Figure-8 Competition Strong at Citrus Double Header | (Inverness, FL; 7/22/2000) Citrus County Speedway Figure-8s took on the intersection in twin 20-lap features Saturday night, and had the fans on their feet from start to finish.
Point leader, Robert Aaron, took a flag-to-flag win over a 14-car starting field in the first race from the outside pole being chased to the flag by Gary Swing, Tim Henault, Scott Knight, and Bob Hage. Scott Knight rolled out of the same starting position in the second Figure-8 run and pulled off his second win of the season over a 17-car field. Aaron moved from his 13th starting position to finish second ahead of Robbie Hage, Bob Hage, and Gary Swing. This was a preview of next Saturday's Collision Tech Run What You Brung Figure-8 challenge that will see a no holds barred, 25-lap run for $700 to win.
Tate Pierce captured his first Late Model feature win of the season over the 22 cars in the LaPearle Memorials Big Purse Challenge and took home the $1,300 win purse. Tim Sharrone, Herb Neumann, Jr. and Perry Lovelady rounded out the top five in the multi-caution flagged race that was shortened to just 17 laps because of several extensive cleanups.
Ed Sartori took out several of the water barrels in turn three which ended his night at the mid-point of the race and took up a great deal of time to clean up. Five cautions marred what could have been a final 13-lap shootout for the flag with 8 cars finishing nose-to-tail. Heat winners were Mike Bresnahan and Dan Johnson.
Johnny Gann made it two in a row and three for the season over an 18-car Limited Sportsman field in their 20-lap main event. The field drew the "I" pill for a total inversion with 12th starter, David Dollar, moving up to finish second, just in front of first heat winner Johnny Sanders who started 15th. Travis Nichols and Alan Struble locked on to the fourth and fifth spots. Rex Struble won the second heat and had to settle for an 8th place finish in the main.
It was the Floral City Gang again over the 22-car Street Stock division. This time it was Harley Wilson, Sr., Wes Wilson, and Sport Wilson finishing one, two, three for the second time this year. Harley Wilson set the pace for his flag-to-flag win but it was an intense run to the flag in the race for second with Wes outrunning his brother, Sport, who is leading the Street Stock points by a slim 8 points over Wes. Ernie Reed and Michael Bell capped off the top five. Elmer Crowfoot and Scott Hendrickson took the heat wins.
Kevin Harrod took his Mini-Stock to victory lane for the third time this year, outrunning Frank Coleman, George Neumann, Mark Sowell, and John Coleman in the 14-car, 25-lap main event. No heats were run and these guys are getting geared up for the 40-lap J.D. Smith Termite and Pest Control Big Purse Challenge set for August 12th.
James Teague set the pace from the green flag for his first win of the season in the 25-lap Hobby Stock feature. Mike Ruff moved from 9th to finish 2nd over the 24 starters. Larry Schreckengost lost his third place finish in tech inspection for running illegal heads and this moved J.D Goff into third and 13th starter Richie Smith up to fourth. Chris Hooker took on the start from the rear bonus challenge and managed to move up through the traffic for a fifth place finish.
A late addition to the race card was the Dwarf Cars in heat and feature action. Auburndales Dennis Archinal and New Smyrnas Dan Nyhan picked up the heat wins. Fifteen cars took the green for the 20-lap main and Kissimmees Don Hess launched his racer to the point in lap two and never looked back for the win. Bill Burback and Dennis Archinal locked on to Hess but just couldnt make the pass and had to settle for second and third. Rounding out the top five were Dan Berry and Jerry Davis. Rick Bedessa, Roy Blotz, and Joe Donahue took the top three spots in the 15-car Street Legal Junker race to wrap up the action packed night after two rainouts.
-Larry MacMillan-
Citrus County Speedway Results for July 22, 2000 LaPearle Memorials L.M. Big Purse Challenge, 17 Laps, 22 Cars 1. #81, Tate Pierce, Wesley Chapel 2. #3, Tim Sharrone, Floral City 3. #98, Herb Neumann, Jr., Inverness 4. #68, Perry Lovelady, Lakeland 5. #47T, Butch Yoakam, Hudson 1st Heat Winner - #31, Mike Bresnahan, Lecanto 2nd Heat Winner - #96, Dan Johnson, Crystal River
Limited Sportsman Feature, 20 Laps, 18 Cars 1. # 9, John Gann, Jr., Brooksville 2. #04, David Dollar, Hernando 3. #36, Johnny Sanders, Homosassa 4. #39, Travis Nichols, Inverness 5. #93, Alan Struble, Brooksville 1st Heat Winner - #36, Johnny Sanders, Homosassa 2nd Heat Winner - #69, Rex Struble, Homosassa
Street Stock Feature, 20 Laps, 22 Cars 1. #85, Harley Wilson, Sr., Floral City 2. #20, Wes Wilson, Floral City 3. #94, Sport Wilson, Floral City 4. #55, Ernie Reed, Jr., Inverness 5. #17X, Michael Bell, Inverness 1st Heat Winner - #13, Elmer Crowfoot, Orlando 2nd Heat Winner - # 7, Scott Hendrickson, Inverness
Mini-Stock Feature, 25 Laps, 14 Cars 1. #34, Kevin Harrod, Bushnell 2. #20, Frank Coleman, Brooksville 3. # 1, George Neumann, Inverness 4. # 5, Mark Sowell, Hernando 5. #21, John Coleman, Brooksville No Heats Run
Hobby Stock Feature, 25 Laps, 24 Cars 1. #05, James Teague, Inverness 2. #23, Mike Ruff, Homosassa 3. #14, J.D. Goff, Brooksville 4. #42, Richie Smith, Hernando 5. #24, Chris Hooker, Floral City No Heats Run
Figure-8 1st Feature, 20 Laps, 14 Cars 1. # 6, Robert Aaron, Brooksville 2. #22, Gary Swing, Floral City 3. #69, Tim Henault, Pinellas Park 4. #34, Scott Knight, Floral City 5. #78, Bob Hage, St. Petersburg
Figure-8 2nd Feature, 20 Laps, 17 Cars 1. #34, Scott Knight, Floral City 2. # 6, Robert Aaron, Brooksville 3. #74, Robbie Hage, St. Petersburg 4. #78, Bob Hage, St. Petersburg 5. #22, Gary Swing, Floral City
Street Legal Junker Feature, 15 Laps, 15 Cars 1. #88, Rick Bedessa, Inverness 2. # 3, Roy Blotz, Inverness 3. #68, Joe Donhue Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! or send a letter to the editor!
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