pass on Chris Cater to pick up the 4th an 5th place finishes respectively.

Jim Smith locked into his first ever Limited Sportsman win after moving up to the division this year from the Mini Stock point championship. Mike Veltman was going for his fourth feature win in a row but that was not in the cards. He did get the monkey off his back of either winning or not finishing. Bill Oestreicher spent the entire 20 laps holding off the challenge of Veltman in the race for second. Travis Nichols jammed his way through he pack to hold off John Gann for a fourth place finish.

Wes Wilson put some more cushion in his Street Stock point lead, smoking the 24-car field for his third feature win of the 7-week old season. His dad, Harley Wilson Sr. finished a half lap behind Wes in asolo run for second. Kenny May, Don Teague, Sport Wilson and John Smith had a race of their own going well behind Harley that ultimately finished in that order. Wes was about to lap sixth running John Smith when the checkers flew.

Sixteen cars took on the modified Street Legal Junker race course and Doug Jensen out maneuvered Shawn Kipp for the win. Henry Grant came up through the field from his 11th starting spot to salvage an 3rd place finish.

Next Saturday night will feature the Pepsi Late Model Big Purse Challenge plus Figure 8’s return for their fourth race of the 2000 season. Added to the program will be the Limited Sportsman, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks, Hobby Stocks and Street Legal Junkers Citrus County Speedway

by:Larry MacMillan

Results 04/29/00
Late Model Feature ­ 30 Laps ­ 13 Cars
1. # 7 Fred Stoner Hernando
2. #68 Perry Lovelady Lakeland
3. #31 Mike Bresnahan Lecanto
4. #96 Dan Johnson Crystal River
5. #34 Ricky Carlton Homosassa
1st Heat Winner - #31 Mike Bresnahan ­ Lecanto
2nd Heat Winner - #34 Ricky Carlton - Homosassa
Limited Sportsman Feature ­ 20 Laps ­ 17 Cars
1. #32 Jim Smith Inverness
2. # 5 Bill Oestreicher Ridge Manor
3. #55 Mike Veltman Crystal River
4. #39 Travis Nichols Inverness
5. # 9 John Gann Brooksville
1st Heat Winner - #55 Mike Veltman ­ Crystal River
2nd Heat Winner - #89 Mike Holm ­ Inverness
Street Stock Feature ­ 20 Laps ­ 24 Cars
1. #20 Wes Wilson Floral City
2. #85 Harley Wilson Sr. Floral City
3. #10 Kenny May Spring Hill
4. #2X Don Teague Crystal River
5. #94 Sport Wilson Floral City
1st Heat Winner - #94 Sport Wilson ­ Floral City
2nd Heat Winner - #85 Harley Wilson Sr. ­ Floral City
3rd Heat Winner - #33 Scott Guthman ­ Brooksville
Mini Stock Feature ­ 30 Laps ­ 14 Cars
1. # 1 George Neumann Inverness
2. # 5 Mark Sowell Hernando
3. # 0 Frank Coleman Brooksville
4. #25 Mike Moore Brooksville
5. # 2 Don Faunce Spring Hill
1st Heat Winner - #21 John Coleman ­ Brooksville
2nd Heat Winner - #34 Kevin Harod ­ Masaryktown
Hobby Stock Feature ­ 14 Laps ­ 27 Cars
1. #14 J.D. Goff Brooksville
2. #23 Mike Ruff Homosassa
3. #42 Richie Smith Inverness
4. #93 Allen Jacobson Homosassa Springs
5. #3X Chris Cater Homosassa
1st Heat Winner - #14 J.D. Goff ­ Brooksville
2nd Heat Winner - # 3 Kreg Belcastro
3rd Heat Winner - #23 Mike Ruff ­ Homosassa
Street Legal Junker Feature ­ 10 Laps ­ 16 Cars
1. # 3 Doug Jensen 2. #18 Shaun Kipp 3. #71 Henry Grant






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