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| Rauner Wins “Oak Hill Hospital 25”@ Citrus | by Larry MacMillan
(Inverness, FL. 6/9/01) One Hundred thirty seven racers came to Citrus County Speedway Saturday night and put on one heck of a show in the 7-division race card.
Street Legal Junkers took on the chicane in a 22-car battle for the Oak Hill Hospital 25 $500 purse. It was a battle royal that saw six lead changes in their first special since their inception two years ago. Josh Teague took the point when the green flag flew and wound up finishing second in the seesaw battle. He was found illegal in tech inspection when it was all over. Joe Rauner took home the $150 win purse taking his second win in a row and will be going for the three in a row bonus next Saturday. Jerry Hoover, Allen Turner, John Donahue and Rick Badessa round out the top five finishers sharing the $500 big purse challenge that paid all the way back for all starters in a division that usually only pays the top three finishers.
Danny Johnson and Herb Neumann Jr. had another show down run at the checkered flag in Late Model action with Johnson coming out of his 11th starting spot to take his second win of the season just ahead of Neumann who started 14th in the twenty-two car field. Eighteen cars finished with Dale Sanders holding out for third followed by Fred Stoner and Billy Bechtelheimer. Forest Goff, Johnson and Herb Hoefler took the heat wins.
Another Struble made it to Victory Lane in Sportsman action. This time it was Alan taking his first win of the season over point leader Mike Veltman. Brother Rex won his heat race and was going for the Three in a Row Bonus and the Start from the rear bonus but developed an oil leak that took him out for the night at the midpoint of the race. Mark Dominique won his heat and held out for a third place finish over Terry Cater and Johnny Sanders.
Street Stocks saw Victor Stanley come out of his 9th starting spot to take his first win of the season over a 20 car starting field. The glory was short lived after his car was found to be illegal in post race inspection. Don Teague locked on to a second place finish and was also found illegal in tech. Third running Mark Sanders inherited his second win of the season on the D.Qs, which moved Ernie Reed, Dean Lawyer, James Green Jr. and point leader Travis Nichols into the top five. Green and Glenn Fleming won their heats.
It was another 22 car starting field in Mini Stocks with the Coleman Family taking the top three spots when the checkers flew. Rick Coleman lost out in tech when he was found illegal. Nephew John Coleman inherited the win with his dad Frank moving up to second. Defending champion George Neumann, Doug Hopper and Mark Sowell round out the top five. John Coleman and Mark Sowell picked up the heat wins. Richie Smith logged his eighth win of the season and continues to dominate the Hobby Stock division. Eric Sharrone held the point for the first 12 laps and managed a second place finish over Roy Perkins, Tommy Smith and J.D. Goff. The three heat winners were Richie Smith, Roy Perkins and J.D. Goff.
Darryl Hage led the first 14 laps of the Figure 8 20 lap main before he fell out on a restart in lap 15. Scott Knight picked up the point when the green flag fell on the restart and never looked back, taking his second win of the season. Peanut Higgenbotham managed to hang on to second over the 16-car field that kept the intersection very busy. Defending champion Robert Aaron methodically moved from his 13th starting spot to finish third over Robbie Hage and point leader Bob Hage.
Saturday night will feature the Jackie Gordon Memorial 30 Street Stock special for $300 to win and sponsored by Mike Scott Plumbing. Late Models, Sportsman, Mini Stocks, Hobby Stocks and Street Legal Junkers round out week fourteen of the 2001 season. The Bloodmobile will be in the main parking lot from 4 P.M. until 9 and you will get a free T shirt and a free admission ticket to the speedway for all donations of the Gift of Life.
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