Citrus Hosts Halloween With Driver Trick Or Treat and Great Racing
by Larry MacMillan (Inverness, FL. 10/27/01) It was Trick or Treat Night at Citrus County Speedway Saturday and the largest crowd of young fans ever walked away with bags full of goodies that will overshadow anything they could have done working their neighborhoods on Halloween night. Over 120 drivers fixed candy and goody bags to treat the estimated 500 kids who took advantage of meeting the drivers at their cars on the racetrack during the costume contest. The 911 Emergency Racers gave away a boys and girls bicycle to two lucky kids after their feature race. Not only did the kids make out big time but the Moms and Dads also got to see some great racing.
The Late Model division saw 19 cars take the green flag in their 30-lap feature run with rookie Jim Smith taking the point from the get go and he never looked back for his very first Late Model win ever. Smith moved up from the Sportsman division at mid season and has come on strong in his new ride to move into the top ten in the points race. Tate Pierce chased him all the way to the checkers for a solid second place finish over Fred Stoner, Herb Neumann Jr. and Rex Struble. Smith, Danny Johnson and Tim Sharrone scored heat wins.
Rex Struble moved back into second in the Sportsman point race, making his 7th trip to Victory Lane and scoring his second win in a row Saturday night. Terry Cater survived several mishaps that brought on the caution, holding out for second over David Dollar, Johnny Sanders and Mike Veltman. Sixteen cars started and only eight finished with the final caution flag sending Mike Veltman to the rear after connecting with Struble in the run for the flag. Heat wins went to Struble and Bill Oestreicher.
Ernie Reed closed to within 23 points of Travis Nichols in the Street Stock point race with his 5th feature win of the season. Wes Wilson was going for two in a row but had to settle for second over a persistent John Gibbs who held the early lead in the 20-lap main. Dean Lawyer proved that his new engine has what it takes to finish the season with a fourth place finish over Victor Stanley. Don Teague and Wilson shared the winners circle in their heat races.
Kevin Harrod finally got his new ride dialed in, taking his second Mini Stock win of the season over a 21 car starting field. Rookie Jay McKenzie continues to improve his driving skills surviving a final two lap run by scratch starter Rick Sirmons who was going for the Start From the Rear Bonus and his second win in a row. Rick Coleman held out for fourth over Mark Sowell. Harrod, Sowell and Jimmy Bartley locked on to the heat wins.
J.D. Goff improved his top five performances with his second Hobby Stock win of the season over the 16 starters in their 20 lap main event. Goff holds a solid second in the point race and has probably put a lock on that slot with his win with only two weeks left in the season. Tommy Smith outran brother Richie for a second place finish. It was a match race to the flag for fourth with Nick Fiorentino winning out over Brandon Johnson who was trying to make it three wins in a row. First heat winner was James Teague who hand grenaded his engine in the feature while leading the race. Tommy Smith added another heat win to his resume.
It was another 21-car Thunder Stock field taking the green flag in their 15 lap run for the checkers. John Donahue blew the field away coming off the pole and lapping about half the field before logging his fourth win of the season. Billy White had his best finish of the year winning the run for second over Jeff Teague, Josh Teague and Roy Blotz. With only two more weeks left in the 2001 regular season all seven divisions will take on Citrus County Speedway next Saturday. Figure 8s will make their final appearance of the year.
Citrus County Speedway Results 10/27/01 Late Model Feature – 30 Laps – 19 Cars 1. #2x Jim Smith Inverness 2. #81 Tate Pierce Wesley Chapel 3. # 7 Fred Stoner Hernando 4. #38 Herb Neumann Inverness 5. # 3 Rex Struble Homosassa 1st heat Winner – 2x Jim Smith – Inverness 2nd Heat Winner - #96 Danny Johnson – Crystal River 3rd Heat Winner - #32 Tim Sharrone – Floral City Sportsman Feature – 20 Laps – 17 Cars 1. #69 Rex Struble Homosassa 2. #12 Terry Cater Inverness 3. #04 David Dollar Hernando 4. #36 Johnny Sanders Homosassa 5. #55 Mike Veltman Crystal River 1st Heat Winner - #69 Rex Struble – Homosassa 2nd Heat Winner - # 0 Bill Oestreicher – Center Hill Street Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 17 Cars 1. #55 Ernie Reed Crystal River 2. #85 Wes Wilson Floral City 3. #99 John Gibbs Homosassa 4. #54 Dean Lawyer Beverly Hills 5. #35 Victor Stanley Brooksville 1st Heat Winner - #21 Scott Hendrickson – Inverness 2nd Heat Winner - #85 Wes Wilson – Floral City Mini Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 21 Cars 1. #34 Kevin Harrod Bushnell 2. #1x Jay McKenzie Inverness 3. #61 Rick Sirmons Pinellas Park 4. #22 Rick Coleman Brooksville 5. # 5 Mark Sowell Hernando 1st Heat Winner - #34 Kevin Harrod – Bushnell 2nd Heat Winner - #5 Mark Sowell – Hernando 3rd Heat Winner - #6 Jimmy Bartley – Bushnell Hobby Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 16 Cars 1. #14 J.D. Goff Brooksville 2. #21 Tommy Smith Floral City 3. #42 Richie Smith Hernando 4. #31 Nick Fiorentino Inverness 5. #88 Brandon Johnson Inverness 1st Heat Winner - #U2 James Teague – Hernando 2nd Heat Winner - #21 Tommy Smith – Floral City Thunder Stock Feature – 15 Laps – 21 Cars 1. #55 John Donahue Floral City 2. #17 Billy White 3. #2x Jeff Teague Clearwater 4. #20 Josh Teague Clearwater 5. #3 Roy Blotz Inverness
