Tommy Smith Wins Meagher Farms/Stype Pest Control Hobby Stock 30
by Larry MacMillan
Six divisions registered 122 cars for the 8th week of competition at Citrus County Speedway Saturday night. Twenty-four of those racers took the green flag for the Meagher Farms/Stype Pest Control Hobby Stock 30 and it was a flag to flag win for Tommy Smith for his first trip to Victory Lane. Younger brother Richie Smith was looking to pick up the win from the rear bonus, a three wins in a row bonus and his 7th win in eight races but it wasnt meant to be. He was working on taking over fourth when he was forced to the pits after a run-in on turn one and two and had to start from the rear of the field on the restart at the half way point of the race. J.D. Goff moved from 14th to snatch a second place finish from young rookie Eric Sharrone in the final two laps of the race. Roy Perkins hung on for fourth just ahead of James Teague who was driving Richie Smiths old car. The three heat winners were Jimmy Mitchell, Art Bruengingsen and Shawn Cater.
Late Models had a tough time getting the first lap in with three cautions before the first lap was completed. After multiple caution flags to follow only thirteen of twenty-two starters managed to finish on a race that was shortened by 10 laps. John Chance took his second win and first point win of the year from his 10th starting spot. Herb Neumann Jr., looking for his second win in a row, had to settle for a close second followed by Tim Sharrone, point leader Billy Bechtelheimer and George Ingole, rounding out the top five. Ingole and Bechtelheimer won their heats.
Mike Veltman pulled off the three in a row win bonus and cushioned his lead in the Sportsman point race. David Dollar was on his way to what appeared to be his first win of the season and watched Veltman come from out of nowhere to take it away from him at the finish line. John Gann and Chris Hooker took the heat wins and held out for third and fourth in the 20 lap main event. Bill Oestreicher locked in a fifth place finish over the 18-car starting field.
Street Stock race number 8 saw Mike Bell become the first two-time winner in the division for 2001. Victor Stanley led the race from lap 13 to lap 17 and was looking to become the 8th different winner of the season but had to settle for second over designated driver Mike Veltman for last weeks winner Dean Lawyer. Kevin Roberts survived several mishaps to hold out for fourth over Al Barber. Mark Sanders and Stanley took the heat wins.
Twenty four cars, the largest Mini Stock field of the season saw Kevin Harrod pull off a 20th lap pass on Rick Coleman to chalk up his first win of the season. Coleman had to settle for a second place finish over Don Faunce, Richie Powers and Mike Moore. Rob Wheatley, Mark Sowell and Doug Hopper took their heat wins.
Troy Davis made his first stockcar win ever in a wire-to-wire win over the 16-car J.D Concessions Street Legal Junker division. Josh Teague and Stuart Madison battled for a second and third place finish. Doug Jensen, driving for Dave Davis and Rick Badessa won the J.D. Concessions bonus with a 6th and 10th place finish.
Figure 8s return to fill out a full 8 division race card next Saturday.
Citrus County Speedway Results 05/05/01 Late Model Feature – 20 Laps – 22 Cars 1. #61 John Chance Floral City 2. #38 Herb Neumann Jr. Inverness 3. #32 Tim Sharrone Floral City 4. # 6 Billy Bechtelheimer Dover 5. #17 George Ingole Lakeland 1st Heat Winner - #96 Danny Johnson – Crystal River 2nd Heat Winner - #17 George Ingole – Lakeland 3rd Heat Winner - # 6 Billy Bechtelheimer – Dover Sportsman Feature – 20 Laps – 18 Cars 1. #55 Mike Veltman (3 Wins) Crystal River 2. #04 David Dollar Hernando 3. # 9 John Gann Brooksville 4. # 3 Chris Hooker Floral City 5. # 5 Bill Oestreicher Webster 1st Heat Winner - #9 John Gann – Brooksville 2nd Heat Winner - # 3 Chris Hooker – Floral City Street Stock Feature – 20 Laps – 18 Cars 1. #17 Michael Bell (2 Wins) Brooksville 2. #35 Victor Stanley Brooksville 3. #54 Mike Veltman Crystal River 4. #31 Kevin Roberts Inverness 5. #22 Al Barber Floral City 1st Heat Winner – #9x Mark Sanders – Hernando 2nd Heat Winner - #35 Victor Stanley – Brooksville Mini Stock Feature – 20 Laps - 24 Cars 1. #34 Kevin Harrod Bushnell 2. #22 Rick Coleman Brooksville 3. # 2 Don Faunce Spring Hill 4. #9x Richie Powers Inverness 5. #25 Mike Moore Brooksville 1st Heat winner #6 Jimmy Bartley – Leesburg 2nd Heat Winner #5 Mark Sowell – Hernando 3rd Heat Winner #15 Doug Hopper – New Port Richey Meagher Farms/Stype Pest Control Hobby Stock 30 – 24 Cars 1. #21 Tommy Smith Floral City 2. #14 J.D. Goff Brooksville 3. #36 Eric Sharrone Floral City 4. #07 Roy Perkins Inverness 5. #42x James Teague Clearwater 1st Heat Winner #78 Jimmy Mitchell 2nd Heat Winner #35 Art Bruengingsen – Spring Hill 3rd Heat Winner #66 Shaun Cater – Homosassa J.D. Concession Street Legal Junkers Feature – 15 Laps – 16 Cars 1. #73 Troy Davis 2. #20 Josh Teague 3. # 2 Stuart Madison Bonus Winners 6th Doug Jensen & 10th #88 Rick Badessa
